Graziano NFCE Mailbag: Have the Cowboys done enough to win the division?

[WoodysGirl]

Jun 22
10:39
AM ET
By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com


@ewebster
@espn_nfceast Have the Cowboys done enough to give them a chance at the division this year? #nfceastmail
Jun. 20, 2013

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@ESPN_NFCEast: The Dallas Cowboys didn't do much this offseason, but I think your question overlooks the fact that they had "a chance" at the division each of the past two years, by definition. They played a Week 17 game each of the past two seasons that would have made them division champions if they'd won it. You don't get a much better chance than that. The Cowboys have been operating for a few years now as a team that wants to build a long-term program, rather than make the quick-hit, big-splash acquisitions for which Jerry Jones became known in the late 1990s and 2000s. It takes time for the more patient approach to bear fruit, and the Cowboys believe they have made progress, in spite of the identical 8-8 records of the past two seasons. They believe the coaching and scheme changes they've made on defense, combined with better health on that side of the ball (which it would be nearly impossible for them not to have, considering how banged-up they were last year) will make them better on defense. They believe first-round pick Travis Frederick can anchor their offensive line at center and help improve the guard play around him. And they believe they have a diverse, high-powered passing offense with hyper-talented players as quarterback, wide receiver and tight end. The question is whether all of their beliefs are justified, or if they won't be able to take the next step with this group they've been assembling. Regardless, though, in a division that was won with nine wins two years ago and 10 last year, the Cowboys will clearly have a chance.

Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/52327/twitter-mailbag-secondary-questions-abound

 

[Go4Two]

As Mr. Webster states in his reply, the Cowboys have been playing to win the Division at the end of the last two seasons. If they manage to stay clear of the injury bug this year they should have a better than average chance to win the division.

 

[CATCH17]

I just hope it doesn't come down to a win and we're in scenario.

We are horrible in those games. Our opponents usually play inspired and we play robotic and not to lose. We get swept up every time.

 

[WoodysGirl]

As Mr. Webster states in his reply, the Cowboys have been playing to win the Division at the end of the last two seasons. If they manage to stay clear of the injury bug this year they should have a better than average chance to win the division.

Webster wrote the question. Graziano was the guy who responded.

 

[21Savage]

I just hope it doesn't come down to a win and we're in scenario.

We are horrible in those games. Our opponents usually play inspired and we play robotic and not to lose. We get swept up every time.

Are we really horrible in those games when we play at home? Because this year we play at home.

 

[JackWagon]

Umm ... i think we will know the answer as soon as we play the Commanders. RG3 and their RB need to be stopped. If we can do that we have a good chance at the division.

 

[Future]

Are we really horrible in those games when we play at home? Because this year we play at home.

Had the Giants at home the year before in the same situation as last year, and we came out, took a big poop, called it a football game, and went home.

The division is down, the team who doesnt beat themselves will take the crown.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

As Mr. Webster states in his reply, the Cowboys have been playing to win the Division at the end of the last two seasons. If they manage to stay clear of the injury bug this year they should have a better than average chance to win the division.

One also has to consider that the Cowboys could be healthy and could get better but that it is also fair to point out that the teams we are facing in the division could be better as well. Just because we stay healthy or get better does not mean we will win the NFC East.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I just hope it doesn't come down to a win and we're in scenario.

We are horrible in those games. Our opponents usually play inspired and we play robotic and not to lose. We get swept up every time.

If you're going to be a resilient team in the playoffs then you're going to have to learn how to win the "Win and you're in" opportunities.

 

[21Savage]

Had the Giants at home the year before in the same situation as last year, and we came out, took a big poop, called it a football game, and went home.

The division is down, the team who doesnt beat themselves will take the crown.

Not true. Check your facts

 

[DFWJC]

I just hope it doesn't come down to a win and we're in scenario.

We are horrible in those games. Our opponents usually play inspired and we play robotic and not to lose. We get swept up every time.

The team was not good enough the last two season to really even be in those win and in situations.
But playing those games on the road both times made it even much worse. They do at least play week 17 at home tis season. We'll see if the team they are fielding by then is good enough and healthy enough to belong in that situation. Best case would be that they have the division sewn up before then

 

[noshame]

We just need to be consistent, from Romo on down. We lost the season in the first 5 weeks. If we played everybody like we opened with the giants, we'd have walked away with the division. We opened with intensity and execution, after that, for whatever reason, we pooped the bed. If the Egals hadn't been completely horrible, both the team, and Romo individually,would have had a bad years and we'd been under .500.

Coaching...Coaching....

 

[Idgit]

It's obviously always safer to have multiple playoff paths and to secure a spot early. That said, I love win-and-in games, and I don't consider the team jinxed when it comes to them. I think we were fortunate to even be in such a game last season, honestly.

This team is fairly scrappy. We can gut out wins when we need them. What we need to do, though, is have better ball control to keep from giving those close games away.

 

[bayeslife]

Not really sure how I feel about their chances this upcoming season, though I suppose they have just as much a chance as everybody considering how all 4 teams tend to give games away when they need them.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

The Cowboys were a very sloppy team last year. If they would stop beating themselves anything is possible.

 

[Future]

Not true. Check your facts

Hmmm, well the official 2011 schedule says that game was on the road, but I dont buy it :laugh2:

My bad, was thinking that game was home. Either way, they have played enough stinkers in jerry world that I dont think it matters if they play important games at home or not.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Hmmm, well the official 2011 schedule says that game was on the road, but I dont buy it :laugh2:

My bad, was thinking that game was home. Either way, they have played enough stinkers in jerry world that I dont think it matters if they play important games at home or not.

They don't really have a home field advantage.

 

[Doomsday101]

Last 3 years the NFC EAST was won with 9-7, 9-7 and 10-6 and yes I think the Cowboys can increase their win totals from last year to win this division.

 

[burmafrd]

I define my cowboys seasons in 3 ways:

BAD. We do not make the playoffs
GOOD. We do ad win at least 1 playoff game- or maybe face the top team and just barely lose .
GREAT. WE WIN IT ALL

Clearly we were right in the hunt until the end th last two years but anyone thinking we could have made any noise in the playoff is on crack.

Just barely making the playoffs and then probably getting owned in the first playoff game is not very attractive to me.

 

[Red Dragon]

It's not just enough to have done well in the offseason to win the division. The other 3 teams have all technically done enough to win the division, too.