A voice of reason...

[Alexander]

Exactly, though IMO we would have been 12-2 at least with a good kicker

We also could have been beaten in the last minute by San Diego, not hit the deep bomb/late TD against San Francisco, Brandon Jacobs would have tied the game in Dallas had he not fumbled, Williams would have not received the gift interception from McNabb. Lawrence Tynes could have hit his FG.

We could have been anywhere up and down the scale. We could have been 6-10 with worse luck. Anyone who denies that is fooling themselves.

 

[Sarge]

Exactly, though IMO we would have been 12-2 at least with a good kicker

What'd they do with the other 2 games?

 

[The30YardSlant]

What'd they do with the other 2 games?

Sorry, I meant 12-4

 

[Drederick Tatum]

We also could have been beaten in the last minute by San Diego, not hit the deep bomb/late TD against San Francisco, Brandon Jacobs would have tied the game in Dallas had he not fumbled, Williams would have not received the gift interception from McNabb. Lawrence Tynes could have hit his FG.

We could have been anywhere up and down the scale. We could have been 6-10 with worse luck. Anyone who denies that is fooling themselves.

I agree with you.

I find it interesting when people say with one play or another from a game that the Cowboys would have won (or lost) more games than they have. The fact is we will never know the answer to this. The reality is that every play changes every other event that comes after it. So, for instance, if Cundiff makes that FG, does everything else after that play out the exactly the same way it did, or does that change make a whole new decision path for everything else that follows. We'll never know.

 

[percyhoward]

When I found out we weren't going to make the playoffs, the last thing I wanted to do was watch that game Sunday night. I had it on, but wasn't paying much attention. Probably less attention than I'd give to a preseason game.

Imagine actually having to play in it.

 

[diehard2294]

You know, it really amazes me how much a entire fanbase can switch perspectives in such a short amount of time.

6 weeks ago, when this team was 7-3 and moments away from beating a VERY good Denver team, this board was in a state I've never seen it. Everyone was talking about this team contending for a superbowl birth. We were saying how much BP had done for this franchise (yes, even those of you trying to tell us all now how you "told us so" and how BP has lost it). We were on top of the world, so to speak.

Then, Billy Cundiff misses a FG, Drew Bledsoe fumbles the ball inside the 10 a week later, Washington gives us our first (and only) big loss of the season, and just like that, we had made no progress in 3 years, BP needs to go, Bledsoe sucks, JJ sucks, all the coaches suck, we have no future, etc.

It's utterly ridiculous. We were 1 injury (Flozell Adams) away from, most likely, a playoff birth, maybe even a division title. Think about how many games we lost because Torrin Tucker is so god-awful?

We we lost 3 games because our FG kickers couldnt make chip shot, less than 35 yard FGs. We have even a decent kicker and bam, we're 12-4 and division champs.

The point is, we are not a terrible team, BP is not a terrible coach, and we are just fine for the future. Flozell Adams will return next year, and finding a decent kicker isnt that difficult. This is a good team who caught some bad breaks, had to break in a completely new defensive system, had no special teams help, and yet STILL won 9 games and was literally 4 plays away from winning 13.

At the start of this season, if I had had told you we would be 9-6 going into week 17 with a shot at a playoff birth, EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT. Few on this board predicted better than 9-7 or 10-6. Guess what? We did EXACTLY what most of you thought we would. You know what? We did have a chance to be so much better, and that's exactly why you cant sit there and say this team is in shambles, because had we won those 4 close games like we very easily could have, we would be 13-3, have the #1 seed in the NFC, and everyone here would be bowing to the demi-god known as BP. Instead, our players fail to execute late and we lose those games, all of a sudden we suck and have no chance in the future? No sir.

yeah I also remember how you told us to relax after the Seattle debacle, "it's only one game relax people. I bet you and the rest of us would like that game back. Yesterday's game meant nothing more then playing for pride and respect,and how about not having a sour taste in your mouth all offseason.

 

[30yrheel]

next year, next year, blah, blah blah. i am so damn sick of next year. i was patient and excited 3 years ago but now i can't help but expect more of the same. yeah, we're improved, but that's what drafting high and making better picks and having money for free agents is supposed to bring.
fact is, we ARE behind the sorry skins and giants. add in the bears and a team with no history, the panthers. all ahead of our team.

 

[Kilyin]

next year, next year, blah, blah blah. i am so damn sick of next year. i was patient and excited 3 years ago but now i can't help but expect more of the same. yeah, we're improved, but that's what drafting high and making better picks and having money for free agents is supposed to bring.
fact is, we ARE behind the sorry skins and giants. add in the bears and a team with no history, the panthers. all ahead of our team.

That pretty much sums it up.

 

[jimmy40]

In a game that didnt matter, and everyone of our players played like it.

yeah, it meant so much to the Rams.

 

[jimmy40]

I don't disagree with this, in general, but truthfully, we were we REALLY that good?

We scored a touchdown in the closing seconds versus San Diego. We were lucky to score a touchdown with 1:51 remaining in the game to beat a horrific San Francisco team. We went to OT to beat the Giants. Then the Monday Night Miracle against Philadelphia with Roy returing an INT for the winning margin.

