The Importance Of This Next Game

[Risen Star]

I usually scoff at the must win proclamations every week but this game really is critical. With a trip to Seattle on deck, the Cowboys are a bad performance away from staring their usual .500 in the face and everybody wondering what all the hope and optimism was for.

But at 4-1, you can roll over and show your belly to the Seahawks and still be in a pretty good position.

I felt strongly the Cowboys would lose to the 49ers, win against the Titans and Rams and lose to the Saints. This game is the hardest to pick for me.

 

[CCBoy]

I had numbers wrong...

The NFL went to a 16 game schedule in 1978, which means the first 5 games constitute a smaller percentage of the season.
Since then, they've made the playoffs 77% (10/13) of the time when starting 4-1 or better.
When they've started exactly 4-1 in a 16-game schedule: 73% (8/11).
When they've started exactly 3-2 in a 16-game schedule: 64% (7/11). This includes two of their SB years (obviously including Emmett's holdout year, when they started 0-2).

Not sure it's as big a deal as you're suggesting. Of course, with Seattle looming...

Many questioned the relationship between a strong running attack and then a good passing attack...and much less, the accumulated team affect upon it's own defense.

Sure, one can rush to summation of purely Super Bowl indicators as relevance for a stance on early success...but that is more a reflection of the result of similar categories representing success.

I am more than happy to accept a generalization, just like running the ball, as relevant to arriving at the playoffs with a ticket to participate in hand. One is never directly a result of the other...but the chance to do just as indicated, is hard to ignore.

 

[CCBoy]

This is the corrected information for the OP where I missed the 1985 playoff game. If the Mods want to edit the OP they can and delete this post. Up to them.

21 times the Cowboys have started a season at least 4-1. Here are the results of those seasons.

1966, started 4-0-1, played in the NFL Championship for the right to go to the Super Bowl. 0-1
1967, started 4-1, played in the NFL Championship for the right to go to the Super Bowl. 1-1
1968, started 6-0, played in the Conference Championship. 0-1
1969, started 6-0, played in the Conference Championship. 0-1
1972, started 4-1, played in the Conference Championship. 1-1
1975, started 4-1, played in the Super Bowl.2-1
1976, started 5-0, played in the Divisional Playoffs. 0-1
1977, started 8-0, won the Super Bowl. 3-0
1979, started 4-1, played in the Divisional Playoffs. 0-1
1980, started 4-1, played in the Conference Championship. 2-1
1981, started 4-1, played in the Conference Championship. 1-1
1982, started 4-1, played in the Conference Championship. 2-1
1983, started 7-0, played in the Wildcard round. 0-1
1984, started 4-1, missed the playoffs.
1985, started 4-1, played in the Divisional round. 0-1
1992, started 4-1, won the Super Bowl. 3-0
1994, started 4-1, played in the Conference Championship. 2-1
1995, started 4-1, won the Super Bowl. 3-0
2003, started 4-1, played in the Wildcard round. 0-1
2007, started 5-0, played in the Divisional round. 0-1
2008, started 4-1, missed the playoffs.

So, out of 21 seasons, 19 times the Cowboys have made it to the post season. So that is an 90% chance of going to the post season. 3 times they won the Super Bowl and 9 times they played for the right to go to the Super Bowl. In these 19 seasons the Cowboys have a post season record of 20-16. These 20 wins represent 61% of the total post season wins we have in our History.

Just for the benefit of the doubters...in any of those seasons, were the leading receiver, running back, and head coach put on the block and executed also? The team losing any of these three after such a season?

 

[Bullflop]

Gotta say, I can't help but agree with the contention that the upcoming game with the Texans is one that could easily lead to some far better things than this team has experienced in quite some time. History shows that getting any season off to a 4-1 start is a great way to enable and procure a playoff spot at year's end.
Here's seriously hoping we attain that goal once the Texans' contest is in the books.

