Cowboys are close to squandering a once-in-a-generation opportunity (NFC East)

[Staubacher]

I see 8-8, possibly 7-9. And I started this season drinking the Sunny D and calling 11-5.

The Lions game - a game we lost while having statistically over a 99 percent chance of winning with a minute left - took any hope out of me. Plus we have piling up injuries leaving us with a wretched defense, shaky Oline, and weaknesses in RB and WR.

Add to that a lame duck head coach who has shown zero improvement in 3 years.

Very good chance we come apart as this season winds down.

 

[john van brocklin]

It is almost impossible for a division to be any more gift-wrapped than this year's NFC East.

The Eagles? They have big problems at the quarterback position, at the precise team when every other NFC East team is trying to overtake them or stay ahead of them.

The Commanders, last season's division champions? They got off to a 1-4 start.

The Giants, the Cowboys' chief nemesis over the past 6 years? They got off to an 0-6 start, their worst start in over 35 years.


It's almost like circumstances are begging the Cowboys to win the division.

And yet the Cowboys are 4-4.


This may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It could be decades - if ever - before we'll ever see another NFC East division title as easily to be claimed as this year's.





In almost any other year, the 4-4 Cowboys would be sitting at second or third place in the division, fighting furiously to keep their playoff hopes alive. This season? The 4-4 Cowboys, despite all their failures, lead the division and hold what amounts to a 2-game lead over their nearest division rival, because of tiebreaker advantage.


Despite losing two heartbreaking games they should have won, despite multiple injuries, despite surrendering over 600 yards to the Lions, despite having one of the worst rushing offenses in the league, despite having the NFL's worst defense right now (in yardage allowed,) and the NFL's worst passing defense...........

................the Cowboys still have numerous advantages over all of their NFC East rivals for the time being.


They have defeated every division foe at least once already. This makes them invulnerable to a head-to-head tiebreaker. No other team in the division enjoys that kind of security.

The next tiebreaker is division record. The Cowboys win this one, easily, for now. They are 3-0 in the NFC East, far and away the best record of any team in the division. This will be an absolutely crucial factor when December rolls around. The Eagles, Giants and Commanders? They're 2-2, 1-2, and 0-2 in division records, respectively.






There are NO excuses for not winning the division this year. You almost cannot ask for an easier schedule to win than the one that Garrett and the Cowboys have been handed this year. This may be the easiest NFC East title to win in decades.........and the Cowboys are coming dangerously close to not taking it.

1999 Cowboys were 8-8 and were in the playoffs...

 

[Red Dragon]

1999 Cowboys were 8-8 and were in the playoffs...

The wild card field was weak that year.

This year, the Cowboys have almost no chance of getting a wild card berth if they don't win the division outright.

 

[Red Dragon]

Really bad form to quote my post and remove the parts you don't like..

The quote function didn't incorporate my own quotes into your quote but you know what I meant.

I would argue with you but your own words contradict your title:

Cowboys are close to squandering a once-in-a-generation opportunity (NFC East)
.

Insert your rebuttal to your post title...

It is almost impossible for a division to be any more gift-wrapped than this year's NFC East.

The Eagles? They have big problems at the quarterback position, at the precise team when every other NFC East team is trying to overtake them or stay ahead of them.

The Commanders, last season's division champions? They got off to a 1-4 start.

The Giants, the Cowboys' chief nemesis over the past 6 years? They got off to an 0-6 start, their worst start in over 35 years.
.

Congrats..you did a great job of defeating your own argument.

 

[Redball Express]

Indeed, 8 wins- playoffs ( either division or wild card ) + Rd.1 victory- Jason stays. Playoff berth alone will no longer be enough.

Anything less- zero chance at retention.

Me ?

I say the possibility of Dallas going 2-6 instead of 6-2..

is real.

I really have no idea what this team will do now.

 

[Rockytop6]

While I don't disagree with your post, it's my opinion that the bar is set much higher for this franchise than winning the NFC East.

I'm sure the franchise has the bar set "much higher" but the franchise administration has been living in fantasy land for a very long time. If we had our starters healthy then it might be realistic, but with the injuries and all of the multiple problems right now the franchise might as well readjust their "bar." First, they must win their division, then win their second playoff game in a hundred years and then?????

 

[Reverend Conehead]

We ain't winning the division. We keep finding ways to blow leads and I expect the NFC East race to be no different. I'm just so sick of getting my hopes up I'd rather assume it will come down to the last game of the season and somehow we'll screw it up.

