An unsolved mystery wrapped in an improbably glorious season

[BrAinPaiNt]

Is this one of those long winded ways of saying...we still have plenty of "tests" in front of us?

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I just don't see a physically tired, and mentally drained team for our Thanksgiving matchup against the Commanders. With the infusion of youth (2 rookies, QB & RB) our team feels energized.

The Cowboys have been hosting this game since the legendary Tex Schramm. Do you think they forgot how to manage the team on a short week? Losses come with a lack of talent for the most part, but this team is a band of brothers feeding off each other and playing for the man next to him. The culture is completely different from years past, and more reminiscent of early 90's teams.

This team knows the stakes. Sure, we could lose this game, but we've only lost one game by 1 measley point with two rookies just getting their feet wet on a botched "get outta bounds" play by a vet WR. That's it!

I'm not predicting a blowout win by the Cowboys, but I'm not worried about the short turnaround either.

Do you remember RG3 lighting the Cowboys up for like 35 points in the 1st half a few years ago? I live in the DC area. The Commanders are as potent an offense and balanced an offense in the NFL. Couple with the injuries we have in the secondary and our inability to pressure the QB. This does not bode well. The Commanders were running a 7 on 7 drill in 40 degree weather last night...with gusting winds. They have speed at WR, TE and RB. In a climate controlled climate like AT&T stadium...I can easily see them marching up and down the field against the Cowboys defense.

 

[Fletch]

Do you remember RG3 lighting the Cowboys up for like 35 points in the 1st half a few years ago? I live in the DC area. The Commanders are as potent an offense and balanced an offense in the NFL. Couple with the injuries we have in the secondary and our inability to pressure the QB. This does not bode well. The Commanders were running a 7 on 7 drill in 40 degree weather last night...with gusting winds. They have speed at WR, TE and RB. In a climate controlled climate like AT&T stadium...I can easily see them marching up and down the field against the Cowboys defense.

Our next test!

 

[TellerMorrow34]

There will be a new test every single week.

This team just needs to keep answering the challenge every week as they've been doing.

 

[Teague31]

Doubt there is a single person on CZ that thinks we have a SB caliber defense cause we don't. We just have to hope our offense can keep them off the field

 

[bayeslife]

If Romo was the starter I'd bet this thread never gets posted.

And lol @ the true season doesn't start until after Thanksgiving. And when Prescott and the Cowboys are finished dominating the regular season the true season doesn't start until playoffs.

Edit: I'm just going to additionally point out what a garbage stat "teams with a winning record" is. 3 of the Cowboys opponents are 5-5 right now. So change your stat to 4 teams with a winning record.

 

[viman96]

The true season starts in Sept like it does every year. Why? Because every game counts.

 

[MagicMan]

I'm getting sick and tired of hearing the Cowboys' opponents records so sorry looking and going with that as how soft it has been. If you look at the mighty Pats schedule, the combined record for them is 37-50-2. And the best team they played to was a big LOSS. So this is a pattern for most teams since there are many teams with sorry records that cheapen your record. All you can do is go out and beat what is in front of you. And the Cowboys have done that only losing by 1 measly point in the first game or we would be looking at an undefeated season.

Can't wait to get the seahawks at home and then the pats in Houston to silence all the critics. That seems to be the only way this will be resolved.

 

[Kevinicus]

This week schedule talk is seriously flawed. Who have the Patriots played? Who have the Seahawks played? You play who is on your schedule and we are deserving of that record. Also we play in the NFC east possibly the toughest division in the NFL.

It is not flawed to point out the FACT that the remaining schedule looks a bit tougher than what has come before it. Compare the green and red.

 

[MRV52]

It is not flawed to point out the FACT that the remaining schedule looks a bit tougher than what has come before it. Compare the green and red.

Everyone was saying before we played the Eagles, Pittsburgh and Ravens that it would be a test for us. We went through that with no problem. The schedule will be tougher but I think we will be fine, if we can put away the Commanders this game we will be on our way.

 

[Kevinicus]

Everyone was saying before we played the Eagles, Pittsburgh and Ravens that it would be a test for us. We went through that with no problem. The schedule will be tougher but I think we will be fine, if we can put away the Commanders this game we will be on our way.

We may be...but it's still tougher. I don't think many people thought the Ravens would be much of a test. Most were saying quite the opposite. People also thought Pittsburgh was a much better team until recently. The Eagles had us beat but blew it and it still went to OT. The Stealers took the lead with 42 seconds. Hard to say it was "no problem."

I agree with the OP that the next 3 weeks will show a lot.

 

[DTown214]

If we didn't beat Philly, Pittsburg, and Baltimore, they'd all be above .500. Those are all respectable if not pretty good teams. That's just what happens when you run into the best team in the league. So the point is, it's likely that teams we haven't faced are gonna have a better record than teams we have faced. The schedule doesn't really get any harder. In fact, it gets much easier in my opinion.

 

[plasticman]

Give our opponents a win over the Cowboys instead of a loss and five of ten would have a winning season right now.

This season didnt happen overnight, the groundwork was lain over the past five seasons, a culture, a system of acquiring talent in which certain attributes were sought.

It's like the percect chemical reaction but in order to have one you have to create its potential by providing the proper sequence of chemicals and actions.

