It's not so bad....is it?

[AmericasTeam31]

I know the sky is falling and everything around us appears to be crumbling down (at least to some). But take a look at the facts of this season so far and it's not all that bad.

I'm not one for excuses, we had plenty of chances (and still have 2 more) to make a playoff run, but there are some interesting facts to consider when judging the performance of this team.

1. We've played in one of, if not the, toughest divisions in the NFL.
2. We will end the season having played 3 division leaders from the NFC (NY, Seattle, Carolina)
3. Our non conference division was the toughest division in the AFC.
4. We were only "out" of one game the entire year despite the above.
5. We have 39 players with 2yrs or less of NFL experience
6. Most importantly, we are in our 1st year with a new QB. It takes time to get it all together. It doesn't happen overnight.
7. Despite having key injuries, we've played well overall.

Look, I guess considering the above, this season has been a pleasant suprise. I still want to, and think we will, make the playoffs this season. But, if we don't, I will still be impressed and proud of the way the team fought through the season and was able to overcome some adversity along the way.

All has not been lost because we were blown out of one game. Maybe it's just a wake up call......

 

[Jack-Reacher]

Here, here.....

Excellent post!

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'm not so sure if it's so bad or not.

On one hand I agree with your statements to a degree or another.

HOWEVER, it's the fact that for the past several years we've basically done the same thing every year.

Get off to a good start, especially on offense. Then the O-line collapses (starting on the right side), the offense stalls, the defense starts to wear down, the pass rush vanquishes, and people start missing assignments.

I do think that they are bitten by the injury bug on offense, especially at O-Line. I do think this is a better team and has a lot of upside. But, it's still frustrating to watch happen every year and until they can change it around, I'll be a bit pessismistic.


Rich...........

 

[Asklesko]

We failed. How can you feel happy about that? Have fun sitting on the couch in January watching the Giants, who, by the way, have been gotten there in one less year than it has taken Bill Parcells to get us to, what, 8-8 you think and one playoff wildcard loss? We're getting short-changed. :laugh1:

 

[AmericasTeam31]

I wonder how many of the rookies (especially on Defense) have hit, or are hitting "the wall"?

 

[Portland Fanatic]

My expectations were a deep playoff run THIS YEAR. Injury's or not...they happen. I'm very disappointed!

 

[Asklesko]

No excuses. Every good team in the NFL is playing rookies in starting positions. It's the way it works. Colts, Patriots, everybody. Patriots won the SB last year with rookies at many positions.

 

[JBRockBottom31]

All has not been lost because we were blown out of one game. Maybe it's just a wake up call......

You know in a weird way I think that this was the best thing that could happen to this team. If team is really a playoff contender than they will find a way to win the last two games. Every week we hear this is the biggest game of the season, but in reality these last two games are the only MUST win games Dallas will have to play this year. Look for the team to come out fired up this week against the Panthers and then play the Rams in the late game to get into the Playoffs. And if they don't, then they didn't deserve to go anyway. This will be a great test for the Boys!!

 

[AmericasTeam31]

No excuses. Every good team in the NFL is playing rookies in starting positions. It's the way it works. Colts, Patriots, everybody. Patriots won the SB last year with rookies at many positions.

How many of them were looked on to play the entire season though. Like I said I won't make excuses, we had our chances and we blew alot of them. But I think I pointed out that, despite being young and a little beat up, we can still make the playoffs, and we can still go along way in the playoffs if we get it together. But if we don't this team has been solid most of the year, and they have been fun and gut wrenching to watch at the same time.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I know the sky is falling and everything around us appears to be crumbling down (at least to some). But take a look at the facts of this season so far and it's not all that bad.

I'm not one for excuses, we had plenty of chances (and still have 2 more) to make a playoff run, but there are some interesting facts to consider when judging the performance of this team.

1. We've played in one of, if not the, toughest divisions in the NFL.
2. We will end the season having played 3 division leaders from the NFC (NY, Seattle, Carolina)
3. Our non conference division was the toughest division in the AFC.
4. We were only "out" of one game the entire year despite the above.
5. We have 39 players with 2yrs or less of NFL experience
6. Most importantly, we are in our 1st year with a new QB. It takes time to get it all together. It doesn't happen overnight.
7. Despite having key injuries, we've played well overall.

Look, I guess considering the above, this season has been a pleasant suprise. I still want to, and think we will, make the playoffs this season. But, if we don't, I will still be impressed and proud of the way the team fought through the season and was able to overcome some adversity along the way.

All has not been lost because we were blown out of one game. Maybe it's just a wake up call......

Call me Chicken Little I guess.
No seriously, I'm not all doom and gloom, but I do see what I have seen.

1. True, but we are 3-3 in those games.
2. Lost to two, and still have to go to Carolina.
3. 2-2
4. True
5. I think it is 37 with 4 yrs or less, 30 or so with 3 yrs or less, but I may not be exactly accurate on that.
6. Seems to be getting worse, not better. Not the QB, but protecting him.
7. We played poorly @Phil, @NYG, @Wash.

All is not lost, but we seem to be regressing instead on improving.

 

[DipChit]

Funny how if we'd have just won 3 out of 4 to get to 8-6 everyone would be fired up. But because it's the other way around everyone wants to run people out of town.

