Philadelphia Eagles Examiner: No, the Cowboys don't appear to be going away

[Bleu Star]

No, the Cowboys don't appear to be going away


June 20, 1:42 AM · Gordie Jones - Philadelphia Eagles Examiner

When last we left the Dallas Cowboys, they were serving as roadkill for the Eagles, the Birds joyously trouncing their hated rivals 44-6 in the 2008 season finale.

The Eagles, as a result, went to the playoffs – and nearly the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys went home, having seen a season that began with so much hope and hype – remember “Hard Knocks”? – wind up in the dumpster.

Since then, there has been surprisingly little buzz about Dallas, especially in comparison to last year and the year before. Sure, the Cowboys' new stadium has attracted plenty of attention, but the team? Not so much. Now the NFC East focus is on the Birds and the Giants. Now the consensus is that they are the cream of a division that will be its usual rugged self.

But there is plenty of reason to believe that the Cowboys will be more dangerous than ever, not the least of which is the addition-by-subtraction move to rid themselves of Terrell Owens.

The Daily News’ Rich Hofmann noted in his blog Friday this Yahoo Sports story about the move, in which Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones (Jerry’s kid) expresses the opinion that quarterback Tony Romo will be a more effective leader without Owens there to undermine him.

It remains to be seen how the rest of the equation adds up. But there is some reason to believe that Roy Williams will be a better receiver in a non-T.O.-centered offense (as long as Romo and tight end Jason Witten don't have too many secret meetings, of course). That running back Felix Jones, limited to six games as a rookie in ‘08 because of injury, will be a major factor. That the defense can still be a force.

And as a result, there is plenty of reason to believe Dallas will be right where it usually is – in the middle of the division race.

Which might not be what you want to hear. Just wanted to give you an early heads-up.

Early media hype.... This is reverse psychology at its best. Recent history has shown that a hyped Boys team prior to the season equates to a team full of themselves at the starting bell which eventually comes up short every year.

Hopefully someone with some sense will instill upon this year's team to avoid buying into any positive comments about said direction of this team...

 

[sonnyboy]

I think Philly's window of opportunity is coming to a close. They lost the emotional leader of their Defense and probably the best DC in the NFL. Remember when we lost Woodson? Similar impact expected in Philly. McNabb finally has WRs to throw to but their best weapon is Westbrook and once again he seems delicate. The window isn't closed, but it is moving in that direction for them.

Our window is still opening up. The Giants window is still opening up. I think the division will be between Dallas and the Giants this year. Young teams with emerging QBs and solid casts around them.

The Commanders? They can't find the window though I do applaud their off season focus on D. I just don't fear mediocre QB led teams.

I've always felt the same way. Can one of those teams, sound in all other areas, sneak up and bite you? Of course anything can and often does happen in one game. Over 16 weeks it seldom does. Commanders are no factor as long as Campbell is their QB.

 

[sonnyboy]

People are really undervalueing the talent on this team. Just because we lost T.O. doesn't mean there isn't talent. They haven't gone from being regarded as the most talented team in the NFC maybe the NFL to being a bunch of schmoes. This team is still the most talented in the East, and should win it because the Giants and Eagles aren't going to be nearly as good as people think imo. The "Beast" is really down this year...except for Dallas.

They certainly are.

I expect this Cowboys team to win 12 or more games and compete for the NFC's #1 seed.

This isn't some pie in the sky projection assuming multiple variables to break our way.

The only qualifier I'll offer is health. We don't have to have as few injuries as we had in 2007, just fewer than we had in 2008.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

They were mediocre last year, but got hot at the end. Anyone remember them tying the Bengals?

Or the 10-3 thrilling loss to the Commanders. Or that they actually benched McNabb and then put Kevin Kolb and clearly realized that Kolb is nowhere near ready and had to put McNabb back in. And that McNabb is clearly an injury prone QB. And that with Jim Johnson being in and out of the hospital, they may not be getting the full attention from the coach that has made Andy Reid's career.

I'm not convinced that getting rid of Owens will mean a better Cowboys team. Say what you will, but this team did quite fine on offense with Owens and the team went 13-3 in 2007. So it wasn't like the offense struggled just because Owens wanted the ball. Romo, Garrett, the O-Line and the other WR's need to raise their level of performance as well.

