Football is actually a pretty simple game. The 4 teams in the two championship games this weekend gave us a consistent reminder about the simplicity of the game-
the teams that win are the ones that have these consistent qualities game in, game out:
- They can block well.
- They can tackle well.
- They are physically and mentally tough.
Obviously you have to have some talent. So add talent to the three qualities above and you have a chance to be a team that wins in the playoffs.
Look at what the Niners have done so far in the playoffs- in the divisional win against the Vikes and the blowout of the pack in the NFC championship yesterday, they ran the ball 89 times for 471 yards. They only threw the ball 27 times! Defensively they made crisp open field tackles consistently.
They look physically tough as nails.
And the chiefs surprised me twice with their mental toughness. Down 24 points in the divisional round then down 10 in championship game...no big deal. They were mentally tough as nails.
So my fellow Cowboys fans...ask yourself honestly...when was the last time our Dallas Cowboys could block well, tackle well, and show mental and physical toughness when the chips are down? Maybe 2014? But that team never got out of the divisional round. (When our fans scream about screwed in the Dez call, which we were, they fail to realize there were sill 4 min left in that game. But our defense couldn’t stop the pack from running out the clock.) I know this- those 70s and 90s teams were as tough as boot leather. I’m tired of looking at soft Cowboys teams.
This offseason as we look at who draft, who to keep and who to let go or cut, and who to sign as a FA- just remember that yeah, all that stuff is important. But the first thing this team needs is some football fundamentals. Blocking, tackling and toughness.
The teams that are winning these days have it. And we need start getting some more of that if we are ever going to get back to being playoff relevant again.