Time to Cowboy Up

[Outlaw Heroes]

Technically, tomorrow night's game is not a must win. Yeah right. Try telling that to my stomach. I haven't had butterflies like this before a non-playoff game in ages.

My mind tells me we should win. We have the better team. The better QB. The better running game. The better run defense. The better pass defense.

But my gut doesn't want to hear it. It's twisted into knots. No mystery there. This team has done a remarkable job this year -- hell, going back several years -- of losing games it "should win". Thing is, I don't think we can afford another of those tomorrow. I don't think the team's psyche could handle it. At some point, you lose enough games that you should win and you stop believing that you can win. Or at least you begin to question whether you can win when it matters. You begin to see yourself as a loser. Especially, given the way we've lost some of these games. I'm not one for melodrama. I just don't see this team recovering and making the playoffs if it doesn't win tomorrow night.

Chris Snee is talking about how the playoffs start tomorrow for the Giants. I pray that our guys feel the same way. If we're going to do something this year, tomorrow is where it starts. Time for 52 guys to grab their sacks, do up their chin straps and get out there and dominate.

We're coming off a brutal loss that caused this team's leadership to come under attack. We've got hated divisional rivals coming to town. Their guys are running their mouths, disrespecting our team. If our guys aren't up for this game, it'll be time to take a stroll down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard of Oz about getting a heart.

No excuses. We're getting a few key guys back. We're at home. There's a ton on the line. It's time to prove emphatically that we're the better team and that we want to win this division. It's time to Cowboy up.

 

[The Emperor]

It is a must win. You can kill the Giants with one swift stroke and then take command of the NFC East.

Or, you can fiddle fart around, lose, and then play to get at .500 going into the Meadowlands on New Years Day as Mouthbreather and the gang are resting for the playoffs.

 

[Risen Star]

I wouldn't say we have the better team. It's very much up to debate. These are two comparable teams.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

I wouldn't say we have the better team. It's very much up to debate. These are two comparable teams.

Seriously? Frankly, I don't think it's very close. Top to bottom, I'd take our roster over theirs without thinking twice.

Where they've had an edge on us historically, it seems to me, is in areas like mental toughness, heart and desire.

 

[The Emperor]

I wouldn't say we have the better team. It's very much up to debate. These are two comparable teams.

I would:

Offensive PPG -- Cowboys, 13th (23.6) Giants, 11th (23.9)

Total Offense -- Cowboys, 7th; Giants, 9th

Passing Offense -- Cowboys, 7th (270.8); Giants, 4th (296.1)

Rushing Offense -- Cowboys, 15th (114.8); Giants, 32nd (83.8)


Defensive PPG -- Cowboys, 11th (20.3); Giants, 28th (26.2)

Total Defense -- Cowboys, 10th; Giants, 29th

Passing Defense -- Cowboys, 14th (230.2); Giants, 29th (260.2)

Rushing Defense -- Cowboys, 9th (100.5); Giants, 23rd (127.0)


But, all right, we suck. The Magic 8 Ball even says we'll lose tomorrow.

 

[Idgit]

Seriously? Frankly, I don't think it's very close. Top to bottom, I'd take our roster over theirs without thinking twice.

Where they've had an edge on us historically, it seems to me, is in areas like mental toughness, heart and desire.

Right now, we've got a better team than the Giants do. That's not saying all that much. They've got some huge holes on their roster.

 

[Eskimo]

You can toss out all of those composite stats because they don't mean all that much in a divisional game between comparable teams and a long history of tough games.

The issue to me is one of matchups. The matchups that are most lopsided in this game are:

1. The Giants WR vs. our CBs

2. The Giants DL vs. our OL in pass protection

I think those matchups are bigger wins for the Giants than they are for us although we would seem to benefit from the same mismatches. We also would appear to have an advantage with our run offense versus their run defense but we haven't run the ball well in 3 weeks and all of our excess performance really came over a 4-game stretch when Murray first took control of the starting spot and dominated. I don't know if we can get that run game going with Fiammetta back now. Perhaps the numbers have diminished recently because the league has figured Murray out. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

While our defense grades out better I think we have gotten worse as the season has gone on. I think the last 3 weeks we have played pretty poorly against 3 pretty bad offenses. The Giants are the best offense we have played since NE and they are playing well the last couple of games. Meanwhile our offense looked pretty bad last week and pretty mediocre the previous two weeks. It will help that Miles and Fiammetta are back but who knows how much rust they will have on their games.

I think this game will come down to what it always comes down to for us. Romo will have to steal a close game for us in the fourth quarter. If he does it we win. If he doesn't we will lose. If we lose it will be an uphill struggle to make the playoffs.

 

[Eskimo]

Right now, we've got a better team than the Giants do. That's not saying all that much. They've got some huge holes on their roster.

What do you call our interior OL? All 3 are pretty much off the trash heap.

 

[Eddie]

Who do we blame if we collapse tomorrow night?

Do we fire another head coach? Look for another OC? Dance around the draft looking for more backup players?

