Next 2 Games...

[Novacek84]

Moving on from the euphoria of last night... I would be interested in what people here think about the next two games and which one is more important to get. I think we can get both but I would submit to you that the Detroit game is more important for us to win than Denver for the following reasons:

1) Lions are not that good so we must take advantage.
2) Coming off an emotional win and with Denver on the horizon, we need to prove that we don't overlook a "trap game" such as this one.
3) It's an NFC game, conference record is important come playoff time.
4) We need to re-establish the run game to get ready for the stretch and doing it against a so-so defense is the time to do so.
5) If victorious, the Denver game becomes much less urgent to win. I don't think we must beat Denver (though I think we will) to prove we can play with the big boys. We've done well vs SEA, SD, PHI and NYG this year.

Let me say, I'm not suggesting overconfidence that we will win both and go to 8-3. I'm saying that I think we can do it but that Detroit must not be overlooked on the way to Denver. Personally, I'm not a Denver believer just yet. I also think winning how we did last night is an advantage vs. Detroit rather than if we beat the Eagles handily. It helps Parcells keep the potential big heads of the rookies closer to the ground. Thoughts please.

 

[koolaid]

denver looks good, but for the past few years they have gotten out to hot starts and then had several late season losses

we should be able to walk all over detroit, as long as we contain #11
kevin jones hasnt looked too impressive this year and harrington will give us a few Ints

 

[Novacek84]

Just another note, it probably hasn't been officially announced but I'm hearing rumblings that Garcia, not Harrington will start Sunday. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Cowboy from New York]

Detroit is less worrying than I thought they would be when the season started. I thought Kevin Jones would be a strong runner but he has not got it done this year. Obviously the QB situation is a mess and their WR situation is in shambles but it does appear that that position is getting healthier for our game. Their defense I believe has a lot of walking wounded still for our game. Dont think we'll have problem putting up points agianst them. I'm hoping Julius gets untracked this game.

 

[Cowboy from New York]

Just another note, it probably hasn't been officially announced but I'm hearing rumblings that Garcia, not Harrington will start Sunday. Anyone know for sure?

Novacek, I posted an earlier Detroit article that Marucci indicated Garcia will start if healthy but thats still iffy.

 

[big_neil]

It's time for a big blowout win vs. Detroit. Where the offense is fired up and Drew has at least 2 TDs. Maybe a nice 400 yard 4 TD game to get the media back on his side.

 

[koolaid]

Just another note, it probably hasn't been officially announced but I'm hearing rumblings that Garcia, not Harrington will start Sunday. Anyone know for sure?

harrington had a very strong outing last week so i doubt mooch will replace him,
i also live in michigan and i havnt heard anything about garcia starting

 

[jazzcat22]

I agree, my thoughts also, Detroit a Conference game, Denver is not.
Good post

 

[InDakWeTrust]

harrington had a very strong outing last week so i doubt mooch will replace him,
i also live in michigan and i havnt heard anything about garcia starting

Maybe their offense will get overconfident from beating up on the Cards' defense and we come out swinging either on defense with blitzes and offense with the PA's to Glenn deep downfield.

 

[BledsoetoWittenfortheTD]

It's time for a big blowout win vs. Detroit. Where the offense is fired up and Drew has at least 2 TDs. Maybe a nice 400 yard 4 TD game to get the media back on his side.

the sad thing is bledsoe could pass for 400 yards, 4 tds, and 1 interception....guess what the topic of discussion would be though...the interception or how many times he was sacked in the game....

 

[AbeBeta]

we have to beat the Lions.

Denver is tough -- we may lose that one. Which is fine.... if we beat Det.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

Resting Henry almost cost us (end of the game, with Reeves out there). Hope he's ready to go. Don't want Roy Williams to torch us.

Detroit doesn't pass or run block well, and that's why, regardless of the skill players tehy have, they don't produce. The defense, although sometimes able to make big plays, is inconsistant. Rogers is one of the better DT's in the game, but they don't generate much pass rush. Dre Bly is good. But he can't cover all the weapons we have.

This team is superior to Detroit. We handled Arizona nicely. I think we will carry the momentum from the Philly game into the game against the Lions. Looks how well Washington started to play for a bit there after they got some momentum. We haven't won 3 straight in 2 seasons. Time to get some real consistancy here.

Looking ahead to Denver, I think that we match up real well with them. People have to remember, that even though we have 3 games in 11 days, Denver has 3 in 12. They have a nice 2 headed running attack, I think we can boast that too, although we really haven't done it yet. They have the deep WR (Lelie), so do we, the steady vet (keyshawn and Smith)....agressive defenses, good play from the CB's, hard hitting Safety. It's going to be a hell of a game. I feel happy for all the fans of football this tanksgiving, because we haven't given them to great a game the last couple years, this should be good.

 

[sago1]

We've already lost 3 games this season and can't afford to lose many more so every game is important. Since Detroit is in our division and one of only 2 teams we play that is below .500, we must take advantage of any break in the schedule that we get. Also we played so poorly against the Eagles that we have to rebound with a good outing to get us ready for Denver. I've always thought we could beat Denver here in Dallas, although our defense against the run on Monday nite, sure has caused some butterflies in my stomach. Hopefully, Parcells gets this team straightened out and we play Denver tough and come away with a win. Sure would be nice to be 8-3 at this point in the season. Then we have time for a little rest (but not come out sluggish) before travelling to NY to beat (?) the Giants. With a loss already to the Skins, I think we need to beat the Giants and Skins just to ensure our division record is best in the East.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

I think we may end up losing one of those games in the Division. Detroit is in the conferene, not the division. Don't forget, KC, even though they have slacked, are no cakewalk, and with St Louis you never know which team is going to show up.

 

[ghst187]

Detroit is a must-win IMO. Our schedule is too tough to lose to teams like Detroit.
We still have to play Wash, NY, and Carolina at their places...

Henry should have at least one INT this game, maybe two.
We should win this game by 17 points. This and the AZ games are the only games on our schedule that I've felt good about going into. We should win without having to stage a last minute comeback or hold off a late rally.
Garcia, Harrington....who cares, they both stink. Harrington will throw more INTs,Garcia can't throw deep...pick how you want us to win.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Detroit is the more important game because it is the next one on our schedule.

Take them one at a time you know.

 

[dargonking999]

Det. is a threat on offense, and that is what scare me. If we dont get to the QB like last night we might find ourselves down by more than 13 points, no matter who's playing QB. Det D is inconsitent and who knows which D is gonna show up this game, and which quarter. If we can beat Det, i think we can beat Denver, to me it's alot easier to win in a short week, when you come off a win, instead of a loss.

 

[2much2soon]

I think both of these games are winnable. Detroit is an inconsistent, not very good team due for a bad outing.
Denver isn't as tough away from home and Dallas has found a way to win on Thanksgiving many times. I do think they(Den) are one of the better teams in the league, though.
I look for Dallas to start stringing together good performances with these next two games instead of the one good/one bad/one good game syndrome.
To answer the original question, Det. is more important since they are in conference.

 

[DeathToTheSkinS]

NYG vs PHI=must win over lions