Peak Late

[Hawkeye19]

If they do make the playoffs, odds are it ends with a 35-34 loss and fans complaining that the offense didn't put up 40.

Yah-- it very well could lol

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I know that some are fawning over the Eagles but they really have one good win considering they got a beat up AZ team on the East Coast at 1pm. Maybe two beating the skins on the road. My point is the division is within reach obviously. We're 1-0 and we can pretty much take the giants out of the equation. One game at a time. The landscape of the entire league can change on a weekly basis.

 

[Stash]

Well-- people weren't complaining about his coaching last year at 13-3 or in the 12-4 season either. Look-- I'm not saying he is a great HC. I am saying that the ball control offense he utilizes has won and can win in this league.

We need to play with a lead and run effectively to not expose our D.

And why will these coaches not do that?

 

[Hawkeye19]

And why will these coaches not do that?

Just too much inconsistency up front to this point.

 

[Stash]

I know that some are fawning over the Eagles but they really have one good win considering they got a beat up AZ team on the East Coast at 1pm. Maybe two beating the skins on the road. My point is the division is within reach obviously. We're 1-0 and we can pretty much take the giants out of the equation. One game at a time. The landscape of the entire league can change on a weekly basis.

How is anything "obvious" with the way this team is playing?

We pulled out a win against the same Cardinals team that the Eagles throttled.

We lost to the same Rams team that the Commanders beat.

Based on common opponents, what looks "obvious" is that the other teams are playing better football.

 

[Stash]

Just too much inconsistency up front to this point.

Excuse. And a poor one.

These coaches clearly got away from the running game in key situations, even when it was working. And when football common sense dictated that they should stick with it.

That's on them.

 

[Staubacher]

How is anything "obvious" with the way this team is playing?

We pulled out a win against the same Cardinals team that the Eagles throttled.

We lost to the same Rams team that the Commanders beat.

Based on common opponents, what looks "obvious" is that the other teams are playing better football.

How many 13-3 best teams in conference come back next year and are looked at by opponents with derision and scorn? Just Garrett's Cowboys. The defense is so bad Trevor Siemians and Jared Goffs look every bit as good as Aaron Rodgers but yet the apologists say oh well we lost to a great QB it happens.

We went into this season in rebuild mode which 13-3 teams never do.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Excuse. And a poor one.

These coaches clearly got away from the running game in key situations, even when it was working. And when football common sense dictated that they should stick with it.

That's on them.

Coaches coach. Players play. They call the runs-- bad execution puts em behind the chains and puts too much pressure on the passing game and ergo the D.

 

[MRV52]

The last two games should have been wins. This team should be at 4-1 if we had been able to muster more consistency on defense.

The good news is that Dak looks good, the running game is showing signs of life, and the pass rush is actually proving itself to be a strength of the defense.

2-3 is far from ideal. But it is also far from being a season killer. The bye week is coming at a perfect time in my opinion. We can get healthy, work out the kinks and get ready for the stretch run. We have all witnessed two 9-7 NYG squads winning the super bowl simply because they got hot down the stretch.

IMO-- This Dallas team still has the potential to be dangerous this year: Good running game, smart QB play, and a possession offense that can protect our defense.

No sugar-coating the situation on defense. But my hope is that Lee and Hitchens calm things down in the middle, and the young pups get better with experience and we start seeing some more plays being made on the back end.

No team is perfect and this young team has been humbled and hobbled. Will be interesting to see how they respond after the bye. Would love for Dak to go to GB in the playoffs and beat Rodgers and flip the script.

Nice post. I still have a feeling that this team is better than last year and in the end we will go further. This team will get stronger as the season moves along. Defense will get better, and if we can stay healthy and get in the playoffs look out. I was not confident last year because we already peaked way to early and I knew it was going to be tough to maintain that level of play in the playoffs. I kind of like where we are right now to be honest. Everyone has counted us out, and everyone is annointed the Eagles as NFC East champs. I love flying under the radar. look out this team can be very dangerous.

 

[Stash]

Coaches coach. Players play. They call the runs-- bad execution puts em behind the chains and puts too much pressure on the passing game and ergo the D.

And if "coaches coach" badly, "players play" badly.

