The December Swoon

[LittleBoyBlue]

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.

Honestly... I dont think Brett can beat us... but when he starting chucking the ball up in the air I was relieved.... only to see Rodgers come in and dink and dunk his team to an almost comeback victory.

We dodged a bullet. It could been a loss. Then we would be fighting for our lives in this upcoming game.

To answer the question: I dont think this year is like any of the last 4.... or any that I have seen before for that matter.

Last 5 games of year.... one W being in the books already.

I see us at 3-2 worst case. If you put that in perspective its only a one game swing from years past.... but the games preceeding the final 5 were TOTALLY different. We won some big one when we had to and we won some that we should have lost.

It will be hard to win the remaining 4... but I am hoping we finish up the 5 games at 4-1

 

[coach316]

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.

You're right about that....just did some checking...it's been a 10 year swoon. :shoot5:

Here's a look at the last 5 games since 1997:

97 0-5
98 2-3
99 2-3
00 1-4
01 2-3
02 1-4
03 2-3
04 2-3
05 2-3
06 2-3

 

[THUMPER]

You're right about that....just did some checking...it's been a 10 year swoon. :shoot5:

Here's a look at the last 5 games since 1997:

97 0-5
98 2-3
99 2-3
00 1-4
01 2-3
02 1-4
03 2-3
04 2-3
05 2-3
06 2-3

Wow! That really puts into perspective just how bad we have been at the end of the season for so many years.

I don't see that happening this year though. We are playing well, are pretty healthy overall, and have something to play for.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

You're right about that....just did some checking...it's been a 10 year swoon. :shoot5:

Here's a look at the last 5 games since 1997:

97 0-5
98 2-3
99 2-3
00 1-4
01 2-3
02 1-4
03 2-3
04 2-3
05 2-3
06 2-3

Wow.... I thought hate the way 5-11 looked.... now I hate the way 2-3 looks,...... 6 times in 10 years

Parcells was real consistent

 

[superpunk]

You're right about that....just did some checking...it's been a 10 year swoon.

Here's a look at the last 5 games since 1997:

97 0-5
98 2-3
99 2-3
00 1-4
01 2-3
02 1-4
03 2-3
04 2-3
05 2-3
06 2-3

Yeah. It's not something that can be chalked up to coaching, players, or whatever. It just is...and it's something we can hope won't happen again. Until we make it through a dominating December, though - I'm going to be unnecessarily nervous. Starting this Sunday. Thanks for the research.

 

[dogunwo]

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.

Doesnt matter anyway, lol. Aside from the one playoff loss, I don't think we ever lost to them at Carolina. I will be at the game. Last year, Cowboys fans dominated the stadium.

 

[Hostile]

Doesnt matter anyway, lol. Aside from the one playoff loss, I don't think we ever lost to them at Carolina. I will be at the game. Last year, Cowboys fans dominated the stadium.

Oh I know. I just crack up that there are people who still don't understand the NFL schedule and wonder how this can happen.

You watch, there will be threads. Maybe not 6, but they will happen.

 

[Mavs Man]

Oh I know. I just crack up that there are people who still don't understand the NFL schedule and wonder how this can happen.

You watch, there will be threads. Maybe not 6, but they will happen.

Hos, why do we have to play in Carolina EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!! And Detroit and Arizona!!

 

[Hostile]

Hos, why do we have to play in Carolina EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!! And Detroit and Arizona!!

Doesn't count, this isn't a thread, and you just want me to jump off the ledge.

 

[Mavs Man]

Doesn't count, this isn't a thread, and you just want me to jump off the ledge.

Hey, I can try.

 

[Hostile]

Hey, I can try.

You should be a politician. This is how they treat their voters.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

We could go 2-2 and some woud be on here screaming every day what a disaster it was... But we'd still be 13-3. That's amazing.

But I still don't look forward to the crying if and when it happens.

Still, Pat Crayton was just on 103.3 and he said they aren't thinking about home field advantage, etc. Wade looks at the season as a football game, and we're just now entering the 4th quarter. So it's no time to let up, and they are just focused on the Lions right now.

BTW, he was saying that they have a bunch of plays on offense that they work on every week and that look very successful, but they haven't used them all season. Crayton guesses they're saving those for when they need them later.

 

[Mavs Man]

You should be a politician. This is how they treat their voters.

Yuck. I'd have to shower five times a day.

 

[superpunk]

BTW, he was saying that they have a bunch of plays on offense that they work on every week and that look very successful, but they haven't used them all season. Crayton guesses they're saving those for when they need them later.

Every week they come out with something on offense or defense where you go "I've never seen that before." TO's performance against Washington was a direct result of that, because Red Jesus noted the huge void created by the defense in the middle of the field, and exploited it over and over again.

It's pretty impressive, and no doubt keeps the guys sharp as the season goes on, not just running the same old stuff week after week.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

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.

I agree 12-4 would not be good at this point and it would be bad to go to the playoffs playing poorly. However, I believe this year you can call it the December Surge! I think the Cowboys are having fun and are exploring uncharted territory (record wise) in this teams great history! I think this team is ready to dominate the stretch run. IMO.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Every week they come out with something on offense or defense where you go "I've never seen that before." TO's performance against Washington was a direct result of that, because Red Jesus noted the huge void created by the defense in the middle of the field, and exploited it over and over again.

It's pretty impressive, and no doubt keeps the guys sharp as the season goes on, not just running the same old stuff week after week.

That's true -- every team has a few new wrinkles each week. But these sound more like staple plays that they put in early in the year and keep practicing every week. And he said they work great. The players keep expecting them to be called during the games each week and are surprised when they aren't. So maybe RJ and Wade really are keeping a few tricks up their sleeve.

 

[YosemiteSam]

We gotta punch the Lions right in the mouth.

Here is hoping that Bradie James puts Kitna on his back... HARD!

 

[dogunwo]

That's true -- every team has a few new wrinkles each week. But these sound more like staple plays that they put in early in the year and keep practicing every week. And he said they work great. The players keep expecting them to be called during the games each week and are surprised when they aren't. So maybe RJ and Wade really are keeping a few tricks up their sleeve.

One of those plays is a double reverse throwback pass from Stanback to Crayton

 

[cowboyeric8]

Oh I know. I just crack up that there are people who still don't understand the NFL schedule and wonder how this can happen.

You watch, there will be threads. Maybe not 6, but they will happen.

Don't forget, that same week there will also be 6 threads about how much people hate NFLN.

 

[03EBZ06]

We could go 2-2 and some woud be on here screaming every day what a disaster it was...

If we go 2-2, I wouldn't say it would be a disaster but I would be very disappointed, knowing that the 'Boys are better than 2-2. With that said, I expect 3-1 at worst.