Can Big Mac change our history in Week 17 games?

[Bobhaze]

The Cowboys have faced a week 17 “must win to get in” challenge several times in the Jones years.

• In fact, 4 times in the last 10 years, they have gone into the final 2 weeks of the season needing to beat an NFC East opponent to win the division.
• All 4 times in the last 10 years, with the division and playoffs on the line, Dallas has lost. It happened in 2011, 2012, 2013, and last year in 2019.

Amazingly, the 1993 Cowboys, coached by Jimmy were the last Cowboys team to win the division in Week 17, defeating the Giants 16-13 in that great overtime game where Emmitt was a hero. There have been other division winners over the years of course, but it’s been 27 years since a Cowboys team won the division on the last game of the year against a division rival. That’s a baffling stat.

On the good side of history are the teams Mike McCarthy has coached in Week 17 since his days at GB. Big Mac has had a good record of winning this time of year. Here’s some evidence:

• Dallas’ current three-game winning streak has improved McCarthy’s record to 42-19 in regular-season games played in December and January.
• MM teams have been even better in Week 17. His Pack teams went 9-3 in the final week of the season, including a 3-1 mark with the division on the line.

So will recent history be repeated? Or will Big Mac find a way to reverse fortunes? Hopefully we win in NY and the egirls find a way to win against the WFT. In late Nov, who would have ever thought this opportunity was possible?

Let’s be honest. The Dallas Cowboys are not a very good football team. But they have had the good fortune of being in a terrible division and a favorable schedule down the stretch. To their credit, this team has continued to improve. Sunday night, we will know how much this team has improved.

 

[Aviano90]

I though this too and was corrected by @HanD . We were in the exact situation last year needing a win in week 17 and another divisional team to lose in order to make the playoffs. We won and still didn’t go to the playoffs.

Also, we got our butts handed to us in a week 17 NFC East title game in 2008.

 

[Bullflop]

The Cowboys have faced a week 17 “must win to get in” challenge several times in the Jones years.

• In fact, 4 times in the last 10 years, they have gone into the final 2 weeks of the season needing to beat an NFC East opponent to win the division.
• All 4 times in the last 10 years, with the division and playoffs on the line, Dallas has lost. It happened in 2011, 2012, 2013, and last year in 2019.

Amazingly, the 1993 Cowboys, coached by Jimmy, were the last Cowboys team to win the division in Week 17, defeating the Giants 16-13 in that great overtime game where Emmitt was a hero. There have been other division winners over the years of course, but it’s been 27 years since a Cowboys team won the division on the last game of the year against a division rival. That’s a baffling stat.

On the good side of history are the teams Mike McCarthy has coached in Week 17 since his days at GB. Big Mac has had a good record of winning this time of year. Here’s some evidence:

• Dallas’ current three-game winning streak has improved McCarthy’s record to 42-19 in regular-season games played in December and January.
• MM teams have been even better in Week 17. His Pack teams went 9-3 in the final week of the season, including a 3-1 mark with the division on the line.

So will recent history be repeated? Or will Big Mac find a way to reverse fortunes? Hopefully we win in NY and the egirls find a way to win against the WFT. In late Nov, who would have ever thought this opportunity was possible?

Let’s be honest. The Dallas Cowboys are not a very good football team. But they have had the good fortune of being in a terrible division and a favorable schedule down the stretch. To their credit, this team has continued to improve. Sunday night, we will know how much this team has improved.

I shall not be deterred from pulling for Da Boyz, regardless of our history, Bob!
Here's hoping our historical tendency falls by the wayside, come Sunday, sir!

On a fairly cheerier note, losing won't be a loss, as long as draft day improves!

 

[blueblood70]

didn't we win against WFT last year that could have got us in should philly have lost? im pretty sure we did..
W47 - 16

was that score not doing all you can in week 17?

did we just pas s that scenario over that has us in the exact same position this season and it failed because philly won.. we need wft t lose and we need win but win in NY is not enough just lie last year..

didnt Garett turn around a 3-5 team and go 7-1 down the stretch wasn't that a great December and won against seatle in playoffs? that was 2018? so that 2 straight years winning late and giving us chance to down the stretch? 3-1 in december

do we hate Garett so much you try and self edit his recent history?

so JG led teams 2016 great december, 2018 gret december, 2019 detryoed WFT to do al he could do get in week 17 as you put it.

just wanting to make sure fans understand you are nit picking a bit or cherry picking..JG had some nice Decembers of late and well it was the middle halves of the year that killed this team..

 

[Jipper]

I think he will but it won’t matter because they don’t control their own destiny....

2011-2013 sucked on another level....losing the last game to all 3 nfce opponents....man that was so bad

 

[Risen Star]

Hey, Bob. Now that you're staff here maybe lighten up on the hate.

 

[DFWJC]

Although not a true “win and in” situation, we are getting some drama!

Ironically, all 4 of those other teams mentioned would’ve already easily locked up this years division with 8 or more wins

 

[DFWJC]

Also, I think Dallas wrapped up the division (and home field for WC) by blowing out Philly in week 17 of 2009.
That was under Wade

 

[blueblood70]

I think he will but it won’t matter because they don’t control their own destiny....

