How I feel about tonight's game

[Frosty]

Another reason to root for losses now. A couple of easier games on the schedule next year playing other last place teams instead of division winners.

The budding dynasty theory so many of us were hopeful about after 2014 was predicated on a superior O-Line and improved defense, along with Romo having 2-4 years left of excellence. So far the Oline is way underachieving, Romo has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, and the defense is full of talent holes.

Got a gut feeling the Cowboys will pull off the win tonight. My problem with that is simple, they go on a mini run and win 2 or 3 games. What happens then, a lower draft pick, and a playoff appearance (one and done). This is a bad football team...a team that has been exposed, a team that needs help. Muddling through to 7-9 or 8-8 is just so typically of the Jerry Jones ERA....would of, could of, and should of,...is the story of the last 20yrs. Yes, anything is possible....but sometime you can win by losing.

 

[IAmLegend]

Anyone else feel like the Cowboys are going to win tonight? Record goes out the window with rivalry games.

 

[Michael88Irvin]

Got a gut feeling the Cowboys will pull off the win tonight. My problem with that is simple, they go on a mini run and win 2 or 3 games. What happens then, a lower draft pick, and a playoff appearance (one and done). This is a bad football team...a team that has been exposed, a team that needs help. Muddling through to 7-9 or 8-8 is just so typically of the Jerry Jones ERA....would of, could of, and should of,...is the story of the last 20yrs. Yes, anything is possible....but sometime you can win by losing.

Jeez, does anyone have faith in our team anymore. And knowing we lost Romo 2 games in - for most of the season, that gives reason to the 7-9/8-8 season, but does not mean that's what we are. We have more talent than that, and lost a crap load of close games. If we get in the playoffs with Cassel, that means we go in with him improving along the way. He didn't know our system a few short weeks ago. He almost beat the Giants, Seahawks and Eagles with our most vanilla offensive scheme. He is a good QB, give the kid a chance to redeem himself.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Anyone else feel like the Cowboys are going to win tonight? Record goes out the window with rivalry games.

I fully expect Dallas to win tonite, I have seen the skins games and we can go in there and get a win. We will be able to run the ball and should be able to control their running game. I expect big games out of Dez, Jones and Gregory.

 

[SultanOfSix]

I expect the Cowboys to come in unprepared, make some dumb mistakes, don't execute when it matters, score a maximum of thirteen points, and lose the game.

 

[kiheikiwi]

IF, we are gonna win another game, this is it. Then we will get smacked by GB. And it will all be mercifully over. And yes, the Draft is always fun, but this next one will really be over the top. I expect plenty of heated debates in the Draft Zone coming up : )
Jerry's worst nightmare - a lot of us have become ambivalent to this team/season.

 

[Frosty]

Jeez, does anyone have faith in our team anymore. And knowing we lost Romo 2 games in - for most of the season, that gives reason to the 7-9/8-8 season, but does not mean that's what we are. We have more talent than that, and lost a crap load of close games. If we get in the playoffs with Cassel, that means we go in with him improving along the way. He didn't know our system a few short weeks ago. He almost beat the Giants, Seahawks and Eagles with our most vanilla offensive scheme. He is a good QB, give the kid a chance to redeem himself.

Its not about one player,,,,I actual think Cassel can win as a Cowboy....the problem is what will happen then.....This team is not good enough to win the division, or a playoff game....unless its by default (which could be the case). This franchise is stuck in the middle of the pack and cant break out....so if they go on a run and win a few games it just hurts them in the long run.......It doesn't it matter if you are 3-13 and home for the holidays or 8-8 and home for the holidays......your still sitting on the couch in January.....but instead of top 10 draft pick they will be drafting later in the round....Do you honestly feel this team is a playoff contender....with Romo or without......Love Romo but did you see him play after his injury.....old and rusty...

 

[DenCWBY]

Admittedly, I started getting sucked back into the excitement of another chance at getting a win in Washington that would ultimately culminate into a winning streak to finish off the season. The idea of playoffs danced around in my head. Then reality set in, and then frustration followed by a numbness to our ineptness.

So thinking ahead to our matchup against the Skins, that thought of getting out of Fed Ex with a satisfying win has completely left my line of thinking. I think we'll look competitive for maybe a quarter before the eventual collapse. The Commanders will adjust, we won't. The Commanders will begin to wear down our defense. Alfred Morris will begin to break 10-15 yard gains in the second half. Cousins will start to look sharp with quick, intermediate throws before finally finding DeSean Jackson for back breaking gainers.

Obviously the Commander's D will be fired up and passionate. There will be little to no room to run. Cassell will be hurried and sacked from the second quarter on which means we're going to see a lot of dump offs to the RB's and 6 to 7 yard passes. Prepare to watch our team in a lot of 2nd and 10's & 3rd and 15's. Most likely we're not going to be able to get out of our own way.