This club was 7-3 going into the Denver game. It very well could have been - maybe should have been - 3-7.

There was no game on the schedule that posts on this board didn't include thread titles such as 'Scared going into this game...', or 'This game worries me...'.

That is not the mark of a championship (or playoff) football team.

The real truth lies in this: This team has not drafted a wide receiver in the first round since Alvin Harper ('91) - and that was only because we had 3 first round picks. He was not our first selection.

That's 14 years ago.

This team has not drafted a running back in the first round since Emmitt Smith ('90).

That's 15 years ago.

This team has not drafted a quarterback in the first round since Troy Aikman ('89).

That's 16 years ago.

It begins and ends with these facts. That is why this team has not played in a meaningful game since 1995.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you can't talk about the lucky wins, only the unlucky losses.

 

[jimmy40]

They were there, I saw them, tackle, score and play all phases of the game.

Your arguing with a guy that said Philly didn't play hard.

 

[scottsp]

We also could have been beaten in the last minute by San Diego, not hit the deep bomb/late TD against San Francisco, Brandon Jacobs would have tied the game in Dallas had he not fumbled, Williams would have not received the gift interception from McNabb. Lawrence Tynes could have hit his FG.

We could have been anywhere up and down the scale. We could have been 6-10 with worse luck. Anyone who denies that is fooling themselves.

Absolutely. I also agree with your stance on the game vs. the Rams.

The problem, for me, with all of this is, the mindset that the Cowboys will somehow be more fortunate with regards to injuries next season. Really? Many like to point to the unfortunate turns with Flozell Adams and Anthony Henry. Yeah, that really sucked. But once again, the offense should not completely bog down after the starting left tackle goes down.

Yes, I understand how valuable good offensive tackles are. And it makes perfect sense that the overall execution will likely suffer to an extent, but going into a shell is only to our own detriment.

Once again, we will incur some rather nasty injuries again in 2006 - to key personnel. It is a certainty. Hopefully by then, we will have a stronger set of contingencies in place. If we do not, please don't be shocked by a repeat performance of 2005.

Alexander mentioned the St. Louis game in repsonse, and I agree. We did not throw out the gameplan an hour beforehand, once we learned the playoffs were a no-go. As was the case for most of the season, we could not run the football effectively. The Rams are as bad against the run as it gets. That defense was yielding just about 5 yards per rush. What do we do? Oh, about 2.6 an attempt.

The Ram defense put eight in the box the entire night and dared us to exploit that. Adam Archuleta, for all intents and purposes, was a fourth linebacker the entire night. We were never able to force them out of that.

And I have my doubts as to if we would have been able to do so had Philly managed to win their game earlier in the day.

 

[Alexander]

Absolutely. I also agree with your stance on the game vs. the Rams.

The problem, for me, with all of this is, the mindset that the Cowboys will somehow be more fortunate with regards to injuries next season. Really? Many like to point to the unfortunate turns with Flozell Adams and Anthony Henry. Yeah, that really sucked. But once again, the offense should not completely bog down after the starting left tackle goes down.

It does when you were holding the right side down with spit and baling wire.

Tucker was our right tackle last year. He did not allow double digits sacks. That was with Andre Gurode starting alongside him for 13 games. What does that tell you?

Alexander mentioned the St. Louis game in repsonse, and I agree. We did not throw out the gameplan an hour beforehand, once we learned the playoffs were a no-go. As was the case for most of the season, we could not run the football effectively. The Rams are as bad against the run as it gets. That defense was yielding just about 5 yards per rush. What do we do? Oh, about 2.6 an attempt.

The Ram defense put eight in the box the entire night and dared us to exploit that. Adam Archuleta, for all intents and purposes, was a fourth linebacker the entire night. We were never able to force them out of that.

And I have my doubts as to if we would have been able to do so had Philly managed to win their game earlier in the day.

I am sure we came out a little flat. Of course we did. But our gameplan for that game was completely sniffed out and blown apart by the Rams. We did nothing to counteract what they were doing and had perhaps our most pathetic offensive display of the year.

We were not prepared for that game. No matter what the stakes.

 

[scottsp]

The point is, we are not a terrible team, BP is not a terrible coach, and we are just fine for the future. Flozell Adams will return next year, and finding a decent kicker isnt that difficult. This is a good team who caught some bad breaks, had to break in a completely new defensive system, had no special teams help, and yet STILL won 9 games and was literally 4 plays away from winning 13.

You make some decent points, HH. But you fail to mention our good turns of fortune mixed in there as well.

BTW, good kickers apparently are hard to find. Just look at what we continually take into each season. And at the end of each season, what are we saying? I submit to you we could have done a hell of a lot better than this Billy Cundiff-Jose Cortez hodgepodge out of camp. For whatever reason, we did not opt to do so.

This was not the first season we've bit the bullet with our kicking game and paid dearly for it. I seriously doubt it will be the last.

 

[scottsp]

It does when you were holding the right side down with spit and baling wire.

Tucker was our right tackle last year. He did not allow double digits sacks. That was with Andre Gurode starting alongside him for 13 games. What does that tell you?

