Settle this office debate: How far do the Cowboys have to go...

[Maikeru-sama]

for you not to consider them underachievers?

I just got into a pretty heated break room debate with 2 of my co-workers (no suprise there ).

The argument centered upon expectations and when does a team underahveive or overachieve.

Their argument:
You make your predictions and expectations at the beginning of the Season, stick with them and use that to assess how a team did at the end of the Season.

My argument:
You make your predictions and expectations on a week to week basis and you change your predictions and expectations accordingly.

They were saying that if the Patriots lose in the AFC Championship game, it is an underachievement. They said if the Cowboys lose in the NFC Championship Game, they still overachieved.

Now, I said that I think the Cowboys would have underachieved if they didn't make it to the Super Bowl. Now, this may sound ridiculous but they are clearly the best team in the NFC. They have beaten the best the NFC has to offer by at least double digits. I came into this season only hoping to win a Playoff game, but the Cowboys are 11-1, so why wouldn't you want to change your expectations and expect them to at least make it to the Super Bowl, after what they have done in 12 Games?

They were trying to say that the Mavericks overrachieved 2 years ago by just getting to the NBA Finals just because you didn't expect them to be there when the season started. To me that is kind of odd as they went into the Finals as the favorites and had a 2 game lead. I think they are a little bitter and are just saying this to save face for the Mavericks.

The Cowboys and Patriots are the best teams in their Conferences, so anything else but a Super Bowl Berth is an underachievement. It was a really good season, but you should have been in the Super Bowl, all things being equal.

Thoughts?

 

[dmq]

I say the Cowboys must get to the Superbowl because I found out yesterday I can get free tickets.

 

[dffl11]

The expectations raise as the season goes along. No way it was a SB or bust season back in training camp and pre season, but [FONT=&quot]unfortunately it is pretty much SB or be disappointed, they have played like the best NFC team since week 1 and they should be favored....errr.....WILL be favored in every game they play from here until SB 42 (if they make it)

IMO


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[dffl11]

I say the Cowboys must get to the Superbowl because I found out yesterday I can get free tickets.

I only get tix if the Chargers make it, so its a long shot for me.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The expectations raise as the season goes along. No way it was a SB or bust season back in training camp and pre season, but [FONT=&quot]unfortunately it is pretty much SB or be disappointed[/FONT]

I am not so sure about that. MANY felt we could go all the way.... alot felt like we short circuited there in round 1 of playoffs.



If we get to NFC title game and lose - it will not be we overachieved. It will be underachieved.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

My prediction at the start of the year was 10-6 maybe 11-5, win the division and go deep in the playoffs. So far they have been much better than I thought they would be this year but that doesn't change my preception. If they don't make it to the superbowl now.. i will be very disappointed but I will not call them underachivers either , unless they get bumped out in the 1st game of the playoffs again.

 

[Daudr]

It's irrelevant because the Cowboys are going to win the Super Bowl this year.

 

[Gangsta Spanksta]

Wow! The 1992 Cowboys overachived and won the superbowl! dag nabbit And here I thought they were that good.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I would agree with your co workers.....Sorry Mick

 

[peplaw06]

It's irrelevant because the Cowboys are going to win the Super Bowl this year.

Underachievers

 

[Gangsta Spanksta]

Anyway, their method doesn't take into consideration that a team can grow during a season. Also, they are not taking into consideration that maybe, just maybe, they underestimated the cowboys at the beginning of the season. The boys were great last year, but this year they are at a whole 'nother level. They weren't an elite team last year; this year they are. A better example would be the packers actually. Who would have thought that Farv would be having the season of his life? I give credit where credit is due. The Packers are the only other elite team in the NFC, but they're not as elite as the boys.

 

[Hostile]

I say the Cowboys must get to the Superbowl because I found out yesterday I can get free tickets.

I will buy all your food and drinks if you take me.

 

[Brad0Walker]

This is the Dallas Cowboys. Every year is an underacheiving year if we dont win the SB.

 

[CATCH17]

I will buy all your food and drinks if you take me.

Man if I had the extra ticket and we cut that deal you might come out on the bad end of that one.

 

[bobtheflob]

I think the Packers serve as a good example for this. Nobody picked them to be this good at the beginning of the season, so so far I think everyone agrees they've overachieved.

But if they lose their first playoff game, they underachieved in the playoffs. For me the regular season is seperate from the playoffs, so in a way I reset my expectations at the start of the playoffs.

The Chargers last season had this happen. At 14-2 in the regular season, they overachieved. But losing like they did in the playoffs meant that they underachieved in the playoffs.

 

[Doomsday101]

For me it is based on what your expectations were before the season got underway. Going into the season my expectation was they Cowboys winning the east and doing well in the playoffs. I felt if we made it to the NFC Championship game win or lose I would consider that a successful season. If the Cowboys make it to the SB then they have exceeded my expectations not to mention if they win it.

 

[Longboysfan]

I'm going to stick with my pre season line.
We should get 10 wins and win 1 playoff game.

Right now I'm swimming in a large vat of gravy.
It's all good from here on in.

Will I be disappointed a bit if we don't get to the NFC Championship game or the SB. Sure will.
But I could live with that.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm going to stick with my pre season line.
We should get 10 wins and win 1 playoff game.

Right now I'm swimming in a large vat of gravy.
It's all good from here on in.

Will I be disappointed a bit if we don't get to the NFC Championship game or the SB. Sure will.
But I could live with that.

Same here because it shows great improvement over where we have been. I want the SB like every fan does but when you look at what has taken place over the last few years this team has thus far exceeded most people expectations

 

[big dog cowboy]

If we get to NFC title game and lose - it will not be we overachieved. It will be underachieved.

Exactamundo.

 

[Gangsta Spanksta]

I think the Packers serve as a good example for this. Nobody picked them to be this good at the beginning of the season, so so far I think everyone agrees they've overachieved.

But if they lose their first playoff game, they underachieved in the playoffs. For me the regular season is seperate from the playoffs, so in a way I reset my expectations at the start of the playoffs.

The Chargers last season had this happen. At 14-2 in the regular season, they overachieved. But losing like they did in the playoffs meant that they underachieved in the playoffs.

I think the Packers will have underachieved if they loss anymore regular season games -- the same with the cowboys. My expectations for boths teams have been revised. What might be true today, might not be true tomorrow.