The december schedule couldn't be better

[JBS]

Our schedule in December is set up perfectly if you ask me. We play 3 division games, 1 of which may ultimately decide the NFCE championship(eagles game), another in which the Giants season is arguably on the line and it is a road game. While at the same time having to face one of if not the hottest team in the AFC, and 1 of the top 2 seeds in our own conference.

People want to know if the Dallas Cowboys are contenders or pretenders, well let me tell you something, we are not going to have to wait until the playoffs start to find out, we will know by the end of the regular season how good this team really is. With that being said, the Dallas Cowboys do not have to go 5-0 or even 4-1 during this stretch to prove to me that they are contenders. These games are not win or go home situations, the cowboys just need to show that they are a well prepared team that is capable of winning and competing competently during this stretch.

Teams that succeed in the playoffs are usually teams that are battle tested, having a December vs the likes of the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not what this Dallas Cowboys team needs for a trial run heading into the playoffs. Our current December schedule is exactly what the doctor ordered. If you ask me, this 5 game stretch is set up perfectly to prepare us for success in the playoffs, assuming this team is as good as many of us think they are.

 

[Kangaroo]

Our schedule in December is set up perfectly if you ask me. We play 3 division games, 1 of which may ultimately decide the NFCE championship(eagles game), another in which the Giants season is arguably on the line and it is a road game. While at the same time having to face one of if not the hottest team in the AFC, and 1 of the top 2 seeds in our own conference.

People want to know if the Dallas Cowboys are contenders or pretenders, well let me tell you something, we are not going to have to wait until the playoffs start to find out, we will know by the end of the regular season how good this team really is. With that being said, the Dallas Cowboys do not have to go 5-0 or even 4-1 during this stretch to prove to me that they are contenders. These games are not win or go home situations, the cowboys just need to show that they are a well prepared team that is capable of winning and competing competently during this stretch.

Teams that succeed in the playoffs are usually teams that are battle tested, having a December vs the likes of the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not what this Dallas Cowboys team needs for a trial run heading into the playoffs. Our current December schedule is exactly what the doctor ordered. If you ask me, this 5 game stretch is set up perfectly to prepare us for success in the playoffs, assuming this team is as good as many of us think they are.

They need to be 3-1 going into the philly game with @Giants and @Washington the two wins most needed being division games.

With a split between Chargers and NO

 

[utrunner07]

Nice post. I like the coming schedual as well for the reasons you have stated. IMO,

5-0 realistic to expect a SB appearance
4-1 realistic to expect at least one playoff win and probably 2
3-2 Realistic to expect a playoff win
2-3 Probably not going to win a playoff game
1-4 Probably won't make the playoffs
0-5 Won't happen.

Of course a lot depends on how we win or lose and how our injury situation stacks up going into the playoffs, but all in all, im with you, really like this set up.

 

[The30YardSlant]

If Dallas is a true contender, they should beat New York, Washington and Philly. New York is on life support, we've already proven we're better than Philly, and Washington is awful. Lose any of those games, especially if one or more are lost in blowout fashion, will be bad news, and with this team's history in December, it wouldnt surprise me to see them lose one or even two of these games.

San Diego is better than us, but we do get them at home. I can see us winning this one if we play really well.

New Orleans is A LOT better than us, and I really don't see any way we beat them anywhere, let alone in the Katrina dome.

If we kick the monkey off our backs and play incredibly well, we could go 4-1 and finish 12-4. We could just as easily go 1-4 to finish 9-7. In fact, the latter scenario is probably more likely than the former with this team

My bet is on 2-3. We'll still make the playoffs, but it will have that same hollow feeling that our playoff appearences in '06 and '07 had and it will end quickly. Hope I'm wrong but it's hard to believe that, after making a career of late-season collapses, Wade Phillips will suddenly turn it around against one of the toughest December schedules he has ever faced.

 

[aikemirv]

Our schedule in December is set up perfectly if you ask me. We play 3 division games, 1 of which may ultimately decide the NFCE championship(eagles game), another in which the Giants season is arguably on the line and it is a road game. While at the same time having to face one of if not the hottest team in the AFC, and 1 of the top 2 seeds in our own conference.

People want to know if the Dallas Cowboys are contenders or pretenders, well let me tell you something, we are not going to have to wait until the playoffs start to find out, we will know by the end of the regular season how good this team really is. With that being said, the Dallas Cowboys do not have to go 5-0 or even 4-1 during this stretch to prove to me that they are contenders. These games are not win or go home situations, the cowboys just need to show that they are a well prepared team that is capable of winning and competing competently during this stretch.

Teams that succeed in the playoffs are usually teams that are battle tested, having a December vs the likes of the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not what this Dallas Cowboys team needs for a trial run heading into the playoffs. Our current December schedule is exactly what the doctor ordered. If you ask me, this 5 game stretch is set up perfectly to prepare us for success in the playoffs, assuming this team is as good as many of us think they are.

I agree with you. I was thinking last night after Philly won that it was probably best for the Cowboys to not have a 2 game lead going into the next 5 games because it could give them a false sense of security. If they take care of business they will be ready for the playoffs!

 

[JBS]

Nice post. I like the coming schedual as well for the reasons you have stated. IMO,

5-0 realistic to expect a SB appearance
4-1 realistic to expect at least one playoff win and probably 2
3-2 Realistic to expect a playoff win
2-3 Probably not going to win a playoff game
1-4 Probably won't make the playoffs
0-5 Won't happen.