I am sure we came out a little flat. Of course we did. But our gameplan for that game was completely sniffed out and blown apart by the Rams. We did nothing to counteract what they were doing and had perhaps our most pathetic offensive display of the year.

We were not prepared for that game. No matter what the stakes.

That is my point exactly. My problem is not with Rob Petitti, per se. I'm taking issue with the fact we broke camp with no better option at right tackle than a rookie sixth round pick who didn't exactly set the world on fire prior to being named the starter.

Obviously, Kurt Vollers was not what they wanted over there. They wanted to upgrade over Tucker. So, in and out goes Rogers. And that's it...just like that?

I'm sure many of us here understand the reality that injuries figure in quite heavily over the course of a season. I don't expect quality depth behind all five starters up front, or everywhere else for that matter. I realize this isn't 1993.

I would hope for something functional in case someone goes down, but that's just me.

 

[Alexander]

That is my point exactly. My problem is not with Rob Petitti, per se. I'm taking issue with the fact we broke camp with no better option at right tackle than a rookie sixth round pick who didn't exactly set the world on fire prior to being named the starter.

This marks the second straight year we have gambled on an affirmed inferior talent and lost.

We tried to fight the odds at right cornerback last season with Pete Hunter.

We did the same thing this time around.

As for Jacob Rogers, it scores even fewer points with me when people mention that he was the plan out there.

Why on earth would we plan on a player who could not even get active for a game in his entire rookie year to be the starter? Much less one coming off surgery?

We simply got caught trying to grease one through.

That's two seasons in a row. I hope there isn't a third.

 

[Chuck 54]

You know, it really amazes me how much a entire fanbase can switch perspectives in such a short amount of time.

6 weeks ago, when this team was 7-3 and moments away from beating a VERY good Denver team, this board was in a state I've never seen it. Everyone was talking about this team contending for a superbowl birth. We were saying how much BP had done for this franchise (yes, even those of you trying to tell us all now how you "told us so" and how BP has lost it). We were on top of the world, so to speak.

Then, Billy Cundiff misses a FG, Drew Bledsoe fumbles the ball inside the 10 a week later, Washington gives us our first (and only) big loss of the season, and just like that, we had made no progress in 3 years, BP needs to go, Bledsoe sucks, JJ sucks, all the coaches suck, we have no future, etc.

It's utterly ridiculous. We were 1 injury (Flozell Adams) away from, most likely, a playoff birth, maybe even a division title. Think about how many games we lost because Torrin Tucker is so god-awful?

We we lost 3 games because our FG kickers couldnt make chip shot, less than 35 yard FGs. We have even a decent kicker and bam, we're 12-4 and division champs.

The point is, we are not a terrible team, BP is not a terrible coach, and we are just fine for the future. Flozell Adams will return next year, and finding a decent kicker isnt that difficult. This is a good team who caught some bad breaks, had to break in a completely new defensive system, had no special teams help, and yet STILL won 9 games and was literally 4 plays away from winning 13.

At the start of this season, if I had had told you we would be 9-6 going into week 17 with a shot at a playoff birth, EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT. Few on this board predicted better than 9-7 or 10-6. Guess what? We did EXACTLY what most of you thought we would. You know what? We did have a chance to be so much better, and that's exactly why you cant sit there and say this team is in shambles, because had we won those 4 close games like we very easily could have, we would be 13-3, have the #1 seed in the NFC, and everyone here would be bowing to the demi-god known as BP. Instead, our players fail to execute late and we lose those games, all of a sudden we suck and have no chance in the future? No sir.

I haven't heard anyone say we have no chance in the future, but you're right about the fact that compared to the playoff teams, we don't belong. We proved that all season long.

A better team would show up to play every week, especially against NY and Washington in the final month with so much on the line...instead we were manhandled by both. Either we didn't come to play or they are that much better than we are...take your pick...both are bad comments on our team.

As for going from 7-3 to 9-7, that has a lot to do with schedule, coaching, and players. Just like leading a game in the 3rd quarter doesn't make you a good team if you lose the game after 60 minutes, starting 7-3 doesn't make you a good team when you hit the tougher part of your schedule and finish 2-4. The score after 50 minutes is all that matters...the final record after 16 games is all that matters. We're the 3rd best team in our own 4 team division. That's a fact that can't be argued. All we can do is hope we're a better team next year because while we once only had to close on the Eagles, now we have 2 new teams to close on.

 

[Chuck 54]

WHAT????

If that's true, then we have more serious problems with coaches, manhood, and professionalism than I thought.

So what's your excuse for our being manhandled by NY and Washington with the division and then our playoff lives on the line?

We are still a team that is inconsistant and can't string wins together.

 

[Chuck 54]

When I found out we weren't going to make the playoffs, the last thing I wanted to do was watch that game Sunday night. I had it on, but wasn't paying much attention. Probably less attention than I'd give to a preseason game.

Imagine actually having to play in it.

Funny that St. Louis kicked our butts all over the field...what were they playing for?

 

[percyhoward]

Funny that St. Louis kicked our butts all over the field...what were they playing for?

Better question: What were they hoping or expecting to be playing for?