Originally Posted by: Kleese
Dallas CAN'T Rest Their Starters on Sunday. IMPOSSIBLE
Folks around here are clearly already taking this game for granted. Here is what worries me:
1. You can only have 47 active players per week. If Dallas "rests their starters" they will have to forfeit the game. In order to field a team on Sunday, the majority of the Cowboy players will need to play.
2. The players that DO play will play very hard. Guys like Brad Johnson will be seeing their first significant action of the season, and they will not be rolling over for us. This is a 13-2 football team, and they have some nice depth. That depth will be playing as hard as they can.
3. For the first time in weeks, the pressure switches to us. The game means NOTHING for Dallas. In a way, that may help us because I don't think the Commanders will be their main focus leading up to this game. But once the game starts, it kind of hurts us. Dallas can play loose and free. 4th and 1? Might as well go for it. Prior to the Minneosta game, we were sort of a playoff footnote-- no one really gave us much of a chance. Now, we control the fate of that last seed in the NFC-- the media will be talking about that quite a bit this week and most pundits will assume we are going to win. We go from underdogs to favorites, and things tend to get "tight" when that happens.
4. The "rivalry" factor. This is a "fun" game for Dallas. They have it all locked up. If they lose--who cares? But if they win, they can potentially rip the hearts out of the Commanders fan base-- IN WASHINGTON. Just imagine the chapter that could be written in the rivalry if the Cowboys go "halfway" and beat the Commanders going all-out.
5. "Finishing" isn't easy. Never easy. We've climbed a major mountain the past three weeks and we've done so in admirable fashion. Now, it's right there for us.
People keep acting like this is going to be a Commanders-Clinching party on Sunday and all we really need to do is show up. I'm a bit more leary than some of you.
Having said all of this, I do believe Dallas will rest the majority of their "stars." I think Romo will start, but leave early...I'm hoping the same is true of Demarcus Ware.
And I will say this....if we get out to a hot start and take an early lead, Dallas will probably say "oh well" and just try to get the game over with. But if Dallas starts well, then they will probably get some competitive juices flowing and try to win the game.
I hope we come out early and absolutely crack some heads. Lay some real hits on people-- blitz Romo early. Make Dallas say "forget this."
But it won't be easy.
