2014 and 2016 Playoff Appearances

[TheCoolFan]

Just not sold on their ability to beat proven, SB-winning/MVP-caliber QBs in the playoffs. Rodgers has owned them and they let Favre embarrass them in 2009.

They can beat the Matt Staffords and McNabbs of the league but if you want to advance in the playoffs, you're gonna have to be able to knock off the elite QBs and they haven't done that.

 

[TheSkaven]

The 2014 team had a shot. The 2016 team was a mirage.

What? No. That was a great team. A 13-3 team that dominated - the three losses were two to the Giants and one meaningless in week 17 to the Eagles. They were beat by the hand of God in that game with the Packers, several miraculous throws and a long improbable field goal.

If that team beats the Packers, they go on and win the Super Bowl.

 

[J12B]

In 2014 we were robbed.
In 2016, the offense started out slow, then found its way.
Remember the first two games, Zeke was not that great, and Dak was still figuring a few things out. Well a lot of things.
Well they all are still figuring things out.
And still favorable calls for GB

2017 they were robbed by Goodell.

2018 from 3-5 to 9-6 and division champs. A lot better defense and an offense that has been just good enough when the defense is playing top notch.
We will need that defense for sure. But what if, something all of a sudden clicks just a bit more on offense. Even just a little bit more.

They can make a run.

That's what I am hoping for.

The offense just suddenly clicks and Dak rises to the occasion

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

This right here. That Falcons team would have destroyed us in 2016.

we would have controlled the clock and Ryan would have melted

 

[beware_d-ware]

The NFC looks wide open this year. We could beat any team 1 through 6, and all of those teams has a good shot to beat us. The whole field looks pretty evenly matched, and anything could happen with the right breaks.

 

[MCMetal69]

I'm more encouraged this year due to our defense ; that always seemed to be our Achilles Heel the last decade......................................

 

[JohnsKey19]

This team has been so close in advancing in the playoffs over the last couple of appearances.

If not for a highly questionable call on a "incomplete" pass, in 2014 and an amazing throw by Rodgers to set up a game winning field goal in 2016, there is really no telling how far those teams could have gone. It wouldnt be crazy to say a superbowl appearance would have been made in those years.

Maybe low expectations is what this team needs.

Point being, if this team can just get a couple of plays and calls go their way, a Superbowl game is very possible.

I'm excited for this team and you should be too.

Anything can happen in the playoffs.

Merry Christmas everyone!

2016 was harder for me to digest. How Rodgers doesn't fumble as a result of Heaths blindside sack is almost as improbable as the highlight sideline throw to Cook. Unreal.

In 2014, catch or no catch, the D was not gonna make a stop. At least IMO...

 

[32BellyOption]

The 2014 team had a shot. The 2016 team was a mirage.

I still say that 2014 team was SB bound if not for a royal NFL screw job. Romo was on top of his game, Demarco was running like a beast, the oline was dominant and the D was nasty. It was all clicking and then the officials took away what should have been one of the all time great post season catches. It was a travesty and denied Romo his best chance to play for a title.

This year I’m afraid our offensive inequities will spell our doom. Inability to score TD’s in the red zone, untimely TO’s by Dak, drive killing penalties by the oline, missed opportunities in the passing game. We’ve seen it game after game. Tell me why I should believe that now with the stakes raised we will solve those issues and rise to the challenge? I’m as optimistic they come but I’m also a realist and this team is what it is. I see another one and done and yet another home playoff loss.

 

[DuncanIso]

In 2014 we were robbed.
In 2016, the offense started out slow, then found its way.
Remember the first two games, Zeke was not that great, and Dak was still figuring a few things out. Well a lot of things.
Well they all are still figuring things out.
And still favorable calls for GB

2017 they were robbed by Goodell.

2018 from 3-5 to 9-6 and division champs. A lot better defense and an offense that has been just good enough when the defense is playing top notch.
We will need that defense for sure. But what if, something all of a sudden clicks just a bit more on offense. Even just a little bit more.

They can make a run.

Don’t forget about the defensive collapses in the 2 playoff losses.

The 2nd half of 2014 and the 1st half of 2016 were EPIC Def collapses.

Don’t believe me? Watch the games again.

 

[nightrain]

I still say that 2014 team was SB bound if not for a royal NFL screw job. Romo was on top of his game, Demarco was running like a beast, the oline was dominant and the D was nasty. It was all clicking and then the officials took away what should have been one of the all time great post season catches. It was a travesty and denied Romo his best chance to play for a title.

This year I’m afraid our offensive inequities will spell our doom. Inability to score TD’s in the red zone, untimely TO’s by Dak, drive killing penalties by the oline, missed opportunities in the passing game. We’ve seen it game after game. Tell me why I should believe that now with the stakes raised we will solve those issues and rise to the challenge? I’m as optimistic they come but I’m also a realist and this team is what it is. I see another one and done and yet another home playoff loss.

