Cowboys Complacency

[TexasBoys2288]

In years past under Garrett the Clown, the Cowboys would get the big head and turn around and lose to sorry teams they should have easily beat. It happened once this year against Green Bay under McCarthy. The next 2 games should be easy wins, but I have an uneasiness about the team not taking Houston or Jacksonville seriously.

Will McCarthy keep this team focused on the big prize? Will the Cowboys be prepared and stomp out these teams? The Eagles, Titans and Commanders will provide challenges in the final 3 games, we don't need to drop one against a sorry team.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

The big prize for the Cowboys seems to be simply making the playoffs.

It seems once they have the playoff spot locked up they become a shell of themselves. They act as if they've won something. They take things easier at practice, they don't play the last game of the season, rinse and repeat.

 

[DogFace]

I think we handle Houston ok. We will cover or come close. I worry some about Jacksonville. It will maybe be Lawrence’s biggest game of his career and he’s pretty good. I think. Plus we will be thinking “kill Eagles”.

 

[Bobhaze]

The big prize for the Cowboys seems to be simply making the playoffs.

It seems once they have the playoff spot locked up they become a shell of themselves. They act as if they've won something. They take things easier at practice, they don't play the last game of the season, rinse and repeat.

This is Big Mac’s challenge- the culture and what happens to it with regular season success. The mental side of football is so underrated.

Being hungry and mentally tough are the final ingredients for a team to have a deep playoff run. Those are exactly the ingredients this team has lacked for almost 3 decades. Too many fans fans think talent alone is the key. But talent without mental toughness isn’t enough. Here’s hoping Coach McCarthy has the Cowboys hungry, sharp and playing with a chip from here on out. I believe it the key.

 

[Risen Star]

I've actually had the Jags game marked as a loss. Nothing easy about it. Their performance against the Lions last week has me reconsidering.

 

[viman96]

In years past under Garrett the Clown, the Cowboys would get the big head and turn around and lose to sorry teams they should have easily beat. It happened once this year against Green Bay under McCarthy. The next 2 games should be easy wins, but I have an uneasiness about the team not taking Houston or Jacksonville seriously.

Will McCarthy keep this team focused on the big prize? Will the Cowboys be prepared and stomp out these teams? The Eagles, Titans and Commanders will provide challenges in the final 3 games, we don't need to drop one against a sorry team.

That attitude was established in Dallas long before Garrett took over as HC.

 

[XXLMike]

McCarthy has been outspoken about taking the cheese …

I trust him

 

[TexasBoys2288]

I think we handle Houston ok. We will cover or come close. I worry some about Jacksonville. It will maybe be Lawrence’s biggest game of his career and he’s pretty good. I think. Plus we will be thinking “kill Eagles”.

Good point, they will be looking ahead to the Eagles game.

 

[Whyjerry]

In years past under Garrett the Clown, the Cowboys would get the big head and turn around and lose to sorry teams they should have easily beat. It happened once this year against Green Bay under McCarthy. The next 2 games should be easy wins, but I have an uneasiness about the team not taking Houston or Jacksonville seriously.

Will McCarthy keep this team focused on the big prize? Will the Cowboys be prepared and stomp out these teams? The Eagles, Titans and Commanders will provide challenges in the final 3 games, we don't need to drop one against a sorry team.

This is true. I put out a thread about the win point differential for Garrett and Big Mike. The numbers are stark. I think McCarthy has them going the right way. They smashed Indy. I expect another blow out this week. This season is different.

 

[shabazz]

Shannon Sharpe made a good point concerning this trap game with the Texans. The Texans have nothing to lose and will do a lot of unconventional things like going for it on 4th down, fake punts, onside kicks, etc, etc

I’d like to see the Cowboys counter this by doing the same exact things. The talent level is so lopsided that this would be the perfect game for doing the same things the Texans will surely do to them.

Go for it on 4th and keep drives sustained and tear the will and heart out of their defense. Call several zero blitzes on their quarterback and shell shock him into la la land. Try every trick play they have in their playbook

 

[john van brocklin]

In years past under Garrett the Clown, the Cowboys would get the big head and turn around and lose to sorry teams they should have easily beat. It happened once this year against Green Bay under McCarthy. The next 2 games should be easy wins, but I have an uneasiness about the team not taking Houston or Jacksonville seriously.

