A reason to be encouraged

[rcaldw]

Besides the obvious (we are in 1st place and lead in some pretty significant tiebreakers) here is a quick breakdown of our results.

The combined record of the teams we have lost to: 25-8
The combined record of the teams we have beaten: 14-28

Now, one might argue (and rightfully so) that we have lost to every team .500 or above. But I would suggest a couple of things to remember.

a. Three of our four losses have come on the road (KC, San Diego, Detroit)
b. We have lost the four games by a COMBINED 14 points (-1 to 9-0 KC; -9 at 4-4 San Diego; -3 to 7-1 Denver; -1 to 5-3 Detroit)

One might also argue that we have won our games against teams with below .500 records (already acknowledged as true). But one thing should encourage us even as we consider that. Despite a lot of hubbub about only winning by 4 points against a 1-7 Vikings team (Seattle struggled with winless TB at home too by the way), the Cowboys have actually handled these bad teams pretty handily for the most part.

The 3-5 Giants +5
The 3-6 Rams +24
The 3-5 Commanders +15
The 4-5 Eagles +14

What I'm seeing is that we are beating the teams we SHOULD beat by a good margin this season. We have lost 4 games, 3 on the road, against very good teams, by a combined 14 points.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

No so sure "encouraged" is the right word

 

[Doomsday101]

I like the fact we won it keeps us in the lead in the east but this team needs to pick it and start playing better and more consistent football. In my view they are capable of better play and they need to step it up or else they will get bumped out quickly.

 

[rcaldw]

No so sure "encouraged" is the right word

I think it is. If we were (as a pattern, not just one game against the Vikings) barely beating the bad teams, and getting blown out by the better teams, then one could argue that our record is deceiving. What I see is that we can play with the better teams, and for the most part have exerted our will on the bad teams. Continue to improve and we aren't far away.

 

[Crown Royal]

The margin of victory is the single most encouraging thing. Our defense is bad enough that I can't see us having a ton of blowout victories, but we aren't getting curbstomped.

 

[visionary]

great post

esp because we are likely to see a bunch of losing teams in the playoffs

 

[rcaldw]

great post

esp because we are likely to see a bunch of losing teams in the playoffs

Hmmm, apparently you missed half of what I posted. Against the best teams we have played we were right there with a chance to win. We lost to 9-0 Kansas City ON THE ROAD by 1 pt.

We lost to all-world (so we were told) Denver by 3 pts.

If we get in the playoffs we won't play anyone that can say we don't have a reasonable chance to beat them.

 

[sacowboysfan513]

I agree to an extent with the op

But man a win vs the saints would show that this team is not only capable of beating a good team, but beating them on the road.

Being 2 games over 500 would feel like we just won the super bowl around here

 

[Crown Royal]

Frankly, this team is good enough that we can beat any other team. Unfortunately, it is not good enough that other teams look at is as being unbeatable if they bring their own A game. Which means that we will continue to see other teams playing lights out because we are a 'beatable' team in their eyes. There is little psychological edge in our game.

 

[visionary]

Hmmm, apparently you missed half of what I posted. Against the best teams we have played we were right there with a chance to win. We lost to 9-0 Kansas City ON THE ROAD by 1 pt.

We lost to all-world (so we were told) Denver by 3 pts.

If we get in the playoffs we won't play anyone that can say we don't have a reasonable chance to beat them.

the thing you are missing is that against all of those teams, even though we were right there, we found a way to lose every single game

we have not beaten a single good team so far

not one!!

in the playoffs we will need to beat teams of this caliber or better 4 consecutive weeks

none of this is particularly "encouraging" to me

 

[ctrous25]

257-209 that is +48 for points scored this season. .next in our division is the eagles and they're at -4.. we our currently 6 th in the nfc at net points

 

[crashintonickdm]

this team always takes the we're gonna give the fans heart attacks for 16 sundays out of the year route.

seriously, whens the last time we won easily or got severely blown out? @ Philly in 2011?

EDIT: lol the rams game a few weeks ago. but besides that?

 

[dallasdave]

A reason to be encouraged is we are ahead of the Eagles and Commanders.

 

[Sarge]

This team is so .500 it's not funny.

 

[5Stars]

This team is so .500 it's not funny.

Well, not as of now, but, I am not encouraged by what I'm seeing. They can play like a Jr. High School team for 58 minutes, then go from 0 to 160 the next 2 minutes! I really think the coaching staff is either trying to outsmart or get cute during a game rather than just going out and from the get go and let the chips fall as they may.

They were in the 2 minute offense during the game winning drive, well, why the hell don't they get in to the 58 minute offense like the 2 minute offense?!!

Jekyll and Hyde team.

 

[rcaldw]

I agree to an extent with the op

But man a win vs the saints would show that this team is not only capable of beating a good team, but beating them on the road.

Being 2 games over 500 would feel like we just won the super bowl around here

I agree with you.

 

[30yrheel]

This team is so .500 it's not funny.

And trending down by my point of view.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

And trending down by my point of view.

I see your point, but of all the NFC East teams, I can argue the Cowboys have actually been the least disappointing. If Dallas wins all the remaining games they "should" win (Giants, Raiders, Commanders, and Eagles), they'll win the division easily. And let's not just assume the Saints, Bears, and Packers games are all losses.

Are the Cowboys then a one and done playoff team? Probably, but it would beat missing the playoffs for a fourth year in a row.

 

[Cowboys=SuperBowl]

Besides the obvious (we are in 1st place and lead in some pretty significant tiebreakers) here is a quick breakdown of our results.

The combined record of the teams we have lost to: 25-8
The combined record of the teams we have beaten: 14-28

Now, one might argue (and rightfully so) that we have lost to every team .500 or above. But I would suggest a couple of things to remember.

a. Three of our four losses have come on the road (KC, San Diego, Detroit)
b. We have lost the four games by a COMBINED 14 points (-1 to 9-0 KC; -9 at 4-4 San Diego; -3 to 7-1 Denver; -1 to 5-3 Detroit)

One might also argue that we have won our games against teams with below .500 records (already acknowledged as true). But one thing should encourage us even as we consider that. Despite a lot of hubbub about only winning by 4 points against a 1-7 Vikings team (Seattle struggled with winless TB at home too by the way), the Cowboys have actually handled these bad teams pretty handily for the most part.

The 3-5 Giants +5
The 3-6 Rams +24
The 3-5 Commanders +15
The 4-5 Eagles +14

What I'm seeing is that we are beating the teams we SHOULD beat by a good margin this season. We have lost 4 games, 3 on the road, against very good teams, by a combined 14 points.

Great post. I ALSO AM INCLINED TO THINK THAT THE CLOSE DONKEY LOSS WILL PAY DIVIDENDS COME PLAYOFF TIME....

 

[SWG9]

And trending down by my point of view.

And this is the real issue. This is the worst offence Dallas has fielded in years, and it's a catastrophically terrible defence. The two most important (and difficult to replace) players, Romo and Ware, look like shells of their former selves. Not to mention the cap difficulties next year (and spare me "it's no big deal" line; this team is severely flawed with no real hope of using FA to plug any holes)

I'm happy that the team has the inside track on the NFC East, and I fully expect them to win it. I'm just not under any illusions about the medium term future of this franchise.

Bottom line: I'm trying to enjoy whatever success the team has this year, because I have a feeling it could be a long time in the wilderness after 2013.