RustyBourneHorse
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To make my point clear, let me start with the story of this season. Dak went down with his horrific injury against the Giants in Mid-October in a game we ended up winning. The season was already difficult at this point, but this was a much needed divisional win. However, this win was soured by the loss of Dak. The next game, we get taken to the cleaners by the Cardinals on Monday Night in what was arguably the worst showing that this team has had in a while. That was until the following week when we get taken to the cleaners by Washington. During that game, enter Ben DiNucci as Dalton left with an injury. We went on from there to another QB in Gilbert who nearly beat the then undefeated Steelers in a valiant effort before we'd come back to Dalton. Going into the last 4 games, of this season, we were 3-9 and sitting at the 3 or 4th overall pick. Many of us, including me truthfully, were begging for the "tank" to continue. However, the tank was not to be the story of the 2020 Dallas Cowboys. In the craziest of seasons in one of the worst years in history, the Cowboys reeled a 3 game winning streak. Going from one of the worst teams to arguably looking like a playoff team. Most importantly, McCarthy has done this with FOUR different QBs. He's won FOUR games with a backup QB. Something that the previous coach couldn't do. Oh, and in a season with no real offseason. Yet, this team is red hot right now. Even if we miss the playoffs, this is impressive, and McCarthy deserves A LOT of credit. More importantly, while our draft spot is getting lower, the CONFIDENCE of this team is growing. I have no idea what will happen next week. I certainly hope we make the playoffs. I think we could be a quietly dangerous team in the playoffs. This team has been playing like they've got nothing to lose. We've quietly become a team that is finding an identity while playing with a backup QB. Our defence is getting takeaways. The team is understanding the scheme that McCarthy is implementing. They are confident in themselves. Even if we miss the playoffs, this is important because it could make us a VERY dangerous team next year. Let's say, hypothetically, we beat the Giants and the WFT beats Philly. Sure, we'd finish 6-10 and in second place in a horrible division. Sure, it might've been nice to pick 4th overall. However, the confidence that this team is exhibiting is MUCH more important than picking 4th overall. This confidence and ability that this team is showing can feed into us becoming one of the most DANGEROUS teams going into next season.
To illustrate this, I shall give you all an example. Let me tell you all a story about Mike McCarthy. In 2006, McCarthy took over the Packers as HC. They went 8-8 and missed the playoffs that year. Ironically, they finished that season in 2nd place. They were 4-8 with 4 games remaining on their schedule. Yet, they won their final 4 games including a convincing 30-19 win over the 49ers in San Francisco against a good young QB by the name of Alex Smith (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Green_Bay_Packers_season) who finished the season 7-9. The next season, the Packers roll to an impressive 13-3 record. They had the same record as us that season. We were the 1 seed because we beat them on the Thursday Night game in which TO did his popcorn celebration. This was only their second loss of the season. They went on to the NFC Championship where they lost to the eventual SB Champion NY Giants. This was the final game for Brett Favre in a Packers uniform. Not saying we'll be exactly like the Packers were then, but this is not the first time that McCarthy has started his first year with a new team and had a rough year to start. Who knows where we will finish next season? And we still have a game to go! Who knows where we'll finish this season and what confidence THAT will bring going into next season?
I daresay, if we get some key pieces on defence fixed, have Dak back healthy next season, and a full offseason including preseason games and in person OTAs, we will be quite the contender going into next season. Furthermore, this might be just the season our team needs going into our future with McCarthy. This shows our team what it takes to win games and be a dangerous team. No matter what, the players that played on this team this season can point to this season to say, "No matter what, we can do this! We can start in a huge hole and make this kind of rally." I think we should be excited as a fan base.
To illustrate this, I shall give you all an example. Let me tell you all a story about Mike McCarthy. In 2006, McCarthy took over the Packers as HC. They went 8-8 and missed the playoffs that year. Ironically, they finished that season in 2nd place. They were 4-8 with 4 games remaining on their schedule. Yet, they won their final 4 games including a convincing 30-19 win over the 49ers in San Francisco against a good young QB by the name of Alex Smith (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Green_Bay_Packers_season) who finished the season 7-9. The next season, the Packers roll to an impressive 13-3 record. They had the same record as us that season. We were the 1 seed because we beat them on the Thursday Night game in which TO did his popcorn celebration. This was only their second loss of the season. They went on to the NFC Championship where they lost to the eventual SB Champion NY Giants. This was the final game for Brett Favre in a Packers uniform. Not saying we'll be exactly like the Packers were then, but this is not the first time that McCarthy has started his first year with a new team and had a rough year to start. Who knows where we will finish next season? And we still have a game to go! Who knows where we'll finish this season and what confidence THAT will bring going into next season?
I daresay, if we get some key pieces on defence fixed, have Dak back healthy next season, and a full offseason including preseason games and in person OTAs, we will be quite the contender going into next season. Furthermore, this might be just the season our team needs going into our future with McCarthy. This shows our team what it takes to win games and be a dangerous team. No matter what, the players that played on this team this season can point to this season to say, "No matter what, we can do this! We can start in a huge hole and make this kind of rally." I think we should be excited as a fan base.