But I still believe this is a very talented team, even 13-3 type talent and even more talent than the Eagles. If certain people can raise their level of play to a certain degree and we can stay reasonably healthy, there's no reason why Dallas cannot win the division and yes..finally win in the postseason.



YAKUZA

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

...question is how much and how much energy will he have. Phoenix, Ihave had family go through Chemo and it just absolutely DRAINS you of strength and above all stamina. You are nuts if you think otherwise.

No argument from me burmafrd.

PT

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

umm... no.

...No, the worst beating which the Cowboys have ever had to my recollection was at the hands of the Chicago Bears in 1985.

I was mistaking - you're right ...44-0 Chicago; But in my research of that information, I also discovered that the Cowboys had a regular season record of 0–11–1 (with a tie vs the New York Giants) in 1960 ...never knew that. Except for the "tie" your team had a winless season similar to the Detroit Lions (I wonder if your team and Detroit Lions are the only winless season teams in the NFL ...I'll leave someone else to do the research).

PT

 

[Mansta54]

I was mistaking - you're right ...44-0 Chicago; But in my research of that information, I also discovered that the Cowboys had a regular season record of 0–11–1 (with a tie vs the New York Giants) in 1960 ...never knew that. Except for the "tie" your team had a winless season similar to the Detroit Lions (I wonder if your team and Detroit Lions are the only winless season teams in the NFL ...I'll leave someone else to do the research).

PT

Research this, :trophy:

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

I was mistaking - you're right ...44-0 Chicago; But in my research of that information, I also discovered that the Cowboys had a regular season record of 0–11–1 (with a tie vs the New York Giants) in 1960 ...never knew that. Except for the "tie" your team had a winless season similar to the Detroit Lions (I wonder if your team and Detroit Lions are the only winless season teams in the NFL ...I'll leave someone else to do the research).

PT

How many teams are tied with Philly for no super bowls? I know we can throw those Lions in that grouping as well. Ill take a couple bad seasons with a handful of Super Bowls.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

Research this,

I'd be glad to ...

If that is a Lombardi Trophy Case, then you are correct! However, if your graphic depicts an NFL Champoinship Trophy Case, you are entirely wrong!


PT

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

I'd be glad to ...

If that is a Lombardi Trophy Case, then you are correct! However, if your graphic depicts an NFL Champoinship Trophy Case, you are entirely wrong!


PT

Yeah its much easier to win one of those when the Cowboys did not exist. AMIRITE?!

 

[DallasEast]

I was mistaking - you're right ...44-0 Chicago; But in my research of that information, I also discovered that the Cowboys had a regular season record of 0–11–1 (with a tie vs the New York Giants) in 1960 ...never knew that. Except for the "tie" your team had a winless season similar to the Detroit Lions (I wonder if your team and Detroit Lions are the only winless season teams in the NFL ...I'll leave someone else to do the research).

PT

A losing season is a losing season--regardless of whether the team finishes one game under .500 or doesn't win a solitary game.

Since we're on the team trivia kick, did you know that since Dallas entered the league in 1960, Philadelphia has suffered ten more losing seasons than the Cowboys?

Let's do some more research, alrighty?

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I'd be glad to ...

If that is a Lombardi Trophy Case, then you are correct! However, if your graphic depicts an NFL Champoinship Trophy Case, you are entirely wrong!


PT

LOL here comes the patented "1935 Eagle championship" talk. Seriously? I find extremely funny when Eagle fans talk about having a "championship" 70 years ago when there were like 7 NFL teams and the Cowboys didn't even exist. The minute the Cowboys were alive and running the Eagles havn't won squat!!!

**** the Eagles!!!!!!!!

 

[Joe Realist]

I know the Eagles have had a much better decade, but ( and yes I don't feel like doing it), I would like to see their total regular season records and playoff records since 1960. It should not be close.

 

[Rampage]

A losing season is a losing season--regardless of whether the team finishes one game under .500 or doesn't win a solitary game.

Since we're on the team trivia kick, did you know that since Dallas entered the league in 1960, Philadelphia has suffered ten more losing seasons than the Cowboys?

Let's do some more research, alrighty?

we were the only NFL team to not have a draft in our 1st season too.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

It's basically just a role reversal. We dominated the 90's and Eagles have the 2000's on us. We WILL take that back.

