Forget this year (just kidding)

[irishline]

This year is a bust if we do not make it to the NFC title game. We have HFA....so weather is not a factor. We have beaten some really good teams this year....so we are battle tested. We have the best running game in the NFL. We have a guy in Dez that we can "throw it up to" when he is covered. Dak can pass and run. Garrett has more tenure than most of the coaches in the NFL. No one in the NFC is "that" scary....especially with the injuries in Seattle. Our young leaders (Dak and Zeke) do not like they are just "happy" to be here. THIS season should be the only focus. The 90s Cowboys emerged because they had focused, goal oriented winners that hated to lose(Aikman, Irvin, Emmit)...and as a result all 3 are in the HOF. Go back and read what Emmits goals were prior to his rookie season. He thought BIG. So how these young players handle this postseason will tell us a lot about make up. I personally think our young leaders have shown that the stage is not to big for them. Which is why I was ok with sticking with Dak. So I expect BIG things this postseason.

I get what you are saying about goals and Aikmen, Smith, and Irivn. However, We were 3-13 in Irvin's rookie season, 1-15 in Aikman's, and 7-9 in Smith's. When the did make the playoffs in 1991 they got bounced 38-6 to Detroit in the divisional round. Smith's BIG goals prior to his rookie season did not change when we didn't have a winning record his rookie season, or lost in the playoffs his second year. It made him work harder. They all focused despite the challenges, they didn't start out winning a super bowl in year 1. This team is young as well, they can emerge the same way the 90's teams you mentioned did. It does not have to be superbowl or their rookie season is a bust because it wasn't for those 90's teams.

I am rooting for this team to win it all. I honestly believe they have as good a chance as anyone. However, if they do lose in the divisional I will not think this season is a bust. I will think it is a learning experience to a young team that by all rights we're not suppose to have the incredible season they did. To imply that this years players are not focused or goal oriented because they sputter and lose in the playoffs during their first season would be wrong, just as wrong as it would have been to imply about the triplets in 1990 or even 1991.

I do realize the triplets weren't 13-2 in their rookie seasons. There are some expectations that come with that. Like I said, I fully believe the Cowboys can win this Super Bowl. Why not us? They played incredible all year. I just refuse to consider this season as anything close to a bust given everything positive it has given us Cowboy fans.

 

[Garrettop]

Yeah it's nonsense to think a rookie QB hurts your playoff chances.

That's a red herring in this context. Obviously holding everything else the same, more experience for Dak would be an improvement. That doesn't negate other statements made.

 

[cowboys2233]

That's a terrible comparison. Newton was still a bad passer last year and Peyton was retiring and a shell of himself anyway. Throw in the gutting of the Panther secondary and the Oline issues for both teams and you had a recipe for disaster. Absolutely no parallel to the Cowboys' situation.

I don't think the Cowboys are going to disappear but I do think the Cowboys need to take advantage of this opportunity. The fact that we didn't win the 1994 SB still haunts me. Must seal the deal whenever we have the chance, so we never have to look back with a bunch of "what ifs."

 

[Elusive6thRing]

Nothing short of a Super Bowl is a wasted season. One great season doesn't guarantee one the following season.
How many Panthers and Broncos fans felt they were going to have a great season this year?

I don't see the correlation between us and either of those teams. The Broncos lost Peyton (he wasn't prime Peyton but he still made some key throws) and they lost some key defenders and had injuries to their running backs, Carolina let their corner walk and started two rookie corners. Who can we really lose next season that we have now? Mo Claiborne sure he's one and he is a good corner, but we've been winning without him anyway. Barring injury which could happen to any team there's no reason to think we're going to fall off a cliff when Dak and Zeke start their second season and Dez gets 100%. In fact we should be even better. I just don't agree with the logic that anything short of a Super Bowl is a waste season. We have a great future to build upon and we're lucky to have our QB of the future already. But of course a Super Bowl would be fantastic.

Nothing's guaranteed for the future true, but there was also never a guarantee of us winning the Super Bowl with two rookies. I'd be extremely disappointed if we lost our first playoff game, anything else I would consider a successful season. NFL is the most fluky sport though, most other sports you get a 7 game series and the best team usually wins NFL is just one game. Any team especially a playoff team can win one game.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Nobody said it can't be done. Just that the odds are against it.

Let's put it this way. If we entered these playoffs with the same QB but with 3 years NFL experience under his belt the Cowboys would have a better chance at it.

Agree with that above statement and you agree that a rookie QB is a negative that hurts the team's chances this year.

Odds, your opinion, agree with you or disagree....

Nothing is definitive until the game is played. Any given....

 

[lukin2006]

Nobody said it can't be done. Just that the odds are against it.

Let's put it this way. If we entered these playoffs with the same QB but with 3 years NFL experience under his belt the Cowboys would have a better chance at it.

Agree with that above statement and you agree that a rookie QB is a negative that hurts the team's chances this year.

So if Dak struggles, maybe similar to the Giants game would you make the switch to Romo, or just gamble with Dak and let him learn from?

 

[Broges74]

So if Dak struggles, maybe similar to the Giants game would you make the switch to Romo, or just gamble with Dak and let him learn from?

There is no turning back. The Romo era is behind us and the Dak era is here. Either get on board or follow Romo elsewhere. This is as certain as the Sun rising tomorrow.

