We will never have an easier road to the SB than we did this year...

[The30YardSlant]

We should have slept-walked into the title game. I still can't believe we lost to Sheli and his incredibly average team...

 

[Hostile]

We should have slept-walked into the title game. I still can't believe we lost to Sheli and his incredibly average team...

We lost because we were sleep walking.

 

[joseephuss]

A&M wins the NCAA title or Dallas wins a Superbowl? Which happens first?

I'm betting on Dallas and it could happen as soon as next season.

I don't know why it will be so much more difficult next year.

Favre will be a year older, not a year better. And that is if he is the QB. I still don't think much about Rodgers.

The Giants aren't going to be much different next year than this. Dallas beat them twice and had a decent shot of winning that playoff game this year.

The Commanders. Pass.

The Eagles. They have to re-tool.

Tampa. Needs a reliable, younger QB.

Seattle. Their offense is going to go through some tweaks.

The NFC is not going to be too different. And if Dallas gets to the SB, the challenge may not be as great. The Patriots are going to older especially on defense. The Colts? Who knows how good they will be if they have to deal with a new coach.

 

[ryanbabs]

We should have slept-walked into the title game. I still can't believe we lost to Sheli and his incredibly average team...

I agree. Funny you mention "Sheli"...I was at the game a nice young female Cowboy fan jumped up and yelled "Sheli SUX!"...next thing you know, the whole section was screaming it! Good stuff...except for the ending, of course.

 

[MagicMan]

We should have slept-walked into the title game. I still can't believe we lost to Sheli and his incredibly average team...

Sleepwalk.......that's exactly what the team tried to do, but sadly lost to Ellie May Manning and the gnats. That's what makes this a frustrating season, it was all set up for an easy run to the SB.......and pfffffft, gone.

Now we know how the Chargers of last year felt, how ironic that Wade was on both teams. He must be doubly sick and you would have thought he learned something from that debacle.

I'll see your ; and I'll raise you another...

 

[rathalarge]

Maybe a harder road will keep the player's focused. I still don't understand how they figured they can "turn it on" when the playoffs got here? After all, they are playing against "professional" athletes wanting the ring also!!!

 

[superpunk]

A&M wins the NCAA title or Dallas wins a Superbowl? Which happens first?

I'm betting on Dallas and it could happen as soon as next season.

I don't know why it will be so much more difficult next year.

Favre will be a year older, not a year better. And that is if he is the QB. I still don't think much about Rodgers.

The Giants aren't going to be much different next year than this. Dallas beat them twice and had a decent shot of winning that playoff game this year.

The Commanders. Pass.

The Eagles. They have to re-tool.

Tampa. Needs a reliable, younger QB.

Seattle. Their offense is going to go through some tweaks.

The NFC is not going to be too different. And if Dallas gets to the SB, the challenge may not be as great. The Patriots are going to older especially on defense. The Colts? Who knows how good they will be if they have to deal with a new coach.

Good summary. This team is by far the conference's most talented. That's not a problem, and shouldn't be next season with the offseason we're poised to have. No need for hand-wringing over the mighty NFC. Yeah, we should have rolled both those teams playing yesterday. And next year, barring some miraculous step forward, we should roll them again.

Our talent isn't the problem. Check the Marcellus Wiley thread and observe his comments about Junior Seau. Get us a Junior Seau, and we'll walk through this conference.

Talent-wise, noone is in the Pats/Cowboys/Colts level, aside from maybe San Diego. Don't get fooled into thinking the window is closing.

 

[Sarge]

The team peaked too early, got a little too confident, had some injuries and some questionable coaching and what you get is what you got.

I still say this team is leaderless and that is a very big concern of mine.

I don't think we're as good as our 13-3 record. Special teams SUCK. Our WR's are overrated (how would we be if TO went down).

Our CB's are dreadful.

Don't get me going on Roy.

There is plenty of room for improvement. Having said that, we had a great year and we are leaps and bounds closer to the coveted prize than I ever would have imagined prior to playing game 1 this year.

We are getting there. I think we took one HUGE leap this year and perhaps that is why so many are disheartened to the degree of which they are.

 

[joseephuss]

The team peaked too early, got a little too confident, had some injuries and some questionable coaching and what you get is what you got.

I still say this team is leaderless and that is a very big concern of mine.

I don't think we're as good as our 13-3 record. Special teams SUCK. Our WR's are overrated (how would we be if TO went down).

Our CB's are dreadful.

Don't get me going on Roy.

There is plenty of room for improvement. Having said that, we had a great year and we are leaps and bounds closer to the coveted prize than I ever would have imagined prior to playing game 1 this year.

We are getting there. I think we took one HUGE leap this year and perhaps that is why so many are disheartened to the degree of which they are.

The WR's are not over rated. Few people were really propping up Crayton past what he provided. He is a good #3 guy forced into the #2 role due to injury. How many teams can lose a TO and still perform at a high level? And that is not even a fair comparison because Dallas lost both TO and Glenn in the same season. The Colts suffered when they lost Harrison. They still had Reggie Wayne. They would have been horrible without Wayne, too.

Are all the CBs dreadful in Dallas? I thought it was just Reeves while Henry and Newman had to contend with injuries the whole season.

You usually don't seem so gloom and doom Sarge. The loss still getting to you?

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Yup. A massive wasted opportunity. The Cowboy players should feel disgusted with themselves.

 

[rcaldw]

I think the discouraging part of this is not that we can clearly see that the NFC will be tougher next year, because there is no way to tell right now. I think the discouraging thing is realizing how hard it is for all the stars to align in any given season.

