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

[5Stars]

No, but my cousin Linda is...........

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

So Linda and Rosie are, uh, "LesBeFriends"?

 

[AmishCowboy]

It was an easy route to the SB, but it was perhaps the most difficult route actually winning it.

I'd rather face a team I thought we had a better than 50/50 shot at beating-- and this New England team isn't it.

We would have gotten hammered.

I would rather lose a playoff game than lose the SB to the Patriots.

 

[bbgun]

1979 would have been easier. All we had to do was get by the Rams (who we defeated 30-6 earlier in the year) and then the Buccaneers at home.

 

[wxcpo]

No team in the NFL had bigger distractions this year than the Pats and look where they are. First it was Moss and how he was going to tear apart the team, then along came spygate and that was huge and then Brady had his girlfriends and baby stories. What's the difference between the Cowboys and the Pats? Coaching and maturity that's what! Wade lost his team down the stretch and he couldn't get it back and the players are very young and as far as professional football players, they are no where near the maturity level of the Pats. It wasn't distractions that cost this team this year, it was simply a matter of coaching and youth.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

No team in the NFL had bigger distractions this year than the Pats and look where they are. First it was Moss and how he was going to tear apart the team, then along came spygate and that was huge and then Brady had his girlfriends and baby stories. What's the difference between the Cowboys and the Pats? Coaching and maturity that's what! Wade lost his team down the stretch and he couldn't get it back and the players are very young and as far as professional football players, they are no where near the maturity level of the Pats. It wasn't distractions that cost this team this year, it was simply a matter of coaching and youth.

Uh, that and a ton of talent.

 

[5Stars]

No team in the NFL had bigger distractions this year than the Pats and look where they are. First it was Moss and how he was going to tear apart the team, then along came spygate and that was huge and then Brady had his girlfriends and baby stories. What's the difference between the Cowboys and the Pats? Coaching and maturity that's what! Wade lost his team down the stretch and he couldn't get it back and the players are very young and as far as professional football players, they are no where near the maturity level of the Pats. It wasn't distractions that cost this team this year, it was simply a matter of coaching and youth.

I agree...remember, this is a fairly young team that now has a nucleus or "core" players in their really first year of success!

I think all that winning went to their heads (coach Wade too) and they thought they could just do what they wanted to do. Well, it does not work that way. You have to finish the job...you don't take time off inbetween building a million dollar house for someone...you get the job done, then go play.


Or as my dad used to tell me, "You do one thing right, then move on to the next"...


I think they learned this, and next year everyone will be better off for it.

 

[scottsp]

1979 would have been easier. All we had to do was get by the Rams (who we defeated 30-6 earlier in the year) and then the Buccaneers at home.

Damn that Billy Waddy.

 

[wxcpo]

Uh, that and a ton of talent.

I certainly wouldn't say there's a ton of talent difference between the Cowboys and the Pats.

I think the advantages the Pats have over us is at 2 of our glaring weak spots and that's WR and secondary. The Pats have so much depth at WR it's not funny. I think the Cowboys have better strengths over the Pats at RB, TE and LB positions.

 

[Sarge]

I think the Cowboys have better strengths over the Pats at RB, TE and LB positions.

We do not have better RB's (as a group) than the Pats IMO/FWIW.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I might give us TE with Witten, but that's about it. And even that's fairly close.

 

[Cali'sFinest]

I can't agree with you anymore. Though we could have won if we had actually executed.

It seemed like last year our problem was Gregg Ellis going down..and not having a pass rush oppisite of ware. (& a unstable O-line) All this got fixed in the offseason.

This year our problem was Terry Glenn going down and we needed a good #2 WR. (Crayton is a good #3..but will never fill Terry Glenn's shoes)

We got through a lot of games with Owens/Witten and SOME hurd/crayton but we really needed an extra boost that we got with TG in 06.

 

[Beast_from_East]

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

With McFadden next year, we are going to roll the NFC

 

[wileedog]

We do not have better RB's (as a group) than the Pats IMO/FWIW.

Heh, Barber didn't even start over Maroney in college....