 

[Garrettop]

There is absolutely no reason for this thread to become Dak vs Romo.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I get what you are saying about goals and Aikmen, Smith, and Irivn. However, We were 3-13 in Irvin's rookie season, 1-15 in Aikman's, and 7-9 in Smith's. When the did make the playoffs in 1991 they got bounced 38-6 to Detroit in the divisional round. Smith's BIG goals prior to his rookie season did not change when we didn't have a winning record his rookie season, or lost in the playoffs his second year. It made him work harder. They all focused despite the challenges, they didn't start out winning a super bowl in year 1. This team is young as well, they can emerge the same way the 90's teams you mentioned did. It does not have to be superbowl or their rookie season is a bust because it wasn't for those 90's teams.

I am rooting for this team to win it all. I honestly believe they have as good a chance as anyone. However, if they do lose in the divisional I will not think this season is a bust. I will think it is a learning experience to a young team that by all rights we're not suppose to have the incredible season they did. To imply that this years players are not focused or goal oriented because they sputter and lose in the playoffs during their first season would be wrong, just as wrong as it would have been to imply about the triplets in 1990 or even 1991.

I do realize the triplets weren't 13-2 in their rookie seasons. There are some expectations that come with that. Like I said, I fully believe the Cowboys can win this Super Bowl. Why not us? They played incredible all year. I just refuse to consider this season as anything close to a bust given everything positive it has given us Cowboy fans.

What you say about Aikman, Irvin, Emmit early on is true....but teams are not allowed to stay and grow together anymore due to salary cap/free agency. You can't have the best record in the NFC/NFL and fail to win a playoff game. IF...IF...you have the best record and fail to win a playoff game...the season is a bust!

 

[Ranching]

Yeah that's your opinion. I say it's wrong. History says it's wrong. We didn't have a rookie QB in 2014. So take that complete nonsense somewhere else.

If you've ever been on an actual playing field and part of the process, you would know that history doesn't mean jack ****. It's what you do today that matters. Get off your negative high horse and enjoy the ride Mr. grinch. Happy New Year! Unless, you don't want it to be happy.

 

[SlammedZero]

Yeah that's your opinion. I say it's wrong. History says it's wrong. We didn't have a rookie QB in 2014. So take that complete nonsense somewhere else.

That is the thing about history, it will always get rewritten for the future. Law of averages. Even if the chance was 1 out of 1 billion, there is still that chance. Anything can happen! Stay positive.

 

[Risen Star]

That is the thing about history, it will always get rewritten for the future. Law of averages. Even if the chance was 1 out of 1 billion, there is still that chance. Anything can happen! Stay positive.

Again. Moved goal posts. It's not can it happen. It's which year was the better chance? I'll take the year with the superior and experienced QB.

I know everyone wants to Go Cowboys!! right now but you basically have to say starting a rookie QB in the postseason is a complete non factor in order to disagree with me.

And if the Cowboys lose in the playoffs (when), everyone will rally around the idea of next year being the year since Prescott's no longer a rookie. Which goes completely against what they are saying now. Wait for it. It's coming.

 

[Risen Star]

If you've ever been on an actual playing field and part of the process, you would know that history doesn't mean jack ****. It's what you do today that matters. Get off your negative high horse and enjoy the ride Mr. grinch. Happy New Year! Unless, you don't want it to be happy.

What an intelligent response.

So history doesn't matter?

Who do you have in the Super Bowl this year?

 

[Risen Star]

So if Dak struggles, maybe similar to the Giants game would you make the switch to Romo, or just gamble with Dak and let him learn from?

I wouldn't be interested in Rayne learning anything. I'd be trying to win the playoff game.

How could you not put in the better QB in a playoff game if you feel that's the situation? Next year isn't guaranteed. You're there now. Win.

 

[Risen Star]

That's a red herring in this context. Obviously holding everything else the same, more experience for Dak would be an improvement. That doesn't negate other statements made.

Your statement was this is the best chance we've had since 1995. I disagree with that. I don't even think it's the 2nd best chance we've had since 1995 and that boils down to starting a rookie QB.

If they do it it'll be historic. It'll be historic because it's never been done before. It's never been done before because a rookie QB has always gotten you beat.

Where am I losing you?

 

[Ranching]

What an intelligent response.

So history doesn't matter?

Who do you have in the Super Bowl this year?

This year's SB hasn't happened. Proves my point, history doesn't matter. Only what happens now matters.

 

[Risen Star]

This year's SB hasn't happened. Proves my point, history doesn't matter. Only what happens now matters.

So you have no idea who the good and bad teams are every year? You went into this year shrugging your shoulders over whether the Patriots were better than the Browns?

 

[Ranching]

So you have no idea who the good and bad teams are every year? You went into this year shrugging your shoulders over whether the Patriots were better than the Browns?

Yeah, that. What a dumb ***. Now i know what everyone else is talking about. Just cause a person talks a lot doesn't mean he know what he's talking about. Appreciate the effort, though. Lol

 

[Ranching]

So you have no idea who the good and bad teams are every year? You went into this year shrugging your shoulders over whether the Patriots were better than the Browns?

I guess you predicted the 4 and 12 Cowboys were going to win at least 13 games this year. What a genius.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, that. What a dumb ***. Now i know what everyone else is talking about. Just cause a person talks a lot doesn't mean he know what he's talking about. Appreciate the effort, though. Lol

A concession. Thank you. History means everything. It's why you give a resume at a job interview. It's why they want references. It's what formulates everything you think you know about the NFL. We all thought the Patriots would be better than the Browns because of their past performance. It's the best indicator of future success.

Thumb through that fan handbook and try again.