first round playoff game may be even bigger than usual

[Chuck 54]

Yes, the first round playoff game is critical. Win, you move on; lose, you go home....DUH?!

However, this year it may be bigger than ever on the "Win" side. Despite some fans' emotional protestations, a loss in the first round to the 11-5 Detroit Lions, boasting a franchise QB who can make every throw when he's "on," a receiving corps with Megatron and Golden Tate, along with a very good TE, the big play ability of Reggie Bush, and an effective hammer-back, along with a very formidable front 7 on defense, well, a loss would not be a big surprise or huge upset.

But a victory, whether dominating or by a single point, might be the impetus for a Super Bowl run. This is a Dallas team that is full of confidence and swagger, a team that knows itself on defense, yet flies around, trying to play like a dominating bunch. After an impressive, perfect December run to the playoffs against the odds, this team is flying high. A playoff victory in round one against a wild card team that no one really wanted to play could begin a solid and unsurprising March to the SB.

This is not the Dallas team of the past that just wanted to survive December and slip into the playoffs. This is not the team that fans and team officials hoped might get a playoff win, but really just hoped for a good showing to build upon, not one of those Dallas teams that realistic fans knew wasn't ready to compete with the big boys, but just wanted to be part of the playoffs...that trend is finally over.

This is a team that needs to get through the first round and a very scary Detroit team that can go from formidable to dominating on both sides of the ball on any given Sunday, any given quarter.

Yes, there could be a disappointing end to a surprising season in round one, but it could also be a first round victory that becomes a catalyst for a very real championship opportunity.

Go Cowboys!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Eye of the tiger baby.... Eye of the tiger

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I agree with most of your sentiments @Chuck 54, but Detroit is not as formidable as you make them out to be. They can't help their schedule, but it was very, very soft and they still struggled most of the year. Kudos to them for having a good record, but the truth is the Cowboys should win this game against a team that struggled against lightweights all season. If they don't, this is one fan who will be disappointed (yet proud). But you're right that Detroit has weapons and a defense with a good reputation. IMO, our road warrior-ship is the biggest factor. If we get past Detroit - and we should - look out! I can't believe we're in this position again after such a depressing offseason and preseason. Like you said, a win Sunday night could catapult the Cowboys to something quite special.

 

[Chuck 54]

I agree with most of your sentiments @Chuck 54, but Detroit is not as formidable as you make them out to be. They can't help their schedule, but it was very, very soft and they still struggled most of the year. Kudos to them for having a good record, but the truth is the Cowboys should win this game against a team that struggled against lightweights all season. If they don't, this is one fan who will be disappointed (yet proud). But you're right that Detroit has weapons and a defense with a good reputation. IMO, our road warrior-ship is the biggest factor. If we get past Detroit - and we should - look out! I can't believe we're in this position again after such a depressing offseason and preseason. Like you said, a win Sunday night could catapult the Cowboys to something quite special.

Haha....I think you just said the same things I said in the end. We are the favored team, and I think we should defeat Detroit. Their offensive weapons match ours, though Stafford is much more inconsistent than Romo. Their defensive personnel is superior to ours. On any given Sunday, I think they are the most balanced team in the NFC playoffs, in my opinion. I see GB as having a limited defense and Seattle as a limited offense. Arizona is clearly limited on offense, and Carolina is, well, a one man show. We are clearly limited on defense.

Detroit is probably the most underachieving team in the group, despite their record. That's why I think they are formidable to dominating, depending on whether they can put it all together. I'm hoping they can't, and Dallas gets the job done.

 

[CalCBFan]

Say what you will, I worry about this game for two emotional reasons: Everyone (DMN and ESPN "experts") is picking us to win and Buck and Aikman are calling the game. Can anyone thin of a game in which this scenario occurred and we actually DID win? I can't; seems like that is a recipe for disaster. I sure hope not, believe me...

 

[TonyRomo17]

Say what you will, I worry about this game for two emotional reasons: Everyone (DMN and ESPN "experts") is picking us to win and Buck and Aikman are calling the game. Can anyone thin of a game in which this scenario occurred and we actually DID win? I can't; seems like that is a recipe for disaster. I sure hope not, believe me...

first Giants game this season

 

[HoustonSucks]

Say what you will, I worry about this game for two emotional reasons: Everyone (DMN and ESPN "experts") is picking us to win and Buck and Aikman are calling the game. Can anyone thin of a game in which this scenario occurred and we actually DID win? I can't; seems like that is a recipe for disaster. I sure hope not, believe me...

I was going to post the same! When was the last time all the experts picked us and we actually did win? It seems we do so much better when people count us out. This really will be the true test on whether we have turned the corner. We are FAVORED now act like you are SUPPOSED to win and WIN..... I don't know what to think! I'm a big mess and will get messier by Sunday at 3:30

 

[superonyx]

In today's NFL every game is a struggle.
If we take credit away from Detroit for having some close games with bad or average teams then we must do the same with the cowboys.
Didn't we almost lose several games this year like the Rams or Texans? Even the Seattle game was saved by an amazing toe touching catch from Terrance Williams.....

Point being that every team is good enough to win every week in this league. The teams with the best records are the teams that found ways to win the close games..

 

[cowboyblue22]

I so hope they win I want them to win a championship so much.

 

[Longboysfan]

If we get past Detroit - and we should - look out! I can't believe we're in this position again after such a depressing offseason and preseason. Like you said, a win Sunday night could catapult the Cowboys to something quite special.

Win this weekend.
Road wins after that.
Thank you for switching the ICON back to the norm.

 

[xwalker]

Yes, the first round playoff game is critical. Win, you move on; lose, you go home....DUH?!

However, this year it may be bigger than ever on the "Win" side. Despite some fans' emotional protestations, a loss in the first round to the 11-5 Detroit Lions, boasting a franchise QB who can make every throw when he's "on," a receiving corps with Megatron and Golden Tate, along with a very good TE, the big play ability of Reggie Bush, and an effective hammer-back, along with a very formidable front 7 on defense, well, a loss would not be a big surprise or huge upset.

But a victory, whether dominating or by a single point, might be the impetus for a Super Bowl run. This is a Dallas team that is full of confidence and swagger, a team that knows itself on defense, yet flies around, trying to play like a dominating bunch. After an impressive, perfect December run to the playoffs against the odds, this team is flying high. A playoff victory in round one against a wild card team that no one really wanted to play could begin a solid and unsurprising March to the SB.

This is not the Dallas team of the past that just wanted to survive December and slip into the playoffs. This is not the team that fans and team officials hoped might get a playoff win, but really just hoped for a good showing to build upon, not one of those Dallas teams that realistic fans knew wasn't ready to compete with the big boys, but just wanted to be part of the playoffs...that trend is finally over.

This is a team that needs to get through the first round and a very scary Detroit team that can go from formidable to dominating on both sides of the ball on any given Sunday, any given quarter.

Yes, there could be a disappointing end to a surprising season in round one, but it could also be a first round victory that becomes a catalyst for a very real championship opportunity.

Go Cowboys!

I'm not thinking about anything other than the Cowboys winning the Detroit game.