1st seed
Other teams not awe inspiring
We are relatively healthy

That is a tough combination to achieve and we had it this year and blew it. Who knows if we will get that again next season.

The encouraging thought I have is that in 1992 we didn't have home field and won it all. The Giants were on the road all playoffs long and they are going. So, even though we might not have such a favorable scenario next year, it doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

[Sarge]

The WR's are not over rated. Few people were really propping up Crayton past what he provided. He is a good #3 guy forced into the #2 role due to injury. How many teams can lose a TO and still perform at a high level? And that is not even a fair comparison because Dallas lost both TO and Glenn in the same season. The Colts suffered when they lost Harrison. They still had Reggie Wayne. They would have been horrible without Wayne, too.

Are all the CBs dreadful in Dallas? I thought it was just Reeves while Henry and Newman had to contend with injuries the whole season.

You usually don't seem so gloom and doom Sarge. The loss still getting to you?

Well, TO is long in the toof and Glenn is done IMO. I'm looking toward the future when I speak here. Not just next year. WR is a position of need. So, after TO, WE HAVE A "a good #3 guy" in Crayton, as you say.........that is my point. We are left, after TO, with a "good #3 guy."

Newman is a quality CB, but after that.....we need help.

As for Roy Williams..........let's put it this way........I am not a fan in the least.

As far as the doom and gloom, re-read my post towards the end. It appears you missed my point entirely.

 

[Bach]

I have no idea how a team that hasn't won a playoff game in over a decade can get complacent and over confident. With a couple of exceptions, most of these players have to be idiots.

 

[sacowboysfan513]

I think the discouraging part of this is not that we can clearly see that the NFC will be tougher next year, because there is no way to tell right now. I think the discouraging thing is realizing how hard it is for all the stars to align in any given season.

1st seed
Other teams not awe inspiring
We are relatively healthy

That is a tough combination to achieve and we had it this year and blew it. Who knows if we will get that again next season.

The encouraging thought I have is that in 1992 we didn't have home field and won it all. The Giants were on the road all playoffs long and they are going. So, even though we might not have such a favorable scenario next year, it doesn't mean it can't be done.

Thats the part that concerns me the most. We were, for the most part, healthy against the Giants. And we had the same team, playing pretty much the same positions all year. The only difference was the execution.

We can be just as good or better next year, but only to have it ruined by a big injury to a key player. So we did miss out on an opporunity this year, but lets pray that we will get another chance next year.

 

[Boysboy]

We should have slept-walked into the title game. I still can't believe we lost to Sheli and his incredibly average team...

Yeah-tell that to the '04 Steelers and '05 Colts who got once in a lifetime #1 seeds then went 1 and out in the playoffs...and then EVERYONE thought they their windows were slammed shut.

 

[CalCBFan]

We lost because we were sleep walking.

Super Mega Dittos!!!...

 

[Boysboy]

Thats the part that concerns me the most. We were, for the most part, healthy against the Giants. And we had the same team, playing pretty much the same positions all year. The only difference was the execution.

We can be just as good or better next year, but only to have it ruined by a big injury to a key player. So we did miss out on an opporunity this year, but lets pray that we will get another chance next year.

Remember we lost Jason Ferguson for the entire season, and Newman/Henry didn't play 100% all year.(no wonder why neither played press coverage) And members of our ST(i.e. Cricket) were hobbling as well.

If anything, our '06 squad was a heck of alot more healthier than this squad.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The team peaked too early, got a little too confident, had some injuries and some questionable coaching and what you get is what you got.

I still say this team is leaderless and that is a very big concern of mine.

I don't think we're as good as our 13-3 record. Special teams SUCK. Our WR's are overrated (how would we be if TO went down).

Our CB's are dreadful.

Don't get me going on Roy.

There is plenty of room for improvement. Having said that, we had a great year and we are leaps and bounds closer to the coveted prize than I ever would have imagined prior to playing game 1 this year.

We are getting there. I think we took one HUGE leap this year and perhaps that is why so many are disheartened to the degree of which they are.

Good post and I agree.

 

[joseephuss]

Well, TO is long in the toof and Glenn is done IMO. I'm looking toward the future when I speak here. Not just next year. WR is a position of need. So, after TO, WE HAVE A "a good #3 guy" in Crayton, as you say.........that is my point. We are left, after TO, with a "good #3 guy."

Newman is a quality CB, but after that.....we need help.

As for Roy Williams..........let's put it this way........I am not a fan in the least.

As far as the doom and gloom, re-read my post towards the end. It appears you missed my point entirely.

Nah, I got your point. Just picking on you.

Yes, I agree that the receiving corp needs to be infused with young talent. Most seem to feel the same way, which is why I don't think they were ever overrated.

Henry is a good corner. If he slips to the #3 CB on the team, that would not be a bad thing. It would make for a strong #1, #2 and #3 if Dallas can find a good, young CB to man the #2 role.

 

[CalCBFan]

I agree w/ Sarge and Chocolate. My biggest worry is Wade Phillips record. Norm Hitzges was giving some astounding statistics for Wades seasons as a HC: He starts pretty well but fades in the stretch. He had his actual records to prove it, including this year's.

I find it hard to believe that after 7 years HC-ing as he has, he is suddenly going to do an about-face, and start working harder after Thanksgiving.

I think of it this way: The season is like a marathon for which you pace yourself at the beginning and sprint at the finish (if you can). You also do your hardest training in the month before the race and then taper and rest the week before the race (i.e. the bye week before the SB). We spent the last month of the season resting and when it came time to "sprint" we were out of shape...