I'll start my post by saying I'm a Skins fan and a proud representative of ExtremeSkins, just to get it out of the way early. Before Hostile or anyone else jumps down my throat, I am aware that the team I pull for originated in Boston. I am aware that our name has nothing to do with Peanuts. If my memory is correct, the Dallas franchise originated partially out of the Commanders fight song being held hostage in return for a deciding vote.
Oh, and Barnee Breeskin composed the original version of "Hail to the Commanders," (since modified) I believe. If not composed, I know he was involved in it's creation in some way, but I didn't want to cheat and look it up. Hopefully this establishes me as a little more than a mouth breather.
Anyway, I joined awhile ago but haven't posted until now. I like this forum in that there's actually intelligent football discussion here, much like there is on ExtremeSkins; not many fanbases can claim that. I don't like your team in the slightest, and never will, but as a fanbase, you folks are alright by me, especially compared to people from Philly.
As to the game coming up this Sunday, you guys are favored and should be, you've earned it. Your team looks solid. I do question the spread (11.5 seems high) and why you are so confident you'll blow the Skins out. From my point of view, there was a season split last year, though the team weren't equally motivated in Week 17. However, the mid-season game, Dallas won 28-23.
My question is, what has changed? The Commanders return almost every single starter from that game. Sean Taylor was alive but hurt. Our corners are the same, (I forget when Rogers went down) our linebackers are the same, and with Jason Taylor (our only major offseason acquisition) hurt, our D-Line is the same. On offense, we're returning the same QB, same RB's, same WR's, but our line will be upgraded because Randy Thomas is playing, and Jansen/Heyer is an upgrade over Todd Wade from last year.
Our major change has been our offensive system, but Campbell is getting more comfortable in it, and it's certainly been more effective than the system we were running under Gibbs, at least so far.
I don't follow Dallas as closely, but I see the same QB, same WR's, same feature RB, same TE, etc. I don't know if you've made O-line changed, and I know you have an extra CB or two, but again, isn't it mostly the same team.
Knowing that, and knowing how these teams usually fight when they play each other, why would anyone think it will be a blowout? I won't go so far as to predict a Commanders victory. We've looked pretty good these past two weeks and I think we can get better. But Dallas has looked far and away like the class of the NFL right now, and we haven't seen a team like yours yet.
If the spread stays at 11.5, I'd pick the Skins to cover, but if I had to predict an outcome/score, my gut tells me that Dallas comes out on top, maybe 24-20, 23-17, something along those lines. I hope I'm wrong of course, I would like nothing better than to topple you from your perch, but respect is given, and your team has earned it. If it turns out that you do win, I'll come back here and take my lumps, and hope that I can be dishing it right back when you visit our house in November.
I was going to end this with some sort of smilie, but too many of them contain the hated blue star. However, I'm sure we can all agree that this one brings a smile to everyone's face.
:trophy:
I think Seattle has been the achilles for both the Skins and Boys the last few years.
