There is only one way into playoffs

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Well we have the number one runner and the best OL in the NFC let's keep it going.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I hate it when we agree

If it makes you feel better, I could call you a name. I mean anything to help out an old friend.

 

[PJDallasfan]

We need to play our game, run the ball and like what has already been stated, WIN!!

Cowboys for life!!!

 

[BoysFan4ever]

If the Cowboys make the playoffs they seem to play better on the road. Might be the thing to hope for. Away games!

 

[TrailBlazer]

Take what the defense gives you. Dallas has the weapons to beat you anywhere. Pick your poison.

 

[Dale]

We're certainly trending toward getting away from the running game when compared to how we were playing in the New Orleans and St. Louis games, among others. Murray hasn't topped 20 carries in a while, and Romo's pass attempts are going up. Based on the Cowboy football I've seen this year, I think we're at our best when Murray carries about 22-26 times and Romo passes about 27-30 times.

We seem to be a better passing team when teams are worried first and foremost about the running game. It frees up Dez because the safety is creeping into the box, opens up Williams for some deeper looks and makes the play-action passing game more deadly. In my opinion, we haven't been as successful this year when frequently going to the spread look with the drawn-out time spent at the line of scrimmage making audibles.

 

[loublue22]

the way into the playoffs is to not turn the ball over

every loss is a result of turnovers

 

[Idgit]

When you're losing games, or behind at the end, you tend to start throwing on those final series, rather than running. Murray only had 19 carries against, JAX, but then we gave Randle another 7 (we had 30 rushes overall last week, which isn't too shabby).

I don't really care how much we run the ball, as long as we pass it effectively. I think not turning it over is our best bet to get into the playoffs, assuming we can continue to be effective on defense. It is fun watching games where we don't have to risk bad plays in the passing game because we're running out the clock at the end after building a safe lead, though.

 

[JoeKing]

Abandoning the passing game to just ground and pound is a sure fire way to not make the playoffs. If there is no realistic threat of a passing attack, the defenses we face will be free to load up the box and just bull rush our ball handlers into oblivion. We have to have a balanced attack.

 

[Macnalty]

Abandoning the passing game to just ground and pound is a sure fire way to not make the playoffs. If there is no realistic threat of a passing attack, the defenses we face will be free to load up the box and just bull rush our ball handlers into oblivion. We have to have a balanced attack.

I agree abandoning the passing attack would be detrimental, just need enough running to make the defense adjust to stop the run and then nail them with one on one situations in the passing buffet line(then watch the finger pointing ensue). IMO it takes more than a 50 50 split for teams to commit to stopping the run, no doubt it may be closer to 60 40. That would be a great stat to know. Mean avg when teams commit to stopping the run.
Giants gave us a handful last game so we need to be sharp in control of the ball in their home field. Turnovers played a significant role believing that will happen again is underestimating Coughlin. No doubt the Commanders game was not lost on him with all those blitzes on Romo. Last ranked Defense(Giants how the mighty have fallen) in the league, lets keep them in the cellar after next weeks game.

 

[Typhus]

Easy answer is stay with what has worked this season,, the hard answer, is can we adjust to a defense that stays with the blitz like Washington did, and we never adjusted.
Two screen plays will not make a defense quit blitzing, it will only inspire them to keep blitzing.

 

[coach steele]

Romo is averaging 30 passes a game this season. The last 3 games he has thrown the ball 23, 28 and 27 times.

In other words your "mission creep with Romo being the focus again" theory is nonsense.

Exactly... Romo is doing a wonderful job on third down. That is the reason why we are able to run the ball with frequency. He isn't throwing the ball much but is doing so with efficiency. I think there are a lot of people who don't want to give him credit where credit is due. He has a 107 passer rating.

 

[burmafrd]

amazing how so many here do not understand why a balanced attack is so dangerous. You got the passing fanatics and a smaller number of run forever fanatics and they are both wrong.

I do worry about this HC's propensity to abandon the run whenever he has any kind of excuse.

 

[Typhus]

amazing how so many here do not understand why a balanced attack is so dangerous. You got the passing fanatics and a smaller number of run forever fanatics and they are both wrong.

I do worry about this HC's propensity to abandon the run whenever he has any kind of excuse.

I understand balance burm, and my point was mainly aimed at the coaching adjustments that were never made in the Washington game, but this teams identity this season has been establish the run first to open up the passing game. What Washington did was brilliant, and they just brought the house on every play, and we never adjusted offensively to counter.

 

[john van brocklin]

and that will be running the ball to ad nauseam. I am noticing mission creep with Romo being focus again. Commanders game tape has probably been watched several times by Philly & Giants. Add in games at NY and Philly and it could get hostile quickly. The way to offset this is to run Murray often. Its effective on multiple fronts:
1) It slows game down almost boring for their fans to watch.
2) It eliminates hits on Romo.
3) It keeps opposing offenses off field longer.
4) It eliminates complex decision making by Romo to make on road (this is crucial).
5) It demoralizes a defense if effective.
6) It sets up better play action.

Even if Dallas is down 7 points heading into 4th quarter, I would continue to run ball heavy. Randle should get two series a game so Murray is upright for playoffs.

Don't forget the screen passes.
Would also like us to use rollouts...

 

[Wood]

We're certainly trending toward getting away from the running game when compared to how we were playing in the New Orleans and St. Louis games, among others. Murray hasn't topped 20 carries in a while, and Romo's pass attempts are going up. Based on the Cowboy football I've seen this year, I think we're at our best when Murray carries about 22-26 times and Romo passes about 27-30 times.

We seem to be a better passing team when teams are worried first and foremost about the running game. It frees up Dez because the safety is creeping into the box, opens up Williams for some deeper looks and makes the play-action passing game more deadly. In my opinion, we haven't been as successful this year when frequently going to the spread look with the drawn-out time spent at the line of scrimmage making audibles.

To me the perfect game is Dallas against Giants. Romo goes 17-23 for 279 yards and 3 TDs and Murray is 28 rushes for 128 yards and TD. Throws by Romo are limited but highly effective and Dallas speaks a language the NFC East understands...run ball down your throat.

 

[Blackspider214]

This is a really good thread topic. The only thing that worries me is that if we use this strategy (and we should), we must score with some frequency, especially if the opposing team has some quick strike touchdowns. Keeping the opposing offense off the field only works if the defense plays at least average. Of course they would be well rested so that should help.

This is how we lost to the Giants in the 2007 playoffs. Played ball control all game but did not score enough. And the Giants scored very quickly.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

They need to start using Murray and Dunbar in the screen game to kill the blitz.