So the question is.. why is it the other way around? Because we're simply getting progressively worse or because the schedule simply isnt as favorable.

I'd also like to know why theres such a big discrepency at home vs on the road with the offense the last 3 months.

Last 5 at home have been like 31, 21, 20, 34 and 16.

Road has been 7, 10, 14, 10 and 13.

Thats like a 13 ppg diff. Do most other teams have such a difference over an extended period of time? I'd figure you either suck on offense or you dont. Or if you're wildly inconsistent, it'd show up no matter where the games are played.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

Call me Chicken Little I guess.
No seriously, I'm not all doom and gloom, but I do see what I have seen.

1. True, but we are 3-3 in those games.
2. Lost to two, and still have to go to Carolina.
3. 2-2
4. True
5. I think it is 37 with 4 yrs or less, 30 or so with 3 yrs or less, but I may not be exactly accurate on that.
6. Seems to be getting worse, not better. Not the QB, but protecting him.
7. We played poorly @Phil, @NYG, @Wash.

All is not lost, but we seem to be regressing instead on improving.

I agree with what you're saying. I said in another post last week, that we had our chances and blew them. You can't fault the schedule, injuries, or anything else like that. We blew it plain and simple. BUT as for #7 we also played great vs. Wash., @Seattle, and vs. Denver. and lost games we should have won at the same time. It goes both ways.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I agree with what you're saying. I said in another post last week, that we had our chances and blew them. You can't fault the schedule, injuries, or anything else like that. We blew it plain and simple. BUT as for #7 we also played great vs. Wash., @Seattle, and vs. Denver. and lost games we should have won at the same time. It goes both ways.

The three I mentioned were 3 out of the past six games, and 3 out 3 road games.

We have lost 3 of our last 4 games.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

I see. I understand what you're saying though.

 

[Future]

You know in a weird way I think that this was the best thing that could happen to this team. If team is really a playoff contender than they will find a way to win the last two games. Every week we hear this is the biggest game of the season, but in reality these last two games are the only MUST win games Dallas will have to play this year. Look for the team to come out fired up this week against the Panthers and then play the Rams in the late game to get into the Playoffs. And if they don't, then they didn't deserve to go anyway. This will be a great test for the Boys!!

if this team was a playoff contender we would not have choked against wash twice seattle and denver. we have been playing must-win games all year and consistently not shown up in them. regardless if we beat carolina, we will probably find a way to lose against STL

 

[TunaFan33]

I'd like to agree with you, but there's really no such thing as "moral victories".

Honestly-I predicted a slow start, only to rally to 9-7 at the end way back in Aug. Looks like my 9-7 is on the money, but we were actually a WHOLE lot better throughout that many expected-only to drop the ball one too many times.

This *stings*.

BTW-It was GREAT that it took Carolina only 2 years to go from 1-15 to the Super Bowl, but they still LOST that game, and are STILL regretting it to this day.

 

[Bach]

6. Most importantly, we are in our 1st year with a new QB. It takes time to get it all together. It doesn't happen overnight.

And, he's got such a promising future ahead of him. Not only will he be back next year, but we might even get 2 more seasons out of him.

 

[tyke1doe]

I know the sky is falling and everything around us appears to be crumbling down (at least to some). But take a look at the facts of this season so far and it's not all that bad.

I'm not one for excuses, we had plenty of chances (and still have 2 more) to make a playoff run, but there are some interesting facts to consider when judging the performance of this team.

1. We've played in one of, if not the, toughest divisions in the NFL.
2. We will end the season having played 3 division leaders from the NFC (NY, Seattle, Carolina)
3. Our non conference division was the toughest division in the AFC.
4. We were only "out" of one game the entire year despite the above.
5. We have 39 players with 2yrs or less of NFL experience
6. Most importantly, we are in our 1st year with a new QB. It takes time to get it all together. It doesn't happen overnight.
7. Despite having key injuries, we've played well overall.

Look, I guess considering the above, this season has been a pleasant suprise. I still want to, and think we will, make the playoffs this season. But, if we don't, I will still be impressed and proud of the way the team fought through the season and was able to overcome some adversity along the way.

All has not been lost because we were blown out of one game. Maybe it's just a wake up call......

I agree.

What was our record last year? 6-10.

At least we're in games now, yesterday's game notwithstanding.

Remember last year, Bill said the talent level on the Cowboys was low.

We're in year one of replenishing the roster with talent.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Next year we strengthen the OL line.

I expected the Cowboys to push for the playoffs this year - which they did/are.

But next year is when I see us making a run for the Super Bowl.

Parcells' four-year plan is on track, IMO.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

And, he's got such a promising future ahead of him. Not only will he be back next year, but we might even get 2 more seasons out of him.

Haters will continue to hate..... given time he'll kill a defense, ask Philly, KC, San Diego, need I go on. If we fix the line he can get the job done.

 

[jem88]

I've honestly been searching all day for some new adjectives to describe that disgusting performance yesterday and I just can't find any.

Demoralizing, putrid, horrid, neutering, gimp-inducing, spirit-sucking,
*&#-sucking, man-servantish, lacklustre, awful, terrible, sickening, frightening, and catastrophic are the best I can come up with.