Will McCarthy keep this team focused on the big prize? Will the Cowboys be prepared and stomp out these teams? The Eagles, Titans and Commanders will provide challenges in the final 3 games, we don't need to drop one against a sorry team.

I agree, hopefully the focus will be there.
Hopefully the entitled culture has been overcome.

 

[Cowfan75]

You have to pretty much try to lose to the Texans. Sure, they might start sloppy, but you should be able to spot the Texans 14 points and still win. If we are what we think we are.

 

[Jake]

I wouldn't lump a road game versus the Jags with a home game versus Houston. The Jaguars are 3-2 in games played in Jacksonville.

Dallas should win both, but one game is more of a challenge than the other.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Pretty sure the Texans will try to do their part to get a loss. They are going for that first pick. That Lovie Smith hire ain't looking too good. Dallas should oblige and accept it graciously.

 

[fivetwos]

In years past under Garrett the Clown, the Cowboys would get the big head and turn around and lose to sorry teams they should have easily beat. It happened once this year against Green Bay under McCarthy. The next 2 games should be easy wins, but I have an uneasiness about the team not taking Houston or Jacksonville seriously.

Will McCarthy keep this team focused on the big prize? Will the Cowboys be prepared and stomp out these teams? The Eagles, Titans and Commanders will provide challenges in the final 3 games, we don't need to drop one against a sorry team.

This has absolutely been a massive problem under Coach Jerry’s leadership.

Maybe some of it is wishful thinking but I do think that MM is doing a great job at overcoming the Jerry factor, and I think he truly does have the teams ear.

Mike McCarthy is impressing me so far this season overall when previously I considered him not much more than a guy who stands on the sidelines because Jerry can’t get away with doing that.

 

[817Gill]

I've actually had the Jags game marked as a loss. Nothing easy about it. Their performance against the Lions last week has me reconsidering.

I think that being behind Philly helps, had we been number 1 in the NFCE for the whole season like last year we’d be in that complacent place.

Since we are chasing Philly the team knows they can’t drop any games the rest of the year. I’m hoping that keeps the switch turned on.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Shannon Sharpe made a good point concerning this trap game with the Texans. The Texans have nothing to lose and will do a lot of unconventional things like going for it on 4th down, fake punts, onside kicks, etc, etc

I’d like to see the Cowboys counter this by doing the same exact things. The talent level is so lopsided that this would be the perfect game for doing the same things the Texans will surely do to them.

Go for it on 4th and keep drives sustained and tear the will and heart out of their defense. Call several zero blitzes on their quarterback and shell shock him into la la land. Try every trick play they have in their playbook

An underdog should adopt high-risk strategies. Usually they won't work out, and instead of losing by 7 you end up losing by 20. But that approach increases the chances of pulling out an unlikely win: it expands the range of possible outcomes. Variance is the underdog's friend.

When you're the better team, you want to minimize variance. You're better than they are: as long as weird stuff doesn't happen, you'll win. So you want to reduce the chances that weird stuff happens.

What you don't want to do, though, is slow the game down. On average, you'll score more points per drive than they will. So the more drives there are, the more that advantage builds up. If you slow things down and reduce the number of chances to build up that scoring advantage, you let them hang around and give them a chance to beat you with just one or two wacky things happening.

So, against a much weaker opponent, play fast but not risky.
Against a stronger opponent, play slow and risky.

 

[KJJ]

Complacency has been one of the Cowboys biggest enemies.

 

[Acceptablename]

I don’t know that I actually trust anybody in the organization except maybe will McClay. But I do know they’re not nearly as bad such as Jerry Jones as Gets slandered. Not that he’s not at the helm of 27 years of failure he has done some good things

 

[Coogiguy03]

The big prize for the Cowboys seems to be simply making the playoffs.

It seems once they have the playoff spot locked up they become a shell of themselves. They act as if they've won something. They take things easier at practice, they don't play the last game of the season, rinse and repeat.

You've been on fire these last few weeks