 

[TTexasTT]

We ain't winning the division. We keep finding ways to blow leads and I expect the NFC East race to be no different. I'm just so sick of getting my hopes up I'd rather assume it will come down to the last game of the season and somehow we'll screw it up.

Thats the spirit.

 

[coult44]

I fully expect the Cowboys to finish 10-6, but 7-9 would win this division.

Sombodies had to much Jerry Juice....and even when we do win the division, then What???

 

[mmohican29]

The wild card field was weak that year.

This year, the Cowboys have almost no chance of getting a wild card berth if they don't win the division outright.

Completely untrue. The Cowboys are 4-1 in conference play. There's a half of a season left. You can't assume they will lose or win every game but even the Broncos 49ers are only 5-1 in conference play which other than overall record is the first determinant of WC berth.

 

[john van brocklin]

The wild card field was weak that year.

This year, the Cowboys have almost no chance of getting a wild card berth if they don't win the division outright.

I agree , just thought I would add the info to your post...

 

[TTexasTT]

Sombodies had to much Jerry Juice....and even when we do win the division, then What???

Want me to join you in your pity party? OK, I guess we go to a playoff game and lose by 309 points because this years team has shown no ability to score points or shutdown defenses.
srs, though. If my optimistic point of view troubles you just ignore my posts. Im clearly not bothered by all the "realists" reminding everyone at every chance that this team blows.

 

[black label]

The wild card field was weak that year.

This year, the Cowboys have almost no chance of getting a wild card berth if they don't win the division outright.

Win the division and,

49ers -8 @Dallas or
Seahawks -8 1/2 @Dallas

 

[yimyammer]

There are NO excuses for not winning the division this year. You almost cannot ask for an easier schedule to win than the one that Garrett and the Cowboys have been handed this year. This may be the easiest NFC East title to win in decades.........and the Cowboys are coming dangerously close to not taking it.

Given the excruciating ways the Cowboys have found to lose in recent years, I can't help but expect them to somehow blow the division that is trying to be handed to them on a silver platter

 

[TTexasTT]

Win the division and,

49ers -8 @Dallas or
Seahawks -8 1/2 @Dallas

Despite this teams troubles I feel as this team can win thouse games. Seattle is much weaker on the road and you saw how they played against a team that Dallas decimated... and the 49ers are very hit or miss. Clearly, I wouldnt say those games are easy but they are IMO winnable.

 

[pjtoadie]

The SB is there for the cowboys, all they have to do is grab it.

Super Bowl?! What have you seen from this team that makes you think they can make the SB?

 

[CrownCowboy]

Given how this team has performed this year, I do not believe they will finish 6-2 the rest of the way.

I can't recall a team, ever, that finds ways to lose games in the most unthinkable fashions that this team does.

Anything can happen, but in my opinion, we are not going to New Orleans and winning that game. We all know that we won't be able to stop them and if prior road games have been any indication, our offense will go conservative. The same applies to almost every road game we have left, including the Giant game.

I think we'll go 7-9, as I predicted before the season began. The Vikings, Raiders and Eagles games should be wins. The rest of the games could very well end up being losses and some will end up losses.

I am one of those guys that looks at the big picture. I want us to win a Super Bowl. With that being said, even if we do win the division, we are not winning the Super Bowl because we are not good enough. Period.

 

[benson]

Despite this teams troubles I feel as this team can win thouse games. Seattle is much weaker on the road and you saw how they played against a team that Dallas decimated... and the 49ers are very hit or miss. Clearly, I wouldnt say those games are easy but they are IMO winnable.

With the Cowboys, every game is 50-50. As our record has shown since 1997. We can lose to anyone and we can beat anyone.

We're going to win this division. Wild Card Round (.50) x Division Round (.50) x NFC Championship (.50) x Superbowl (.50) = 6 %

We have a 6% chance of winning the Superbowl this season.

 

[TTexasTT]

With the Cowboys, every game is 50-50. As our record has shown since 1997. We can lose to anyone and we can beat anyone.

We're going to win this division. Wild Card Round (.50) x Division Round (.50) x NFC Championship (.50) x Superbowl (.50) = 6 %

We have a 6% chance of winning the Superbowl this season.

lmao. I guess thats fair...

 

[Gameover]

Super Bowl?! What have you seen from this team that makes you think they can make the SB?

It's what I haven't seen from the rest of the league.

I don't know how the lines would hold up in the playoff environment but I see championship pieces if they can.

The cowboys need Romo to revert back to his 2009/11 form. Spare me the numbers Romoites. I can look at him.