2011-2013 sucked on another level....losing the last game to all 3 nfce opponents....man that was so bad

just like 2019 we destroyed WFT but philly won and we were done..
yet as i posted above that looking too far back Garett had 2016, 2018, and 2019 us winning Decembers or week 17 so? Bobs story didnt age well, the team turned around the bad Decembers since those old narratives..

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Cowboys 24
Gnats 17

Philthy 27
Generics 24

Cowboys 2020 NFCE Champs!

 

[RS12]

I will go with the "end of year momentum theory". Who is playing their best football going into end of year? Gotta say Dallas is and wins the game.

 

[blueblood70]

Cowboys 24
Gnats 17

Philthy 27
Generics 24

Cowboys 2020 NFCE Champs!

that would be nice BUT hating not controlling our own destiny and worse we play at 12 and they play at 7pm ughh that long time to wait if we win against the Ny nats..

last year same scenario
we destroy wft W47 - 16 but philly won to knock us out..

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I hate how fickle everyone is, 4 weeks ago we were a bunch of losers that everyone said should tank. Now a few wins over other mediocre teams has us suddenly the most improved team in the league. I am as optimistic as anyone and I never subscribe to the tank theory, but the likelihood is that if we make the playoffs we are probably one and done, getting spanked in our own stadium. While the OL has improved, the last three opponents have had very weak D lines and we still only got sporadic run games. Our D has been getting some turnovers but is still getting gashed. If not for the turnovers we likely would have lost at least two of not all three of the last three games. I'm just happy that they have continued to fight and that young guys are getting valuable playing time for next year. Anything more than that is gravy in my book.

 

[sunalsorises]

I seem to remember a few McCarthy Packers teams that stumbled early and had to win out to make the playoffs. It always seemed like Aaron Rodgers had something to do with the winning but maybe not.

 

[Cwby41]

Hey, Bob. Now that you're staff here maybe lighten up on the hate.

Haze in my opinion is one of the best posters on this board. You guys need to lighten up and stop acting like 6th grade teachers. Maybe the guy just made a mistake. Point it out and move on. Risen your also a good poster on here as well but he's not hating just reporting facts. Made a mistake and thats it. Everyone on here is so quick to jump on everyone the second they spot something wrong. The only haters are all of us on each other. That being said, God bless to you all, Happy New Year and lets get this win Sunday

 

[MikeB80]

The cowboys won the division in 2009 vs the eagles in week 17.

just throwing it out there.

 

[blueblood70]

The cowboys won the division in 2009 vs the eagles in week 17.

just throwing it out there.

didn't we win against WFT last year that could have got us in should philly have lost? im pretty sure we did..
W47 - 16

was that score not doing all you can in week 17?

did we just pass that scenario over that has us in the exact same position this season and it failed because philly won.. we need wft t lose and we need win but win in NY is not enough just lie last year..

didnt Garett turn around a 3-5 team and go 7-1 down the stretch wasn't that a great December and won against seatle in playoffs? that was 2018? so that 2 straight years winning late and giving us chance to down the stretch? 3-1 in December

do we hate Garett so much you try and self edit his recent history?

so JG led teams 2016 great December, 2018 great December, 2019 destroyed WFT to do all he could do get in week 17 as you put it.

just wanting to make sure fans understand you are nit picking a bit or cherry picking..JG had some nice Decembers of late and well it was the middle halves of the year that killed this team.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The Cowboys have faced a week 17 “must win to get in” challenge several times in the Jones years.

• In fact, 4 times in the last 10 years, they have gone into the final 2 weeks of the season needing to beat an NFC East opponent to win the division.
• All 4 times in the last 10 years, with the division and playoffs on the line, Dallas has lost. It happened in 2011, 2012, 2013, and last year in 2019.

Amazingly, the 1993 Cowboys, coached by Jimmy were the last Cowboys team to win the division in Week 17, defeating the Giants 16-13 in that great overtime game where Emmitt was a hero. There have been other division winners over the years of course, but it’s been 27 years since a Cowboys team won the division on the last game of the year against a division rival. That’s a baffling stat.

On the good side of history are the teams Mike McCarthy has coached in Week 17 since his days at GB. Big Mac has had a good record of winning this time of year. Here’s some evidence:

• Dallas’ current three-game winning streak has improved McCarthy’s record to 42-19 in regular-season games played in December and January.
• MM teams have been even better in Week 17. His Pack teams went 9-3 in the final week of the season, including a 3-1 mark with the division on the line.

So will recent history be repeated? Or will Big Mac find a way to reverse fortunes? Hopefully we win in NY and the egirls find a way to win against the WFT. In late Nov, who would have ever thought this opportunity was possible?

Let’s be honest. The Dallas Cowboys are not a very good football team. But they have had the good fortune of being in a terrible division and a favorable schedule down the stretch. To their credit, this team has continued to improve. Sunday night, we will know how much this team has improved.

This is not win and you are in. If WFT wins they are in....but we have to win to have a chance

 

[Jipper]

Does the amount of beer a fan drinks help our playoff chances? Asking for a friend

 

[Bullflop]

If our pass rush gets to Daniel Jones, his bum hamstring could easily get hurt, if he has to scramble or is taken down forcefully.