Where did they "call the runs" at 2nd and 1 trying to run out the clock.

This is the exact same thing that happened in week one vs the Giants and was questioned then. What changed in between? Nothing obviously. They learned nothing from their past mistake.

There's a difference between being "optimistic" and being "naive".

 

[bark]

What's the exchange rate of moral victories to real ones?

I know this one .
Every moral victory is equal to one more year added to Garrett's contract

 

[pugilist]

i could be on board with this if the schedule wasn't so brutal. A few cupcake games in a row could do WONDERS for this team and its confidence, but they simply aren't there.

 

[movaughn88]

Lol-- for sure. Not worried about it. Never been a doom and gloom guy. The team needs work and the coaching has been dubious-- but to pretend there isn't anything positive or that there aren't also bright spots and potential on this team is short-sighted.

I just can't go on the roller coaster like some fans. After a win-- we're winning the super bowl. After a loss-- blow it all up lol. Gonna be a long season lol

I'm certainly a card carrying homer, but in the 24 hours after this loss I was more frustrated than at any point this season, and was fairly certain the season was over.

I've mellowed slightly, and I agree with @xwalker that this was their best game this season (looked good against Giants but we now know they are an even more incomplete team than the Cowboys). I think if the team can play at Sunday's level, we can reel off some wins after the bye. This defense needs to generate some turnovers for that to happen, because they aren't going to mesh into some dominant force anytime soon. I hope to see some personnel adjustments over the bye, but I'm not holding my breath.

That said, the math is upside down and with a 1st division schedule, 8-3 is a tough ask. I don't think 9-7 makes the tourney.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

2-3 vs easiest stretch of schedule. Losses:
Atlanta
Philly at least 1
Wash at least 1
KC
Seattle

8-8 at best and that's a stretch.

49ers = Win
Commanders = 50/50
Chiefs = Decent chance of winning since we're not playing them in Arrow Head and due to the fact that we tend to overachieve a couple of games each year when the fans are down on us.
Atlanta = Big time loss.
Eagles = Loss
Chargers = 50/50 Just a gut feeling.
Commanders = 50/50
Giants = Win
Raiders = Win. Shocker, but that team is even more overrated than ours coming into the season. Lynch will be toast that late in the season and we do pretty well against teams that rely heavily on extremely short passing (which the Eagles also do, but they have a good defense and special teams...something the Raiders do not).
Seattle = Decisive win. Their offense is getting worse by the year and we lost by 1 point, last minute in 2015 with Matt Friggin Cassell at the helm. Their defense may have a great blend of speed and aggressiveness but their front four is built like ours (aka: rush men....not run stoppers). If you get in a run/pass rhythm like we're capable of, you can really take advantage of their over-aggressiveness. Our defense's in ability to defend the run or intermediate pass in the middle will be spared by the ineptitude of their offense (short, outside passes or bombing it down field)
Eagles = ???? I think a win.

8-8 or 9-7 is my pick.

At this point, I'm leaning toward the Eagles taking the division with an 11-5 record and the Commanders fighting us for a miraculous Wildcard spot. Honestly, it's gonna be hard for the NFCE to earn a Wildcard when the other divisions are benefiting from not playing against the AFCW this year.

 

[Hawkeye19]

And if "coaches coach" badly, "players play" badly.

Where did they "call the runs" at 2nd and 1 trying to run out the clock.

This is the exact same thing that happened in week one vs the Giants and was questioned then. What changed in between? Nothing obviously. They learned nothing from their past mistake.

There's a difference between being "optimistic" and being "naive".

Completely agree on the 2nd and 1 call... They should have run it there for sure.

I am simply saying that they ARE calling runs early and often-- they are just getting poorer results than they did last year. In 2016 they were in favorable down and distance regularly which opened everything up. This year-- they have had to fight for every yard it seems.

Naive vs optimistic will only be known as the season plays out... However-- the overall offensive recipe worked well in 2014 and 2016. So we know they "can" win this way. Will they be able to improve their execution? That remains to be seen.

BUT-- I like Dak's leadership on this team. I like the fact that the run game has had better showings in consecutive weeks. And I like that our pass rush is more feisty than it's been in a looooong time.

