Bad Feeling....Cowboys will lose

[Beast_from_East]

I actually think the Eagles didn't show their cards in the last game and thats why it was so lopsided. They only blitzed five times in the first half of the game. Thats unnatural for the Eagles.

I'm not as confident of victory as some posters seem to be. I am in a "show me" mode...Whats bigger than beating the Eagles a third time is winning a playoff game. I hope the players are as motivated and determined as the last half of December and January has so far shown us. I am however confident that that they will show up and play hard with resolution.

I cant believe some of you guys are actually buying this "holding back" crap. Has everybody forgot that if the Eagles would have won, THEY WOULD NOT HAVED PLAYED US AGAIN UNITL THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!!

Its not that hard to understand, if the Eagles won they got the #2 seed and if we won we got the #3 seed. Loser automatically drops to #6 seed. So there was no "rematch game" coming if the Eagles won. Frankly, as the 6th seed I highly doubt we would have made it to the NFCCG anyways. Even if we somehow did make it there, the game would have been played in Philly in January!!!!


No offense to anybody, but only a freaking ****** would think the Eagles didnt want to show anything and didnt go all out to win. Teams dont piss away bye weeks and homefield so they can get the 6th seed. This is like football 101 here, some 10 yr old playing pee wee football knows this.

 

[WarC]

No offense to anybody, but only a freaking ****** would think the Eagles didnt want to show anything and didnt go all out to win. Teams dont piss away bye weeks and homefield so they can get the 6th seed. This is like football 101 here, some 10 yr old playing pee wee football knows this.

It's the opposite, teams are usually unwilling to pull all the stops and throw the bus at a team that they feel they will play, or already know they will play, in the post season. Good teams save certain schemes and play sets for the post-season.

Speaking of Football 101, did you not notice how light the defensive pressure by the Eagles was for most of the game?

 

[zeroburrito]

I don't put anything past NFL coaches. Talking heads and fans alike were befuddled by Indianapolis taking the pedal off the gas...Talking heads and fans alike are surprised when other teams play their starters to the last minute of more or less meaningless season ending games, already with the playoffs secured. In a campaign, in strategy, individual actions and individual tactics may seem not to make sense when taken outside of the context of a bigger scheme. I for one think we'll see a much tougher contest come Saturday and I believe thats part of Philty's plan.

that sounds like strategery.

 

[WarC]

that sounds like strategery.

It's sacrilicious! :laugh2:

 

[Beast_from_East]

Like Indianapolis didn't toss away a potential perfect season?

It looked to me like the Eagles were trying something new on defense and they were willing to risk the results. Like I said, their pressure was uncharacteristically light. Besides, the Eagles terrible performance had a lot to do with McNabb's inability to deliver the ball in some key situations that might have led to points for them.

You do understand what homefield means, correct. Throwing away a perfect season by sitting starters to avoid injuries (see Wes Welker) has absolutely nothing to do with seedings, bye weeks, or homefield advantage.

The Colts already have the #1 seed clinched. In other words, winning or losing meant nothing as far as the playoffs are concerned. Indy will get a bye week and then play at home for as long as they are in the playoffs. That was true before they played the Jets or Bills and it is the same today after back to back losses.

The Eagles is a whole different situation. If they won, they got the #2 seed which means a bye week and a home playoff game in the Division round. If the Saints would have lost in the Divisional round (both #1 seeds lost here last year), then Philly would host the NFCCG. In other words, they would only have to play 2 home games to reach the SB.

However, by losing they dropped to the 6th seed. This means they will have no chance of any home games and MUST PLAY 3 STRAIGHT ROAD GAMES TO REACH THE SB!!!


Go look at the stats of how many times a team needing to win 2 home games has made it to the SB verses how many times a team has won 3 road games to get to the SB. THE DIFFERENCE IS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY!!!


So even if we get beat, the odds that Philly goes to the SB this year have been SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. That is why the idea that they would do this to themselves on purpose is just laughable.


THAT LOSS WAS HUGE, PROBABLY COST THEM A SHOT AT A RING THIS YEAR.

 

[WarC]

You do understand what homefield means, correct.

You caught me!

 

[Cowboys4Life91]

lol i disagree with this completely, everyone said we wouldn't beat the saints, everyone said we wouldn't even get a winning record let alone a playoff birth this is just negative our players are playing the best they have ever and they know it wont be easy. why cant this be our turn to show everyone wrong? not every year has a disappointment to it

 

[WarC]

That is why the idea that they would do this to themselves on purpose is just laughable.

