Rest starters or go for 12 wins?

[DFWJC]

Not what is posted at NFL.com.

if all 3 lose Arz, Seattle and Dallas they are all 11-5 both Seahawks and Cards would have better conference records. So trying to see where the tie breaker goes to Dallas should all 3 be 11-5?

Yesterday, I was thinking what you were thinking too. But a few people straightened me out.
If both AZ and Seattle lose and go 11-5, then Seattle wins the West.
Then the tie-breaker is between division champs Dallas and Seattle...and Dallas wins that tie-breaker straight up.

 

[locked&loaded]

Not what is posted at NFL.com.

if all 3 lose Arz, Seattle and Dallas they are all 11-5 both Seahawks and Cards would have better conference records. So trying to see where the tie breaker goes to Dallas should all 3 be 11-5?

seattle beat az twice though. making az a wildcard automatically. that means seattle and dallas are tied, we have them head to head.

 

[DFWJC]

Here's a simulator
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

 

[Dhragon]

Garrett has built up a ton of goodwill this year among the fan base. He stands to lose a great deal of that if he costs us playoff victories because he plays Romo, Murray, Martin, etc. and gets them hurt in a meaningless game (particularly Romo - we still have a chance if the others get hurt - zero chance if Romo does).

 

[Doomsday101]

Here's a simulator
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

I believe you

 

[Undisputed]

we have no head to head vs Arz

It's not necessary. If Arizona doesn't win the division they are no factor. There is no 3-way tie.

 

[nablives]

Garrett has built up a ton of goodwill this year among the fan base. He stands to lose a great deal of that if he costs us playoff victories because he plays Romo, Murray, Martin, etc. and gets them hurt in a meaningless game (particularly Romo - we still have a chance if the others get hurt - zero chance if Romo does).

Just the other day we had a rumor about Garrett to Michigan. All the, "we can't let him go" posts were crazy, considering how disliked he's been, even as recently as 4 months ago. If he gets Romo and or Murray jacked-up in a game that means nothing, I suspect some folks will change their tunes right back to where they were.

I'm not buying all this, "it will kill the momentum" stuff. This team looks way too dialed in right now to let that happen.

 

[Fizziksman]

Not what is posted at NFL.com.

if all 3 lose Arz, Seattle and Dallas they are all 11-5 both Seahawks and Cards would have better conference records. So trying to see where the tie breaker goes to Dallas should all 3 be 11-5?

Arizona would be a wild card they can't get anything higher than the 5th seed in that scenario.

 

[DFWJC]

Just the other day we had a rumor about Garrett to Michigan. All the, "we can't let him go" posts were crazy, considering how disliked he's been, even as recently as 4 months ago. If he gets Romo and or Murray jacked-up in a game that means nothing, I suspect some folks will change their tunes right back to where they were.

I'm not buying all this, "it will kill the momentum" stuff. This team looks way too dialed in right now to let that happen.

Garrett to Michigan was beyond comical.
All of his roots are from the NFL
It would be very far-fetched to say the least.

 

[KJJ]

Rest. We are very good on the road.

Being on the road during the regular season is a lot different than being on the road during the playoffs. It's a much more hostile environment on the road during the playoffs. Your odds on winning a playoff game on the road aren't in your favor especially against the teams the Cowboys could be facing. You certainly don't want to go back to Seattle the way they're playing right now the Legion of Boom is back. The Cowboys have never won a playoff game at Lambeau and the Packers have looked virtually unbeatable there this season. The Cowboys have had no luck winning in AZ bad things always seem to happen to them on the road vs the Cardinals.

The Cowboys haven't won many games in Detroit even the 91 team got blown out in the playoffs at Detroit. The Cowboys last road playoff game was a blowout loss to Minn in 09. Romo is 0-2 on the road in the playoffs with a 1-3 TD to turnover ratio. The Cowboys just had the most impressive home win they've had since they moved into the new stadium last Sunday and their last playoff win came at home in impressive fashion over Philly. If the Cowboys want to go deep in the playoffs they need to be playing at home.

 

[KJJ]

Garrett has built up a ton of goodwill this year among the fan base. He stands to lose a great deal of that if he costs us playoff victories because he plays Romo, Murray, Martin, etc. and gets them hurt in a meaningless game (particularly Romo - we still have a chance if the others get hurt - zero chance if Romo does).

It's really not a "meaningless" game the team still has a chance to improve their seeding and it's important to maintain the momentum they've established the past 3 weeks heading into the playoffs. The Cowboys can't afford to play a sloppy game they need to continue playing well. I wouldn't play Romo in this game but everyone else I'm playing I want to keep the team sharp. I would play Murray long enough to set the franchise single season rushing record he deserves that. We learned in 07 at Washington in week 17 that it's not wise to blow off games as meaningless. Momentum is very important to having playoff success you want to be playing your best football and the Cowboys are playing great football right now and a sloppy performance on Sunday vs a bad Washington team could change that leading to a quick exit in the playoffs.

 

[popp1234]

Why can't we do both?

