Stafford another good example

[KJJ]

In 2007 the Giants defense just wasn't going to be denied. And in the SB they pounded Tom Brady into whimpering submission to ruin the NE perfect season. Nobody saw that coming in the regular season. But it happened nonetheless.

In 2009 the Cowboys OL was hot garbage. We saw that in the Vikings playoff game in the 4th quarter. Romo was so beaten and broken after the game he passed out in the showers. It shocked the franchise to its core and that's when they started spending first round picks to build a real OL.

2014 was their best chance. But the defense was suspect, the team was still making dumb mistakes at critical times, and the window was closing on Romo and what was left of his body. He no longer was "mobile" in any legit capacity.

So I question whether those teams had enough talent to win a championship.

Seems to me. Other teams just always had more. Kind of like today.

We definitely had the talent to win those years. In 07 we were 3-0 in the regular season against the 2 teams that made it to the NFC title game and 2-0 in the regular season against the eventual Super Bowl champions. But the Cowboys faded down the stretch that season similar to what we saw this season. We had a great shot in 2009 after beating the 13-0 Saints at the Dome late in the regular season. We ended that season with back to back shutout wins. We had 2 MVP candidates in 2014 including the leagues leading rusher but we couldn’t get it done against a one legged Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs. A lot of the same issues the team had back then they continue to have today.

 

[Qcard]

Romo had the talent to win titles. This franchise held him back for sure.

No it was Patrick Clayton's fault....haven't you heard

The Cowboys were never going to win anything with Garrett.

Parcells and McCarthy are the only realistic chances we've had.

 

[Cboyfan4ever]

No it was Patrick Clayton's fault....haven't you heard

The Cowboys were never going to win anything with Garrett.

Parcells and McCarthy are the only realistic chances we've had.

That was a huge drop though.

 

[Ranched]

Romo had the talent to win titles. This franchise held him back for sure.

Same with Dak. He'll be wasted too if the FO doesn't make changes. Moore is a horrific play caller.

 

[Adreme]

2008 Vikings, 2019 Buccaneers, 2007 Cardinals, 1998 Rams, 2011 Broncos, and I speculate the 2021 Saints.

It’s amazing that a team can be so well constructed and be missing that one, most important piece. But it seems to happen fairly often. Imagine if the 2000 ravens had a better QB, or the 2021 49ers

Of the 2006 Ravens had a QB that would be the defense everyone talks about instead of the 2000 one.

The Bengals were in a similar boat 10 years ago but had Dalton instead. Houston in a similar boat wasted the prime of JJ Watt.

 

[DFWJC]

Stafford did everything he could to throw the game away yesterday (albeit he did make some good throws). It's been a long time since the team that lost the turnover battle won that game.

He played great.
And engineered one of the best late 4th quarter game-winning drives in Super Bowl history.
3 TDs and nearly 300 yards with no run support, down 2 of top 3 receivers, vs a defense playing well.
The 3rd and 14 bomb to the endzone was effectively a punt. Cost the team nothing.
The other int was all on the rookie replacing OBJ, as he did not continue his route...coach even said so.

 

[DFWJC]

1st pick was 3rd and 14 and not a bad idea to throw to the endzone and hope for the best.2nd pick should of been caught and bounced off wr’s hands.

 

[DonaldM]

At least the Lions change GMs

 

[willia451]

We definitely had the talent to win those years. In 07 we were 3-0 in the regular season against the 2 teams that made it to the NFC title game and 2-0 in the regular season against the eventual Super Bowl champions. But the Cowboys faded down the stretch that season similar to what we saw this season. We had a great shot in 2009 after beating the 13-0 Saints at the Dome late in the regular season. We ended that season with back to back shutout wins. We had 2 MVP candidates in 2014 including the leagues leading rusher but we couldn’t get it done against a one legged Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs. A lot of the same issues the team had back then they continue to have today.

Nobody cares what happened in the regular season. But whatever. And I'm not even sure what the point is you are trying to make here.

That the Cowboys had enough talent to win in the playoffs, maybe even win a championship, in the years you cite. They just didn't?

Ok.

 

[KJJ]

Nobody cares what happened in the regular season. But whatever. And I'm not even sure what the point is you are trying to make here.

That the Cowboys had enough talent to win in the playoffs, maybe even win a championship, in the years you cite. They just didn't?

Ok.

The regular season determines whether you’re going to make the playoffs and it determines your seeding which can impact your chances in the playoffs. The Cowboys clearly had the talent to win during the years I cited, it was proven by their overall record and the teams they beat. They had a 12 and 13 win team those years. However they continue to fall short in the playoffs mainly due to poor coaching and the lack of discipline. Their flaws catch up with them in postseason. Coaching errors and mental mistakes have been a real issue the past 2 decades. Falling short in the playoffs doesn’t mean you have a lack of talent. If you’re able to make the playoffs, especially with 12 wins you have enough talent. The 2007 Giants weren’t more talented than the Cowboys or the Patriots.