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

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.

this is the kind of thinking that got the Cowboy in trouble this year. First of all...every NFC East opponent beat us (the Eagles and Skins destroyed us) the last time we met. The Giants arrow is pointing up because they can run, and Steve Smith is going to be a good weapon for them. Add a healthy Burress and Shockey and the Giants are the favorites to win the NFC next year. The Eagles add a Chad Johnson and they will be right back in the mix next year. The Commanders will play solid defense and run the ball...if they get above average production out of the QB position they will be in the mix. Here is what some people are not understanding about this team...they are soft. How many guys were running around talking about "I am glad we secured home field advantadge, because we don't want to go to Green Bay in January". First of all, the statement indicates Dallas assumed they would be winning their 1st round game...and secondly it shows that we were mentally defeated before a game if we are crying about having to play in the cold. All NY did was beat 3 straight division champs because they don't have a bunch of fake limelight seeking wannabes.

I reserved judgment on this entire operation until I see us have the stones to get in the face of WRs instead of playing 12 yards off.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation until I see us line up and run the ball from the 1st quarter until the 4th quarter.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation until I see us show the ability to pressure the QB up the middle on a consistent basis.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation until I see us cover punts and kicks better.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation until I see our punt returner actually strike some FEAR in an opponent.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation until I see a player or coach cut out all the hugging and grinning and excuse making after poor performance.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation once all the coaches and players actually start working toward getting better instead of everyone asking for more money or talking about changing a jersey number.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation when Tony Romo consistently goes to his check down WR instead of forcing the issue downfield.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation when he become a better game manager instead and understand when to throw the ball and doesn't take horrible sacks as if he is still trying to prove he is the next Brett Favre.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation when Romo stops being so defiant about living his life they way he always has and realizes the Dallas media is only interested in a great story, and great stories are born out of controversy and scandal and notches on belts...which take the focus OFF football and therefor is a distraction whether you agree or disagree

I reserve judgment on this entire operation when Terrance Newman (who will probably get 80M) stops dropping sure fire interceptions that he could take to the house.

I reserve judgment on this entire operation until I hear the head coach to tell Crayton to shut his hole or for a team leader to tell Crayton to shut his hole. Tomlin addressed the media about a player talking trash...Norv Turner did the same thing. Teams like the Pats that kicked arse every week had the sense to say "we let our play on the field do the talking" WE NEED LEADERS!!!!!!!!!!

This team better not think that because they won 13 games they will automatically be escorted back to the playoffs next year. Every team in the division finished the season stronger than the Cowboys and I don't hear much about their coaches cashing in, or players cashing in. Dallas needs to actually win something before everyone is pushing the buttons on the cash register. I have stayed away from the boards because I am disgusted with the way Valley Ranch is operating right now...and I am talking about from the owner on down...and I do not care who disagrees with me...the facts are the facts, and EVERYTHING that we did poorly all year(poor kick/punt coverage, penalties, poor tackling and Jacques Reeves), despite winning 13 games, we did poorly in the Giants game. And if we had leaders that did not point to the fact that "hey we won the game" or "hey we are 13 - 3" we might have actually corrected some of these things.

And if Jerry wants to be the face of this organization, maybe he needs to come right out and say what he is thinking "hey I got a line out my door with people wanting more money (and yes that includes Greg Ellis, don't be fooled by his Gomer Pyle act) but we ain't one a d*mn playoff game in over a decade!

I am finished for now.........

 

[firehawk350]

God forbid you actually lose a player to injury! Dallas was exceptionally fortunate this year in injury terms, even with those nagging injuries to Newman and Henry. Think about if Ware went down for the season, or if Henry went down. Some of it's having younger players but there's also considerable luck in that.

Having said that though, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. I'm sure the Bears thought 07 was their year. A lot of people picked San Fran to really push for the NFC West (young defense getting another year, Alex Smith and Frank Gore both getting another year). How about the Saints? The amount of young talent on that team is scary, but it just didn't go their way.

So stop thinking that you're the best team in the NFC, because you're not. Your 13-3 record buys you nothing at this point. Nor is it indicative of your ability to dominate in the future. You had a great 07, but there's a lot of ebb and flow to the NFL, and until you sustain success for a couple of years (like the Chargers, Colts and Pats), you can't assume you'll be back on top.