 

[Fizziksman]

It's really not a "meaningless" game the team still has a chance to improve their seeding and it's important to maintain the momentum they've established the past 3 weeks heading into the playoffs. The Cowboys can't afford to play a sloppy game they need to continue playing well. I wouldn't play Romo in this game but everyone else I'm playing I want to keep the team sharp. I would play Murray long enough to set the franchise single season rushing record he deserves that. We learned in 07 at Washington in week 17 that it's not wise to blow off games as meaningless. Momentum is very important to having playoff success you want to be playing your best football and the Cowboys are playing great football right now and a sloppy performance on Sunday vs a bad Washington team could change that leading to a quick exit in the playoffs.

just because Romo and Murray sit does not excuse the team from playing sloppy. i except them to play hard but yeah the playoffs are what ultimately matters and no reason to risk Romo and Murray or anyone else that has an injury and is playing through the pain just for the sake of preserving "momentum"

 

[KJJ]

just because Romo and Murray sit does not excuse the team from playing sloppy. i except them to play hard but yeah the playoffs are what ultimately matters and no reason to risk Romo and Murray or anyone else that has an injury and is playing through the pain just for the sake of preserving "momentum"

When you sit players after wrapping up the division it can send a message to your team that the upcoming game is meaningless and it can lead to a very sloppy and sometimes embarrassing performance. The Cowboys got so sky high for last weeks game they could show up in Washington flat and that can lead to a real bad game. The Cowboys are the type of team that when they relax and aren't mentally prepared to play they can look awful this happened in week 17 of the 07 season vs Washington. That performance clearly set the Cowboys up for a one and done in the playoffs that season. It's important the team keeps their edge and having a bad team like Washington stomp on them is not the way you want to enter the playoffs.

Washington will come out and play hard they're playing for next year. RG3 is trying to resurrect his career and Gruden is trying to keep his job. After the skins win over Philly they're feeling better about themselves and if the Cowboys aren't focused and decide to just go through the motions on Sunday it will lead to a very sloppy and possibly embarrassing performance. I'll be very upset if the team allows Washington to walk all over them on Sunday. There's still a pride factor involved here and this has been too good of a season for the Cowboys to end it on a sour note.

 

[Chuck 54]

Forget all the playoff scenarios...while the front office, coaches, and maybe the players know them, it doesn't matter like it does to fans trying to think a way to the best playoff pairings.

1. Players play to win the game.
2. Coaches coach to win the game.
3. To win, a team must believe they will win against any opponent, so why not go through a good team early instead of later.

Bottom line---Romo is healthy and will not be healthier for sitting, so he plays to keep the rhythm and momentum going, to go into playoffs hot with another win. The only reason to sit a starter is if he cannot perform close to 100% and the week's rest will make him 100% the next week, so someone may sit, but very few.

Resting starters is not good for the team if it results in losing. Even if the loss doesn't change the playoff position, it does change the team's mojo and the next man up mentality in case someone is injured during the playoffs. Winning is always important, and losing is never without consequence. You cannot play the game or coach the game in fear of injury.

Play to win and roll into the playoffs with the greatest swagger.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think we'll win even if Romo doesn't start.
We won't make the same mistakes Philly did.

 

[Dhragon]

Just the other day we had a rumor about Garrett to Michigan. All the, "we can't let him go" posts were crazy, considering how disliked he's been, even as recently as 4 months ago. If he gets Romo and or Murray jacked-up in a game that means nothing, I suspect some folks will change their tunes right back to where they were.

I'm not buying all this, "it will kill the momentum" stuff. This team looks way too dialed in right now to let that happen.

I agree!

I'm not a big believer in the old momentum idea anyway. Can't keep track of all the times a team was supposed to have momentum and lost anyway. With or without "momentum" I believe the Boys can play a great game in the WC round. As you said, they seem pretty dialed in this year.

 

[tyke1doe]

Forget all the playoff scenarios...while the front office, coaches, and maybe the players know them, it doesn't matter like it does to fans trying to think a way to the best playoff pairings.

1. Players play to win the game.
2. Coaches coach to win the game.
3. To win, a team must believe they will win against any opponent, so why not go through a good team early instead of later.
4. Coaches and players don't worry about playing not to get hurt.

Bottom line---Romo is healthy and will not be healthier for sitting, so he plays to keep the rhythm and momentum going, to go into playoffs hot with another win. The only reason to sit a starter is if he cannot perform close to 100% and the week's rest will make him 100% the next week, so someone may sit, but very few.

Resting starters is not good for the team if it results in losing. Even if the loss doesn't change the playoff position, it does change the team's mojo and the next man up mentality in case someone is injured during the playoffs. Winning is always important, and losing is never without consequence. You cannot play the game or coach the game in fear of injury.

Play to win and roll into the playoffs with the greatest swagger.

Thought I should add Point 4.

 

[Dhragon]

When you sit players after wrapping up the division it can send a message to your team that the upcoming game is meaningless and it can lead to a very sloppy and sometimes embarrassing performance. The Cowboys got so sky high for last weeks game they could show up in Washington flat and that can lead to a real bad game. The Cowboys are the type of team that when they relax and aren't mentally prepared to play they can look awful this happened in week 17 of the 07 season vs Washington. That performance clearly set the Cowboys up for a one and done in the playoffs that season. It's important the team keeps their edge and having a bad team like Washington stomp on them is not the way you want to enter the playoffs.

Washington will come out and play hard they're playing for next year. RG3 is trying to resurrect his career and Gruden is trying to keep his job. After the skins win over Philly they're feeling better about themselves and if the Cowboys aren't focused and decide to just go through the motions on Sunday it will lead to a very sloppy and possibly embarrassing performance. I'll be very upset if the team allows Washington to walk all over them on Sunday. There's still a pride factor involved here and this has been too good of a season for the Cowboys to end it on a sour note.

I think this is the main reason Garrett might play the starters - the message behind it. Even though I'm not a big believer in momentum in football, I can see how sitting starters, playing it scared, might effect some psyches. It could lead to the sloppiness you referenced. I just think the payoff isn't worth the risk (to play the starters). Opinions differ on this of course. Seeing as Red appears to agree with you - I'm stuck just crossing my fingers.

 

[Kevinicus]

I don't think the 2007 game against Washington had anything at all to do with the loss in the playoffs. The home field advantage clinching against Carolina, however did (ie T.O. getting hurt).