Rest starters or go for 12 wins?

[KJJ]

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.

I'm a huge believer in entering the playoffs with momentum can't recall a Cowboys team having success in the playoffs that didn't enter the playoffs with momentum. The teams last playoff win was due to having momentum entering the playoffs. The 09 team was forced to play hard in week 17 because the division title and a home playoff game was at stake. That kept the team motivated and the wave of momentum the Cowboys were riding after their win over Philly in week 17 carried over to the playoffs. You can't play scared and the motto has been to finish the fight so we need to finish it and not get punched in the mouth on Sunday by a team that's already beaten us and will be sitting home.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

This is bothering me, because in my mind the right call is pretty obvious.

Do we really want Romo out there getting hit on a blitz?
Murray , just getting over his surgery?

No. No we dont. So , sit them. Which means we aren't really serious about winning this game.....

So why even go through the motions? Let all the backups play. This game means nothing.

................nothing.

They are going to trot Tony Romo out there back and all, for what reason??? Momentum? So we dont get "sloppy"?

If they do all that, and Romo goes down and cant make the playoffs, or even if he is banged up and cant throw or run like we need him too.... Then, the League will be laughing at the Cowboys....Can you imagine what the media will do to JJ and Garret?

and another thing. The players know it means nothing.... The intensity wont be there.

 

[mldardy]

This is bothering me, because in my mind the right call is pretty obvious.

Do we really want Romo out there getting hit on a blitz?
Murray , just getting over his surgery?

No. No we dont. So , sit them. Which means we aren't really serious about winning this game.....

So why even go through the motions? Let all the backups play. This game means nothing.

................nothing.

They are going to trot Tony Romo out there back and all, for what reason??? Momentum? So we dont get "sloppy"?

If they do all that, and Romo goes down and cant make the playoffs, or even if he is banged up and cant throw or run like we need him too.... Then, the League will be laughing at the Cowboys....Can you imagine what the media will do to JJ and Garret?

Pretty much spot on.

 

[gdogg24]

Unless they start giving rings for 12 wins I don't see a reason to play the starters

 

[daveferr33]

I'm a huge believer in entering the playoffs with momentum can't recall a Cowboys team having success in the playoffs that didn't enter the playoffs with momentum. The teams last playoff win was due to having momentum entering the playoffs. The 09 team was forced to play hard in week 17 because the division title and a home playoff game was at stake. That kept the team motivated and the wave of momentum the Cowboys were riding after their win over Philly in week 17 carried over to the playoffs. You can't play scared and the motto has been to finish the fight so we need to finish it and not get punched in the mouth on Sunday by a team that's already beaten us and will be sitting home.

Not sure that is the best example. After all, that supposed momentum hit a brick wall in Minnesota.

 

[KJJ]

Not sure that is the best example. After all, that supposed momentum hit a brick wall in Minnesota.

It hit a brick wall in Min because the win over Philly was the Cowboys first playoff win in 13 years and everyone including cupcake Wade was acting like the team just won the SB. It was Wades first playoff win ever and he couldn't stop gushing over it. The Cowboys relaxed after that game and didn't look focused or prepared heading into Minn and it led to a debacle.

 

[Plankton]

 

[Dhragon]

Some data on "momentum" for the recent Superbowls:

Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17
2013 (Seattle) Loss Win Loss Win
2012 (Baltimore) Loss Loss Win Loss
2011 (New York) Win Loss Win Win
2010 (Green Bay) Loss Loss Win Win
2009 (New Orleans) Win Loss Loss Loss
2008 (Pittsburgh) Win Win Loss Win
2007 (New York) Win Loss Win Loss

Seems to me this whole "momentum" thing is overblown. 3/7 of the last SB winners lost their last game yet somehow won despite not having that elusive momentum at the end of the regular season.

Rest the starters - I rest my case.

 

[wileedog]

It hit a brick wall in Min because the win over Philly was the Cowboys first playoff win in 13 years and everyone including cupcake Wade was acting like the team just won the SB. It was Wades first playoff win ever and he couldn't stop gushing over it. The Cowboys relaxed after that game and didn't look focused or prepared heading into Minn and it led to a debacle.

Yet you don't think Wade being coach and relaxing and letting players run off to Cabo after getting the bye in 2007 wasn't the major factor for the Giants loss?

Also that 2007 team had been playing sloppy all of December - they had 10 turnovers in the 3 games leading up to that Washington game, and added another Romo INT in that one. That team was spiraling under Wade's laid back approach long before they took the foot off the pedal in Washington. They were playing nothing like this one is now, and then had the bye to boot between the Washington game and the Giant game.

 

[Dhragon]

Yet you don't think Wade being coach and relaxing and letting players run off to Cabo after getting the bye in 2007 wasn't the major factor for the Giants loss?

Also that 2007 team had been playing sloppy all of December - they had 10 turnovers in the 3 games leading up to that Washington game, and added another Romo INT in that one. That team was spiraling under Wade's laid back approach long before they took the foot off the pedal in Washington. They were playing nothing like this one is now, and then had the bye to boot between the Washington game and the Giant game.

Yeah, I don't think we have to be afraid this team will slack off. Get our backups some game reps and as many of our starters rest.

 

[DFWJC]

Not sure that is the best example. After all, that supposed momentum hit a brick wall in Minnesota.

