I'm going to say, must Win

[ScipioCowboy]

People are conflating two separate concepts here:

1) A must win game.

2) A loss that speaks to the true quality of a team.

If the Cowboys lose this game, I concede it will be more deflating than your typical loss. But it won't be deflating because the loss itself is so devastating in terms of playoff chances; it's only week three and there's plenty of time for the standings to change and even flip. It will be deflating because it would suggest they aren't very good and are unlikely to make the postseason no matter what happens. It will be a continuation of the same mediocrity we've seen over the past decade.

 

[big dog cowboy]

if you (the team) go into the Rams game expecting that the tough part of your schedule will result in losses

I didn't say that. Because if you ask the players they think they can win those tough games. And they will win some.

 

[Eddie]

Yeah, last week was a MUST WIN also. We needed to WIN in order to get to 2-0. Now we'll NEVER get to 2-0.

If we want to get to 2-1 we MUST WIN !!! If we lose, we'll NEVER get to 2-1.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Well the good part is even if we lose, we'll still be in first place at 1-2. lol

 

[KB1122]

Look at it this way .... if we lose, it will be a disastrous sign for the season. We'd be looking pretty seriously at 1-3 and then 1-4.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

The only must win game is when you're mathematically eliminated from the playoffs if we lose.

Even a loss doesn't necessarily mean anything. Plenty of teams have had successful seasons after 1-2 starts. What will be the key is how we lose. If St. Louis plays a flawless game and is simply better than us, I don't think that means our season is ruined. If we shoot ourselves in the foot with the same stupid mistakes and follies that we've seen year after year after year then yes, that would be a troubling sign for the rest of the season.

 

[KJJ]

We've already discussed what a "must win" game is and no game in week 3 is remotely close to a "must win" with 13 games left. The last time the Cowboys were involved in a "must win" game was in week 17 last season vs Washington. When you're in a win or go home situation that's the definition of a "must win" game. Granted Sundays game is a critical game for the Cowboys when looking at the type of team they have and their remaining schedule because a loss at home could very well lead to a 1-4 start or worse with San Diego on the road the following week and Denver the week after that. When looking at the schedule at the start of the season the 3 most winnable games were KC, St Louis and Oakland. The Cowboys have already lost to KC and if they lose to the Rams at home we're probably looking at a very long season. A loss tomorrow after just suffering a disappointing one point loss to the Chiefs last week is going to be very demoralizing for the team and the fan base.

It will have the Cowboys off to a worse start than in 2012 and 2011 with a very difficult 8 game stretch in front of them. What's becoming so frustrating is watching teams like the Chiefs and Rams show significant improvement in such a short period of time only to see the Cowboys continuing to spin their wheels looking like the same exact team year after year. You hear FANS say every year after an early season Cowboys loss "fellas relax it's only one game we'll be fine." My question to those fans is when is the last time the Cowboys were fine after an up and down start? The answer is the 09 season and that team finally got it going in week 5. If this Cowboys team is going to get it going it has to start tomorrow at home because if it doesn't GOOD LUCK getting it going on the road in San Diego the following week and against PEYTON MANNING and Denver the week after that.

 

[Tex]

alex smith is the only reason we had a chance last week...

This is why I love the NFL draft. Remember when Alex came out and the huge debate was who would go first him or Rogers? And then Rogers fell and fell and fell in the first round.

Funny how that worked out and how many teams had egg on their face huh. Alex Smith would have been a great QB for parcels. Parcels wanted a bus driver. To win with defense and a QB that just had to not lose the game for ya. On the right team Alex Smith could win a Super Bowl. Would he be one of the better Super Bowl QB's in history of course not. Didnt Ryan Leaf win a super bowl or at least get to the SB with a team with a great defense to where all he had to do was drive the bus basically?

Tex

 

[noshame]

It mat not be a must win, but it at least needs to be a "look damn good losing". i.e. PLAY MISTAKE FREE BALL.

Let the chips fall.

 

[KJJ]

On the right team Alex Smith could win a Super Bowl. Would he be one of the better Super Bowl QB's in history of course not. Didnt Ryan Leaf win a super bowl or at least get to the SB with a team with a great defense to where all he had to do was drive the bus basically?

Alex Smith was on the right team to at least reach a SB and they got rid of him. Dude Ryan Leaf only won 4 games as a starting NFL QB and none of them were SB's. lol You must be thinking of Dilfer or Brad Johnson.

 

[KJJ]

It mat not be a must win, but it at least needs to be a "look damn good losing". i.e. PLAY MISTAKE FREE BALL.

Let the chips fall.

Looking good losing won't score any brownie points with most here especially to the Rams.

 

[ghst187]

I know its early and some will kill me for this but this Sunday is a must win if Dallas wants to win this division.

Phili now 1-2 and going to Denver next wek
Wash can be 0-3 after Detroit game and gets to play Oakland next week
NYG most likely 1-2 but could fall to 0-3cand gets at KC next week

Be a great time for Dallas to jump to 2-1 going to San Diego next week.

I'm saying it, must win.

Mathematically it's def not must win. Mentally, it's a must win ....another marginal team that you need to beat consistently

 

[cowboys1981]

Every game thread should be titled " Must execute "..... It gives us out best chance to win

 

[supercowboy8]

We got the as I call it "must win" now next week in my mind at San Diego is another "must win" with Denver the next week. Lets go ahead and take a big lead in this division.