So can we go ahead and say RIP December Collapse?

[MichaelWinicki]

No, this team has played like crap over the last month.

 

[burmafrd]

We were playing SO well that we had to come back to earth some time. I just hope that we have bottomed out and are on our way back up again.

Fact is this: we have not been HOT the last few games. To be precise, we peaked out early in the Packer game. Went downhill from that point on. I hope we are now on the upswing.

we have had a losing record the last 5 games since 1996. Mainly because the team as a whole was not great and wore down by the end of the year.
This year could be said to be different in that we clearly are the best we have been since 1995, and its more a case of the ups and downs of a team then anything else. That and injuries.

 

[kmd24]

Last year, we had five December games and we went 2-3. Of course we all remember the last two games being huge losses; it's been written about ad naseum.

This year, due to the scheduling quirk of playing on a Thursday night, the fifth-from-last game was on November 29. If it had been a regular Sunday game or even a Saturday game, it would have been played in December. So I'm going to count it. The final stretch of games are what matter anyway, not the name that happens to be on the calendar.

You can sure as heck bet that the naysayers would include the Green Bay game in had it been a loss.

 

[kmd24]

Exactly. How could anyone possibly argue that we've been playing great football the last 3 weeks? We were beaten by Philly, barely edged out a victory against the Panthers headed by Matt freakin Moore and had absolutely no business winning the Detroit game (who were demolished by 32 and 37 points in the weeks sandwiching us). That's why I'm thankfull for the two weeks of rest .. .not that I think we need the 'rest', we're no more beat up than any other team in the NFL at this point in the season, but we need to 'reboot the computer' so to speak.

As long as we're comparing week before/week after, let's consider that the Panthers, led by Moore, went on the road to beat the third seed in the NFC the week prior to losing to the Cowboys in Charlotte.

And to say that the Cowboys narrowly edged the Panthers is disingenuous. The Panthers trailed by two scores most of the game, and were never closer than a TD once Dallas opened the scoring on their second drive.

 

[windward]

No, this team has played like crap over the last month.

Over the last month the team has gone 3-1. While not playing as well as earlier in the season that hardly constitutes crap.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I see none of the naysayers have answered the question several have asked about the Almighty Patriots not playing as well as they did earlier in the year, either. Should their fans be worried, too?

Same goes for the Packers. Or the previously "steamrolling" Seahawks.

Maybe ES is right and the Commanders really are going to win it all. :laugh2:

IMO once you have a big lead and have locked up your division, a little let down is human nature. Maybe in a perfect world that wouldn't happen, but it's just a fact. That's why I think some of these teams haven't played as well lately.

That obviously doesn't apply to teams who are fighting to win a division or even just to make the playoffs in December, like we have been in the past.

 

[windward]

I see none of the naysayers have answered the question several have asked about the Almighty Patriots not playing as well as they did earlier in the year, either. Should their fans be worried, too?

Same goes for the Packers. Or the previously "steamrolling" Seahawks.

Maybe ES is right and the Commanders really are going to win it all. :laugh2:

Remember in 2005 who the hottest team was? The Skins and they advanced to the divisional playoffs despite a putrid offensive performance.

In 2006, the Eagles were the hottest team, all that got them was a trip to the divisional round.

In 2004, the Colts were the hottest team. Guess what? A loss in the divisional round.

Being the so-called "hottest" team is overrated in my view.

 

[Bach]

I look at it differently... forget about wins and losses.
Answer me this, are we playing as good now as we did earlier in the year?

No. You can debate that we are defensively, but overall, absolutely not.

Does that make is a "Collapse"? No, but IMO we should be playing our best football at this time of year. Or at least close to it.

We'll see how we do in the playoffs.

Agreed. We didn't have a monumental collapse. But we also didn't play that well either.

Like you said, we'll find out whether this mediocre late season play means anything starting two weekends from now.

 

[Bach]

I see none of the naysayers have answered the question several have asked about the Almighty Patriots not playing as well as they did earlier in the year, either. Should their fans be worried, too?

