42-7, winning more than a game

[iceberg]

In all the years past, the one carry over always seemed to be “how do the cowboys do in a win or go home game”?

I’ve always been in the camp that this was cherry picking, bitter fans (not without reason) making up things to be mad about simply to take the pain away from losing. Again. And again. It’s natural the frustrations rise. Anger, sarcasm, and just sometimes a feeling of hopelessness overwhelms us that we just accept it and move on, scream at it and hang around, or get lost somewhere in the middle trying to make sense of it all.

Well this year it wasn’t win or go home. This was simply the Cowboys taking care of business. We have a week to go and already are +3 games from last year. We’ve won the division. We’re playoff bound and to be honest, on one hell of a roll. You see, last night we won far more than a game. The way in which we did it was just domination. From a defense that was ranked last in the league only a year ago to completely shutting down one of the next shooting stars of the NFL, this team has earned back a measure of success.

Respect I believe is what they call it.

We didn’t back in, we don’t have to wait for someone to lose, and there will be no gut wrenching last game of the year that if we win we move on and if we lose we’re subject to being tormented on message boards for another year. The Cowboys came to play, no excuses, and simply put on one of the most dominating performances of at *least* this season beating the colts, winning the division, and for desert, putting the Eagles away a week early.

Man it feels good to be a Cowboy.

For coming into a season where many felt that winning 6 games would be a small measure of success, and losing to the 9ers to open the year cementing that early thought, to this. For all the negativity that we’ve had to go through either by the media, other fans, or worse yet, by our own fanbase, we’ve validated one very important point in that winning cures a lot of pain. Homers and realists are slowly laughing at the past and sounding excited about the future, together. Jones is being given credit at least for this year. The media is actually not 100% against us despite how it may seem at times.

We’ve got a long way to go and I don’t want to let up. It was a surreal feeling to see my team annihilate a quality opponent in a manner we used to do it. But it wasn’t a memory, well at the time, it wasn’t a dream, and it wasn’t the old “what if…” we all sink into at times. This is real.

We are the 2014 NFC East Champs. We are the Dallas Cowboys and yesterday we won more than a game.

I can’t wait to see what we do next.

 

[jazzcat22]

We showed, as we have been all year, but more so now. We are a team to be reckoned with. I don't want to say a team to be feared. But the offense can be considered that for sure. The defense is playing well, and these past 3 games, very well. With the exception of a few bad plays against the Eagles. This D has been playing above a middle of the pack ranking.

 

[iceberg]

We showed, as we have been all year, but more so now. We are a team to be reckoned with. I don't want to say a team to be feared. But the offense can be considered that for sure. The defense is playing well, and these past 3 games, very well. With the exception of a few bad plays against the Eagles. This D has been playing above a middle of the pack ranking.

well there were games we won, but we didn't put it away and keep it there. there were games we lost cause we just didn't show up. heh, on top of that, a couple of games we just got outplayed.

but what the cowboys did last night was a statement.

 

[DallasEast]

In all the years past, the one carry over always seemed to be “how do the cowboys do in a win or go home game”?

I’ve always been in the camp that this was cherry picking, bitter fans (not without reason) making up things to be mad about simply to take the pain away from losing. Again. And again. It’s natural the frustrations rise. Anger, sarcasm, and just sometimes a feeling of hopelessness overwhelms us that we just accept it and move on, scream at it and hang around, or get lost somewhere in the middle trying to make sense of it all.

Well this year it wasn’t win or go home. This was simply the Cowboys taking care of business. We have a week to go and already are +3 games from last year. We’ve won the division. We’re playoff bound and to be honest, on one hell of a roll. You see, last night we won far more than a game. The way in which we did it was just domination. From a defense that was ranked last in the league only a year ago to completely shutting down one of the next shooting stars of the NFL, this team has earned back a measure of success.

Respect I believe is what they call it.

We didn’t back in, we don’t have to wait for someone to lose, and there will be no gut wrenching last game of the year that if we win we move on and if we lose we’re subject to being tormented on message boards for another year. The Cowboys came to play, no excuses, and simply put on one of the most dominating performances of at *least* this season beating the colts, winning the division, and for desert, putting the Eagles away a week early.

Man it feels good to be a Cowboy.

For coming into a season where many felt that winning 6 games would be a small measure of success, and losing to the 9ers to open the year cementing that early thought, to this. For all the negativity that we’ve had to go through either by the media, other fans, or worse yet, by our own fanbase, we’ve validated one very important point in that winning cures a lot of pain. Homers and realists are slowly laughing at the past and sounding excited about the future, together. Jones is being given credit at least for this year. The media is actually not 100% against us despite how it may seem at times.