 

[DogFace]

I agree it's very important. I think Harris is overdue for a big play that will help propel us to a victory. Carr or Scandrick are due for a pick too.

 

[conner01]

So we have never been 4 -1 to start a season in the Jason Garrett era after how many years????? Now considering we have had a franchise QB for the entire Jason Garrett era, I find that unacceptable. I have to call them like I see them. Sorry Hos, I love and respect you, but I just don't get the Landry like accolades you heap on Garrett. there is nothing he has done to earn them. I know this thread is about how we do when we are 4 -1 and, trust me, nobody wants this team to succeed more than me, but color me unimpressed with Garrett so far.

you know tom landry was 18-46 in his first 5 years. it's not unusual for a coach to not have a great record starting out his career. belichek sure did'nt either. i would'nt compare garrett to landry but to think that there are alot of first year coaches who tear it up is really not reality. it takes time to build a team and learn to be an nfl coach

 

[Eddie]

For all our dislike of Jason Garrett, at least we're a cohesive unit that fights to the end. Compare that to the nonsense going on in SF. Everyone was in love with Harbaugh, and he's about to lose a Super Bowl caliber team because of his ego.

Notice how much better a coach Garrett is when he has quality players on his team?

 

[Risen Star]

For all our dislike of Jason Garrett, at least we're a cohesive unit that fights to the end. Compare that to the nonsense going on in SF. Everyone was in love with Harbaugh, and he's about to lose a Super Bowl caliber team because of his ego.

Notice how much better a coach Garrett is when he has quality players on his team?

I don't know. The 49ers gave up three non-offensive TDs last week and still rallied to beat the Eagles.

I wouldn't say Harbaugh has lost that team. I think the QB is just very overrated and getting exposed as such this year.

Hey, remember when Kaepernick was better than Romo? Give me a break.

 

[jazzcat22]

1985 made playoffs lost first round to the Rams.

Was that the game Landry had to leave the sidelines to coach. Someone made a threat on his life...

 

[DandyDon1722]

Was that the game Landry had to leave the sidelines to coach. Someone made a threat on his life...

That was 1986 - regular loss to the Rams on a Monday night.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

what happen in 2008?

Romo was injured

 

[Alexander]

That was 1986 - regular loss to the Rams on a Monday night.

That was the Gary Hogeboom game IIRC.

 

[bayeslife]

I have a really bad feeling about this game. Though, I have only picked the Cowboys to win against the Rams this season, so I've been a bit of a pessimist. I think this is a game that comes down to the wire.

 

[Cebrin]

I had us at 4-1 but beating the whiners instead of the aints. We should take this game.

 

[DandyDon1722]

That was the Gary Hogeboom game IIRC.

Yep - or as Coach Landry used to call him, Hoggenboomer.

 

[Galian Beast]

I feel like people don't realize how to properly use statistics.

What percent of teams that go 3-2 make the playoffs? Is there a significant statistical variance between the two?

What percent of the teams that went 4-1, and then proceeded to go 4-2 made the playoffs versus 5-1?

What percentage of teams that go 3-0 make the playoffs versus teams that go 2-1.

I don't know the answers to these, but I'm willing to bet the importance of this game isn't as important as you would like to suggest.

 

[landroverking]

Was that the game Landry had to leave the sidelines to coach. Someone made a threat on his life...

No that was a night game.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

This game is big because it's our next one.

 

[Hostile]

I feel like people don't realize how to properly use statistics.

What percent of teams that go 3-2 make the playoffs? Is there a significant statistical variance between the two?

What percent of the teams that went 4-1, and then proceeded to go 4-2 made the playoffs versus 5-1?

What percentage of teams that go 3-0 make the playoffs versus teams that go 2-1.

I don't know the answers to these, but I'm willing to bet the importance of this game isn't as important as you would like to suggest.

Do it yourself big fella. I wasn't using the statistics, just sharing the info.

 

[conner01]

it's always important to win the games you are suppose to win. that goes along ways to making the last game less important than it has been lately