jterrell;3135494 said:
That stat really doesn't say much. It means in 08 they didn't beat any NON-divisional playoff team. Removing the division stuff is garbage. Dallas was 1-1 versus both Philly and NYG in 08. They lost to both Super Bowl Teams ON THE ROAD in close games.
Dallas played one home game against a non-divisional playoff opponent in 2008: Baltimore so that entire stat rests on winning one game.
That 07 game against GB was in Dallas.
So is this SD game. Expect a win.
Next week we play NO on the road... expect a loss.
The fact still remains that this team has to be able to beat at least one playoff team.
I didn't count the losses to division foes in my example either. They say, "throw out the records in a divisional game" and you have to. Teams are familiar with the coaching styles and the personnel and it makes a difference.
Not to be overly negative but this team does more than just struggle with the good teams. We just can't seem to win. It's almost inexplicable. Like a self-destruction.
It's getting so painful to watch.
Talent keeps them in the game each time but there is always one boneheaded play or two that cancels out all of the effort put into the game up to that point. Before you know it, the game is over and the Cowboys lose a game they should have won.
It's funny but I've come to this conclusion. This team marks is the mid-point between pretender and contender. If you beat Dallas you are a playoff team. If not, you're not. Dallas will consistently handle teams that aren't playoff worthy but will almost certainly lose if they are.
Think about it.
Arizona last year.
Pittsburgh last year.
Baltimore last year.
(We won't count the last Eagles game...)
Denver this year.
Green Bay this year.
Both Giants games this year.
You win all those games and you're the best team in the league but that's not the point. You have to split those games at least to be a contender.
You can pin point ONE HUGE PLAY in each game that if a mistake wasn't made and an opportunity wasn't squandered, the game would have been won by Dallas.
Now are several other plays that go unnoticed in a game that can swing the ballgame one way or another but each of these games have a similar feel to them.
The other team just seemed to want it more.
The sad thing is we don't have ANY examples of these types of games going in the Cowboys favor in the past few seasons.
This year we have been a little more scrappy in winning the Commanders game and the Eagles game and it gives us a little bit of hope but last week felt all too familiar...
our schedule....