Same goes for the Packers. Or the previously "steamrolling" Seahawks.

Like many have said. We'll find out come playoff time. I think the Patriots and their fans aren't worried because they are a proven veteran team which has shown it can win and win big in the postseason.

I think the Packers fans should be concerned, just like Cowboys fans. The only thing different is that Farve is a veteran who has been there, but most of that team hasn't.

I just know we haven't won a playoff game since '96 and have a recent history of struggling down the stretch. It is a concern how we will play in a do or die situation. Our current players haven't had many chances recently in these situations, but the few we have had in recent years we failed. I know this is a totally different year, but I think any honest Cowboys fan would at least have some trepidation regarding how we will perform this postseason, especially after having another lackluster close to the season.

 

[windward]

Like many have said. We'll find out come playoff time. I think the Patriots and their fans aren't worried because they are a proven veteran team which has shown it can win and win big in the postseason.

I think the Packers fans should be concerned, just like Cowboys fans. The only thing different is that Farve is a veteran who has been there, but most of that team hasn't.

I just know we haven't won a playoff game since '96 and have a recent history of struggling down the stretch. It is a concern how we will play in a do or die situation. Our current players haven't had many chances recently in these situations, but the few we have had in recent years we failed. I know this is a totally different year, but I think any honest Cowboys fan would at least have some trepidation regarding how we will perform this postseason, especially after having another lackluster close to the season.

Fair enough, although I think it is lackluster only in comparison to the previous twelve weeks. If we bomb in the playoffs, then trust me, there will be more than enough wailing and gnashing of teeth. If not, then the majority of us will be happy. I do expect us to succeed, though.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I just know we haven't won a playoff game since '96 and have a recent history of struggling down the stretch. It is a concern how we will play in a do or die situation. Our current players haven't had many chances recently in these situations, but the few we have had in recent years we failed. I know this is a totally different year, but I think any honest Cowboys fan would at least have some trepidation regarding how we will perform this postseason, especially after having another lackluster close to the season.

I don't.

Just a few months ago, you could have said those same things about winning the division, winning homefield throughout, and even winning more than 10 games in a season. We've blown all those away.

I think we beat the snot out of whatever team comes in here for our first playoff game.

 

[Asklesko]

Only if you're satisfied with the way the Cowboys played down the final stretch.

 

[Bach]

I don't.

Just a few months ago, you could have said those same things about winning the division, winning homefield throughout, and even winning more than 10 games in a season. We've blown all those away.

It's true we've had a great regular season. I want to see if we up our play and win in the clutch when it comes to the postseason. I think this thread was about the late season play, which I think most would agree wasn't as good as the first three months.

I think we beat the snot out of whatever team comes in here for our first playoff game.

I hope you're right. I think many of us though, felt the same way going into our last few games with the Lions, Eagles and Panthers. Instead we saw lackluster play once again to close a regular season.

I'm interested in seeing how this team performs in a do or die, pressure situation. I don't want us to go down like last years Chargers, or the '05 Colts , etc.

We'll find out soon enough and hopefully you are right and the concerns are unwarranted.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I see none of the naysayers have answered the question several have asked about the Almighty Patriots not playing as well as they did earlier in the year, either. Should their fans be worried, too?

I don't know of any coach, football player or anyone who's had anything to do with football (or any other sport) who's ever suggested that the "flip on the lightswitch" approach is the best way to approach the playoffs so I'm kind of astounded anyone on this board would suggest it's no big deal. Maybe the concern of "flipping on the lightswitch" is somewhat lessened when you have players with three Superbowl Rings on one hand and/or been in the running for several others compared to an organization that hasn't won a playoff game in over a decade. And no, I don't put the Packers losing against the Bears in a fluke weather anomaly in one game in the same category as playing like dog crap three weeks in a row to close out the season.

