Are we the same old Dallas Cowboys? Yes or No?

[rcaldw]

The team is growing. We aren't ready to take the full step yet, but we are improving. I think we are even better next year.

 

[Gaede]

We're different in that we'll have a winning record at the end of the season


But I still think we're the same in that we'll have squandered another great opportunity to get into the playoffs

 

[Staubacher]

The team is growing. We aren't ready to take the full step yet, but we are improving. I think we are even better next year.

If we improve the defense we will be.

 

[PoundTheRock]

Of course they're the same old Cowboys. The folded up like a cheap suit in a game that was vital for their division title hopes at home and will get scrunched up and put in the trash can again Sunday.

 

[foofighters]

Prove it to me this Sunday night where we go into Philly and win a game that we must win. Smash mouth football on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I am tired of this team stringing us along and when the moment of truth comes where they must win they disappoint us year in and year out. No more excuses Cowboys, here is your chance to redeem yourselves and bury that Thanksgiving game where we were humiliated.

Offensively we are a much better team than we used to be. However, I don't think our defense can keep up. Those guys are playing on pure guts but lack the talent to really go far into the playoffs. We will need help from Sanchez to pull this game out.

 

[foofighters]

Of course they're the same old Cowboys. The folded up like a cheap suit in a game that was vital for their division title hopes at home and will get scrunched up and put in the trash can again Sunday.

They may lose the game but they aren't the same team. This team has been hustling all year and it has a fire that we haven't seen in some time. The defensive has overachieved given their talent level.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

The team is slightly closer to contending but it is still a 2nd tier team because of the weak defense and a QB who is injured,,, kinda like last year.

 

[JohnsKey19]

No. They're probably going to finish 11-5. That's a pretty good season in the NFL whether you make the playoffs or not.

 

[SDCowboy]

Even if we made the playoffs, with our D, how far do you expect us to get? Is one and done any better than just missing? I think we can not make the playoffs (and probably won't) and not still be the same team.

 

[roughneck266]

Obviously not. Same old Cowboys would go 8 and 8.

 

[BigStar]

I think this is an evolving team. I don't know what will happen Sunday night, but I strongly feel they'll be better next year than this year. Right now, defense is holding this team back.

I agree the D is lacking talent and also agree the arrow is generally pointed upward, esp if some blue chip talent DL/S are brought in. The only thing that could nip all this progress is Romo's health. He has been hot some games and lagging in others and definitely don't want to rush him off the team but also don't have the confidence that this team would just bounce back with a 1st round QB either. But that is the only thing holding this team back (maybe a burner #2); the talent on D being sub par outside of McClain, Melton, Craw, and Scanman (hopefully Lawrence next year and Hitchins continues to improve).

 

[nathanlt]

It's the same old Cowboys, with a dominating offensive line.
It's the same old Cowboys, with a few leaders firing up the team when they need it.
It's the same old Cowboys, about to break their single season rushing record.
It's the same old Cowboys, with a quarterback demonstrating a new found deadly efficiency.
It's the same old Cowboys, with a QB, RB, and WR that people call the triplets.

Its the same old Cowboys.

I think its an offense pulled out of the 90's, only with a scrappy, talent-poor defense. In 2014, it will have a great chance to win, and win big.

Some think it's hopeless. I don't.

 

[kramskoi]

The same old 8-8 .500 cowboys? No

The same have a chance to get into the playoffs in December and blow it team? Remains to be seen.

The vexing part about this year's December is that the Cowboys could finish 3-1 and still be in real jeopardy of not making the playoffs. How about that NFC South eh?

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

The vexing part about this year's December is that the Cowboys could finish 3-1 and still be in real jeopardy of not making the playoffs. How about that NFC South eh?

Yep, we could potentially be "Baylored", or TCUed", take your pick.

 

[rcaldw]

Of course they're the same old Cowboys. The folded up like a cheap suit in a game that was vital for their division title hopes at home and will get scrunched up and put in the trash can again Sunday.