We’ve got a long way to go and I don’t want to let up. It was a surreal feeling to see my team annihilate a quality opponent in a manner we used to do it. But it wasn’t a memory, well at the time, it wasn’t a dream, and it wasn’t the old “what if…” we all sink into at times. This is real.

We are the 2014 NFC East Champs. We are the Dallas Cowboys and yesterday we won more than a game.

I can’t wait to see what we do next.

​

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

You know what is funny about it.

In the past I would be up and shouting and fist pumping after a touchdown....and I would be cursing like a sailor if we gave up a score.

It started some last year but I have noticed it mostly this year that I have been even keel during the game. I might post something in the game thread but I have not jumped around at home or yelled out like I have in the past. It seemed this year it has been more of an expected feeling (good and bad) that I just don't get worked up about as much.

I get the feeling we can score on each drive on offense and a feeling that we can give up a scored on each drive on defense. So when the defense really plays well it is nice but I don't hoop and holler like in years past.

It is kind of bitter sweet that we are doing so well but kind of crappy that I don't get as pumped as before. I think part of it is worrying about jinxing it all. Getting too high in the early part of the game and seeing us lose it in the end in the past so when we were killing the eagles in the first I was thinking....well if we can play that good in the first and things go that good for us in the first half...it could turn around and be that good for the eagles in the second...and it almost won but we finished it out.
During the colts game and the way we were killing it in the first...I was positive that the second half they would mount a comeback and I would get all worried...they squashed that.

So I don't even want to jinx anything about the next game, or the playoffs or anything that could happen. I just want to sit back and hope it does but full of dread that the old cowboys might creep back. It is almost a sigh of relief when we when a game. It has been so long that it has been almost ingrained into some (including me) that we will find a way to screw it up instead of we will find a way to make it through. I am hopeful going forward, but verrrrry cautious in my enthusiasm as not to jinx it.

If any of that makes sense.

 

[mahoneybill]

We showed, as we have been all year, but more so now. We are a team to be reckoned with. I don't want to say a team to be feared. But the offense can be considered that for sure. The defense is playing well, and these past 3 games, very well. With the exception of a few bad plays against the Eagles. This D has been playing above a middle of the pack ranking.

Very impressed with gang tackling, pressure on QB and Crawford on D line in particular

 

[iceberg]

You know what is funny about it.

In the past I would be up and shouting and fist pumping after a touchdown....and I would be cursing like a sailor if we gave up a score.

It started some last year but I have noticed it mostly this year that I have been even keel during the game. I might post something in the game thread but I have not jumped around at home or yelled out like I have in the past. It seemed this year it has been more of an expected feeling (good and bad) that I just don't get worked up about as much.

I get the feeling we can score on each drive on offense and a feeling that we can give up a scored on each drive on defense. So when the defense really plays well it is nice but I don't hoop and holler like in years past.

It is kind of bitter sweet that we are doing so well but kind of crappy that I don't get as pumped as before. I think part of it is worrying about jinxing it all. Getting too high in the early part of the game and seeing us lose it in the end in the past so when we were killing the eagles in the first I was thinking....well if we can play that good in the first and things go that good for us in the first half...it could turn around and be that good for the eagles in the second...and it almost won but we finished it out.
During the colts game and the way we were killing it in the first...I was positive that the second half they would mount a comeback and I would get all worried...they squashed that.

So I don't even want to jinx anything about the next game, or the playoffs or anything that could happen. I just want to sit back and hope it does but full of dread that the old cowboys might creep back. It is almost a sigh of relief when we when a game. It has been so long that it has been almost ingrained into some (including me) that we will find a way to screw it up instead of we will find a way to make it through. I am hopeful going forward, but verrrrry cautious in my enthusiasm as not to jinx it.

If any of that makes sense.

you didn't hear this from me, BP, but we're getting older. while like you I'm a bit down cause I don't get as excited when we score that amazing TD or win that incredible game, but I console myself with the fact that I don't get all torn up anymore if we lose a "heartbreaking" game. took me awhile to realize the phase *I* was I and the closest poster I can link it to would be nother bob. back when I was full of rage, posted 100+ times a day (not even sure I did that all season so far this year) and cared about everything we did and even for awhile, moved a few blocs down from valley ranch headquarters. I was amazed at his "even keel" in the face of such activities and in time, I kinda fell in line with that. there are simply other things I can control and accomplish that now give me a more direct feeling of satisfaction.

not to say I didn't have a great time watching the game yesterday. the "highs" are just different now I suppose. better? worse?

different.

we've been beaten down time and again by this team so that feeling of angst is normal in us all. expression of it is really what others see and how they look at us. today I'm not very close to who I was when I posted 10 years ago. better? worse?

different.

I suppose better or worse is for me to determine. but I think I get what you're saying and yea, I see many of the same thing feeling that way.

