Explaining the reaction to last night's game

Bobhaze

Bobhaze

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Last night’s results from the 28-20 loss to the giants led to a level of anger and frustration I haven’t seen around here since the horrific loss to the packers in the playoffs in Jan, 2024. It’s usually dark after a Cowboys loss but last night had a little something extra in it.

And I believe it’s completely understandable and explainable. Here are some of the reasons for the level of fan anger during and after last night’s game:
  • The fan buy-in this off-season was the highest I’ve seen in a few years. “This year feels different” was a very common theme. And maybe it will still end up being different. It’s only one game. (Anyone not “buying in” whole hog was often called “negative”, lol)
  • Last night had a new cast of players on D but unfortunately had a lot of the same problems as last year. People lost in coverage, clueless looks and the inability to get a critical stop.
  • New Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker was practically fitted for a gold jacket this summer despite being 34, and a rookie DC never having called a game in his young life. He WILL need some patience of which there is none.
  • Hate to say it but when it has been a three decade drought, patience is not something fans should be asked to give when the guys MOST responsible for this drought have zero accountability.
  • AND…when your QB starts talking SB in July, maybe it’s time to tap the brakes and just focus on winning the next game.
BOTTOM LINE : Expectations probably exceeded capability. Surprise!
Here are some hard truths:
  • The worst defense in the NFL in 2025 was always going to be a work in progress.
  • If this defense had been mediocre last year and we added talent, it could become “good” this year.
  • But this defense was awful the last two years. It may take more than a TC and PS to make this defense even middle of the pack.
Some change takes time. Should this fan base be patient? I think it’s completely understandable if many fans have zero patience. But this team will not be fixed with a draft and a new DC overnight. That was never “realistic”.

Folks, NFL teams are never forged in one game. We have 16 more of these. Will they be better? I don’t know. Time will tell.

But I do hope there is more patience - NOT for the leaders and players of this team. But for each other as Cowboys fans. If you were mad last night, you have every right to be. Direct your anger to the people running this thing…not each other.
 
Bobhaze said:
Last night’s results from the 28-20 loss to the giants led to a level of anger and frustration I haven’t seen around here since the horrific loss to the packers in the playoffs in Jan, 2024. It’s usually dark after a Cowboys loss but last night had a little something extra in it.

And I believe it’s completely understandable and explainable. Here are some of the reasons for the level of fan anger during and after last night’s game:
  • The fan buy-in this off-season was the highest I’ve seen in a few years. “This year feels different” was a very common theme. And maybe it will still end up being different. It’s only one game. (Anyone not “buying in” whole hog was often called “negative”, lol)
  • Last night had a new cast of players on D but unfortunately had a lot of the same problems as last year. People lost in coverage, clueless looks and the inability to get a critical stop.
  • New Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker was practically fitted for a gold jacket this summer despite being 34, and a rookie DC never having called a game in his young life. He WILL need some patience of which there is none.
  • Hate to say it but when it has been a three decade drought, patience is not something fans should be asked to give when the guys MOST responsible for this drought have zero accountability.
  • AND…when your QB starts talking SB in July, maybe it’s time to tap the brakes and just focus on winning the next game.
BOTTOM LINE : Expectations probably exceeded capability. Surprise!
Here are some hard truths:
  • The worst defense in the NFL in 2025 was always going to be a work in progress.
  • If this defense had been mediocre last year and we added talent, it could become “good” this year.
  • But this defense was awful the last two years. It may take more than a TC and PS to make this defense even middle of the pack.
Some change takes time. Should this fan base be patient? I think it’s completely understandable if many fans have zero patience. But this team will not be fixed with a draft and a new DC overnight. That was never “realistic”.

Folks, NFL teams are never forged in one game. We have 16 more of these. Will they be better? I don’t know. Time will tell.

But I do hope there is more patience - NOT for the leaders and players of this team. But for each other as Cowboys fans. If you were mad last night, you have every right to be. Direct your anger to the people running this thing…not each other.
Click to expand...
It's Jerry’s fault!!! Stay focused.
 
The problem is with all the so called expectations, there isn't much time to save the season. A few more games like last night and the season will be over. I never thought we would be a SB contender but I did think we could compete for the division. The team that played last night isn't competing for anything
 
I think this is a pretty fair take Bob. The anger isn't really because the Cowboys lost one game. It's because Sunday looked an awful lot like the problems we've been watching for the last couple of years, despite all the offseason talk about how different this defense was going to be.

