Does anyone doubt we can beat the Patriots

[Doomsday]

I still have doubts are secondary has been suspect vs good passing teams all season. The Eagles were able to press the WRs and disrupt the timing of their offense, something Dallas has not been doing this year. Wade's 8 yard cushions that let WRs fun free in the secondary plays right into the strength of the Pats in my opinion.

I think Dallas' defense is going to have their hands full on Thursday with Favre and company.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I still have doubts are secondary has been suspect vs good passing teams all season. The Eagles were able to press the WRs and disrupt the timing of their offense, something Dallas has not been doing this year. Wade's 8 yard cushions that let WRs fun free in the secondary plays right into the strength of the Pats in my opinion.

I think Dallas' defense is going to have their hands full on Thursday with Favre and company.

Absolutely. We need to do that... even if only in THAT game...
the SB against the Pats.

We did it last year against the Colts. We were physical and we redirected WR's and it worked.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Yes, I believe we CAN beat them--however comma,

 

[Idgit]

Those complaints were a daily ritual with Zimmer around. This is the first I've seen of it since. Could be because it's less of a problem now.

Or maybe that's just my perception.

People forget how well our defense was playing last year prior to being exploited by the Saints. The fact that we completely fell apart on defense after that game caused the bellyachers to join with the crowd that already hated Zimmer to make complaints into a daily ritual.

Prior to that, the GROZ folks got about as much serious play as the Roy-haters get at this point this year.

 

[theogt]

People forget how well our defense was playing last year prior to being exploited by the Saints. The fact that we completely fell apart on defense after that game caused the bellyachers to join with the crowd that already hated Zimmer to make complaints into a daily ritual.

Prior to that, the GROZ folks got about as much serious play as the Roy-haters get at this point this year.

Jerry Jones recently commented that the reason we couldn't do more late in the season last year was because we didn't have anything else installed. That's 100% the coach's fault (read scheme) and may explain our late season collapses under Parcells. Once people figure out what you're doing, they can attack it. If you can't change, then people will continue to attack it. Wade mixes things up so much that you can't consistently attack us in the same fashion.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

The game plan has been drawn up on how to beat New England! Dallas has better players so therefore Dallas should feel real good...

 

[theogt]

The game plan has been drawn up on how to beat New England! Dallas has better players so therefore Dallas should feel real good...

Normally I would just laugh at a statement like this. But I think this is true to an extent. The Patriots didn't play bad last night. They played just fine. And Philly wasn't exactly playing gimmicky. They were lining up and executing their scheme. And for the most part it worked.

 

[khiladi]

Jerry Jones recently commented that the reason we couldn't do more late in the season last year was because we didn't have anything else installed. That's 100% the coach's fault (read scheme) and may explain our late season collapses under Parcells. Once people figure out what you're doing, they can attack it. If you can't change, then people will continue to attack it. Wade mixes things up so much that you can't consistently attack us in the same fashion.

And one of the knocks on Parcells, during his tenure here, is his record against the same teams he plays the second time around. That is clearly a fault in the adjustment category.

Plus, Dallas' defense was still suspect last year. We often played close, but couldn't make a single stop when it mattered. This was reflective in games against the Jaguars, with Leftwich, who just marched up the field in the last two minutes and threw a TD pass.

 

[khiladi]

Normally I would just laugh at a statement like this. But I think this is true to an extent. The Patriots didn't play bad last night. They played just fine. And Philly wasn't exactly playing gimmicky. They were lining up and executing their scheme. And for the most part it worked.

No doubt. The Patriots didn't turn the ball-over at all, and the Eagles spotted the Patriots seven on the first play of the game. The Patriots were actually mistake free, except for the last few drives where they started dropping the ball. But that could be more a product of the way Philly was hitting than anything else.

 

[ODawg]

Out of 10 games, I'd say we would beat them 3-4 times.

Thats modest but true!!!

 

[Tricky-22]

... after last night's Eagles game?

Seriously. Last night showed that they aren't invincible. Moss can be slowed down. Brady can make mistakes. Their D can be scored upon.

They're a great team, but they aren't perfect. Last night should be a real confidence-builder to every team that has to play the Pats.

Aikman says that if the Cowboys and Patriots play 10 games, the Cowboys would probably win 3 of those games.

I tend to agree with him.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Out of 10 games, I'd say we would beat them 3-4 times.

I give us a little more credit.... I think we split the 10 games.... 50-50

Just for the simple fact that we can counter their offense with ours...

 

[D-TownRadio]

Can't beat them cuz you won't be playing them again. That honor will go to the Packers.

HAHAHA You still hanging around telling jokes?

 

[burmafrd]

Remember in TC last year BP mentioned that they wanted to install more packages but that with so many young players all new to the 3-4 it was felt that it would be too much for them. It is a question whether that was correct or not; but it was a valid concern.

 

[ZeroClub]

It is so difficult to achieve the level of success that the Patriots exhibited during the first 10 games or so this year ... and that level is even more difficult to maintain.

They'll become more vulnerable during the coming weeks and months.

They've got some age on that team and it is a very long season.

 

[smarta5150]

Normally I would just laugh at a statement like this. But I think this is true to an extent. The Patriots didn't play bad last night. They played just fine. And Philly wasn't exactly playing gimmicky. They were lining up and executing their scheme. And for the most part it worked.

Onside kick.
Went for an early 4th down.
1 WR Pass.
1 Flea Flicker.

But I agree with everything else you said.

 

[burmafrd]

Reid has a tendency to try trick plays and such; remember the attempted onside opening kickoff against us that Randall Williams returned for a TD? So for him it was business pretty much as usual.

 

[theogt]

Onside kick.
Went for an early 4th down.
1 WR Pass.
1 Flea Flicker.

But I agree with everything else you said.

Yeah, I thought of all that when I typed it, but by and large it wasn't trickery. That term is really a sliding scale. I guess what I'm trying to say is that they didn't luck into anything.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It is so difficult to achieve the level of success that the Patriots exhibited during the first 10 games or so this year ... and that level is even more difficult to maintain.

That is exactly right. And when they start declining a little, even if they are still extremely good, it will feel to them and the rest of the league like they've slipped a little more than they have. And when that confidence falls a tick (or rises in opponents), sometimes it can gain momentum.

 

[scottsp]

I picked Dallas to lose to NE by double digits at Texas Stadium. I would, in all likelyhood, have similar feelings towards a rematch.