Are We At The "Must Win" Stage?

[Kangaroo]

I would answer "yes".

We either beat the Skins OR I think we will have dug a hole for ourselves that we probably won't get out of.

It's funny but I think the Skins situation greatly "mirrors" ours. Whoever loses this game is going to be in a pile of dung.

This season had awfully high expectations... and either those expectations start to be met this coming Sunday or the loser misses the playoffs and faces a very interesting off-season.

The question is how many teams make the playoffs that start 0-2 while this is what I found below

Out of the 121 teams that have started 0-2 since the playoffs expanded to their current format in 1990, only 17 have reached the postseason.

So the odds are that if we start 0-2 we only have a 14% chance of making the playoffs.

Two teams that I remember doing that are Dallas (all the way to SB) but the 0-2 was caused by Emmitt not being under contract. So we gained a sure fire HOF RB in his prime back that changes a team dynamic.

Green 1992 started 0-2 and guess what they pulled their starting QB and replaced him with a young Bret Favre to make the playoffs.

So if this team starts 0-2 then the odds of the Cowboys making the playoffs are not good. In fact the chances are that if we go 0-2 and do not make a change at the QB poistion then I say we do not make the playoffs.

So yes it is a must win game

PS: This was data from 2005 so it do not include last years season (do not know how last year changed the numbers I am sure it was still par for the course)

 

[lspain1]

Yes

Home game
Division Rival
Following a Road Loss
More tough road games ahead

Must Win

 

[gbrittain]

The question is how many teams make the playoffs that start 0-2 while this is what I found below

Out of the 121 teams that have started 0-2 since the playoffs expanded to their current format in 1990, only 17 have reached the postseason.

So the odds are that if we start 0-2 we only have a 14% chance of making the playoffs.

Two teams that I remember doing that are Dallas (all the way to SB) but the 0-2 was caused by Emmitt not being under contract. So we gained a sure fire HOF RB in his prime back that changes a team dynamic.

Green 1992 started 0-2 and guess what they pulled their starting QB and replaced him with a young Bret Favre to make the playoffs.

So if this team starts 0-2 then the odds of the Cowboys making the playoffs are not good. In fact the chances are that if we go 0-2 and do not make a change at the QB poistion then I say we do not make the playoffs.

So yes it is a must win game

Good research by the way. Here is what many people are missing when they dismiss games like the Jacksonville game and even the Washington game if Dallas were to lose it and that is the fact that good teams do not start 0-2.

Sure from a "there are 14 games left" way, there is plenty of time to get on a roll and easily overcome an 0-2 defecit.

The problem is good teams do not start out 0-2. They just do not as evidenced by your research.

 

[dbair1967]

It's probably alot more important game for us than them...we lost to them twice last yr in embarassing fashion, and the week two loss at home clearly set a negative tone for the entire year...if we lose and Bledsoe plays poorly again we'll not only be 0-2 and in last place, but we'll probably have an out of control QB controversy on our hands

we really need to win this week and show Sunday's loss was more of a fluke...if we lose and Bledsoe struggles again, the defense stinks again and we cant run the ball with any consistency it might be a real hint at the Titanic going down for us...

David

 

[InmanRoshi]

Good research by the way. Here is what many people are missing when they dismiss games like the Jacksonville game and even the Washington game if Dallas were to lose it and that is the fact that good teams do not start 0-2.

Sure from a "there are 14 games left" way, there is plenty of time to get on a roll and easily overcome an 0-2 defecit.

The problem is good teams do not start out 0-2. They just do not as evidenced by your research.

I agree, and that would be my problem more than the 0-2 start itself. I respect the numbers of how few teams that start out 0-2 make the playoffs, but correalation does not equal causation. Did those 0-2 teams miss the playoffs because they dug themselves a hole they couldn't get out of or did they not make the playoffs because they were the Arizona Cardinals and they weren't going to the playoffs to begin with. What is more important to me is division standings. If Dallas is more than 2 games back in the division by Thanksgiving, then we get into must win territory.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

From a standings point of view it's not a must win, BUT from and emotional point if view it is absolutely a must win! No doubt about it. The expectations are extremely high and to start out 0-2 puts us in a hole...emotionally more then anything else. When this team gets tight, then we are even more conservative then normal...that won't win games.

 

[Kangaroo]

Here is some more irony for you on starting 0-2

2 teams have started 0-2 and won the Super Bowl

[FONT=arial,helvetica]1993 Cowboys: Well we know that story no Emmitt

2001 Patriots: Guess what happen here Bledosoe gets injured and um some takes over





[/FONT]

 

[Cbz40]

If we do not beat our division rivals at home you are digging yourself hole that is going to be difficult to dig out of.