 

[Flinger]

Isn't it interesting to remember 'how' the Cowboys lost their 4 games...

SF - 1st game of season. Romo really wasn't ready to play, given his back. Hadn't yet established their running dominance.
Cardinals - No Romo
Washington - key injuries on the O line and just an off day
Eagles - 3 days rest after being on the road. Again, Romo really wasn't ready to play

If we stay healthy and continue to FIGHT. (Period) - this TEAM is going places. No matter who the competition is... Dare we think Super Bowl?

 

[DandyDon1722]

You know what is funny about it.

In the past I would be up and shouting and fist pumping after a touchdown....and I would be cursing like a sailor if we gave up a score.

It started some last year but I have noticed it mostly this year that I have been even keel during the game. I might post something in the game thread but I have not jumped around at home or yelled out like I have in the past. It seemed this year it has been more of an expected feeling (good and bad) that I just don't get worked up about as much.

I get the feeling we can score on each drive on offense and a feeling that we can give up a scored on each drive on defense. So when the defense really plays well it is nice but I don't hoop and holler like in years past.

It is kind of bitter sweet that we are doing so well but kind of crappy that I don't get as pumped as before. I think part of it is worrying about jinxing it all. Getting too high in the early part of the game and seeing us lose it in the end in the past so when we were killing the eagles in the first I was thinking....well if we can play that good in the first and things go that good for us in the first half...it could turn around and be that good for the eagles in the second...and it almost won but we finished it out.
During the colts game and the way we were killing it in the first...I was positive that the second half they would mount a comeback and I would get all worried...they squashed that.

So I don't even want to jinx anything about the next game, or the playoffs or anything that could happen. I just want to sit back and hope it does but full of dread that the old cowboys might creep back. It is almost a sigh of relief when we when a game. It has been so long that it has been almost ingrained into some (including me) that we will find a way to screw it up instead of we will find a way to make it through. I am hopeful going forward, but verrrrry cautious in my enthusiasm as not to jinx it.

If any of that makes sense.

Oh, I agree and feel the exact same way. The most I do now is stand and nervously pace, but I'm not jumping around screaming like I used to. It's kind of like the battered pet syndrome where you see dogs shy away from being petted. Twenty years will do that to you but what gives me solace is that the players don't feel like that. They feel like we used to feel. They could care less what happened in 1999, or 06 or 09.

Don't kid yourself BP & Ice - we may be a bit older (or a lot older), but come playoff time, we'll be jumping around hootin' and hollerin' just like the old days and "the kids" hopefully will experience what that knot feels like in your stomach the morning of the NFC Championship game and it will carry over into next year as well. - because finally -- we expect to win, not hope to win.

 

[iceberg]

Isn't it interesting to remember 'how' the Cowboys lost their 4 games...

SF - 1st game of season. Romo really wasn't ready to play, given his back. Hadn't yet established their running dominance.
Cardinals - No Romo
Washington - key injuries on the O line and just an off day
Eagles - 3 days rest after being on the road. Again, Romo really wasn't ready to play

If we stay healthy and continue to FIGHT. (Period) - this TEAM is going places. No matter who the competition is... Dare we think Super Bowl?

not worried about where this ride is going, I'm just having a good time on it for as long as I can.

 

[Fletch]

You know what is funny about it.

In the past I would be up and shouting and fist pumping after a touchdown....and I would be cursing like a sailor if we gave up a score.

It started some last year but I have noticed it mostly this year that I have been even keel during the game. I might post something in the game thread but I have not jumped around at home or yelled out like I have in the past. It seemed this year it has been more of an expected feeling (good and bad) that I just don't get worked up about as much.

I get the feeling we can score on each drive on offense and a feeling that we can give up a scored on each drive on defense. So when the defense really plays well it is nice but I don't hoop and holler like in years past.

It is kind of bitter sweet that we are doing so well but kind of crappy that I don't get as pumped as before. I think part of it is worrying about jinxing it all. Getting too high in the early part of the game and seeing us lose it in the end in the past so when we were killing the eagles in the first I was thinking....well if we can play that good in the first and things go that good for us in the first half...it could turn around and be that good for the eagles in the second...and it almost won but we finished it out.
During the colts game and the way we were killing it in the first...I was positive that the second half they would mount a comeback and I would get all worried...they squashed that.

So I don't even want to jinx anything about the next game, or the playoffs or anything that could happen. I just want to sit back and hope it does but full of dread that the old cowboys might creep back. It is almost a sigh of relief when we when a game. It has been so long that it has been almost ingrained into some (including me) that we will find a way to screw it up instead of we will find a way to make it through. I am hopeful going forward, but verrrrry cautious in my enthusiasm as not to jinx it.