I'm not saying they did it to themselves, or that they willingly gave the game away or even that they held back on both sides of the ball. I'm saying that they played an unusually light game on defense, and that that can only be attributed to some kind of calculated decision by their coaching staff. They made few efforts to aggressively attack our offense despite the fact that we were dominating time of possession and they desperately needed to get their offense on the field. At a time during a big game where you'd fully expect and anticipate their defense to attack they rarely did so.

 

[Beast_from_East]

It's the opposite, teams are usually unwilling to pull all the stops and throw the bus at a team that they feel they will play, or already know they will play, in the post season. Good teams save certain schemes and play sets for the post-season.

Speaking of Football 101, did you not notice how light the defensive pressure by the Eagles was for most of the game?

But that is what is so stupid about the idea that the Eagles held back. THEY WOULD NOT BE PLAYING US AGAIN IN ALL LIKELYHOOD!!!

If we would have lost, that means we would go to Minny and if we win there, we probably then go to New Orleans and then finally if we win there for a 2nd time we then go to Philly for the NFCCG.

There is no logical argument that can be made that the Eagles decided to piss away the #2 seed so in case we go to Minny and win and then go to New Orleans and win again that they would have then have some "good stuff" saved for us to use in the NFCCG and they would willingly travel back to Dallas for the game instead of playing at home. And Philly wouldnt be able to show any of that "good stuff" in any of their other games since we would then have tape on it.


Do you realize how insane this sounds??? Seriously, do you???

 

[Beast_from_East]

I'm not saying they did it to themselves, or that they willingly gave the game away or even that they held back on both sides of the ball. I'm saying that they played an unusually light game on defense, and that that can only be attributed to some kind of calculated decision by their coaching staff. They made few efforts to aggressively attack our offense despite the fact that we were dominating time of possession and they desperately needed to get their offense on the field. At a time during a big game where you'd fully expect and anticipate their defense to attack they rarely did so.

Go read the article by Jimmy Johnson talking about our offensive strategy and how using the spread formation forced Philly out of their blitzes because they couldnt disguise them.

You could also go look at the tape of our first game with Philly and see how Romo tore that blitz up every time Philly brought it. Could be maybe their defensive coordinator thought about trying something different since blitzing Romo almost every down still resulted in a loss the first game.



Those reasons are a hell of alot more logical and sensible than "Philly held back because there was a 10% chance they would play us again" somewhere down the road.

 

[WarC]

Do you realize how insane this sounds??? Seriously, do you???

Thats what Lord Percival thought about the Tiger of Malaysia before the Japanese kicked the Brits all the way out of Singapore early in WW2. Who would have thought he'd split his already outnumbered forces inorder to aggressively outflank and out-maneuver the british at every turn when conventional military wisdom would have dictated something else entirely.

The Japanese had a lot riding on the prospect of victory, perhaps more so than a football team has riding on its postseason destiny. But they gambled immensely and in that campaign it paid off immensely.

What may seem insane to us as spectators may be quite calculated by our opponents.

But I'll shutup now and stop being a nervous nelly. I know no one wants to hear the voice of doubt or uncertainty.

 

[WarC]

Could be maybe their defensive coordinator thought about trying something different since blitzing Romo almost every down still resulted in a loss the first game.



Those reasons are a hell of alot more logical and sensible than "Philly held back because there was a 10% chance they would play us again" somewhere down the road.

Well...If Philly's credo and identity on defense, going back years, is the strong blitz and relentless pressure...Why would they suddenly, in a game as important as that last one, rein in their defense and play passive mostly all game, even when they were clearly behind and needed points? I strongly agree with your idea that they might have been trying something different. And they did it in a game where, in the event of a loss, they would not be eliminated from the playoffs. Now they have the rest of the week to study the tape. If they DID try something different, wouldn't you say that is a calculated risk that they took, knowing that there was a chance of failure? I don't see how my perspective on this is so ludicrous or insane.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Thats what Lord Percival thought about the Tiger of Malaysia before the Japanese kicked the Brits all the way out of Singapore early in WW2. Who would have thought he'd split his already outnumbered forces inorder to aggressively outflank and out-maneuver the british at every turn when conventional military wisdom would have dictated something else entirely.

The Japanese had a lot riding on the prospect of victory, perhaps more so than a football team has riding on its postseason destiny. But they gambled immensely and in that campaign it paid off immensely.

