Are we really that surprised?

[cowboyblue22]

truthfully I don't think we win the Arizona game

 

[Zordon]

the division game excuse doesn't hold water when you're facing a 3rd string qb. if it was rg3 or even cousins out there than I can sort of understand the loss. if you're tired of 8-8 and ready to take a big step in the playoffs, you don't lose to colt mccoy at home. you just don't. 10 out of 10 times you should win that game if you are a serious contender.

 

[Idgit]

Admittedly I actually had some high hopes for this game, but historically, the Commanders usually play us tight.

Just know that we lost to the Commanders in each of our Super Bowl seasons in the 90's (twice in 1995).

It happens guys. Division games are brutal sometimes, regardless of record. We all know this.

With that said, I think we kill the Cardinals next week.

I have to hand it to him, Steve Dennis absolutely nailed this game yesterday. He actually turned my head with some of his comments. This was a Commanders team that had been beaten by turnovers. They'd benched the QB who was responsible for most of the problem. They have a pair of outstanding WRs and the ability to run the ball. This game was a watershed game for their season (it was important to us, too, but not for the same reasons), and they had Haslett and the commitment to blitz up the middle. Plus, it's Cowboys/Commanders. Anybody with even passing familiarity with this league ought to know what that means. These games always come down to the last possession, and it did again last night. We lost. The measure of the team is how or whether we overcome adversity, not the ability to avoid adversity. This is the NFL.

We lost this game by turning the ball over twice. By Dez's end zone drop. By WItten's OT drop that would have extended the drive. It wasn't play calling. It wasn't a sign of the organization not having learned. We lost for the same reasons we always lose games, and for the same reasons almost every team in the league loses games.

What I'm sick about, though, is the loss of Durant. And he was playing his absolutely best football of the season. That's going to hurt us down the road a lot more than a close home loss to a division rival.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Surprised?, .. yes a little.

I had hoped we had turned the corner on being a team that gives games away. Losing when we shouldn't.

I had hoped we would just keep getting stronger and more confident each week.

I am surprised, .. and disappointed too.

 

[links18]

Stop with the division rival meme. This didn't stop the Eagles from manhandling the Giants 27-0. We lost to a bad team pure and simple. Our coaches were clueless, chaos reigned on the sidelines and our defense came back down to earth.

 

[guag]

I have to hand it to him, Steve Dennis absolutely nailed this game yesterday. He actually turned my head with some of his comments. This was a Commanders team that had been beaten by turnovers. They'd benched the QB who was responsible for most of the problem. They have a pair of outstanding WRs and the ability to run the ball. This game was a watershed game for their season (it was important to us, too, but not for the same reasons), and they had Haslett and the commitment to blitz up the middle. Plus, it's Cowboys/Commanders. Anybody with even passing familiarity with this league ought to know what that means. These games always come down to the last possession, and it did again last night. We lost. The measure of the team is how or whether we overcome adversity, not the ability to avoid adversity. This is the NFL.

We lost this game by turning the ball over twice. By Dez's end zone drop. By WItten's OT drop that would have extended the drive. It wasn't play calling. It wasn't a sign of the organization not having learned. We lost for the same reasons we always lose games, and for the same reasons almost every team in the league loses games.

What I'm sick about, though, is the loss of Durant. And he was playing his absolutely best football of the season. That's going to hurt us down the road a lot more than a close home loss to a division rival.

Good post, you've pretty much said it all there.

Do you think the Cowboys should/will make a trade for a vet LB? Or stay in-house?

 

[Seven]

I was surprised because we played like last years team, extremely clumsy. I can't wrap my head around Colt McCoy anchoring a 7+ minute drive on our defense and scoring, that's pathetic!

Thief............

 

[guag]

Stop with the division rival meme. This didn't stop the Eagles from manhandling the Giants 27-0. We lost to a bad team pure and simple. Our coaches were clueless, chaos reigned on the sidelines and our defense came back down to earth.

Obviously there will be division blowouts just like there are between any other teams. But over the years division games always seem to be played the closest. I can't and won't take the time to confirm this with numbers/facts (at work lol), but historically there is truth to it.

 

[Zordon]

I have to hand it to him, Steve Dennis absolutely nailed this game yesterday. He actually turned my head with some of his comments. This was a Commanders team that had been beaten by turnovers. They'd benched the QB who was responsible for most of the problem. They have a pair of outstanding WRs and the ability to run the ball. This game was a watershed game for their season (it was important to us, too, but not for the same reasons), and they had Haslett and the commitment to blitz up the middle. Plus, it's Cowboys/Commanders. Anybody with even passing familiarity with this league ought to know what that means. These games always come down to the last possession, and it did again last night. We lost. The measure of the team is how or whether we overcome adversity, not the ability to avoid adversity. This is the NFL.