Of course a lot depends on how we win or lose and how our injury situation stacks up going into the playoffs, but all in all, im with you, really like this set up.

If this team goes 3-2 or better during this 5 game stretch, I will consider us a realistic threat to represent the NFC in Miami. What this team needs, are tough grind it out, defensive type slugfests to close out the season. Those are the types of games, win or lose that are going to have this team well prepared for the playoffs. Having this team go through these types of battles prior to the playoffs is exactly the type of experience this team needs. Assuming they go through this stretch and do not completely fold like wet paper towels we should be A OK!

 

[CowboyWay]

Good post to the OP. I have to agree with him. If we get cleveland, detroit, and St louis, we still don't know how good we are going into the playoffs.

Give me a tough schedule, and let this team become battle tested.

 

[JBond]

If Dallas is a true contender, they should beat New York, Washington and Philly. New York is on life support, we've already proven we're better than Philly, and Washington is awful. Lose any of those games, especially if one or more are lost in blowout fashion, will be bad news, and with this team's history in December, it wouldnt surprise me to see them lose one or even two of these games.

San Diego is better than us, but we do get them at home. I can see us winning this one if we play really well.

New Orleans is A LOT better than us, and I really don't see any way we beat them anywhere, let alone in the Katrina dome.

If we kick the monkey off our backs and play incredibly well, we could go 4-1 and finish 12-4. We could just as easily go 1-4 to finish 9-7. In fact, the latter scenario is probably more likely than the former with this team

My bet is on 2-3. We'll still make the playoffs, but it will have that same hollow feeling that our playoff appearences in '06 and '07 had and it will end quickly. Hope I'm wrong but it's hard to believe that, after making a career of late-season collapses, Wade Phillips will suddenly turn it around against one of the toughest December schedules he has ever faced.

San Diego is not better than us. They play in the worst division in football and have earned a large portion of their wins against horrible teams. Are they a bad team? No, but they are not better than us. There is no reason we can not compete and win against them.

 

[The30YardSlant]

San Diego is not better than us. They play in the worst division in football and have earned a large portion of their wins against horrible teams. Are they a bad team? No, but they are not better than us. There is no reason we can not compete and win against them.

They have won 6 in a row, including 3 wins over winning teams, 2 of which were on the road. They CRUSHED Denver and KC while we looked awful against Green Bay and Washington.

Right now, they are better than us

 

[Section446]

I just don't think that we're as good of a team as a lot of us would like to think. If we play the remaining teams like we played against Washington, GB, or KC we're going down.

 

[JBond]

They have won 6 in a row, including 3 wins over winning teams, 2 of which were on the road. They CRUSHED Denver and KC while we looked awful against Green Bay and Washington.

Right now, they are better than us

Your argument does not hold. They also lost to Denver. There is not one solid defense in their entire division. If you want to play the who beat who game go ahead.

Tell me why you think the Changers will win. Give me three things you can prove they can do better than us when matched up head to head against us. I will wait right here.

 

[JBond]

I just don't think that we're as good of a team as a lot of us would like to think. If we play the remaining teams like we played against Washington, GB, or KC we're going down.

and if the Chargers play like they did in their three losses they will lose. What exactly is your point and why do you think that is the way we will play?

 

[aikemirv]

I just don't think that we're as good of a team as a lot of us would like to think. If we play the remaining teams like we played against Washington, GB, or KC we're going down.

Every week in the NFL is different.

The Eagles just gave up 24 to the Skins who we held to 6. The Giants over the past few weeks have been pitiful. The defense has been superb during this stretch and if they play like that over the next 5 games we will be in every one of those games!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JBS]

I like this arguement - Chargers vs Cowboys..here are my 2 cents

Chargers Offense vs Cowboys Defense - EVEN on paper, we will see who outperforms who on gameday

Cowboys offense vs Chargers Defense - Major EDGE DALLAS

Kicking - Big edge SD (at least recently)

Punting - EVEN

Coaching - EVEN

If you ask me, these two teams are pretty even, I strongly believe Dallas is far more balanced than SD, as I have been completely unimpressed with SDs defense.

 

[Section446]

and if the Chargers play like they did in their three losses they will lose. What exactly is your point and why do you think that is the way we will play?

We aren't as good of a team as some of us would like to think we are and will be lucky to win two games in the final five.

 

[aikemirv]

We aren't as good of a team as some of us would like to think we are and will be lucky to win two games in the final five.

We are better than the Eagles,Giants and Skins, so how will we be lucky to win 3?

 

[JBond]

We aren't as good of a team as some of us would like to think we are and will be lucky to win two games in the final five.

friendly wager.... We win 3 games I pick your avatar or sig, 2 wins or less and you can pick mine. We have to keep them till the end of the season.

 

[Section446]

friendly wager.... We win 3 games I pick your avatar or sig, 2 wins or less and you can pick mine. We have to keep them till the end of the season.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Section446]

We are better than the Eagles,Giants and Skins, so how will we be lucky to win 3?

We might be better on paper, but we are not the better T-E-A-M. While we seem to forget how to play football in December the Giants and Eagles regularly get better. I would love to be proven wrong, but I don't see any reason to feel any different.

 

[JBond]

Sounds good to me.

Good. Nothing wrong with a friendly wager.