Anyway-- I get the coach-hate around here. Don't mistake my saying the overall recipe works with me defending every call this staff makes (please lol)

 

[Hawkeye19]

i could be on board with this if the schedule wasn't so brutal. A few cupcake games in a row could do WONDERS for this team and its confidence, but they simply aren't there.

I hear you... but injuries played a large role in us losing two winnable games this year. Injuries will occur to other teams. We are getting healthier over the bye and the defense will improve with Lee and Hitch playing together and the pups getting more reps.

 

[Stash]

Completely agree on the 2nd and 1 call... They should have run it there for sure.

In agreement here. Coaching ineptitude on full display.

I am simply saying that they ARE calling runs early and often-- they are just getting poorer results than they did last year. In 2016 they were in favorable down and distance regularly which opened everything up. This year-- they have had to fight for every yard it seems.

Agree again. It's harder to come by, but that doesn't mean you stop trying. Look no further than that last scoring drive.

Naive vs optimistic will only be known as the season plays out... However-- the overall offensive recipe worked well in 2014 and 2016. So we know they "can" win this way. Will they be able to improve their execution? That remains to be seen.

It can't possibly work if they don't try. I'm seeing this team and coaching staff go right back to what they did so often with Romo. Abandon the run and get pass happy. They didn't early on with Dak because they couldn't. The young guy wasn't ready. Now that they think he is? It's back to that same crap. With the same poor results.

BUT-- I like Dak's leadership on this team. I like the fact that the run game has had better showings in consecutive weeks. And I like that our pass rush is more feisty than it's been in a looooong time.

I do too. Love the guy. He's everything I'd hoped for in a player. But they're putting too much on him and too much in the hands of a young player.

Anyway-- I get the coach-hate around here. Don't mistake my saying the overall recipe works with me defending every call this staff makes (please lol)

I'll sure try not to. Nobody likes absolutes or blanket statements less than me!

 

[DCBoysfan]

How about this: Cowboys make the playoffs-- you make a very public eat crow thread. Cowboys miss the playoffs-- I do. You game?

How about the Cowboys make the playoffs and beat Aaron Rogers in GB..........there I said it!

 

[Swanny]

The last two games should have been wins. This team should be at 4-1 if we had been able to muster more consistency on defense.

The good news is that Dak looks good, the running game is showing signs of life, and the pass rush is actually proving itself to be a strength of the defense.

2-3 is far from ideal. But it is also far from being a season killer. The bye week is coming at a perfect time in my opinion. We can get healthy, work out the kinks and get ready for the stretch run. We have all witnessed two 9-7 NYG squads winning the super bowl simply because they got hot down the stretch.

IMO-- This Dallas team still has the potential to be dangerous this year: Good running game, smart QB play, and a possession offense that can protect our defense.

No sugar-coating the situation on defense. But my hope is that Lee and Hitchens calm things down in the middle, and the young pups get better with experience and we start seeing some more plays being made on the back end.

No team is perfect and this young team has been humbled and hobbled. Will be interesting to see how they respond after the bye. Would love for Dak to go to GB in the playoffs and beat Rodgers and flip the script.

In all honesty these games do feel like games the Cowboys play at the end of each and every season.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

The last two games should have been wins. This team should be at 4-1 if we had been able to muster more consistency on defense.

The good news is that Dak looks good, the running game is showing signs of life, and the pass rush is actually proving itself to be a strength of the defense.

2-3 is far from ideal. But it is also far from being a season killer. The bye week is coming at a perfect time in my opinion. We can get healthy, work out the kinks and get ready for the stretch run. We have all witnessed two 9-7 NYG squads winning the super bowl simply because they got hot down the stretch.

IMO-- This Dallas team still has the potential to be dangerous this year: Good running game, smart QB play, and a possession offense that can protect our defense.

No sugar-coating the situation on defense. But my hope is that Lee and Hitchens calm things down in the middle, and the young pups get better with experience and we start seeing some more plays being made on the back end.

No team is perfect and this young team has been humbled and hobbled. Will be interesting to see how they respond after the bye. Would love for Dak to go to GB in the playoffs and beat Rodgers and flip the script.

Bro you need talent on defense. We’re worse than last year. Gonna make a run for what? To get in and be 1 and done and get smoked by Atlanta or GB?