Biggest difference between this year and the past

[supercowboy8]

Halftime adjustments.

The past few years Dallas has done nothing in halftime adjustments and just come out and try to stay the course and keep the same game plan. But this year especially on defense that has changed and this game today proved it. Going into half dallas was down 17-7. But Dallas came out and changed alot of protections and rushing on defense. They out scored Detroit 17-3 in the 2nd half.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

As said before, this is a great staff. Compliment each other very well.

 

[Gaede]

In years past, going empty-back would signal eventual defeat.

Today, it meant the coaches found something that worked and went to that instead.

Completely agree. Love to see more effective adjustments out of our coaches

 

[Staubacher]

If I'm not mistaken we scored on our last three possessions - td,fg,td.

That's pretty dominant against a stingy defense that up to then had our #

 

[cowboys1981]

Defense closing out games.

 

[Idgit]

I don't know. I remember games similar to this one last year, where the defense simply couldn't stop anybody when we needed it most. I think it's more likely the ability and the skills of the players than it is the quality of any adjustments.

 

[Deep_South]

What I love about this team is they don't ever get rattled, they just keep going. That means we are getting some seriously good coaching, IMO.

 

[Eskimo]

I think the big key to the comeback was the defense. After giving up the 2 quick TDs they held the Lions to just 2 FGs the rest of the game and also generated 3 turnovers. After finally getting the lead the defense closed out the victory again in their standard fashion by forcing a turnover. Except this time they did it twice.

The offense really struggled most of the game. There were a couple of big plays that lead to 2 scores but there was not a lot of consistency. Romo seemed gunshy and the OL gave up a few jailbreaks. They did just enough to win the game in the end.

IMO, this win is representative of the spirit of the team. They basically willed themselves to victory in a game where it would have been all too easy to accept the narrative of a team that can't handle success or a team that is just waiting for the right moment to implode. It didn't happen, the coaches kept them focused even after the monumental letdown on the DLaw fumble.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I don't know. I remember games similar to this one last year, where the defense simply couldn't stop anybody when we needed it most. I think it's more likely the ability and the skills of the players than it is the quality of any adjustments.

It's not just that.

Last year, we changed the entire defensive scheme and coaches, and didn't do anything to change the personnel to fit the scheme. Historically, teams that switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 (or vice versa) regress in their first year in the new scheme. It's not at all surprising that we were terrible on D last year given the low talent level and the system change. It's also no surprise that we're better this year when a number of the players are in their second year in the scheme.

 

[theogt]

After finally getting the lead the defense closed out the victory again in their standard fashion by forcing a turnover. Except this time they did it twice.

How many times this season has the defense closed out the game with a turnover? It seems like it's happened an unnatural number of times.

 

[WoodysGirl]

 

[Eskimo]

How many times this season has the defense closed out the game with a turnover? It seems like it's happened an unnatural number of times.

The close games that stick out in my mind:

St. Louis (Bruce Carter pick6)
Seattle (RoMac INT)
Chicago (OScan INT)
Philly2 (Bruce Carter INT)
NYG1 (Forced fumble, Durant)
NYG2 (Turned over on downs, RoMac tackle)

Those are the ones that stand out to me amongst our close wins.

 

[theogt]

The close games that stick out in my mind:

St. Louis (Bruce Carter pick6)
Seattle (RoMac INT)
Chicago (OScan INT)
Philly2 (Bruce Carter INT)
NYG1 (Forced fumble, Durant)
NYG2 (Turned over on downs, RoMac tackle)

Those are the ones that stand out to me amongst our close wins.

And today. So 7 out of 17.

Crazy.

 

[Danger]

For all the screaming and praying we do when our D is on the field, they only allowed 20 points and relatively held Detroit in check after the first two possessions.

 

[Gameover]

In years past, going empty-back would signal eventual defeat.

Today, it meant the coaches found something that worked and went to that instead.

Completely agree. Love to see more effective adjustments out of our coaches

I would've done that from the beginning. You weren't gonna line up and out power this D front.

 

[Gameover]

Our coordinators are the best since the SB years. Peyton was good but we didn't have this level of talent when he was here.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The close games that stick out in my mind:

St. Louis (Bruce Carter pick6)
Seattle (RoMac INT)
Chicago (OScan INT)
Philly2 (Bruce Carter INT)
NYG1 (Forced fumble, Durant)
NYG2 (Turned over on downs, RoMac tackle)

Those are the ones that stand out to me amongst our close wins.

Nice recap

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

For all the screaming and praying we do when our D is on the field, they only allowed 20 points and relatively held Detroit in check after the first two possessions.

You could argue that the 7points they got after kicker penalty might never have happened. They sent them on a 3 and out there.

 

[Rick_Deckard]

How many times this season has the defense closed out the game with a turnover? It seems like it's happened an unnatural number of times.

Do we get credit for 2 from this game

Brad and Babe were talking about the defensive turnovers to close out games this year and I was thinking the same thing when Spencer got the sack and forced fumble and Lawrence recovered. I was pretty upset when Lawrence fumbled it back to them, but Lawrence made a big time play to seal the victory.

 

[Eskimo]

And today. So 7 out of 17.

Crazy.

You know what, we kind of closed Seattle out twice now that I think about it.

We forced them on downs and got a FG to put us up by 10.

Then they got the ball back and RoMac got the INT.