I do agree that Parker deserves some time. Expecting a first year DC to completely transform a defense in one offseason was never realistic. Especially one with so many new pieces. But there's a difference between being patient with a new system and giving the coaches a pass when the same problems keep showing up.

Nobody expected this defense to suddenly become the '90's Cowboys. But we expected to see something different. Better communication. Better situational football. Adjustments when the Giants kept attacking the same weaknesses. More resistance on third down. Those are things we should be able to evaluate immediately, regardless of how young the system is.

The other thing is the idea that fans have to choose between "patience" and "accountability." We can have both. We can say, "It's Week 1, let's see how this develops," while also saying, "What we saw Sunday wasn't good enough."

I'm definitely not ready to declare this team a fraud after one game. But I'm also not going to pretend the loss was meaningless just because there are 16 games left.

Basically: don't panic, but don't dismiss the warning signs either. That's probably the most reasonable place to be after Week 1.
 
As excited I was when CP was added, I have said several times that the expectations of him this first season are higher than they should be, and for many of the reasons you listed.

I do believe the defense will get better as there's a lot of coaching talent on the defensive side that CP can and I'm sure will lean on to fix the problem areas.

Even so, I think if the Cowboys defense ends up in the top half of the league even near the middle area it will be a huge upgrade over the last two seasons and will hopefully set the foundation for an even better defense in 2027.

I have said all along this team will rely more on the offense this year just like it did last year and I see no reason to change that mindset at this point.

Hopefully we'll see some improvement the next game on both sides of the ball.
 
My thoughts are a bit more to the point, but hard to disagree with any of yours. You left put not playing starters in preseason...
My solution to that is...
How would you feel about this?
Play all division games at the end of the season, use those records to qualify for the playoffs and non division games would determine seeding and home turf? Preseason games would become televised controlled scrimmages. Kinda like HS and college...
 
I have no problem being patient with the D. I didn't expect to see an elite D last night. I did, however, expect to see an organized D that at least understood basic assignments, especially after working on them all preseason. If they were in position and getting beat, fine. Last night looked like more of the electric football D they have been playing than anything trending in the right direction.

Hopefully week one was more of a fluke than the start of a pattern. I'm willing to give Parker time but I'm not sure what he's done with the time he's already had.
 
Bob, we've been MORE than patient for going on 31 years now. I blame one person for that many years of consecutive failure . . . Jerry Jones. Until he sells this team l just dont see much changing. We haven't even been to an NFCCG in that time. This is not the Cowboys team l grew up watching. There's no excuse for this.
 
Last edited:
big dog cowboy said:
I think this is a pretty fair take Bob. The anger isn't really because the Cowboys lost one game. It's because Sunday looked an awful lot like the problems we've been watching for the last couple of years, despite all the offseason talk about how different this defense was going to be.

I do agree that Parker deserves some time. Expecting a first year DC to completely transform a defense in one offseason was never realistic. Especially one with so many new pieces. But there's a difference between being patient with a new system and giving the coaches a pass when the same problems keep showing up.

Nobody expected this defense to suddenly become the '90's Cowboys. But we expected to see something different. Better communication. Better situational football. Adjustments when the Giants kept attacking the same weaknesses. More resistance on third down. Those are things we should be able to evaluate immediately, regardless of how young the system is.

The other thing is the idea that fans have to choose between "patience" and "accountability." We can have both. We can say, "It's Week 1, let's see how this develops," while also saying, "What we saw Sunday wasn't good enough."

I'm definitely not ready to declare this team a fraud after one game. But I'm also not going to pretend the loss was meaningless just because there are 16 games left.

Basically: don't panic, but don't dismiss the warning signs either. That's probably the most reasonable place to be after Week 1.
Click to expand...
Well said Dog.

I will say this team could obviously still make strides and show improvement. But what made last night sting so much for so many was the level of buy-in that things WERE already fixed and different. That was never realistic.

Meaning I think the level of kool aide drinking was high which after seeing the game caused many to be mad at the team and themselves for biting the hook again.

After 6% of the season it’s way too early to throw a towel in the ring. But I do understand why so many were upset. They bought in to something that is still in major overhaul.
 
ksadler1 said:
Bob, we've been MORE than patient for going on 31 years now. I blame one person for that many years of consecutive failure . . . Jerry Jones. Until he sells this team l just dont see much changing. We haven't even been to an NFCCG in that time. This is not the Cowboys team l grew up watching.
Click to expand...
Frankly I agree 100%. I have adopted a philosophy years ago that I will believe this team is different…when it is.