Tomorrow night will say a lot about the state of our franchise.

 

[Idgit]

What do you call our interior OL? All 3 are pretty much off the trash heap.

Kosier's not trash by any stretch. Our other starters could be upgraded, but they're inconsistent, but they're capable of playing in this league. We're going to get constant pressure up the middle this week. Until we demonstrate that we can get it blocked. That's a given.

That said, I'll take our OL to theirs. They've reshuffled massively, and they've got huge problems in the defensive secondary that they're not able to cover up with their scheme. If they're pass rush can't get to Romo consistently, we're going to put up big plays on them every time.

 

[Eddie]

The interior of our OL is in transition. Kosier and Holland are only holding the fort until the young guns are ready... which should be next year.

I think Costa is filling in at the moment. I think our future Center is still waiting to be drafted.

 

[Red Dragon]

If we win, I think our chances of making the playoffs swell to 90%.

If we lose, I think we have a 35% chance of making the playoffs, given how the Bears, Falcons and Lions are hot on our heels.


(Percentages completely made up in my head)



Yes, this is as close to a must-win as a game can be without technically being a must-win.

 

[Eskimo]

Kosier's not trash by any stretch. Our other starters could be upgraded, but they're inconsistent, but they're capable of playing in this league. We're going to get constant pressure up the middle this week. Until we demonstrate that we can get it blocked. That's a given.

That said, I'll take our OL to theirs. They've reshuffled massively, and they've got huge problems in the defensive secondary that they're not able to cover up with their scheme. If they're pass rush can't get to Romo consistently, we're going to put up big plays on them every time.

Kosier's okay but once you factor in his fragility and age and he's pretty close to bottom of the barrel sort of player. Holland was signed off the street. Costa struggles a lot and has major physical limitations that will make him a fringe player. All 3 of those positions need to be upgraded with new starters in the next two years. I really hope that at least 2 of those 3 are replaced next year. You can sugarcoat it any way you want but they are a major liability and we struggle every week to minimize their impact on the game. Then you add in Free with his periodic struggles this year and Smith is a 20 yo rookie learning on the job and you see that OL is a massive weakness that Garrett tries to scheme away and that Romo is always trying to protect against.

I think it is a testament to Romo, Houck and Garrett that this unit doesn't grade out bottom 5 in the league on a wide variety of metrics.

 

[bbgun]

Cowboy up? When did we start stealing Red Sox slogans? Ugh.

 

[landroverking]

Cowboy up? When did we start stealing Red Sox slogans? Ugh.

Cowboy up has used in Texas for years. Maybe not in sports??

 

[sonnyboy]

You can toss out all of those composite stats because they don't mean all that much in a divisional game between comparable teams and a long history of tough games.

The issue to me is one of matchups. The matchups that are most lopsided in this game are:

1. The Giants WR vs. our CBs

2. The Giants DL vs. our OL in pass protection

I think those matchups are bigger wins for the Giants than they are for us although we would seem to benefit from the same mismatches. We also would appear to have an advantage with our run offense versus their run defense but we haven't run the ball well in 3 weeks and all of our excess performance really came over a 4-game stretch when Murray first took control of the starting spot and dominated. I don't know if we can get that run game going with Fiammetta back now. Perhaps the numbers have diminished recently because the league has figured Murray out. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

While our defense grades out better I think we have gotten worse as the season has gone on. I think the last 3 weeks we have played pretty poorly against 3 pretty bad offenses. The Giants are the best offense we have played since NE and they are playing well the last couple of games. Meanwhile our offense looked pretty bad last week and pretty mediocre the previous two weeks. It will help that Miles and Fiammetta are back but who knows how much rust they will have on their games.

I think this game will come down to what it always comes down to for us. Romo will have to steal a close game for us in the fourth quarter. If he does it we win. If he doesn't we will lose. If we lose it will be an uphill struggle to make the playoffs.

Here's what you're missing/traps you're falling into.

1) You're over rating the opponent, while underrating your own team. Common thing to do since you're vision of the Cowboys is 20/20 while you only see the Giants from afar. Therefor all our warts look like mountains.

2) What have you done for me two seconds ago. You're not looking past last week. It's all about last week for you. While I do agree what a team has done the past week or two, is much more telling than perhaps the 4 weeks prior, you should at least look past last week.
And since the Giants lost a close one a home to the leagues best team and we lost on the road to a losing team......they appear to be better than us.

3) Not really understanding the quality of ours and the Giants recent opponents. The Cards and Dolphins are better than you think and have been playing good football recently. Especially on defense which accounts much for our recent reduced offensive production.
Meanwhile the Giants have played better teams in the Packers and Saints. But look at those defenses.....not good. And on the flip side, the Giants defense gave up over 1000 yards to the Saints and Packers.
That sucks!
I know it's the Saints and Packers, but I still think it's safe to say they weren't averaging even 400 yards of offense, yet each one hung 500 on the Giants.