I hear you and that is the thought process I am trying to delve into in another thread.

The Cowboys are not going to run over people in the playoffs with the state of the OL and solid defenses coming into Arlington in the first round. The Cowboys have no zag for their scheme. Dak has been molded (unsuccessfully) into a player he is not. He should be running the ball 8-10 times a game and not those naked boots that all opposing teams can see coming and drop him in the backfield when they run them.

I am hoping that the OL captures some of that dominant magic and can propel the running game into that ball control, clock eating machine, but Linehan may see fit to get away from any success and start dropping Dak back on early downs to break any positive rhythm.

It's a shame to see this defense and running back be wasted by an inefficient and mismatched offensive scheme.

 

[Aviano90]

Zeke is going to be punched in the mouth in the playoffs showing why you don’t blow a 4th overall pick on a RB, especially one that loses his home run hitting ability after one year.

 

[Ekspozed]

Zeke is going to be punched in the mouth in the playoffs showing why you don’t blow a 4th overall pick on a RB, especially one that loses his home run hitting ability after one year.

Or he carries this offense and proves his worth.

 

[Aviano90]

Or he carries this offense and proves his worth.

Carries them to low scoring. 6 rushing TDs? LOL

 

[Ekspozed]

Carries them to low scoring. 6 rushing TDs? LOL

You specifically said playoffs and predicted, as did I. Plus if he has 6 tds in the playoffs that's not so bad.

 

[bark]

I still say that 2014 team was SB bound if not for a royal NFL screw job. Romo was on top of his game, Demarco was running like a beast, the oline was dominant and the D was nasty. It was all clicking and then the officials took away what should have been one of the all time great post season catches. It was a travesty and denied Romo his best chance to play for a title.

This year I’m afraid our offensive inequities will spell our doom. Inability to score TD’s in the red zone, untimely TO’s by Dak, drive killing penalties by the oline, missed opportunities in the passing game. We’ve seen it game after game. Tell me why I should believe that now with the stakes raised we will solve those issues and rise to the challenge? I’m as optimistic they come but I’m also a realist and this team is what it is. I see another one and done and yet another home playoff loss.

Agree with you on the 2014 offense.
They were humming.
That defense was far from nasty however.
We had a d line of George selvie, nick Hayden and mincey.
Secondary of church, Wilcox, Carr and scandrick
Linebackers were to McClain and Bruce carter
Scrappy and try hard maybe but barely average and that’s being kind

 

[Aviano90]

You specifically said playoffs and predicted, as did I. Plus if he has 6 tds in the playoffs that's not so bad.

Good point. We will see what he does in the playoffs. Hope his fumble and red zone struggles don’t continue.

 

[CowboyRoy]

This team has been so close in advancing in the playoffs over the last couple of appearances.

If not for a highly questionable call on a "incomplete" pass, in 2014 and an amazing throw by Rodgers to set up a game winning field goal in 2016, there is really no telling how far those teams could have gone. It wouldnt be crazy to say a superbowl appearance would have been made in those years.

Maybe low expectations is what this team needs.

Point being, if this team can just get a couple of plays and calls go their way, a Superbowl game is very possible.

I'm excited for this team and you should be too.

Anything can happen in the playoffs.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Im going to bring up the point that maybe its REAL coaching that THIS team needs. You cant win deep into the playoffs when you have coaches that have bad schemes, play conservative, are horrible at game management, and panic during games.

 

[jazzcat22]

Don’t forget about the defensive collapses in the 2 playoff losses.

The 2nd half of 2014 and the 1st half of 2016 were EPIC Def collapses.

Don’t believe me? Watch the games again.

Oh I remember that too.

 

[ufcrules1]

All the teams in the NFC are beatable, Rams and Saints included at home. If the Cowboys can run and mix in a lot of successful play action passes...and play some serious Dee (and get back to stopping the run and then getting pressure with 4 or 5), they can beat anybody.

But, until I see more from this coaching staff, I ain't holding my breath... But it's there for the taking.

That is right. Players will have to fade the coaching staff and that is almost impossible to do in the playoffs. We will be outcoached by every possible team we face in the playoffs. Hawks, Saints, Rams, Bears. All have better coaching than us. This is what happens when you keep a coach around who has proven he sucks time and time again.

 

[ufcrules1]

Im going to bring up the point that maybe its REAL coaching that THIS team needs. You cant win deep into the playoffs when you have coaches that have bad schemes, play conservative, are horrible at game management, and panic during games.

Exactly. I think the only silver lining is if we go one and done vs Seattle in the playoffs JG “MIGHT” lose his job. I doubt it though. But is it really Jason’s fault? Or it Jerry’s fault for hiring him and keeping him around?

I feel bad for the players wasted careers too. Would be awesome if Romo or Dak actually had good coaching that could help them. Instead their coaching does yhe opposite.