 

[Nav22]

Team sport.

You’d think people would finally learn to stop attributing EVERYTHING to the QB position after seeing Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes lose to inferior QBs this postseason alone.

Stafford’s the same exact guy who missed the playoffs 9/12 seasons in Detroit with 0 playoff wins. Kudos to him for winning the big one, but let’s not pretend he magically got better at the same exact time that he happened to be surrounded by an elite roster.

 

[jterrell]

ROLF.... Matt Stafford tossed 2 picks yesterday and his team scored 23 points.
3 TDs and 286 yards are quite nice!

That was a game many QBs could have. That was league average starter play.

**NOTE-- Bengals average allowed during regular season was 22.1 points.

 

[willia451]

The regular season determines whether you’re going to make the playoffs and it determines your seeding which can impact your chances in the playoffs. The Cowboys clearly had the talent to win during the years I cited, it was proven by their overall record and the teams they beat. They had a 12 and 13 win team those years. However they continue to fall short in the playoffs mainly due to poor coaching and the lack of discipline. Their flaws catch up with them in postseason. Coaching errors and mental mistakes have been a real issue the past 2 decades. Falling short in the playoffs doesn’t mean you have a lack of talent. If you’re able to make the playoffs, especially with 12 wins you have enough talent. The 2007 Giants weren’t more talented than the Cowboys or the Patriots.

Most would argue that playoff success is the only true measure of talent. At least the only measure that matters.

You feel differently. And that's fine.

I think we're closer on this than you think we are. And it revolves around the definition of talent.

I will say this, however. Talent isn't just about the raw physical attributes of a player or a team. It's about their mental toughness, discipline, and for lack of a better word, "smarts".

Talent is holistic. In the same way that the body cannot live without the mind. And the mind cannot live without the body.

And that's why I say the Cowboys have never had a talented enough team for the last 26 years to make a deep playoff run.

Because it's never happened. So that has to be true.

Jus imo.

 

[DenCWBY]

Stafford might be making the late-career leap to being elite. He now has the championship reason, the clutch performances, and the stats

And prob the gold jacket, also for having to deal with the adversity of playing wit a bottom feeder in Detroit for a large part of his career.

 

[Cboyfan4ever]

ROLF.... Matt Stafford tossed 2 picks yesterday and his team scored 23 points.
3 TDs and 286 yards are quite nice!

That was a game many QBs could have. That was league average starter play.

**NOTE-- Bengals average allowed during regular season was 22.1 points.

1st pick was 3rd and 14 and he threw to the endzone hoping for the best.2nd pick was off wr’s hands and should have been caught.He was down Higbee&Odell throwing to 4th string TE.But, when it mattered the most, he certainly came through in the clutch like he’s done all post season.

 

[KJJ]

Most would argue that playoff success is the only true measure of talent. At least the only measure that matters.

You feel differently. And that's fine.

I think we're closer on this than you think we are. And it revolves around the definition of talent.

I will say this, however. Talent isn't just about the raw physical attributes of a player or a team. It's about their mental toughness, discipline, and for lack of a better word, "smarts".

Talent is holistic. In the same way that the body cannot live without the mind. And the mind cannot live without the body.

And that's why I say the Cowboys have never had a talented enough team for the last 26 years to make a deep playoff run.

Because it's never happened. So that has to be true.

Jus imo.

The true measure of talent is consistent play over a period of 17 games which is what you have to do during the regular season to make the playoffs. Talent has never been an issue with the Cowboys it’s been inadequate coaching and the lack of discipline. That’s what continues to hold the team back.

 

[DallasEast]

At least the Lions change GMs

^ This.

 

[willia451]

The true measure of talent is consistent play over a period of 17 games which is what you have to do during the regular season to make the playoffs. Talent has never been an issue with the Cowboys it’s been inadequate coaching and the lack of discipline. That’s what continues to hold the team back.

Then how do you explain winning 13 games or whatever in the regular season and laying an egg in the playoffs?

You are saying the two are linked. Shouldn't success in the regular season equate to success in the playoffs?

Does the coaching and discipline break down for the Cowboys at that line? And if so. Why is it is just the Cowboys? And almost no one else?

 

[Ring Leader]

1st pick was 3rd and 14 and he threw to the endzone hoping for the best.2nd pick was off wr’s hands and should have been caught.He was down Higbee&Odell throwing to 4th string TE.But, when it mattered the most, he certainly came through in the clutch like he’s done all post season.

After going almost the entire game with their hankies in their pockets the refs 3 consecutive defense penalty calls had a overwhelming impact on their final TD.

 

[RaZon]

Stafford in that...

5000 yards in a season...career
over40 TD's
over 105 passer rating
Superbowl champ

....club.