Not sure if any of you know this but a loss tonight will not hurt us

[Eric_Boyer]

this game is critical. We have too many NFC losses as it stands now. The Colts game is the least critical of the 4 remaining.

 

[erod]

It's simple. If the Cowboys are not good enough to win tonight, then they shouldn't be a playoff team anyway. It'd be better to lose out and get a higher draft pick.

A real playoff contender beats Chicago by two touchdowns tonight, which I think they will.

 

[TwoDeep3]

This type of thread comes every year. Oh, Dallas can lose and if this and that happens the Cowboys are okay.

At some point the justification of playing bad football, and the moral victories because mathematically the team is still in it means someone doesn't understand what winning is about.

This is the time of year a team builds off victories and makes a push to the play-offs. Then rides that to a championship.

Nothing said on this board will cause the Dallas Cowboys to win or lose. But the mindset of an acceptable loss because of math is a loser's mentality.

Where have the days gone of a championship outlook, and taking that into battle and winning the war?

Oh yeah, it left when Jimmy's team fell apart in 1996.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

if we lose tonight, i fully believe our 4th 8-8 is coming

 

[Hostile]

The two teams we are chasing play each other this weekend. So that means

If we beat bears...we back in division race

If we lose to bears.....nothing changes or we get 6th seed if lions lose

So after Sunday will either be the 6th seed, in the same situation before tonight game or tied with the eagles with a chance to erase what happened on turkey day.

So the game that is a must win is next week against the eagles not tonight

That's good news.

While this is technically all true, we need to show up tonight and handle business.

 

[Nav22]

Outlandish, ridiculously-incorrect thread made just for attention.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Outlandish, ridiculously-incorrect thread made just for attention.

Not to be picayune here, but what thread on this board does not fit all your criteria in your post?

Your comment might ought to be the board's signature on every post.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Of course it hurts us, any loss hurts us it just doesn't eliminate us. Every loss from the beginning of the season makes it harder until it just makes it impossible.

 

[xwalker]

This is definitely not the no spin zone.

The "No Spin Zone" is not a no spin zone.

 

[cowboys2233]

Of course it hurts us, any loss hurts us it just doesn't eliminate us. Every loss from the beginning of the season makes it harder until it just makes it impossible.

I ran the scenarios using ESPN's playoff machine -- I did not look at the playoff standings based on each week's outcomes until I was finished, I just picked the teams of the pertinent games that I truly thought would win.

Surprisingly, the Commanders game in week 17 did not determine whether we go to the playoffs (even with a loss to the Eagles next week), it just determined if we went to New Orleans or Seattle as the 5th or 6th seed. But then I went back and changed the outcome of this Bears game (which I originally had us winning) to a loss. We didn't make the playoffs at all. So yes, tonight is an important game -- in some respects, even more important than next week's game against the Eagles. The playoff machine told me so.

Edit: I ran a bunch of other scenarios and frankly, we're in really good shape. There are a bunch of very realistic scenarios where we make it, even losing two of the next four games.

 

[Wayne02]

Philly will lose one of those games. Probably New York.

Don't hold your breath on that one.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Of course it hurts us, any loss hurts us it just doesn't eliminate us. Every loss from the beginning of the season makes it harder until it just makes it impossible.

I just don't want to get to the mathematically we are still alive point.

 

[Roadtrip635]

I ran the scenarios using ESPN's playoff machine -- I did not look at the playoff standings based on each week's outcomes until I was finished, I just picked the teams of the pertinent games that I truly thought would win.

Surprisingly, the Commanders game in week 17 did not determine whether we go to the playoffs (even with a loss to the Eagles next week), it just determined if we went to New Orleans or Seattle as the 5th or 6th seed. But then I went back and changed the outcome of this Bears game (which I originally had us winning) to a loss. We didn't make the playoffs at all. So yes, tonight is an important game -- in some respects, even more important than next week's game against the Eagles. The playoff machine told me so.

Edit: I ran a bunch of other scenarios and frankly, we're in really good shape. There are a bunch of very realistic scenarios where we make it, even losing two of the next four games.

In that first scenario, even though we beat both, I would rather go play the 5th seed Saints against that porous defense. I didn't like that second scenario at all
I really want to have more scenarios than less.

A loss brings a whole lot more "if" with it and this team has enough "if" already.

 

[KJJ]

Regardless what the math is this is a must win game for the Cowboys. Following up the embarrassment on Thanksgiving to Philly with another loss to a 5 win Chicago team will pretty much put a lid on the Cowboys 2014 season. Losing to Chicago will almost certainly set the Cowboys up for another miserable December with Philly and the Colts to follow. A loss to Chicago would set up the real possibility of yet another 8-8 season. Washington won't be a pushover in week 17 the Cowboys have already lost to them and Colt McCoy plus their 1-6 under Romo in week 17 games. I don't see much of a possibility of the Cowboys making the playoffs and avoiding another Dec swoon with a loss tonight. A loss would make the Cowboys 2-4 in their last 6 games and they would have zero confidence entering their rematch with Philly. The Cowboys must win tonight because they can ill afford to limp into Philly in week 15 and expect to stand a chance.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Wouldnt hurt us at all! we'd only have to win 3 of 3 instead of 3 of 4!

 

[WV Cowboy]

At some point the justification of playing bad football, and the moral victories because mathematically the team is still in it means someone doesn't understand what winning is about.

This is the time of year a team builds off victories and makes a push to the play-offs. Then rides that to a championship.

Correct, ... if we want to be relevant in the post-season at all, ... it is time to start winning football games.

All of that "mathematically still alive" crap is just that, ... crap.

We need to start winning games, and stay in that mindset.

Our backs against the wall, .. it's us against the world.

Let's do this!!

 

[xwalker]

It's simple. If the Cowboys are not good enough to win tonight, then they shouldn't be a playoff team anyway. It'd be better to lose out and get a higher draft pick.

A real playoff contender beats Chicago by two touchdowns tonight, which I think they will.

Yes, I'm more concerned about them showing that they are a decent team that can win game than I am about them making the playoffs. Squeaking into the playoffs doesn't really thrill me.

 

[KJJ]

Wouldnt hurt us at all! we'd only have to win 3 of 3 instead of 3 of 4!

So if the Cowboys lose tonight you expect them to win their final 3 games?

 

[nalam]

We can't afford to lose any more conference games

 

[cowboys2233]

In that first scenario, even though we beat both, I would rather go play the 5th seed Saints against that porous defense. I didn't like that second scenario at all
I really want to have more scenarios than less.

A loss brings a whole lot more "if" with it and this team has enough "if" already.

Some really fascinating results that I wouldn't have expected without taking the time to crunch the scenarios. Here's the deal - when it comes to winning the division, that Seattle-Philly game is HUGE. Because even if we win out, including beating the Eagles next week, we would still only be a wildcard if Philly beats Seattle this week (and takes care of business against the Giants and Commanders). But on positive note, we can actually lose tonight AND next week and still get in pretty easily. A lot of that has to do with Arizona losing out but is that really so hard to believe? I'll bet they'll be underdogs in every game.