DMN Burnett Blog: Talks about the Playoff Loss *Merge*

[BehindEnemyLinez]

Excellent point.

The Cowboys have gone about things in a non emotional and businesslike manner for 10 plus years. Every really good team I can remember has been able to get up emotionally and deliver physically in big games when things are on the line. This team has not looked that way since the mid 90's.

Good point. None of our team leaders seem to have that fire like an Irvin, Aikman, Haley or Norton...you know, that in-yo-face, incendiary spark that keeps the intensity at a high level. We have players who PLAY like that but I'm not sure they can verbally inspire their teammates to do the same. And as corny as it may sound, I think players need that sometimes to keep that fire burning to try to take their game up a notch.

 

[Redball Express]

Excellent point.

The Cowboys have gone about things in a non emotional and businesslike manner for 10 plus years. Every really good team I can remember has been able to get up emotionally and deliver physically in big games when things are on the line. This team has not looked that way since the mid 90's.

Dallas has come in against both Seattle and the Jints and played flat, emotionless football and ended up losing embarrassingly in the playoffs.

They have to correct that. By the end of the last two seasons, the team has struggled into the playoffs and confidence was just shredded and as a result, the coaches play a conservative game which traps this team into making the crucial mistakes by trying not to lose.

Not going out and grabbing the other team by the throat and stomp on them early and taking control of the game has been the problem. We have left teams in each game and let them come back and get confidence as the game went along.

It also doesn't help when the team is only scoring like 14-17 pts in playoff games.

You are going to lose doing that.

Playing well in December, playing good teams and winning against them and not just trying to beat 3rd level teams and claim momentum is with you is just self-indulgent.

This team may or may not learn what it takes.

We'll see.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS :starspin

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I've always said it, and I'll say it again:

Dallas was the better team on the field that day. The better team doesn't always win.

This is what irks me, that a team we were clearly better than beat us and went on to win the SB.

NY is the first team in a long time that I can say was not the best team to win the SB.

Not even close.

Steelers won - they werent good... got hot like Giants
Ravens won - rode the defense... as a team they were not good.

 

[Vintage]

The Giants won bec. their great players made plays when they needed them.

Ours didn't.

 

[tyke1doe]

I understand what you're saying but I think the better team did win. NY was really almost flawless. No mistakes. Got to the QB. Protected their QB. Good on STs. They didn't give up many plays. They scored when they needed to and stopped us when they needed to.

This is why I don't give stats that much credit. There is no stat for stops when needed. Scores when needed. Sacks when critical. Mistakes that kill you.

The most talented team didn't win. But the better team did.