We lost this game by turning the ball over twice. By Dez's end zone drop. By WItten's OT drop that would have extended the drive. It wasn't play calling. It wasn't a sign of the organization not having learned. We lost for the same reasons we always lose games, and for the same reasons almost every team in the league loses games.

What I'm sick about, though, is the loss of Durant. And he was playing his absolutely best football of the season. That's going to hurt us down the road a lot more than a close home loss to a division rival.

if someone offered me the loss back or durant, i'd take durant. i'm worried about the defense now.

 

[LandryFan]

Good point. I feel like every single game I've watched, no matter which teams are playing and no matter what the records are, it's a "must win" for such and such team. And it's absolutely true. Every game is a must win game in this league.

Yes, when you really step back from the ledge and think about it, there isn't a dominant team out there outside of, perhaps, Denver. Parity has a stranglehold on the entire league at this point. Any team can win or lose against any other team these days. Overall, I still like our odds of success with where the team is now. We're in better shape, overall, than a lot of teams.

 

[Stryker44]

truthfully I don't think we win the Arizona game

I'd honestly be shocked if you didn't. They are feeling awfully good about themselves right now after beating Philly, while Dallas will likely be playing with a chip on its shoulder.

As we saw last night - being hungrier can make a difference even when the matchup on paper is not favorable.

 

[guag]

if someone offered me the loss back or durant, i'd take durant. i'm worried about the defense now.

And to think many around here in the offseason considered Durant a lock to be jettisoned (myself included, admittedly). How things change.

 

[links18]

Obviously there will be division blowouts just like there are between any other teams. But over the years division games always seem to be played the closest. I can't and won't take the time to confirm this with numbers/facts (at work lol), but historically there is truth to it.

Good teams should beat bad teams the majority of the time, regardless of division. Was last night one of those aberrations or were we exposed?

 

[fifaguy]

Good point. I feel like every single game I've watched, no matter which teams are playing and no matter what the records are, it's a "must win" for such and such team. And it's absolutely true. Every game is a must win game in this league.

But it appears to be hard to play like that every week.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Definitely tough playing division rivals, especially in our division, but it was also a reality check. There are good defensive teams out there that will stymie this "unstoppable" offense of ours and our defense will fold when this happens,,, it cannot stand on its own.

I'm not so optimistic about Arizona, they love to blitz and for Romo doesn't handle blitzes very well. If they do win though, it will erase the doubt raised by Washington!

 

[PoundTheRock]

the division game excuse doesn't hold water when you're facing a 3rd string qb. if it was rg3 or even cousins out there than I can sort of understand the loss. if you're tired of 8-8 and ready to take a big step in the playoffs, you don't lose to colt mccoy at home. you just don't. 10 out of 10 times you should win that game if you are a serious contender.

Agree with this 100%

If the season goes down the tubes this is going to be the game you can look at and go "you should've known they were the same old Cowboys then."

 

[Idgit]

Good post, you've pretty much said it all there.

Do you think the Cowboys should/will make a trade for a vet LB? Or stay in-house?

Sigh. I don't know. It just really sucks because he was playing really well. We need the roster spots, too, with Lawrence and Brent and maybe Okoye coming back. I think we probably stay put and just activate an extra LB from the roster. I guess we'll find out if Hitchens can really play for an extended period of time. Or not.

 

[Stryker44]

Stop with the division rival meme. This didn't stop the Eagles from manhandling the Giants 27-0. We lost to a bad team pure and simple. Our coaches were clueless, chaos reigned on the sidelines and our defense came back down to earth.

Skins almost beat the Eagles, and very well could have. What was inexplicable for us was losing 45-14 at home to the Giants 4 days later.

I agree though, we are a bad team right now. But if we win the next 2 after this then I may get a twinge of hope.

 

[guag]

Good teams should beat bad teams the majority of the time, regardless of division. Was last night one of those aberrations or were we exposed?

I think we'll find out next week.

 

[Doomsday101]

Good teams should beat bad teams the majority of the time, regardless of division. Was last night one of those aberrations or were we exposed?

I think it was one of those night. I think people here will get carried away with wins and clearly get carried away with a loss. Dallas lost we are now 6-2 on the season. Dallas had been picking up blitzes in past games and tackling much better than they did last night however last night they failed. I just hope the team handles it better than the fans. Some have been waiting to go on their rants and here is their chance.