One of the things that I think is consistently lost on fans is that losses are not always about "folding up like a cheap suit." I know its hard to believe, but sometimes our favorite team is not the best team. In addition, it is possible to have a team that is pretty good, but they play a particular team that they just don't match up well against. Again, that isn't folding up. It is about matchups. I personally don't think that the Eagles are a good match up for us right now because we have zero pass rush. The way to beat that team is man them up, and knock the snot out of the QB. If you seal the outside rushing game, and do those two things, you give the Eagles problems. Well, we can stop the run. We don't have the best cover corners in world, but they are adequate if we can get pressure. What's the missing ingredient? We saw it against the Bears. Knowing that they were going to pass on EVERY down at the end of that game, our DL couldn't sniff Cutler. That is why the Eagles are not good medicine for us at the moment. I'm hoping the defense plays a great one and that the offense keeps them off the field. But a loss wouldn't mean we folded.

 

[LandryFan]

I agree the D is lacking talent and also agree the arrow is generally pointed upward, esp if some blue chip talent DL/S are brought in. The only thing that could nip all this progress is Romo's health. He has been hot some games and lagging in others and definitely don't want to rush him off the team but also don't have the confidence that this team would just bounce back with a 1st round QB either. But that is the only thing holding this team back (maybe a burner #2); the talent on D being sub par outside of McClain, Melton, Craw, and Scanman (hopefully Lawrence next year and Hitchins continues to improve).

You know, Romo's health has been in the back of my mind, too, when it comes to looking at the future. The hope that I hold is that with this coming offseason he gets completely (as one could get) over his past surgeries, etc. QB's (looking at Manning, Brady, etc.) seem to be having lengthier careers these days. Romo has said that he thinks he can play five more years (coming into this year). Obviously, retirement is not on his mind. That right there is part of the battle of him staying around. In a nutshell, there is hope that he can have a productive 2-4 more years here. If that doesn't happen, all bets are off on where this team is headed. They would need to get lucky either through FA or the draft, both of which are a crap shoot when it comes to QB's.

 

[LandryFan]

One of the things that I think is consistently lost on fans is that losses are not always about "folding up like a cheap suit." I know its hard to believe, but sometimes our favorite team is not the best team. In addition, it is possible to have a team that is pretty good, but they play a particular team that they just don't match up well against. Again, that isn't folding up. It is about matchups. I personally don't think that the Eagles are a good match up for us right now because we have zero pass rush. The way to beat that team is man them up, and knock the snot out of the QB. If you seal the outside rushing game, and do those two things, you give the Eagles problems. Well, we can stop the run. We don't have the best cover corners in world, but they are adequate if we can get pressure. What's the missing ingredient? We saw it against the Bears. Knowing that they were going to pass on EVERY down at the end of that game, our DL couldn't sniff Cutler. That is why the Eagles are not good medicine for us at the moment. I'm hoping the defense plays a great one and that the offense keeps them off the field. But a loss wouldn't mean we folded.

That, sir, was an excellent/accurate post, IMO. That is also the reason I think Garrett isn't going anywhere after this year.

 

[Wood]

Its good question that can't be answered yet. But I will tell you what eagle players are saying about it: "Dallas will be fresher for this game and give better effort but at end of day...they are who they are." I take that as the Eagles feel dallas will try hard but come up short again.

 

[ChooChoo73]

It would be so Dallas Cowboys to lay an egg in Philly. Deep down I am really feeling a Cowboy physical beat down of Philly where the score is closer than the actual game. All the folks who did not like Dez and Scandy's sideline bursts will be thankful in this game that they are made of that kind of stuff. It's the junkyard dog in this team that will win the game if we win. We have to go in and take a big chunk out of the arse of the eagles so thank god we have some ferocity on this team. While Romo and Witten will do their thing, RoMac, Scandrick, Dez, and the Wall up front need to take this game personal and make their mark all over the eagles backs. I believe they will. This is not the same old Cowboys.

 

[Gaede]

Even if we made the playoffs, with our D, how far do you expect us to get? Is one and done any better than just missing? I think we can not make the playoffs (and probably won't) and not still be the same team.

Playoffs are a whole different season. Anything can happen. Get in and see what happens from there.