First Must Win Game?

[kwcool619]

Yes. It is a must win. Problem is, it's also a must win for the Packers. It's actually more of a Must Win for them due to a tougher division (Bears and Lions all look pretty decent/good. Vikings look okay, but they aren't a walk in the park team). We really only have to worry about the Eagles. However, we have a way tougher schedule. We cannot afford to lose to GB when we have to play the Pats, Rams (who may or may not be slightly overrated as of right now, but we said that last year and got whooped), Bears, Bills, and the Eagles twice. Dallas needs to get it together quick because this schedule does not get better.

It's going to be brutal stretch...Here is Los Angeles, some Rams fans I know still have that glazed look in their eyes after the Bucs beatdown.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Nope. Its an important game for the teams confidence, but we are no worse than tied for first with a loss.

 

[glimmerman]

I think they are all must win games. Each game could be for different reasons. First 3 games were because they were lesser teams and you have to win those. If they are in our division or conference they are needed for possible playoff implications. Until we clinch they are all needed.

 

[McKDaddy]

As long as we go 5-2 into the BYE week, we will be fine. A loss against GB, & then wins against Jets & Eagles is a good sign.

From a purely math perspective, I get what you are saying. But to have any kind of credibility this team needs to beat some quality opponents. If we got to 5-2 in this fashion, it would feel very hollow. I understand it would all depend on how you played those last 9 games & if you get rolling it wouldn't matter how you won before the bye but it wouldn't give much confidence starting that stretch.

 

[Doomsday101]

I see this as an important game not a must win. Important to rebound after a loss and being this is a conferance game with one of the top teams and at home it is an important game.

 

[CouchCoach]

you make a good point,what are the 7 games and teams??
I would say this is a must win for if we dont win div.

The 4 NFC North teams, LAR and the PHL, twice. It is not too early to be looking at the matchups that can affect the WC race, like the LAR-SEA tonight. Since we play the Rams, we need them to win and give SEA another L. And they already have a conference loss. And we control the head to head against LAR.

Unless teams just start falling apart, I think this playoff hunt is going to get congested and I do not see a clear winner out of this bunch. I would have said LAR was that team but if we're pissed about a 2 point loss to NO there, wonder what giving up 55 to TB at home feels like for the defending NFC champs?

"Must win" gets misapplied late in the season because if another game had been won earlier in the season, the "must win" we didn't recognize, the later game might not be "must win".

Considering the Cowboys are coming off a loss, against a contender, and playing a contender, this game is "must win" to me to not only get the head to head against GB and a game up on PHL but to right the ship and regain confidence. The Cowboys lose this game and I do not like their chances against PHL for the division lead as I still think they're the best team in the division.

 

[CouchCoach]

I agree they need to win and need to treat it like one but I can't call it a must win. Even if they lose they should go 4-2. Philly would be the must win. A must win to me is a game you have to have in order to make the playoffs.

I am looking at all of these games against the HFC contenders as "must wins" because we do not know how this is all going to shake out and I think tiebreakers are going to enter into this. If we lose to GB and they wion the North, not much of a problem except for our conference record. I am not usually "must win" this early in the season but this NFC schedule has the Cowboys against 7 contenders and all have winning records.

I agree it's really early but when we missed the playoffs in the past by 1 win, when was that last. The must win game to end the season or earlier in the season? The unknown in all of this is what happens when these teasm tee it up against each other? GB already has the edge on CHI in the division. LAR is a game out of first in theirs.

 

[DFWJC]

lol did you even read the op post?

It a confirmation to the OP , not a rebuttal.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Would hurt to go 0-2 vs. likely playoff teams in the conference.

 

[OmerV]

It's not "must win" … a 3-2 start doesn't condemn a season. But going into the game with a 3-1 record instead of a 4-0 record certainly adds some importance to the game.

 

[Texasfootball21]

Yes a must win with a potential playoff opponent looking for home field advantage during the playoffs in January. Go Cowboys!

 

[kwcool619]

A must win? Not yet. This is more of a bounce back situation.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Fans gonna fan.

So crazy.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

I don't think it's a "must win" but I'd like to see more than 10 points from an anemic offense.

 

[cowboygo]

From a purely math perspective, I get what you are saying. But to have any kind of credibility this team needs to beat some quality opponents. If we got to 5-2 in this fashion, it would feel very hollow. I understand it would all depend on how you played those last 9 games & if you get rolling it wouldn't matter how you won before the bye but it wouldn't give much confidence starting that stretch.

I'm personally not too concerned about credibility or perception about the team. If we beat the Packers, people will say it was a game we should have won either way. If we lose to them, we can't compete against good teams. Its all noise in the end if we make the playoffs.

5-2 with a 3-0 division record is strong. I'd love to beat the Packers, heck I would probably enjoy it as much as the Eagles win, but its not fully indicative of the team. Where it can come back to bite us, is at the end of the season for a tie-breaker.

 

[Flamma]

This is not a must win game by any stretch of the imagination. But it is a save face game.

 

[Doomsday101]

This is not a must win game by any stretch of the imagination. But it is a save face game.

Given that the eagles play the jets I would say it is also a stay in 1st place alone game. Fully expect to see Philly take down the Jets we have a chance to keep the lead in the East

 

[DeaconBlues]

Must win? Last year Dallas started out at 3 and 5, before the offense kicked in. Yes, Dallas should win against GB. But it's still one game.

 

[nightrain]

seeing what happened last season, the wins games prolly won't roll around until after Halloween.

 

[cowboyblue22]

its not a must win but if the lose its going to shake their confidence a lot and its a home game if u cant beat the better teams at then u are just a team that is in pack of teams in the nfc