I've seen this movie play out way too many times this year to get sucked back in. We're stuck in the mud people. Even if we do win, the Packers are going to possibly make this team lay down and quit like they did on that fateful night at Lambeau when we had Wade Phillips back in 2008 or whenever it was.

I think the thing that kills me the most is that this was suppose to be THE season. That Packer's game was supposed to be a heavy weight battle for redemption and NFC supremacy. Sigh.

The silver lining to this nightmare of a season is that at least the draft will be fun to watch. We'll be the toast of the town in Chicago and we'll get to add some nice talent to an already young team.

So cheers my friends. Try not to get too worked up this Monday night. It's just a bad dream that we won't wake up from until after game 16.

I think your outlook is on point and as weird as it is we find ourselves with mixed emotions about winning and losing tonight. If losing here on out meant that there would be changes within the rank of head coach and throughout and would guarantee a good draft with good FO decisions, I would be all for getting blown out the rest of the season.
However knowing the history of the FO and the unfortunate way this team is designed leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the future if we win or lose the rest of our games. This just adds more frustration to this team's outlook as a fan.
It's tiring as a fan to invest emotions in a team that keeps doing the same thing week after week, year after year expecting better results.
Last year I thought we had finally found a formula to be competitive and little did I realize it was just an anomaly of a really awesome QB whose on his last leg in his career. The rest was smoke and mirrors with this offense and the defense certainly did not improve as we all had hoped.
Guess it could be worse if we we're Cleveland fans.

 

[Idgit]

Jeez, does anyone have faith in our team anymore. And knowing we lost Romo 2 games in - for most of the season, that gives reason to the 7-9/8-8 season, but does not mean that's what we are. We have more talent than that, and lost a crap load of close games. If we get in the playoffs with Cassel, that means we go in with him improving along the way. He didn't know our system a few short weeks ago. He almost beat the Giants, Seahawks and Eagles with our most vanilla offensive scheme. He is a good QB, give the kid a chance to redeem himself.

Faith that we'll win? Understandably, many have that. I have hope that we'll win, but that's not really the same thing.

That said, WAS is not a good team. Beating them is not going to be a spectacular upset. We just have to demonstrate that we're capable of not turning the ball over and of scoring some points under Cassell on offense.

You're right, though, that it makes no sense why people are packing in when there are relevant games yet to be played just because the record is bad. It doesn't take much watching football to see that a team can go from cold to hot over the course of a 4 week span. The odds of that happening to our team aren't good, but it's not like *some* team or some couple of teams don't get hot in December every single season. As long as there's a legitimate mathematical shot at a postseason and an outside shot that our team could perform better than it has so far, there's no point rolling up like pillbugs and praying for draft position.

 

[SkinsFan28]

I fully expect Dallas to win tonite, I have seen the skins games and we can go in there and get a win. We will be able to run the ball and should be able to control their running game. I expect big games out of Dez, Jones and Gregory.

I wouldn't be surprised for your running game to go off. I would be a bit surprised about Dez because Breeland has played him well, and had a good game against Odell last week as well as others. Our pass protection has been holding up pretty well against all but the Carolina defense, but I imagine yours will get to Cousins once or twice. Our key will be not getting down early, that's what causes us issues.

Being a rivalry game, I don't think there is an outcome that would shock me. You guys blowing us out would cause severe depression though.

 

[Idgit]

I wouldn't be surprised for your running game to go off. I would be a bit surprised about Dez because Breeland has played him well, and had a good game against Odell last week as well as others. Our pass protection has been holding up pretty well against all but the Carolina defense, but I imagine yours will get to Cousins once or twice. Our key will be not getting down early, that's what causes us issues.

Being a rivalry game, I don't think there is an outcome that would shock me. You guys blowing us out would cause severe depression though.

I feel about the same. Really not sure what to expect tonight. It sucks to be limping into WAS with the season on the line and our head lopped off. At the same time, I do think we've still got one of the more talented rosters in the division, if not the most talented. We just haven't played anywhere near our ability most of the season for one reason or another. Mostly because of the struggles at QB. But no outcome is going to surprise me tonight.

That said, I think a Dallas win by a blowout is the most unlikely outcome. I *think* this comes down to the last possession like most of our games, too, and we see another 60 minutes where we don't have a lead of more than 6 points at any one time. I *could* see a WAS blowout if we come in and you're just a buzzsaw and Cassel throws the early picks. Our team hasn't cashed it in in a game yet under Garrett, but you have to think they've at least considered it a few times this season. Having a final ray of hope and then getting it snuffed might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

 

[8FOR!3]

I completely agree with this thread, I just hope I'm wrong.