As far as I am concerned a home game in the division is a must win.

 

[Kangaroo]

Ok this took a lot of searching I was putting together found someones else has a list yay with more info. So here is the complete list of 17 teams that started 0-2 since the playoff format was expanded to it's current form in 1990. (That is why 1990 is the cut off)

Following are the 0-2 teams since 1990 to qualify for the playoffs:

1990
Houston Oilers (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs
New Orleans Saints (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs

1991
Atlanta Falcons (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs

1992
San Diego Chargers (0-4) Divisional Playoffs

1993
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs
Dallas Cowboys (0-2) Won Super Bowl XXVIII

1994
New England Patriots (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs

1995
Detroit Lions (0-3) Wild Card Playoffs

1996
New England Patriots (0-2) Lost Super Bowl XXXI

1998
Arizona Cardinals (0-2) Divisional Playoffs
Buffalo Bills (0-3) Wild Card Playoffs
New York Jets (0-2) Championship Game

2001
New England Patriots (0-2) Won Super Bowl XXXVI

2002
Atlanta Falcons (0-2) Divisional Playoffs
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) Divisional Playoffs

2003
Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) Championship Game


There you have it

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

This game is a must-win in terms of how team morale may be affected by starting out 0-2. Yet not a must win in the sense that neither team could miss the playoffs because of it.

The Skins have a new offense their getting adjusted to, key players who need to get healthy. The Cowboys have new, key players who still need to adjust to the system, an efficient kicker who hasn't played yet.

Regardless of the outcome of this game sunday night, both teams could look light years better than they've already shown in a month's time.

 

[Boy's fan in Giant land]

Definitely a must win. In our house against a hated division rival, with so many road games comming up, we not only need to win, we need to win convincingly. It's going to be much more difficult to beat them later in the season playing away. I don't even want to think about the affect on the team psyche another loss due to a poor showing will have with two weeks off to dwell on it. Even a close loss will be harmful enough after the high expectations by all (players) prior to the seasons start.

If there was ever a time to remove the govenor from the Cowboys offensive & defensive engines, this is it. Hear me Bill?

 

[Portland Fanatic]

If there was ever a time to remove the govenor from the Cowboys offensive & defensive engines, this is it. Hear me Bill?

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I seem to remember some stats about only a handful of NFL teams in history have ever gone to the Super Bowl after an 0-2 start. I only remember it because when the Boys did it in '93 it was supposed to be a rare achievement. I guess New England when they benched Bledsoe was another one. Am I off on this? 0-2 teams almost rarely make it to the Super Bowl, right?

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

Here is some more irony for you on starting 0-2

2 teams have started 0-2 and won the Super Bowl

[FONT=arial,helvetica]1993 Cowboys: Well we know that story no Emmitt

2001 Patriots: Guess what happen here Bledosoe gets injured and um some takes over


[/FONT]

Nevermind. Someone beat me to it. So those are the only 2 teams?

 

[DragonCowboy]

ahdahdashfashfdasf

Commanders fans in Texas annoy me so much! This insane kid at my school acts like he doesn't even care about the Commanders or football whenever they lose, and when they win, he rubs it in my face.

They beat the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, and he rubbed it in my face. Just imagine what it was like after Week 2. Dallas @ Washington was the worst. The Dallas @ Washington game was the worst. I ended up getting a lot of heat from that game.

This kid is a grade A ***, so maybe I shouldn't assume all Commanders fans to be that way.

BTW, I hate bandwagoners.

Oh yeah, this is a must win game, for my sake.

 

[ghst187]

its as close to a must-win game for us as anyone could have in game 2 of the season...because
1) Its a division game
2) Its at home

you can't lose tough division games at home...

 

[The30YardSlant]

Yes

If it wasnt a divisional game, then no, but we cant afford to start 0-2 with a loss to Washington

 

[ravidubey]

YES! It's a home divisional game. I don't buy into the hype of being "two games behind"-- such things mean nothing until the final week of the season when all 16 games can be tallied up.

But if you are going to have any chance at all in this division you have to win at home.

 

[DallasDomination]

Every game is a must win. If your a fan and you think this week or the last were not must wins then you have problems.

Every Single GAme is a must WIn!...Enough said. Give it all or go home.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think whoever starts out 0-2 is going to miss the playoffs in the NFC East.