If any of that makes sense.

Breathe my friend! Just enjoy the ride.

 

[Flinger]

You're right... it does make the ride sweeter, doesn't it?

 

[iceberg]

Oh, I agree and feel the exact same way. The most I do now is stand and nervously pace, but I'm not jumping around screaming like I used to. It's kind of like the battered pet syndrome where you see dogs shy away from being petted. Twenty years will do that to you but what gives me solace is that the players don't feel like that. They feel like we used to feel. They could care less what happened in 1999, or 06 or 09.

Don't kid yourself BP - come playoff time, we'll be jumping around hootin' and hollerin' just like the old days and it will carry over into next year as well. - because finally -- we expect to win, not hope to win. d it will carry over into next year as well.

I don't want to get up and shout, holler at the tv, throw stuff ref's my mom gave me over a decade ago at the tv or any of the things that I used to do. if we happen to be that fortunate, I want to turn that feeling around into my own success at projects I just have lagging.

but let's not be stupid, i'll damn sure enjoy the games more if we keep on winning!

 

[iceberg]

Breathe my friend! Just enjoy the ride.

lifes like an hourglass glued to the table
no one can find the rewind button girl
go cradle your head in your hands...

doesn't fit the post, but I love that song.

 

[nablives]

I'll tell you what, and not that I mean to whine about it, but why isn't this win a little more impressive? I mean, the Cowboys are getting some love, but much like their wins against Seattle and Philly, I'm hearing/reading some backhanded compliments. Like it was a good win, but Indy can't beat anyone good anyway, so whatever. Where was all the "Indy can't beat good teams" stuff before the game? Before the game, I very much got the impression that most of the world thought this thing would come down to week 17 again. So much for that.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

We didn’t back in,

I can’t wait to see what we do next.

This is key. Remember in '07 .. we were the #1 seed. Stunk it up at home vs. Philly but backed in as the #1 that very same day. Then we played starters for about a quarter vs. Wash and got clobbered. Everyone knows what happened from there. This feels so much better.

 

[Risen Star]

You know what is funny about it.

In the past I would be up and shouting and fist pumping after a touchdown....and I would be cursing like a sailor if we gave up a score.

It started some last year but I have noticed it mostly this year that I have been even keel during the game. I might post something in the game thread but I have not jumped around at home or yelled out like I have in the past. It seemed this year it has been more of an expected feeling (good and bad) that I just don't get worked up about as much.

I get the feeling we can score on each drive on offense and a feeling that we can give up a scored on each drive on defense. So when the defense really plays well it is nice but I don't hoop and holler like in years past.

It is kind of bitter sweet that we are doing so well but kind of crappy that I don't get as pumped as before. I think part of it is worrying about jinxing it all. Getting too high in the early part of the game and seeing us lose it in the end in the past so when we were killing the eagles in the first I was thinking....well if we can play that good in the first and things go that good for us in the first half...it could turn around and be that good for the eagles in the second...and it almost won but we finished it out.
During the colts game and the way we were killing it in the first...I was positive that the second half they would mount a comeback and I would get all worried...they squashed that.

So I don't even want to jinx anything about the next game, or the playoffs or anything that could happen. I just want to sit back and hope it does but full of dread that the old cowboys might creep back. It is almost a sigh of relief when we when a game. It has been so long that it has been almost ingrained into some (including me) that we will find a way to screw it up instead of we will find a way to make it through. I am hopeful going forward, but verrrrry cautious in my enthusiasm as not to jinx it.

If any of that makes sense.

It's called maturing. We can't go punching walls and kicking puppies all our life over football games. I'm so used to losing that I've become numb to it.

 

[iceberg]

I'll tell you what, and not that I mean to whine about it, but why isn't this win a little more impressive? I mean, the Cowboys are getting some love, but much like their wins against Seattle and Philly, I'm hearing/reading some backhanded compliments. Like it was a good win, but Indy can't beat anyone good anyway, so whatever. Where was all the "Indy can't beat good teams" stuff before the game? Before the game, I very much got the impression that most of the world thought this thing would come down to week 17 again. So much for that.

you new to the cowboys?

some things you just accept in life and filter it out. I can't change an idiot from being an idiot, but I don't have to egg it on.

 

[SPCowboysfan9]

Man the defense showed up yesterday. Marinelli had his boys humming..........hustle and desire sometimes makes up for deficiencies

Only hope I had coming into the season was reading the media and fans mock our chances and talking 3-4 wins etc. One thing is a given.....the public is almost always WRONG....

Let's prove em wrong all the way to February............

 

[JoeKing]

Winning the division with a statement game is what this team needed. They not only stamped their ticket to the playoffs, they put the rest of the league on notice... the Boys are back!