The December Swoon

[Hostile]

Is it a thing of the past? Was that a Parcells era occurence? Or do we still have a hurdle to clear?

As most of you undoubtedly know, the last 4 years the 5 games after Thanksgiving have been a disaster. Each year the Cowboys have finished 2-3, and each year they have given up more points than the year before.

We started well by beating the Packers. Unless we take care of business with the lowly Lions it won't mean much.

I was predicting 12-4 for this season. I will admit it, 12-4 right now would piss me off, because it would once again mean a December swoon. That's no way to go into the playoffs.

We gotta punch the Lions right in the mouth.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Is it a thing of the past?

Don't worry. The Big Dog took care it last weekend. :chainsaw:

 

[CATCH17]

I heard Jerry after the Green Bay game talking about how well rested this team is compared to years past and how hungry our guys still are.

I'd be shocked to see them flop in December this year. We are just so much better than are opponents its unbelievable.

Parcells must have had these guys worn out by the end of training camp by the looks of how are team has played this year.

Give credit to Wade too because I think he knows when to rest his players and when to work them hard.

 

[Woods]

If we play the Lions hard, it will be a good sign, IMO, esp. after beating the Packers.

That said, I see us going 3-1 the final 4 games of this year. We beat the Lions, the Eagles, and the Jaguars, but we lose to the Commanders the final game of the season because we are resting many starters, and we already have home field wrapped up for the post season.

 

[CliffnDallas]

Is it a thing of the past? Was that a Parcells era occurence? Or do we still have a hurdle to clear?

As most of you undoubtedly know, the last 4 years the 5 games after Thanksgiving have been a disaster. Each year the Cowboys have finished 2-3, and each year they have given up more points than the year before.

We started well by beating the Packers. Unless we take care of business with the lowly Lions it won't mean much.

I was predicting 12-4 for this season. I will admit it, 12-4 right now would piss me off, because it would once again mean a December swoon. That's no way to go into the playoffs.
We gotta punch the Lions right in the mouth
.

Put em up! Put em up!

 

[03EBZ06]

With this team, they way they are playing and with coaching, I do believe the "December Swoon" IS thing of the past.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think some of this is the guys on this team are a bit more experienced and having a taste of the playoffs last season I think has helped to motivate this team to achieve even more.

 

[joseephuss]

If we play the Lions hard, it will be a good sign, IMO, esp. after beating the Packers.

That said, I see us going 3-1 the final 4 games of this year. We beat the Lions, the Eagles, and the Jaguars, but we lose to the Commanders the final game of the season because we are resting many starters, and we already have home field wrapped up for the post season.

I know we won't beat the Jaguars because we don't play them. We will beat the Panthers, however. :

 

[superpunk]

Looks like Camp Cupcake is paying off. This December swoon goes back a long ways, only before the last 4 years it was basically a season-long swoon, so noone noticed because before Parcells, we sucked too hard to notice that we were sucking in December. Now they look sharp. We're seeing heavy defensive rotations that are really paying dividends by keeping our interior backers and pass rushers fresh.

I don't see a swoon in the future.

 

[Oh_Canada]

If they lost this week, motivated by the incredibly big mouth of the incomparable Jon Kitna.....than we might start to talk about a December swoon.....but somehow I don't think we will be.

 

[Next_years_Champs]

I think some of this is the guys on this team are a bit more experienced and having a taste of the playoffs last season I think has helped to motivate this team to achieve even more.

I agree with you. I also think that watching the Colts win the Super Bowl and realizing they beat the Colts last year is a factor. They had the entire offseason to think about that, looks like they put that time to good use both mentally and physically.

 

[Hostile]

Looks like Camp Cupcake is paying off. This December swoon goes back a long ways, only before the last 4 years it was basically a season-long swoon, so noone noticed because before Parcells, we sucked too hard to notice that we were sucking in December. Now they look sharp. We're seeing heavy defensive rotations that are really paying dividends by keeping our interior backers and pass rushers fresh.

I don't see a swoon in the future.

I almost added a smart alec line about Camp Cupcake.

 

[Maxmadden]

I know we won't beat the Jaguars because we don't play them. We will beat the Panthers, however. :

You know a leopard can't change his stripes.

 

[Hostile]

I know we won't beat the Jaguars because we don't play them. We will beat the Panthers, however. :

I can't wait for the week we play the Panthers. I look forward to 6 threads asking why we have to play them every year in Carolina.

 

[kingwhicker]

I sure hope there is no December swoon. I don't think we or the team could take it or recover from it.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

We have a different hurdle to overcome and it was on full display last night.

This team is 11-1 and has beaten the best teams in the NFC by double digits. All of the Pretenders to the NFC Crown that was put in front of us went down in flames.

The 2007 Dallas Cowboys now have a bullseye on their back, just like the New England Patriots. The Cowboys will be pressured to perform week in and week out because they are going to get every team's best punch. The Eagles and Commanders especially, will give the Cowboys all they can handle in the coming weeks. Coupled with that, they will have the pleasure of hearing how great they are and how they are expected to be in the Super Bowl every week until that prophecy comes to fruition.

The Cowboys are now winners and the class of the NFC and one of the elite teams in the NFL. That in itself carries a heavy burdern and much will be expected from this group.

Sometimes the battle to stay on top can be harder than the battle to get to the top.

 

[Woods]

I know we won't beat the Jaguars because we don't play them. We will beat the Panthers, however. :

Whoops . . . . wrong ***** (cat)! :laugh2:

 

[Big Dakota]

No swoon for this team.

 

[sago1]

All that I wanted from the Cowboys this year was to be at least 11-5, win the NFC East & be viewed as a legit SB contender.

Now I'm sitting here on a Tuesday morning smilling because we are 11-1 and can win outright the NFC East title with a win over the 6-6 Lions. Along with that win comes a playoff bye week. And we are already viewed by everyone (except those fans of other teams who hate us) as not only a legit SB contender but the most likely NFC team to make the SB.

It is so hard to believe. My Christmas has already started and I hope it continues thru Valentine's Day & rest of February 2008.

 

[burmafrd]

I guess certain people missed the many threads and articles about how since 1996 we have not had a winning record our last 5 games. Interestingly, in 2004 we came the closest then we won 3 of our last 6 and only 2 of our last 5, but in those 3 losses we lost to the Giants in the last minute, and had not McFlabb been able to run around for 15 seconds looking for a WR, we probably beat the Eagirls as well. We were totally competitive and in the game to the last in all 3 losses- something that could not be said any year since 1996.