 

[superpunk]

God forbid you actually lose a player to injury! Dallas was exceptionally fortunate this year in injury terms, even with those nagging injuries to Newman and Henry. Think about if Ware went down for the season, or if Henry went down. Some of it's having younger players but there's also considerable luck in that.

Having said that though, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. I'm sure the Bears thought 07 was their year. A lot of people picked San Fran to really push for the NFC West (young defense getting another year, Alex Smith and Frank Gore both getting another year). How about the Saints? The amount of young talent on that team is scary, but it just didn't go their way.

So stop thinking that you're the best team in the NFC, because you're not. Your 13-3 record buys you nothing at this point. Nor is it indicative of your ability to dominate in the future. You had a great 07, but there's a lot of ebb and flow to the NFL, and until you sustain success for a couple of years (like the Chargers, Colts and Pats), you can't assume you'll be back on top.

No. We can pretty much assume it until your scrub teams do something to compete with the Cowboys talent-wise.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

God forbid you actually lose a player to injury! Dallas was exceptionally fortunate this year in injury terms, even with those nagging injuries to Newman and Henry. Think about if Ware went down for the season, or if Henry went down. Some of it's having younger players but there's also considerable luck in that.

Having said that though, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. I'm sure the Bears thought 07 was their year. A lot of people picked San Fran to really push for the NFC West (young defense getting another year, Alex Smith and Frank Gore both getting another year). How about the Saints? The amount of young talent on that team is scary, but it just didn't go their way.

So stop thinking that you're the best team in the NFC, because you're not. Your 13-3 record buys you nothing at this point. Nor is it indicative of your ability to dominate in the future. You had a great 07, but there's a lot of ebb and flow to the NFL, and until you sustain success for a couple of years (like the Chargers, Colts and Pats), you can't assume you'll be back on top.

Calm down . You make some good points but it loses a little credibility and almost certainly will fall on deaf ears based on your tone.

Based on draft position, age and how they performed in 2007, the Dallas Cowboys certainly do have a plethora of talent.

However, the age of Free Agency has certainly shortened the length of time it takes to field a competitive club. To add, the Dallas Cowboys are not working in a vacuum. All across the landscape of the NFL, teams are constantly trying to better themselves through the Draft, Free Agency and just plain old luck. Next season, I think it is certainly plausible that there will be other contenders for the NFC Crown that were not contenders the season prior.

Our 13-3 Regular Season record by no means gurantees us a seat at the "Elite Four" Table next year.

Finally, Cowboys fans have to certainly admit that it is extremely annoying to have a very healthy team by NFL standards in the Playoffs, only to lose to a patch-work opponent, sometimes consisting of Tour Guides, Loan Officers and Practice Squad players.

 

[vicjagger]

... Will Jason Garrett be much different when he ascends the thrown?

I think there a QB joke in there, somewhere.

 

[Doomsday101]

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

Never is a long time, man why do people feel the need to be over dramatic. Dallas is a good young team who is in very good shape cap wise and to think this was a 1 time deal is very pessimistic

 

[tyke1doe]

I agree...remember, this is a fairly young team that now has a nucleus or "core" players in their really first year of success!

I think all that winning went to their heads (coach Wade too) and they thought they could just do what they wanted to do. Well, it does not work that way. You have to finish the job...you don't take time off inbetween building a million dollar house for someone...you get the job done, then go play.


Or as my dad used to tell me, "You do one thing right, then move on to the next"...


I think they learned this, and next year everyone will be better off for it.

Agreed. Coaching and maturity are the two elements that hurt this team.

I also want to add that injuries hurt us also.

I don't think many posters focus on this but, T.O. was not 100 percent. He could not create separation, and that allowed the Giants to blitz more in the second half.

Had T.O. not been injured, we would have likely burned the Giants secondary just as we destroyed the Commanders secondary in Dallas earlier this year.

The two biggest injuries of the year were LT and TO. If both of those players had been healthy it could be a San Diego vs. Dallas Super Bowl.