We need this playoff run to be different than 2009's

[Red Dragon]

In 2009, there was perhaps no NFL team charging into the playoffs with more momentum than Dallas. The Cowboys were outstanding on both sides of the ball; had the NFL's No. 2-ranked offense and a defense that pitched two straight shutouts to end the season. They wrested the division title away from the Eagles, entered the postseason on a three-game winning streak, and extended it by crushing Philadelphia 34-14. They had every appearance of a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Then they were blown out 34-3 by Minnesota.



In 2014, there is perhaps no NFL team charging into the playoffs with more momentum than Dallas. The Cowboys again have one of the NFL's best offenses but a defense that isn't exactly stellar. They wrested the division title away from the Eagles and enter the postseason on a four-game winning streak. Romo is five years older this time and has sustained numerous injuries since then. The NFC is even tougher this time, as Green Bay and Seattle are arguably more difficult than New Orleans and Minnesota.

Sure, we may defeat Detroit, but let's hope it doesn't all fall apart in the second round. It's been nearly 20 years since the Cowboys won a divisional playoff game.

 

[Eskimo]

The big difference is this team offensively is much more physical and has youth in the trenches. The defense isn't as good as 2009 but this offense sets the tempo for the game and wears down the opposition and keeps its own defense fresh.

This team seems much more mentally tough than the 2009 team. I think they will come out and play hard and not lay an egg of a game. They may not win but they will battle through to the end even if they dig themselves into a hole early.

The other difference is this team seems to have more depth. When someone goes down someone jumps in and plays well. Free went down and Parnell came in. Lee went down and RoMac stepped in. RoMac went down and Hitchens stepped in. Durant went down and Wilber stepped in. Mo went down and Moore stepped in. Melton goes down and Crawford steps in. Leary goes down and Bernardeau steps in. The only exception really was Romo went down and Arizona crushed Weeden. However, Weeden did play okay against the Skins when he was given the chance.

Now remember what happened in 2009 against Minnesota. Flo went down and Free stepped in and stuggled against Jarred Allen. Meanwhile the DE against Colombo looked like Bruce Smith and Reggie White all rolled into one player. When that team faced adversity they crumbled. This team won't crumble although they might not win it all.

 

[endersdragon]

Also remember that was Colombo's first game in a long time and he was clearly not ready for it. Had Flo not gotten hurt I am willing to bet that Colombo would have been benched and Free put in... but with Free playing on the left side that was impossible and we lacked a 4th tackle capable of coming in to play (like most teams).

 

[Idgit]

The big difference is this team offensively is much more physical and has youth in the trenches. The defense isn't as good as 2009 but this offense sets the tempo for the game and wears down the opposition and keeps its own defense fresh.

This team seems much more mentally tough than the 2009 team. I think they will come out and play hard and not lay an egg of a game. They may not win but they will battle through to the end even if they dig themselves into a hole early.

The other difference is this team seems to have more depth. When someone goes down someone jumps in and plays well. Free went down and Parnell came in. Lee went down and RoMac stepped in. RoMac went down and Hitchens stepped in. Durant went down and Wilber stepped in. Mo went down and Moore stepped in. Melton goes down and Crawford steps in. Leary goes down and Bernardeau steps in. The only exception really was Romo went down and Arizona crushed Weeden. However, Weeden did play okay against the Skins when he was given the chance.

Now remember what happened in 2009 against Minnesota. Flo went down and Free stepped in and stuggled against Jarred Allen. Meanwhile the DE against Colombo looked like Bruce Smith and Reggie White all rolled into one player. When that team faced adversity they crumbled. This team won't crumble although they might not win it all.

Ray Freaking Edwards.

 

[HoustonSucks]

O-line

There's your difference

The quickness with which Romo went down vs the Vikings Defensive line was frightening. Don't have to worry about that. In the trenches I trust.

 

[DFWJC]

That game in Minnesota was an avalanche.
An aging offensive line lost it's best player early in the game. Minnesota led the league in sack and was unstoppable in that dome. They ended drives with sacks or even strip sacks on the first three drives. Still, we tried to block them one on one. Idiotic.

On defense, they hit the bomb that went right past our DB's ear...unimaginable.
Then the snowball affect kicked in.

Total disaster.

I think that defense was definitely better than the 2014 version, but this years Oline and more mature QB are better. This years offense is better in every way.

Minnesota did have home field btw...so they did have the better record.

 

[Nation]

If we get the W this week, I wouldn't be astonished if the D gets similar treatment that they received from Favre when they travel to Green Bay. I will be surprised if the offense suffers a similar fate.

 

[Eddie]

The Vikings killed is in the trenches. Our OL fell apart and so did our chances of winning.

 

[The Natural]

Gerald Sensabaugh aint walking through that door to escort opposing TE's into the end zone.

 

[Don Corleone]

Romo was turning his back to the line of scrimmage and running for his life.

They also celebrated the playoff win against the Eagles like they won a Super Bowl. I saw it live and in person, while players and coaches were pulling imaginary monkeys off each other's backs. That's when I knew this team was toast the next week against Minnesota.

 

[DFWJC]

This years offense has scored > 30 for seven straight weeks now.....and averaged >40 for the last four.
That team scored over 30 just one time in the final nine weeks.

But they did have a better D

 

[Titleist]

The Vikings killed is in the trenches. Our OL fell apart and so did our chances of winning.

Ray Edwards manhandled Free in that game. IIRC, Jenkins was also quite bad...I think Sidney Rice burned him on a couple deep balls. I think we could handle the Vikes if we played them today.

 

[JBS]

Romo was turning his back to the line of scrimmage and running for his life.

They also celebrated the playoff win against the Eagles like they won a Super Bowl. I saw it live and in person, while players and coaches were pulling imaginary monkeys off each other's backs. That's when I knew this team was toast the next week against Minnesota.

While all of this is true. That was still the best Cowboys game I've ever been to.

 

[Don Corleone]

While all of this is true. That was still the best Cowboys game I've ever been to.

It was an awesome game! It was freezing outside, but the walk back to the car was awesome after a big win. The scantily clad Miller Lite girls wouldn't let me go after my photo because I had a warm jacket on.

 

[Eskimo]

Ray Edwards manhandled Free in that game. IIRC, Jenkins was also quite bad...I think Sidney Rice burned him on a couple deep balls. I think we could handle the Vikes if we played them today.

No Edwards manhandled Colombo.

Allen gave Free some fits but nothing like what Edwards did to Colombo that day.