 

[Aikbach]

I was mistaking - you're right ...44-0 Chicago; But in my research of that information, I also discovered that the Cowboys had a regular season record of 0–11–1 (with a tie vs the New York Giants) in 1960 ...never knew that. Except for the "tie" your team had a winless season similar to the Detroit Lions (I wonder if your team and Detroit Lions are the only winless season teams in the NFL ...I'll leave someone else to do the research).

PT

You are really willing to hold an inaugural campaign by an expansion team comprised of cast offs as equal to the embarrassment that is the Detroit Lions 2008 club?

 

[Aikbach]

One Eagles Fan Perspective: each new regular season brings with it new hope for each team to do better than the previous year. Regardless of How you see things or what your twist on any given team is, right now we can only draw our conclusions on draft/trade acquisitions.

That said, specifically I think the Dallas Cowboys will be just a strong and just a competitive as they have always been against the Eagles and all of their NFC-East rivals. I can't speak for other Eagle fans, but I personally believe that the 44-6 beating last year is In the record books as the worst defeat the Cowboys ever had ...but has absolutely nothing to do with the2 or 3 games they meet with the Eagles in 2009.

Since I'm not a Cowboys fan, I only know a very few things that may impact the team this coming season. However, here are some things that will have an impact on the next Eagles in 2009:

> Brian Dawkins departure medium impact

> "If" Jim Johnson (Eagles Def. Coord.) is out ...significant impact

> Successfull recovery of Brian Westbrook

Note: The Eagles are an improved team from last year.

Any way you spin it, it's going to be a back alley dog fight. I'm looking forward to the games between our two teams. I think it will live up to the traditional meetings between the two teams.

Phoenix-Talon

For whatever reason, both franchise have dealt each other schlackings this decade, obviously Dallas' eroded roster coupled with Philly's rise at the beginning of the decade contributed to the 2000-2002 lopsided Eagle wins.

But since then the competition picked back up usually with a season split, except for 2004 and 2005, seasons where Philly beat Dallas twice and Dallas returned the favor in 2005 particularly with a surprising *** beating from Drew Bledsoe early in the season.

2006 saw Dallas flounder in squandered opportunity and get swept in two close matchups.

2007 saw Dallas destroy Philly on Monday night in their stadium before farting around and losing a real yawner in December.

2008 saw a close high octane offensive shootout end with a Cowboy victory and a heartless and gutless last hurrah for TO against his former team.

So recent history makes it difficult to gauge what will happen because frankly every outcome under the sun has, close ones, squandered one, blow outs.

 

[Bluefin]

It's basically just a role reversal. We dominated the 90's and Eagles have the 2000's on us. We WILL take that back.

Our dominance equaled 3 Super Bowl titles and four NFC title game appearances.

The Eagles dominance equals one Super Bowl appearance, the second in team history, and one victory in five NFC title game showdowns.

I like our version better.

 

[Aikbach]

Our dominance equaled 3 Super Bowl titles and four NFC title game appearances.

The Eagles dominance equals one Super Bowl appearance, the second in team history, and one victory in five NFC title game showdowns.

I like our version better.

The NFC has only managed 3 victories in the last 12 Super Bowls, the whole conference has had a down decade after 13 straight Super Bowl victories from 1984 to 1996.

Only the 1999 Rams, 2002 Buccaneers and 2007 Giants have interrupted AFC dominance dating back to 1997, the fall of the Cowboy dynasty brought about a complete paradigm shift to the power structure of the league as a whole, one previously dominated all but exclusively by the NFC East (Cowboys-3, Commanders-2, Giants-2) and 49ers (4), who won 11 of those 13 Super Bowls the NFC tallied in the streak, by the way the Eagles were notably absent from the NFC East contributors in that era.

In this decade it is the Giants and Eagles that have managed to represent the NFC East, the Giant are 1-1 in Super Bowls this decade and the Eagles 0-1.

 

[Mansta54]

LOL here comes the patented "1935 Eagle championship" talk. Seriously? I find extremely funny when Eagle fans talk about having a "championship" 70 years ago when there were like 7 NFL teams and the Cowboys didn't even exist. The minute the Cowboys were alive and running the Eagles havn't won squat!!!

F the Eagles!!!!!!!!