Whatever happened to people respecting those who have a nuanced approach to things? Why is it so sacrilegious to see all sides and form your own opinion on things? This site is a microcosm (and perfect example) of how society has become. It's quite disturbing. No one side is completely right about the Cowboys. No one side is completely wrong about the Cowboys. Why do people get so offended that someone is hesitant to go all in on the team when it's so often folded like a lawn chair in critical moments? Why do others get so offended that someone is choosing to believe this time it's different? Five times (in my opinion) this season, the Cowboys had a chance to make statement games. Unfortunately due to history and the standings at the time, two of those were more important than the other three. That doesn't discount that the other three are also important. In those five games, the Cowboys are 3-2.
-While it's not a statement game the loss to the Cardinals, a game they had no business losing, it set up the stage for later:
-Their Achilles heel, the 49ers, absolutely owned the Cowboys for the third time in a row on Oct 8. This was their chance to get the monkey off their back and make a bold move toward the playoff race and they wet the bed.
-By the early morning of November 5, the Commanders were 3-5, the Giants were 2-6, and the Cowboys were 5-2 had a chance to make huge headway in the division race when they faced the 7-1 Eagles. Even before the games were played Nov 5, it was pretty obvious the Division was a two team race between the Cowboys and the Eagles. At the end of the day on Nov 5, The Cowboys once again failed when it mattered and lost to the Eagles, leaving the standings that day at Eagles 8-1, Cowboys 5-3, Commanders 4-5, and Giants at 2-7. Their loss took their fate more out of their hands (for yet another season) and more into the hands of the Eagles. The most frustrating part is that the Cowboys looked overall the better team and ended up beating themselves. This is not a once in a lifetime occurrence but a regular trend with the team from season to season.
- However, the other three statement games (the divisional ones), the Cowboys obliterated the Giants twice and Washington once (so far). 3-1 in the Division so far. ( The Eagles, meanwhile, are currently 3-0 in the division right now. Any current tiebreakers going to the Eagles.) The Dec 3 Eagles-49ers game is big for the Cowboys and even more important is the Dec 10 Cowboys-Eagles game.
The current point differential for the Cowboys is 162 points. That's insane and awesome! It's 101 points more than the Eagles point differential at 61. But point differentials only matter in the results of tiebreakers after other things. Doesn't it come after 1) Overall record, 2) Divisional Record, 3) Conference record, and 4) Non-Conference record?
Now let's look at Current Standings:
Eagles: 9-1 (Currently holds tiebreaker vs Cowboys because of their win over them. Their only loss came to a Non-conference opponent.)
Cowboys: 8-3 (Their three losses came to Conference opponents. Even if the Cowboys beat the Eagles Dec 10, the Eagles still have the tiebreaker so far if they have equal W-L records)
Commanders: 4-8
Giants: 3-8
Now, with all of that information in mind and while it's awesome and exciting that the Cowboys are dominating a bunch of other teams, how exactly will those curb stomps help if they fail to win when critical games for the Division and the playoffs? How can you not at least understand how some people are wary when two very important games (49ers, Eagles) showed them that it might be the same old thing in the end, the thing we've seen for 27 years now?
Please, enlighten me how the 101 point difference in point differential of opponents between the Cowboys and Eagles help the Cowboys in any way change the current standings...that the Cowboys now don't fully control their destiny and need the Eagles to choke. The Cowboys are 8-3 and that's really good. They're dominating in games they should be dominating, unlike in some years where they might lose or have squeak-by wins because the offense or defense failed to show that week. They're actually strong in all phases in these stomps. But make no mistake, these dominant curb stomps only help so much. It's the W-L record that matters more in the end. It's them winning in determining games that is their usual weakness and something they really need to overcome and start winning before they have a hope of getting to the SB.
I'm exciting by the direction they are heading after some heartbreaking losses this season. They're showing more resilience and hope. This is an exciting team to watch. Enjoy the ride (I plan to) but also respect that some people are tired of the fool's gold the team has been displaying for so long. The culture of the team needs to change.
(And for those that are negative after wins: omg, lighten up and enjoy the win for at least an evening before trying to poo poo everything. Chill out. The Cowboys just obliterated the Commanders. That's always cause to celebrate!)