 

[Michael88Irvin]

Faith that we'll win? Understandably, many have that. I have hope that we'll win, but that's not really the same thing.

That said, WAS is not a good team. Beating them is not going to be a spectacular upset. We just have to demonstrate that we're capable of not turning the ball over and of scoring some points under Cassell on offense.

You're right, though, that it makes no sense why people are packing in when there are relevant games yet to be played just because the record is bad. It doesn't take much watching football to see that a team can go from cold to hot over the course of a 4 week span. The odds of that happening to our team aren't good, but it's not like *some* team or some couple of teams don't get hot in December every single season. As long as there's a legitimate mathematical shot at a postseason and an outside shot that our team could perform better than it has so far, there's no point rolling up like pillbugs and praying for draft position.

Well said, and my point exactly. Thanks for the reinforcements.

 

[alohawg]

With better coaching and management, this team would be leading the NFCE right now. Since neither have changed, I expect more of the same. I truly believe you could hand over the NE Patriots to Jason Garrett and they would go 8-8.

 

[Michael88Irvin]

How I feel about tonight's game...

I FEEL like we are going to pound the Skins!

We will win by at least 10, most likely 14 or more. AND Naysayers will be shocked into believing in our team again.

Cowboys 34 Commanders 20

* We will be ONE game out of first place tonight. NOT a monumental deficit to overcome. Nor should our record cause fans to become disheartened. It will be the same as trailing a 10-2 division leader, being 9-3. The fact that we lost our top5 in the NFL QB AND Receiver for a large part of the season is what we can chalk it up to (that and POOR play calling). Cassel will step up, as will our coaches. Their careers depend on it.

 

[dfense]

I repeat, THREE INCH HEADLINES

 

[CATCH17]

I feel about the same. Really not sure what to expect tonight. It sucks to be limping into WAS with the season on the line and our head lopped off. At the same time, I do think we've still got one of the more talented rosters in the division, if not the most talented. We just haven't played anywhere near our ability most of the season for one reason or another. Mostly because of the struggles at QB. But no outcome is going to surprise me tonight.

That said, I think a Dallas win by a blowout is the most unlikely outcome. I *think* this comes down to the last possession like most of our games, too, and we see another 60 minutes where we don't have a lead of more than 6 points at any one time. I *could* see a WAS blowout if we come in and you're just a buzzsaw and Cassel throws the early picks. Our team hasn't cashed it in in a game yet under Garrett, but you have to think they've at least considered it a few times this season. Having a final ray of hope and then getting it snuffed might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

We easily have the best team in the division and have absolutely no business being in or finishing last in the division with or without Romo.

 

[Fletch]

I think your outlook is on point and as weird as it is we find ourselves with mixed emotions about winning and losing tonight. If losing here on out meant that there would be changes within the rank of head coach and throughout and would guarantee a good draft with good FO decisions, I would be all for getting blown out the rest of the season.
However knowing the history of the FO and the unfortunate way this team is designed leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the future if we win or lose the rest of our games. This just adds more frustration to this team's outlook as a fan.
It's tiring as a fan to invest emotions in a team that keeps doing the same thing week after week, year after year expecting better results.
Last year I thought we had finally found a formula to be competitive and little did I realize it was just an anomaly of a really awesome QB whose on his last leg in his career. The rest was smoke and mirrors with this offense and the defense certainly did not improve as we all had hoped.
Guess it could be worse if we we're Cleveland fans.

Thanks for the response. This season has been cruel in every way. Although I'm not sure that I buy into the "smoke and mirrors" stuff quite yet.

Last season, this team benefited from an in your face running game, and an upright, really good QB. Everyone on offense became better. It's what happens when you're healthy. We just ran outta luck in GB on a botched call by the refs. Ya see, you have to have some luck along the way as well.

As piss poor as we have looked all year, I still believe that this team can be a contender in the near future. With that said, many will disagree with me, but that's okay. That's what makes me the homer that I am.

 

[Stryker44]

I'm just happy to have a December game that matters. Its been a rare occurrence in DC the last 25 years.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Faith that we'll win? Understandably, many have that. I have hope that we'll win, but that's not really the same thing.

That said, WAS is not a good team. Beating them is not going to be a spectacular upset. We just have to demonstrate that we're capable of not turning the ball over and of scoring some points under Cassell on offense.

You're right, though, that it makes no sense why people are packing in when there are relevant games yet to be played just because the record is bad. It doesn't take much watching football to see that a team can go from cold to hot over the course of a 4 week span. The odds of that happening to our team aren't good, but it's not like *some* team or some couple of teams don't get hot in December every single season. As long as there's a legitimate mathematical shot at a postseason and an outside shot that our team could perform better than it has so far, there's no point rolling up like pillbugs and praying for draft position.

Hope and Faith