Miles and Fiametta are huge for us. And I believe it's safe to say both are well rested and ready to go 100%. Rust? WRs and FBs don't get rust sitting out a few weeks. It's not like this is the 1st game action of the year for these guys.

And that leads to a fair summation on the match up as I see it. We're healthy and they're not. Who are we misisng? They're missing a ton.

And we're at home. IF the Cowboys are 90% of what we all hope they are, they'll kick the Giants *** Sunday Night.

 

[Idgit]

Kosier's okay but once you factor in his fragility and age and he's pretty close to bottom of the barrel sort of player. Holland was signed off the street. Costa struggles a lot and has major physical limitations that will make him a fringe player. All 3 of those positions need to be upgraded with new starters in the next two years. I really hope that at least 2 of those 3 are replaced next year. You can sugarcoat it any way you want but they are a major liability and we struggle every week to minimize their impact on the game. Then you add in Free with his periodic struggles this year and Smith is a 20 yo rookie learning on the job and you see that OL is a massive weakness that Garrett tries to scheme away and that Romo is always trying to protect against.

I think it is a testament to Romo, Houck and Garrett that this unit doesn't grade out bottom 5 in the league on a wide variety of metrics.

I'm not sugar-coating anything. And I've been critical of our interior line for literally years at this point--long before it was fashionable to do so. But let's not overstate the problem. The players themselves aren't what I consider a major liability. Each of them is vulnerable to getting beat by good players. Each of them has made drive-killing mistakes. But the problems like we had last week had a lot to do with the pressure that was brought. It's not just the OL, it's what we're doing in blitz pickup that's getting us beat.

In any event, whatever issues we have, the Giants OL issues are worse. And so is the zone defense they're playing when they can't get right to the QB. They've got a lot of problems on defense, and it's the primary reason why they're a 500 team that's dropped 4 straight and looking down the barrel of a losing season whether the press wants to pursue that story line, or not.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I live in New York.


Enough said.


:giants::suxjints:

 

[Eskimo]

Here's what you're missing/traps you're falling into.

1) You're over rating the opponent, while underrating your own team. Common thing to do since you're vision of the Cowboys is 20/20 while you only see the Giants from afar. Therefor all our warts look like mountains.

2) What have you done for me two seconds ago. You're not looking past last week. It's all about last week for you. While I do agree what a team has done the past week or two, is much more telling than perhaps the 4 weeks prior, you should at least look past last week.
And since the Giants lost a close one a home to the leagues best team and we lost on the road to a losing team......they appear to be better than us.

3) Not really understanding the quality of ours and the Giants recent opponents. The Cards and Dolphins are better than you think and have been playing good football recently. Especially on defense which accounts much for our recent reduced offensive production.
Meanwhile the Giants have played better teams in the Packers and Saints. But look at those defenses.....not good. And on the flip side, the Giants defense gave up over 1000 yards to the Saints and Packers.
That sucks!
I know it's the Saints and Packers, but I still think it's safe to say they weren't averaging even 400 yards of offense, yet each one hung 500 on the Giants.

Miles and Fiametta are huge for us. And I believe it's safe to say both are well rested and ready to go 100%. Rust? WRs and FBs don't get rust sitting out a few weeks. It's not like this is the 1st game action of the year for these guys.

And that leads to a fair summation on the match up as I see it. We're healthy and they're not. Who are we misisng? They're missing a ton.

And we're at home. IF the Cowboys are 90% of what we all hope they are, they'll kick the Giants *** Sunday Night.

I agree we should be favoured in this matchup.

However, everyone on this team except Romo tends to fold under pressure.

It will be on him as usual to carry us in the 4th quarter.

I also think Eli will shred our secondary with that group of WR he has. This board doesn't want to hear it but their group is far better than ours with the emergence of Cruz added to Nicks and Manningham.

Romo will have to be on top of his game as we need to score 30 points tomorrow to win. That is always a tough challenge when playing behind the sieve of an OL that we have.

 

[Eskimo]

I'm not sugar-coating anything. And I've been critical of our interior line for literally years at this point--long before it was fashionable to do so. But let's not overstate the problem. The players themselves aren't what I consider a major liability. Each of them is vulnerable to getting beat by good players. Each of them has made drive-killing mistakes. But the problems like we had last week had a lot to do with the pressure that was brought. It's not just the OL, it's what we're doing in blitz pickup that's getting us beat.

In any event, whatever issues we have, the Giants OL issues are worse. And so is the zone defense they're playing when they can't get right to the QB. They've got a lot of problems on defense, and it's the primary reason why they're a 500 team that's dropped 4 straight and looking down the barrel of a losing season whether the press wants to pursue that story line, or not.

They aren't world beaters and certainly have had issues coming into this game along the OL.

However, I am not convinced our DL will whip their OL. Even if we do I expect their WRs to whip our CBs. The bottom line is I fully expect them to score 28 points tomorrow. We will need to respond in kind and if their DL is playing well that will be difficult for us.

I think it comes down to the 4th quarter and Romo has to carry us across the finish line.