This is setting up like Week 5

[flashback]

Y'all remember Week 5 dontcha?

The Cowboys were coming off a bumpy West Coast road trip. They were 2-2, but they were about 2 plays away from 4-0, and 3 plays away from 0-4.

Philadelphia was coming to town. The Eagles did us 49-21 the last time they were in Texas Stadium. They'd won every game since before the millenium started, except for the only reason anyone will ever remember Randall Williams' name. There was some other stat that it was by an average of 18 points. T.O. was still on the team, and the Eagles were the #1 offense in the NFL.

Bledsoe was a pleasant surprise, but the defense had a little trouble with the big play. The Cowboys were getting yards on the ground, but not in big chunks. They were already 0-1 in the division, at home.

This was the "Are They For Real" game. This was the game that would drop us into the basement of the NFC East, or put us in contention for the Division Championship.

Y'all saw what happened.

I don't know if all the parallels matchup for this week, but I've got that same "are they good or not" feeling.

 

[theogt]

Except Denver has proven to be one of the top teams in the league *this year*. Philly proved the opposite.

 

[Kilyin]

Denver hasn't proven anything yet, except that they can win some games in the regular season. Since we're talking about last year, ask the Steelers about their 15 and 1 record, and how much it meant when it was all said and done.

 

[koolaid]

Except Denver has proven to be one of the top teams in the league *this year*. Philly proved the opposite.

at the time philly was no pushover though, TO and McNugget were still kickin it

 

[theogt]

Denver hasn't proven anything yet

If Denver hasn't proven their one of the premier teams in the league then I guess I don't know how one might go about doing that.

 

[Tuna Helper]

Except Denver has proven to be one of the top teams in the league *this year*. Philly proved the opposite.

Sure, after we beat them twice. If they swept the Cowboys like they've been doing in the past, then they would be 6-4, and we would be 5-5.

 

[Kilyin]

If Denver hasn't proven their one of the premier teams in the league then I guess I don't know how one might go about doing that.

So when we beat the Broncos, does that make Dallas one of "premiere teams in the league"?

 

[theogt]

So when we beat the Broncos, does that make Dallas one of "premiere teams in the league"?

It certainly does.

 

[Kilyin]

It certainly does.

Just checking, been a long time since we held that distinction..

 

[Tuna Helper]

If Denver hasn't proven their one of the premier teams in the league then I guess I don't know how one might go about doing that.

Well, I think they are a good team, but I am not ready to call them a "premier" team. They are a 0.500 team on the road, and do a good job of getting blown out by the Dolphins, and blowing out the Jets.

I don't call Dallas a "premier" team either, but granted, they have been playing competitive football in all 10 games this year without getting blown out...and there have been some good teams on the schedule.

I also do not buy into Shanahan's system. If his system is so successful, then why hasn't he hoisted a Lombardi trophy since John Elway retired?

 

[trickblue]

So when we beat the Broncos, does that make Dallas one of "premiere teams in the league"?

We're already the "Premier Franchise"... "Premiere Team" would go along nicely...

 

[Sarge]

So when we beat the Broncos, does that make Dallas one of "premiere teams in the league"?

Uh...........ya.

 

[NewEraCowboy]

I already feel that we're a premiere team in the league

 

[flashback]

I'm not sure when or if the Cowboys become an "elite" team. Certainly, leading their division with 6 games to play is a great position to be in, but I don't think that in itself makes them 'elite'. Beating the Broncos would big a big step, but it could also be a function of homefield, the Broncos traveling on a short week, etc.

Losing to the Broncos doesn't automatically put in the 2nd tier of NFL teams, either. I don't think this game makes or breaks our season. That's going to happen in New Jersey on 12/4 and maybe Maryland on 12/18.