Jimmy Johnson is Loving Him Some Cowboys:

[khiladi]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7545988?MSNHPHMA

I think everybody knows how much respect I have for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, but I really think right now that the Cowboys might be the best team in all of football.


They have a young defensive team that continually gets better. I know they didn't play all that well against Detroit on Sunday, but I can see them getting better as this season finishes up.


But the main reason I like Dallas is because they have so many explosive weapons on offense. Tony Romo is looking great and with the more games they win at the gun — like they did on the road in Detroit Sunday and at Buffalo earlier in the season — all it does is give the team more confidence.
You don't know how important it is for a young team to know that it can always come back. That's very important to any team — that being behind in a game doesn't mean anything. The Cowboys are playing loose and with a lot of confidence. They are a young talented team and for that reason, they may be better than New England.

Another reason why I say this is that New England might have been playing its best football at the beginning of the season. The Patriots have a much older defensive team than Dallas, and as the year goes on and if they don't get any rest and get rejuvenated, I think they will be vulnerable to teams that like to run the ball — teams that believe in being physical with the Patriots and pounding them.
I think offensively the Patriots will always be dangerous, but they are pigeonholing themselves into a throw-only type team. So I still think the Patriots are an outstanding team, but I don't know if they are any better today than they were a month ago.


The big thing in Dallas is that Wade Phillips has created a comfortable, competent atmosphere. On the technical side of things, he has helped the defense. Let's be honest, that was a big problem last season, especially at the end. Yes, the Cowboys were able to move the football because they had those same explosive weapons that they have now. Their problem was that their defense was awful. Wade doesn't get a lot of open credit for it, but that improving defense been his biggest contribution other than having the right chemistry for the team.

We all talk about it and the fans know it, but we continue to underestimate the value of a great quarterback. If you have one — which Dallas and New England do — you have a chance in every ballgame regardless of supporting cast. If you don't have one, I don't care how good a coach you are or how good your personnel is around the QB — if you don't have a great quarterback you are not going to win in this league. I guess that's one reason why they are paid so much money.

I would rather have a great quarterback than a great coach any day.
With Belichick and Tom Brady, I think the Patriots will go through the regular season undefeated. And they will home-field advantage in the playoffs, which will be a huge advantage for them in the weather up there in January. But the end result in Arizona, by the time we get there, if Dallas and New England both make it there, I can see Dallas having an edge.

The Cowboys struggle at times because they have a new defensive system, but at times they dominate. They didn't play well against Detroit, but I think they are capable of much more. You have to understand that young players are going to be inconsistent. I think an older group like New England is going to be more consistent, but won't be as good as times. They may be making fewer mistakes right now than the Cowboys, but they might not have the same zip when the Super Bowl is played.
I know a lot of coaches still believe Dallas is susceptible to the passing game, an area the Patriots excel. There is some credence to that, but I do believe the Cowboys are getting better. They have such a good pass rush that they can make some plays and I believe that aspect will only improve.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I have always like Jimmy even when he was at the 'U'.

 

[gbrittain]

We all talk about it and the fans know it, but we continue to underestimate the value of a great quarterback.

Most fans do understand it, except for those who bought into BPs "bus driver" theory.

I was think today, where would Dallas be without a QB the caliber of Romo, Manning, or Brady?

Insert a bus driver and Dallas becomes a very average team.

Thank you Romo.

 

[Hostile]

Some will tell me I'm crazy for saying this.

I actually appreciate the Buffalo and Detroit wins more than the blowout wins. I prefer to see our team step up in a crucial situation and accomplish their aim. I think you can't put a high enough price on heart and character.

Why do so many of us cherish our memories of Roger Staubach and consider him better than Troy Aikman? I say it's because you never felt like we were out of a game with Roger still in there.

I have the same feelings about Tony Romo and this entire team. These close wins aren't troubling me in the least. Quite the opposite, they are thrilling me. Very few teams can shrug things off and make the kind of magic this team can happen. In my opinion there are maybe 2 other teams who could recover from a fumble like Witten's and pull out a win.

I'd rather gut out a win and know the team can do it, than to wonder if this team can handle adversity when it's in their face.

 

[DALLAS D]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7545988?MSNHPHMA

Nice read. Very important points that people who are on the complaint wagon do not consider. A young defense, but this defense pulled it off on the red zone. Tony Romo's unbelievable, and it just shows you the type of person he is, and the type of team we have when they go back and have Witten score. Not only does Tony provide the comeback, and i know the coverage was a decider too, but he gets it to Witten. I couldnt have written a better story, How bout them cowboys..nice to see someone talks well of them. Good Post.

 

[Idgit]

Some will tell me I'm crazy for saying this.

I actually appreciate the Buffalo and Detroit wins more than the blowout wins. I prefer to see our team step up in a crucial situation and accomplish their aim. I think you can't put a high enough price on heart and character.

Why do so many of us cherish our memories of Roger Staubach and consider him better than Troy Aikman? I say it's because you never felt like we were out of a game with Roger still in there.

I have the same feelings about Tony Romo and this entire team. These close wins aren't troubling me in the least. Quite the opposite, they are thrilling me. Very few teams can shrug things off and make the kind of magic this team can happen. In my opinion there are maybe 2 other teams who could recover from a fumble like Witten's and pull out a win.

I'd rather gut out a win and know the team can do it, than to wonder if this team can handle adversity when it's in their face.

I like them, too, as long as we win. People get concerned because we've had these tough wins against teams we expect to blow out and they can't deal well with unmet expectations. I picture them yelling at their wives and parents when they don't get the Christmas presents they want.

What I like about this team is that when it comes to the games where the outcome is questionable in advance: GB, NYFG, maybe the PHI game in Philly, the team over-achieves. Other than NE, the outcomes of the big games are never really in doubt. I also think the emotional impact of the 10 day layoff after beating a very good team is getting overlooked here this week. I've seen teams be flat for worse reasons.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I love JJ......GO COWBOYS!

 

[lcharles]

Right now I am sitting in a bathtub full of kool-aid soaking in it.

 

[HighTechDave]

Jimmy was dead on about their defense, especially the Linebackers, which was what I told by buddies earlier in the season.

If we get another chance to play them in the Superbowl, expect a lot of 2 minute/no huddle drill, mixed in with some ground pounding, and we'll wear down there defense in the fourth quarter

IMHO

 

[Big Country]

Some will tell me I'm crazy for saying this.

I actually appreciate the Buffalo and Detroit wins more than the blowout wins. I prefer to see our team step up in a crucial situation and accomplish their aim. I think you can't put a high enough price on heart and character.

Why do so many of us cherish our memories of Roger Staubach and consider him better than Troy Aikman? I say it's because you never felt like we were out of a game with Roger still in there.

I have the same feelings about Tony Romo and this entire team. These close wins aren't troubling me in the least. Quite the opposite, they are thrilling me. Very few teams can shrug things off and make the kind of magic this team can happen. In my opinion there are maybe 2 other teams who could recover from a fumble like Witten's and pull out a win.

I'd rather gut out a win and know the team can do it, than to wonder if this team can handle adversity when it's in their face.

POST OF THE MONTH...

Now that December is upon us, I said at the beginning of the year that I didn't care if Dallas was 12-0 by the end of November...

It's all about stepping up in the final month to secure your playoff spot and take it to yet another level...

What a way to start the final month. Here's to a great finish.:lombardi: + 1