Sturm: Morning After: Cowboys lose game they feel they should've won in KC

[WoodysGirl]

"We lost a game that we shouldn't lose" is a cliche that is thrown around rather easily on Mondays in the National Football League. Sometimes, there are really cases of a massive favorite being upset by fluke circumstances that cause someone to rightly say it.

In reality, the NFL is as close in 2013 as it gets, with a few teams up top and a few teams down below. But, in the middle, there are 2 dozen teams (or more) that are relatively within arm's length of each-other and every single time they take the field, the victory will belong to the team that can get just a few moments to go their way. Any claim by their fan base that they should win a game on the road against a team in a similar talent neighborhood is often pure delusion. The fact is, they might win and they could win. But should? Not very often in this league. And certainly not very often for the Dallas Cowboys when they go play a team in a hostile environment like Arrowhead Stadium yesterday afternoon.

The Cowboys lost a game yesterday that feels like a game they should have won. And below, we will make a case that they really let a golden opportunity get away. But, I do think it is important to note that all week, in Kansas City, they felt like they had a team that "should be able to beat a mediocre Dallas team at home," and then, of course, they did. I believe most neutral observers saw this as a fringe NFC playoff hopeful playing at a fringe AFC playoff hopeful, and therefore installed the Chiefs as slight home favorites.

Read the rest: http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/n...feel-they-shouldv?blockID=940431&feedID=10194

 

[krispykremer]

What is really frustrating with this game they let slip through their hands is they had a chance to get two games ahead of the Giants and Commanders. This will be a game that will come back to bite them in December.

 

[Crown Royal]

What is really frustrating with this game they let slip through their hands is they had a chance to get two games ahead of the Giants and Commanders. This will be a game that will come back to bite them in December.

Or, they learn from it, make some adjustments and play better then next 2-3 weeks and a loss to a non-conference opponent in September doesn't have to weight that heavily on us.

 

[Zman5]

Sturm nailed it.

"...So, a wasted opportunity in a game you really wanted once again. It is painful, because despite the season being so young, the principles involved make you feel like you have seen this episode too many times.

They show they are talented but then play "not to lose" too much. They trust their "franchise QB" to a point, but then admit he is not to always be trusted, it seems. They put their fate into the hands of their defense, but then the defense shows you they are not of elite quality when the game is on the line. They try to convince you they are better than 8-8, but then show you things that you see from 8-8 teams."

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Or, they learn from it, make some adjustments and play better then next 2-3 weeks and a loss to a non-conference opponent in September doesn't have to weight that heavily on us.

It's possible that it could work out that way and I hope it does work out that way but honestly, that lesson has been taught before to this team. They have to learn from it. I hope they can.

 

[dstovall5]

I honestly think we win that game more times then not, but I guess that's just my "delusion". I think KC was very fortunate to catch us early in the year, because later in the season our offensive kinks should be worked out.

 

[Hoov]

I agree with sturm about the offense. Disagree about the defense being gassed at the end. The cheifs got a call on 3rd down that gave them the first. And the defense did not get takeaways but Reid offense was very conservative and carefull with the ball. The defense played well enough to win - only gave up 14 points - in todays NFL you have to win in that situation.

 

[JoeyHarris]

Meh... If you *have* to lose a game, this would be the one I'd choose. Early September, out of conference, away game in a somewhat loud place, against a team that was better than their record said they were last year and is better than that this year. Dallas phoned it in, and the Chiefs got away.

Now the Cowboys regroup, watch film, realize damn near every opportunity was blown, they had zero takeaways and lost two fumbles, and only lost by one point. If Dunbar doesn't fumble, Romo doesn't fumble, Dez doesn't drop that pass, Romo doesn't change the play in the redzone with Dez wide open, or even that flimsy pass interference wasn't called at the end, I think we're all talking about a team that got the gritty W.

And as far as the East goes, the Giants are mysteriously bad, RG3 isn't close to what he was last year, and the Eagles are a gimmick that will be watered down each and every week. I like where Dallas is.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I honestly think we win that game more times then not, but I guess that's just my "delusion". I think KC was very fortunate to catch us early in the year, because later in the season our offensive kinks should be worked out.

I would say it's the other way around. We have had our QB in place, running this offense for years. They have a new QB and have just learned a new offense. It is they who will probably make more improvements as the year goes by IMO.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Where have we seen this story before?