Looking at Jerry and Stephen last night in their gilded booth I could only think of two words to describe them: Arrogantly pathetic.
 
I think we’re all just desperate for some good wins. Plus each off season seems to get longer every year. Man though they came out really flat last night.
 
Bobhaze said:
Last night’s results from the 28-20 loss to the giants led to a level of anger and frustration I haven’t seen around here since the horrific loss to the packers in the playoffs in Jan, 2024. It’s usually dark after a Cowboys loss but last night had a little something extra in it.

And I believe it’s completely understandable and explainable. Here are some of the reasons for the level of fan anger during and after last night’s game:
  • The fan buy-in this off-season was the highest I’ve seen in a few years. “This year feels different” was a very common theme. And maybe it will still end up being different. It’s only one game. (Anyone not “buying in” whole hog was often called “negative”, lol)
  • Last night had a new cast of players on D but unfortunately had a lot of the same problems as last year. People lost in coverage, clueless looks and the inability to get a critical stop.
  • New Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker was practically fitted for a gold jacket this summer despite being 34, and a rookie DC never having called a game in his young life. He WILL need some patience of which there is none.
  • Hate to say it but when it has been a three decade drought, patience is not something fans should be asked to give when the guys MOST responsible for this drought have zero accountability.
  • AND…when your QB starts talking SB in July, maybe it’s time to tap the brakes and just focus on winning the next game.
BOTTOM LINE : Expectations probably exceeded capability. Surprise!
Here are some hard truths:
  • The worst defense in the NFL in 2025 was always going to be a work in progress.
  • If this defense had been mediocre last year and we added talent, it could become “good” this year.
  • But this defense was awful the last two years. It may take more than a TC and PS to make this defense even middle of the pack.
Some change takes time. Should this fan base be patient? I think it’s completely understandable if many fans have zero patience. But this team will not be fixed with a draft and a new DC overnight. That was never “realistic”.

Folks, NFL teams are never forged in one game. We have 16 more of these. Will they be better? I don’t know. Time will tell.

But I do hope there is more patience - NOT for the leaders and players of this team. But for each other as Cowboys fans. If you were mad last night, you have every right to be. Direct your anger to the people running this thing…not each other.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't call it anger for me. I'm more disappointed in the head coach. He's in year 2 and opening night in NY his football team was not ready.
 
Love the sentiments Bob. A few of us - you more diplomatically - have been advocating for caution and warning of irrational exuberance all offseason.

That being said, the people who were telling us how awesome this season was gonna be and how Schotty "changed the culture" and how Parker "fixed the defense" - again not you but those fellow fans who some of us are frustrated with - should not be telling us to have patience. They need to listen not instruct.
 
ironically keeping zimmer wouldve been better than the eberflop and this crap, at least Zimmer was making improvements on that defense
 
dupree89 said:
I wouldn't call it anger for me. I'm more disappointed in the head coach. He's in year 2 and opening night in NY his football team was not ready.
Click to expand...
Disappointed is the word. What got me going was the lack of coaching. I was expecting more. I normally don't get riled up and much less post. I had the expected haters, calling me out, but I was pleasantly surprised as to the real knowledge of the game that many of our zoners have. Especially those that agreed with me. Lol
But, seriously, a young coach like CP,.regardless of his pedigree or knowledge, is gonna need someone to hold him by the hand for a bit. This could serve as a wakeup call and bring him back down to earth, or it could break him. I'm hoping for the best, but I'm surprised in Schotty not helping him more on the sidelines, but like I said, it's very hard to do that when you're calling plays
 
What I found disappointing wasn't the loss. It was seeing guys on both sides of the ball playing "me" ball yet again. It’s a team game and the Cowboys still don't seem to grasp that concept. The new DC is young and might need more time to get the message across, but Schotty and the offensive coaches have no excuse.
 
As always Bob, you naield it. The problem on this board is that the fanbase is so itching for a championship, that when movs are made that from the outside look to solidify things, many go all gaga over them. The main issue is that we here the same directive from ownership/management, and fans get sucked in every year without even seeing the results on the field. With each of our last DC hires, the narrative was the same, and after 1 week it's simply more of the same. We are told to have patience, yet, nothing has changed the last number of years which raises the Spockian eyebrow of those in the wait and see crowd.
 
I was excited for the season but like I mentioned in some other threads it all sounds nice in training camp but it’s how you act once real football is being played. We failed, the good news is that it’s week one and it’s important to not overreact
 
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