Really bad matchup against a very good team, with a phenomenal pass-rush, in their deafening dome...and with our starting left tackle going down early in the game with a line that was already fading.
It was a classic snowball affect game.

 

[KJJ]

Yet you don't think Wade being coach and relaxing and letting players run off to Cabo after getting the bye in 2007 wasn't the major factor for the Giants loss?

Also that 2007 team had been playing sloppy all of December - they had 10 turnovers in the 3 games leading up to that Washington game, and added another Romo INT in that one. That team was spiraling under Wade's laid back approach long before they took the foot off the pedal in Washington. They were playing nothing like this one is now, and then had the bye to boot between the Washington game and the Giant game.

Yes that was the major factor the Cowboys started fading well before that rotten egg they laid in week 17 at Washington. Everything started coming apart after the Cowboys beat the Packers. Both the Cowboys and Packers were 10-1 and the Cowboys got so hyped up for that game they decided to take December off after that big win. They struggled the following week vs a bad Detroit team just barely squeaking out a win in the final seconds on a last ditch drive. They proceeded to lose at home to Philly the next week in an awful performance that saw Romo's game come completely apart.

Romo went from playing some of the best football I had seen that season in Nov to some of the worst football I had seen from him in Dec. He started turning the ball over left and right and while the Cowboys were fading the Giants were on the rise. The current Cowboys are playing much better than the 07 team did in Dec but it's still important to finish this season strong with a good performance. The Cowboys have won 3 straight games and need to stay on a roll.

 

[wileedog]

The current Cowboys are playing much better than the 07 team did in Dec but it's still important to finish this season strong with a good performance. The Cowboys have won 3 straight games and need to stay on a roll.

And I'll say again I think with a team on a roll already, who are not getting a bye and will be playing immediately the week after.this game it doesn't mean as much as going in at full health. Any comparison with 2007 is meaningless IMO - different team, different coach, different schedule and situation.

Whatever Garrett or Jerry says, the players know this game is meaningless. I don't think it has the mental effect you think it will, and if someone like Dez, RMcClain or one of the big 3 on the Online gets injured in that game JG and Jerry will deserve every bit of the howling criticism that is going to come their way.

 

[Doomsday101]

My feelings are that starters may start the game but not play long. I do think Garrett wants to keep the same routine, players are a creature of habit from what they do during the week to what they wear and what they eat on game day and I don't think Garrett wants this altered one bit. I think he is putting them through their normal week of work and come game day I highly doubt all will start and if they do I would think it will be a short period.

 

[wileedog]

My feelings are that starters may start the game but not play long. I do think Garrett wants to keep the same routine, players are a creature of habit from what they do during the week to what they wear and what they eat on game day and I don't think Garrett wants this altered one bit. I think he is putting them through their normal week of work and come game day I highly doubt all will start and if they do I would think it will be a short period.

And for the record I'm fine with this, although personally I wouldn't even let Romo get on the plane. If he wants to run a few series with the starters fine. I wouldn't do it but I understand. Just get them out before halftime,

 

[Doomsday101]

And for the record I'm fine with this, although personally I wouldn't even let Romo get on the plane. If he wants to run a few series with the starters fine. I wouldn't do it but I understand. Just get them out before halftime,

I agree. I understand the train of thought regarding injuries> Pagono did that with Luck, they had little chance of getting out of the 3 slot but he still played Luck until the halfway point of the 3rd qrt.
I would rather see Dallas starters get limited snaps and in some case not even play but I think right now Garrett is trying to keep the mindset the same, not let guys get caught up in the hoopla of the excitement that is taking place around them. best way to keep the team grounded is keep the routine the same.

 

[wileedog]

I agree. I understand the train of thought regarding injuries> Pagono did that with Luck, they had little chance of getting out of the 3 slot but he still played Luck until the halfway point of the 3rd qrt.
I would rather see Dallas starters get limited snaps and in some case not even play but I think right now Garrett is trying to keep the mindset the same, not let guys get caught up in the hoopla of the excitement that is taking place around them. best way to keep the team grounded is keep the routine the same.

Pagano still has another game before the playoffs, and I do think resting starters two weeks in a row is too much. There was every reason to play Luck against us, as there was to get him out when the game got out of hand.

 

[erod]

Haslet is coaching for his job. He's coming after Romo, and he's gotten him the last two times.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I'm a huge believer in entering the playoffs with momentum can't recall a Cowboys team having success in the playoffs that didn't enter the playoffs with momentum. The teams last playoff win was due to having momentum entering the playoffs. The 09 team was forced to play hard in week 17 because the division title and a home playoff game was at stake. That kept the team motivated and the wave of momentum the Cowboys were riding after their win over Philly in week 17 carried over to the playoffs. You can't play scared and the motto has been to finish the fight so we need to finish it and not get punched in the mouth on Sunday by a team that's already beaten us and will be sitting home.

That momentum didn't help us the next week against Minnesota. The Eagles sucked that year. That's the only reason we made it to the second round. Not momentum.

 

[Doomsday101]

Pagano still has another game before the playoffs, and I do think resting starters two weeks in a row is too much. There was every reason to play Luck against us, as there was to get him out when the game got out of hand.

Without Luck he is all out of Luck they have nothing to gain but he played him and based on reports out of Indy he intends on starting Luck this week as well.