This team always talks a big game pre-season, hypes themselves up, thinks they are much better than they actually are. Then they go out and put forth a lackadaisical performance and almost win, and afterward they can't figure out how they lost. I mean, we're the Cowboys. We have the secret sauce. We had so many chances to steal the game. Why didn't we? I know we're better than them!

Rinse and repeat about 7 more times and you have another Cowboys season under Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett.

 

[Crown Royal]

I would say it's the other way around. We have had our QB in place, running this offense for years. They have a new QB and have just learned a new offense. It is they who will probably make more improvements as the year goes by IMO.

I think putting a new (and solid) coach in with a decent bit of personnel is helpful. They still only scored 17 and teams will understand what they are trying to do after 2-3 games. Hardly an offensive juggernaut.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Meh... If you *have* to lose a game, this would be the one I'd choose. Early September, out of conference, away game in a somewhat loud place, against a team that was better than their record said they were last year and is better than that this year. Dallas phoned it in, and the Chiefs got away.

Sounds exactly like the Seahawks game last year.

This team has had a chance to learn plenty of lessons, we should feel lucky that the rest of the NFC East sucks. They did show some potential for this year and hopefully they can get things together as they work Spencer and Waters in.....its not like they were going to go undefeated anyway.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I think putting a new (and solid) coach in with a decent bit of personnel is helpful. They still only scored 17 and teams will understand what they are trying to do after 2-3 games. Hardly an offensive juggernaut.

Well I do believe that KC will be much improved and probably make the playoffs, kinda like a team we played this time last year in the Seahawks. They have talent and our run game was stopped for a reason, they are actually good at stopping the run.

Alot of times we question our own team's performance without looking at what the other team is capable of doing.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

And there you have it. That's why people say "same ol', same ol'".

 

[Hook'em#11]

Pretty sure the Bucs, Panthers,and a dozen other teams are saying the same cliche.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think putting a new (and solid) coach in with a decent bit of personnel is helpful. They still only scored 17 and teams will understand what they are trying to do after 2-3 games. Hardly an offensive juggernaut.

I suspect teams already understand what they are doing. It's the same offense Pork Chop ran in Philly. However, as they put in more and more offense (and you know they will), they will get better. Also, they are not going to face defenses like ours ever single week. I am spectacularly unimpressed with our Offense but I think our Defense is playing really well right now.

 

[dstovall5]

I would say it's the other way around. We have had our QB in place, running this offense for years. They have a new QB and have just learned a new offense. It is they who will probably make more improvements as the year goes by IMO.

You really believe our Offense will continue to be this ineffective? Last year it was a lot better, even with us being ranked 31st in rushing. We know we have the personnel to have a flourishing offense, but the playcalling and creativity has just been down right brutal. Once we figure this out we will be a team to reckon with, as of now I'm liking what I've seen from our overall defense and line.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You really believe our Offense will continue to be this ineffective? Last year it was a lot better, even with us being ranked 31st in rushing. We know we have the personnel to have a flourishing offense, but the playcalling and creativity has just been down right brutal. Once we figure this out we will be a team to reckon with, as of now I'm liking what I've seen from our overall defense and line.

We are our own worst enemy on offense, to be honest. We played a pretty good defensive team last Sunday and we put ourselves in position to win time after time. We simply failed to execute so that, at least, is encouraging. However, against the better teams, the SFs and the Sea Hawks and the Broncos of the world, won't get away with that. We will have to be able to run the ball and play mistake free Football or they will crush us IMO.

 

[dstovall5]

We are our own worst enemy on offense, to be honest. We played a pretty good defensive team last Sunday and we put ourselves in position to win time after time. We simply failed to execute so that, at least, is encouraging. However, against the better teams, the SFs and the Sea Hawks and the Broncos of the world, won't get away with that. We will have to be able to run the ball and play mistake free Football or they will crush us IMO.

Man don't even make me think about those teams right now, they're going to be a nightmare to face if we don't get our problems fixed. The good thing is we still have time to fix our issues before we face these stellar teams, hopefully it's enough time.

 

[CATCH17]

I really wish we would've gone after Andy Reid this offseason.

That would've been a quick fix for this team. He knows what is wrong with this team better than anyone and could've turned this thing around.

I'm just so frustrated. I know we'll win some games and everything will be fine but there is a big dead end just waiting for us at the end of the year because we will get outcoached on the road and it will end our season.