What may seem insane to us as spectators may be quite calculated by our opponents.

But I'll shutup now and stop being a nervous nelly. I know no one wants to hear the voice of doubt or uncertainty.

You can tell stories of military heroics all night, you will never convince me that an NFL team decided that they were going to "try something new" or "hold back" or do anything that would not give them the best chance to win with a bye week and homefiled advantage on the line, especially if the reason given is because of some hypothetical that probably never happens.

 

[Zaxor]

You need to believe

 

[Beast_from_East]

Well...If Philly's credo and identity on defense, going back years, is the strong blitz and relentless pressure...Why would they suddenly, in a game as important as that last one, rein in their defense and play passive mostly all game, even when they were clearly behind and needed points? I strongly agree with your idea that they might have been trying something different. And they did it in a game where, in the event of a loss, they would not be eliminated from the playoffs. Now they have the rest of the week to study the tape. If they DID try something different, wouldn't you say that is a calculated risk that they took, knowing that there was a chance of failure? I don't see how my perspective on this is so ludicrous or insane.

But if Philly tried strategy A (blitz) and it didnt work, then tried strategy B (not blitz) and it still didnt work. How the hell is the proof that they "held back"???

That tells me they got their arses handed to them regardless, didnt matter if they blitzed or not. So now I would assume they are going to try something else, strategy C (maybe half blitz and half not).


This doesnt mean they were treating the last game as a "throw away" game as you are suggesting. It still means they were trying to do whatever it took to win and what they did last time didnt work. So why do the exact same thing if it didnt work previously???

So they try a new strategy and that didnt work either. So they are going to do something different from both the previous 2 games. Does trying something new this week mean they are throwing this game away as well??



Your whole premise is that if the Eagles dont blitz, they are not trying 100% to win. Thus, your assumption that if they blitz this week, it somehow increases their chances of a win. This is what doesnt make sense. Why would going back to blitzing (what they did in game 1) have any different results than the first time around??? How is doing the same thing they did in a previous loss increase their chances???


After all, Einstein said doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

 

[LatinMind]

I have a really bad feeling that the Cowboys will lose a close one on Saturday against the Eagles..

I just can't see the Eagles losing to us for a 3rd time. The reason i feel this is the following:

1. Cowboys are confident they will beat them.
2. What was the parade of those "Champions of the East" caps.... who cares...don't bring them out.
3. Already all the media are saying that the Boys are going to the Super Bowl against the Chargers....this will go into their heads as they can't get beat...take the Eagles lightly...
4. Wade has never won in the playoffs...

Let's hope I am wrong... I really want them to win and prove me wrong...

I have been a die hard fan for many years going back to those Danny White, Gary Hogeboom Days where whenever Cowboys had a meaningfull game... they would self destruct..

first canadians mess up my blackberry service. then they say this.

 

[CliffnDallas]

Has anyone considered the possibility that McNabb's 'problems' and Philly's defencive game plan were CAUSED by the Cowboys. Saturday we crush them like tiny ants...

 

[dcdallaschick]

But if Philly tried strategy A (blitz) and it didnt work, then tried strategy B (not blitz) and it still didnt work. How the hell is the proof that they "held back"???

I was skeptical of the blitz/non-blitz explanation until I watched the replay on NFLN last night (thanks, powers that be!). Seems really plausible to me now--if it ever comes out that Andy Reid did hold back in some kind of Princess Bride style "I cannot drink the wine in front of me" strategery, he should be fired on the spot (and left alone in a room full of Philly fans) for being a world-class idiot.

That said, after all that's happened this season, we're now supposed to be afraid of a few hats? C'mon, man.

 

[vta]

1. Cowboys are confident they will beat them.
2. What was the parade of those "Champions of the East" caps.... who cares...don't bring them out.
3. Already all the media are saying that the Boys are going to the Super Bowl against the Chargers....this will go into their heads as they can't get beat...take the Eagles lightly...
4. Wade has never won in the playoffs...

1. As opposed to being timid, which always leads to a favorable outcome.
2. Why not? It's true.
3. Because what the media says always determines the outcome of the game.
4. Because past failure dictates you give up trying. The people who have succeed in life never worked to get where they are, they were just born that way. Curl up in the corner and wait your turn to die.

 

[jcdavey]

i wonder how hanging a contract extension over wade phillips head will effect dallas this weekend

i mean it looks like dallas is breaking their trends , so they should win