It takes someone who knows how to build a team, recognize the right kind of players and look for those special skill sets. It also takes a little luck.

Jimmy didnt want to draft Emmitt but his giy was taken before he could take him.

Randy White was available in 1975 from the Cowboys trading Craig Morton to the Giants who then tanked, giving the Cowboys the #2 overall pick.

For this present chemical reaction to have occured the Cowboys needed two injured quarterbacks, an inability to draft a QB in the first three rounds, and another QB receiving a DWI charge just before the draft.

Otherwise, this doesnt happen.

 

[KJJ]

I agree given the unlikely position the Cowboys find themselves in is even more reasons I give Garrett and his staff major kudos for this magical season thus far.

I'm giving Dak and Zeke the credit for this magical season because without them we would be going through what we did last season. Garrett and his staff's success like all coaches are tied to the players primarily the QB especially on this team that's been so QB dependent. If we were stuck with Kellen Moore and Morris at RB we would be lucky if we had 3-4 wins right now.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm giving Dak and Zeke the credit for this magical season because without them we would be going through what we did last season. Garrett and his staff's success like all coaches are tied to the players primarily the QB especially on this team that's been so QB dependent. If we were stuck with Kellen Moore and Morris at RB we would be lucky if we had 3-4 wins right now.

well then you could say that about any of the contending teams because they have talent as well. Rookies are not coaching themselves. We don't know if we would be stuck with Moore who is to say Dak would not have beaten him out. Dallas was actively looking for vet QB but as Dak showed more they stuck with him instead of looking for a vet starter. Fact is those who do not like Garrett are not going to give him credit for anything but I don't see any winning coaches in the NFL who are winning without talented players so if Garrett and staff should get no credit then I guess no coaches deserve credit.

 

[TheHerd]

Another point about teams we've played. Teams like Pitt and Balt were healthier against the Boys than at other times in the season. Just pointing out that the two teams we just beat may be better than their records show.

 

[KJJ]

well then you could say that about any of the contending teams because they have talent as well. Rookies are not coaching themselves. We don't know if we would be stuck with Moore who is to say Dak would not have beaten him out. Dallas was actively looking for vet QB but as Dak showed more they stuck with him instead of looking for a vet starter. Fact is those who do not like Garrett are not going to give him credit for anything but I don't see any winning coaches in the NFL who are winning without talented players so if Garrett and staff should get no credit then I guess no coaches deserve credit.

I'm saying we may have been stuck with Moore had we not drafted Dak. Rookies don't coach themselves but let's be honest we've had a number of rookies and other players not pan out. Dak and Zeke are special and they couldn't have come along at a better time for Garrett and his staff because they were all on the hot seat entering this season. Certainly Garrett deserves some credit, he was part of the drafting process that took notice of Dak but we did get very lucky because we were looking to draft other QBs who fell off the board. Dak wasn't the first on our list of QBs and we got extremely lucky and it saved Garrett and several other coaches their jobs.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm saying we may have been stuck with Moore had we not drafted Dak. Rookies don't coach themselves but let's be honest we've had a number of rookies and other players not pan out. Dak and Zeke are special and they couldn't have come along at a better time for Garrett and his staff because they were all on the hot seat entering this season. Certainly Garrett deserves some credit, he was part of the drafting process that took notice of Dak but we did get very lucky because we were looking to draft other QBs who fell off the board. Dak wasn't the first on our list of QBs and we got extremely lucky and it saved Garrett and several other coaches their jobs.

Every team has players who do not pan out. Cowboys did draft Zeke despite the fact some said it was stupid to select a RB that high. Dak being a later pick to an extent was a lucky pick but Dallas was still working him out, interviewing him and when he was there where they projected him at they selected him. Luck but also a lot of homework put in on Dak. Thing is it is not just the drafting part it is the coaching an entire team and keeping them focused. As I said these players are not putting in the long hours and putting the game plan together the coaches are. Dak deserves a lot of credit but then so do the coaches for how they have worked with him and brought him long. Garrett staff and himself deserve a lot of credit, god knows they have been blamed for everything else but they have this team playing beyond any expectations.

 

[pancakeman]

Only two teams that Dallas has played have a winning record right now, and Dallas only beat one of them. ...

Sure, had some of these teams beaten Dallas, they'd have winning records, so the Cowboys are partly responsible for those records,

I think it should be a forum rule that the Cowboys games are disallowed when figuring how many opponents have winning records. Cowboys are 4-1, not 1-1, against such teams this year. Put that way, suddenly the situation doesn't seem so serious--I don't imagine there's a coach who wouldn't be happy with winning 80% of all games against winning teams.

Your overall point is a fair one, but no need to ***** the numbers to underscore it.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Do you remember RG3 lighting the Cowboys up for like 35 points in the 1st half a few years ago? I live in the DC area. The Commanders are as potent an offense and balanced an offense in the NFL. Couple with the injuries we have in the secondary and our inability to pressure the QB. This does not bode well. The Commanders were running a 7 on 7 drill in 40 degree weather last night...with gusting winds. They have speed at WR, TE and RB. In a climate controlled climate like AT&T stadium...I can easily see them marching up and down the field against the Cowboys defense.

They also have a LT not playing and a RT playing on one leg. That should even out our secondary problems.