If you don't think momentum can't play a key part in a team advancing in the playoffs, look at the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers. They didn't even look like they were going to make the playoffs in November, and they got hot the final weeks of the season to win four straight, grab a wildcard spot and carried momentum all the way through the Superbowl. I don't think they were nearly as good as the Colts that year.

 

[Idgit]

I see none of the naysayers have answered the question several have asked about the Almighty Patriots not playing as well as they did earlier in the year, either. Should their fans be worried, too?

Same goes for the Packers. Or the previously "steamrolling" Seahawks.

Maybe ES is right and the Commanders really are going to win it all. :laugh2:

IMO once you have a big lead and have locked up your division, a little let down is human nature. Maybe in a perfect world that wouldn't happen, but it's just a fact. That's why I think some of these teams haven't played as well lately.

That obviously doesn't apply to teams who are fighting to win a division or even just to make the playoffs in December, like we have been in the past.

We played great against a good GB team. It sure looked to me in Carolina like we were getting ready to roll that team before TO went down with the injury and they were able to change their coverages and slow us down. The Philly game our offense was bad, but the defense played really well. Detroit always gives us trouble. There's no good reason for anyone to freak out about how we've played in December. Wins are wins, and I don't care if we squeak by all the way to number 6.

 

[windward]

I don't know of any coach, football player or anyone who's had anything to do with football (or any other sport) who's ever suggested that the "flip on the lightswitch" approach is the best way to approach the playoffs so I'm kind of astounded anyone on this board would suggest it's no big deal. Maybe the concern of "flipping on the lightswitch" is somewhat lessened when you have players with three Superbowl Rings on one hand and/or been in the running for several others compared to an organization that hasn't won a playoff game in over a decade. And no, I don't put the Packers losing against the Bears in a fluke weather anomaly in one game in the same category as playing like dog crap three weeks in a row to close out the season.

If you don't think momentum can't play a key part in a team advancing in the playoffs, look at the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers. They didn't even look like they were going to make the playoffs in November, and they got hot the final weeks of the season to win four straight, grab a wildcard spot and carried momentum all the way through the Superbowl. I don't think they were nearly as good as the Colts that year.

Dog crap is a bit much. And no one is saying that momentum cannot play a role in advancing in the playoffs but that it is not the only thing that plays a role.
Super Bowl Teams that were not "on a roll going into playoffs"
2006 Indianapolis Colts
2004 Philadelphia Eagles
2003 Carolina Panthers
2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1998 Denver Broncos
1997 Denver Broncos
1995 Dallas Cowboys
1994 San Diego Chargers
1992 Buffalo Bills
1990 New York Giants
1989 Denver Broncos
1986 Denver Broncos
1980 Philadelphia Eagles

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Once again, when the Pats win games like the Baltimore one, they're resourceful and gutty and "find a way to win".

When we win, we're lucky.

Oh well, we can't win three Super Bowls in one year, so I guess this is the way it will be until the next decade.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Only if you're satisfied with the way the Cowboys played down the final stretch.

I am not satisfied with our play down the stretch.... what I am satisfied with is.... we found a way at some point to pull out those two wins(detroit/carolina).... as opposed to the OLD december not finding a way

 

[5Stars]

This is a good dicussion, and both sides have very valid points.

Are the Cowboys playing good ball these last few game? No, not really. Is that a concern? Yes it is! It's beneficial to be playing your best ball towards the end of the season to get ready for the playoffs. However, regardless of the "bounce of the ball" the Cowboys did win those games. That's why they call it a "game" and the ball is shaped like it is.

On the other hand, it's been a long time since the Cowboys have been in this position ( 13 -2) so something is working, right? You can blame the two losses on whatever you want to blame it on (Cheaters?)(Jessica?), but the season is damn long and damn hard! Football takes alot out of you during the course of a season and even the Patriots have shown that they might be slowing down as of late.

So, let's just be glad that the Cowboys are in the position that they currently are in...isn't that enough?

Try not to be fickle...and enjoy the ride without looking for the best or the worst, just enjoy the "game".

Something special going on this season, that's all I have to say!!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Bump...