I'm thinking the individual fan's rating of how the Cowboys have played will likely depend totally upon their personal expectations. Since mine are inclined be be set at a low level this year, my demands won't be too hard to meet. Let me put it this way -- if they somehow manage a 7-9 record at season's end, they will have MET my expectations.
Considering the problems the Cowboys are facing this season, to my estimation, that's where my personal concept of a realistic expectation takes me. Anything in EXCESS of a 7-9 record by Dallas won't necessarily make me a very happy camper but my personal expectational goal will have been exceeded. Despite this organization's claim of NOT being in a rebuilding mode, I'm believing they are actually going about doing exactly that. That's my approach to simply keeping things real.