Huge Pivotal Games for the Dallas Cowboys

[Phoenix-Talon]

Some games are critical (e.g., divisional games, rivalries, traditional holiday games and of course MNF; when all of the teams in the NFL have a chance to stop and take at the two teams playing).

But aside from those games mentioned above, certain teams have a tendency to exploit, uncover, expose, and generally bring out the best and worst in our respective teams.

That said, in your opinions, what teams will the Cowboys play in 2007 that are pivotal games that will serve as barometers?

My choices are highlighted in "bold" ...

Giants - divisional game (Wade Phillips 1st divisional game in Dallas)

@ Miami - number 3 defense in NFL ranking
@ Chicago - Superbowl opponent in 2006
ST. LOUIS
@ Buffalo
NEW ENGLAND - Brady to Moss or Stallworth
MINNESOTA - Top ten in NFL DL rankings
BYE WEEK
@ Philadelphia - divisional(in Philly)
@ NY Giants - divisional(bak-to-back; and in New Jersey)
WASHINGTON - divisional (back-to-back; 2nd game/rival game for Wade ...must win)
NY JETS
GREEN BAY
@ Detroit
PHILADELPHIA - division (another opportunity "at home" game ...must win)
@ Carolina -
@ Washington - division (in Washington) ... may be the hardest game of the season

Note: None ofv the game highlighted denote win/loss; only intended to denote severity, importance, and opponents who have the greatest potential to reveal team strengths and or weaknesses.

PT
​

 

[Doomsday101]

I rank it the same way each year.
Most critical game NFC East Teams
next NFC conf. teams
last AFC since those games have no bearing on tie breakers.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Every game is a big game.

 

[Doomsday101]

Every game is a big game.

Some just have more importance attached to them.
You look at the NFC standing last year Chi, Philly, NO and Set all had either 500 or less records against the AFC. Tie breakers all go down to what you did in your division and conference.

Having said that I want to win them all but I'll take a big wins over the other NFC teams 1st and foremost

 

[Teague31]

i think week 1 will be huge- at home, division game, national TV. we have a chance to send a message to the league in a hurry. 2 other games worth mentioning... the NE game should tell us if we are ready for primetime and then there is Detroit.. the very fact that I have to mention them is depressing... but after last year I will be interested to see how we play them this year.... payback time.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Call me backwards.... I would go for a so-so first half followed by a STRONG showing in the 2nd half.

5-3
6-2

 

[CrazyCowboy]

We are going 19-0

Biggest game is the last one.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Lets limit PeePeenix-Cowlon to one new thread per day. What do you say?

 

[aikemirv]

All games seem big the week of the game depending on the record you have at the time and your momentum good or bad.

I tend to look at where we need to be, rather than individual games. We need to be 7-3 after the first 10 games which will be a difficult task, worst case would be 6-4 if you have won 3 of the 4 divisional games.

If we can win 2 of the games against Indy, Chicago and NE that would be great especially if we won 3-4 NFC east games. If that happens will we be talking SB around game 10.

The last six games will be the big ones if we were to come out with 6-4 or 7-3 record. They will determine where and when you play in the playoffs.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Every game is a big game.

I guess PT agrees. He bolded over half our schedule.

 

[Angus]

Good job, PT.

 

[Seven]

Some games are critical (e.g., divisional games, rivalries, traditional holiday games and of course MNF; when all of the teams in the NFL have a chance to stop and take at the two teams playing).

But aside from those games mentioned above, certain teams have a tendency to exploit, uncover, expose, and generally bring out the best and worst in our respective teams.

That said, in your opinions, what teams will the Cowboys play in 2007 that are pivotal games that will serve as barometers?

My choices are highlighted in "bold" ...

Giants - divisional game (Wade Phillips 1st divisional game in Dallas)​

@ Miami - number 3 defense in NFL ranking
@ Chicago - Superbowl opponent in 2006
ST. LOUIS
@ Buffalo
NEW ENGLAND - Brady to Moss or Stallworth
MINNESOTA - Top ten in NFL DL rankings
BYE WEEK
@ Philadelphia - divisional(in Philly)
@ NY Giants - divisional(bak-to-back; and in New Jersey)
WASHINGTON - divisional (back-to-back; 2nd game/rival game for Wade ...must win)
NY JETS
GREEN BAY
@ Detroit
PHILADELPHIA - division (another opportunity "at home" game ...must win)
@ Carolina -
@ Washington - division (in Washington) ... may be the hardest game of the season​

Note: None ofv the game highlighted denote win/loss; only intended to denote severity, importance, and opponents who have the greatest potential to reveal team strengths and or weaknesses.​

PT​

PT.................when the goal is 16-0, they're all critical.

 

[firehawk350]

Giants - First game with the new defense/OC Jason Garrett. Depending on how the team does, will go a long way in seeing how the Boys will do this season. A lot of eyes on the game.

NEW ENGLAND - Good teams show up against other good teams. This is also the team that could expose Dallas' weaknesses probably the best.

@ Philadelphia - I always believed that coming out of the bye, you have to win to set the tone for the rest of the season. Especially a mid-season bye week. And divisional, of course

@ NY Giants - Divisional

WASHINGTON - Last of the 3 in a row divisionals.

PHILADELPHIA - Divisional

@ Washington - Divisional and the last game of the season always sets the tone for playoffs (if applicable) and the offseason. Everyone remembers losing to Detriot and Skins fans remember Tiki's best game and how does it rankle!

So as you can see, I only picked one game out of the division. Every game is important, because a win is a win, but I find divisional games to be of the utmost importance because if you go back to the last week in 05, the Skins held their own future in their hands by having a superior divisional record (and head-to-head match-up advantage) and I like that considerably to relying on somebody losing to make the playoffs.​

 

[DallasEast]

PT, you're something else.

pivotal

One entry found for pivotal. Main Entry: piv·ot·al
Pronunciation: 'pi-v&-t&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a pivot
2 : vitally important : [SIZE=-1]CRITICAL[/SIZE]


By definition, all games are 'pivotal'.

A more logical time to ask your question would be during the season when the appropriate situation would arise. For example...

If the Cowboys and Eagles were tied for the division lead going into the December 16 contest, that would be a 'pivotal' game.

Or

If the Cowboys and Eagles were running neck-and-neck according to the playoff tiebreaking rules, any game which would give one team the advantage over the other would be 'pivotal'.

Etc., etc.

In the end, some of the games you mentioned may not be 'pivotal' at all. The circumstances must match a particular scenario or it's all moot anyway.

 

[mmillman]

the Cleveland at Oakland game in September.

 

[Future]

the Cleveland at Oakland game in September.

I think the game in Buffalo is gonna be a test. That place is going to be electric, and Bills fans HATE the Cowboys. I wouldn't expect an easy game.

 

[parchy]

I love that we end the season in Washington. I have a feeling they're going to leave the field crying that day.

 

[Idgit]

Lets limit PeePeenix-Cowlon to one new thread per day. What do you say?

I'd say we might want to work on our funny nick-naming skills.

As for Talon, I think he generally tries to participate and is generally respectful. I like that this site has regulars from other NFCE teams, so I don't usually try to scare them off unless they're clearly trolls.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Pivotal games? I've always gone with the notion every game is enormous...

 

[Doomsday101]

Pivotal games? I've always gone with the notion every game is enormous...

They all are important but some hold a bit more importance in the overall big picture.