Plankton
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I wanted to wait a day before responding to the post-game thread to take a step back, and soak in what took place.
I didn't see this coming at all, not by a long shot.
I truly believed that this team was too undermanned defensively, too reliant on Tony Romo, who was entering the season less than he had been in prior years physically. I believed that Jason Garrett was a smart man incapable of providing the intangibles that separate the average coaches from the very good coaches. I also thought that the Jones family stranglehold on this franchise would create an environment non-conducive to success, and hamper all of the efforts put forth by the players and the coaches.
I can candidly and honestly admit being wrong about this team and this season.
After a dumpster fire start to the season against San Francisco, where they looked completely discombobulated on offense, and overwhelmed on defense, things didn't look good. I forecasted 6-10 for the season. Truthfully, upon first glance, the game was a complete train wreck. However, when I looked at it a bit more closely, I saw a team that made a spate of errors in a short period of time, but demonstrated resilience in the trenches. For the first time in a long time, against a strong team, the Cowboys didn't look overmatched at the line of scrimmage. They dictated the play on the line. This was a foreshadowing of the rest of the season.
The Cowboys went on to assert themselves quite a bit, running off six wins in a row, including a referendum style win in Seattle against a team thought to be unbeatable at home. Yes, they had some hiccups against the Commanders and Cardinals, and completely were overmatched on Thanksgiving against Philadelphia, but this team demonstrated many strong traits throughout the season:
Focus. Pride. Determination. Resilience.
And, most of all, results.
The loss to the Eagles was one that would have derailed prior Cowboy teams. The Cowboys licked their wounds, and then licked their opponents. They pummeled an inferior Bear team that had humiliated them in Chicago nearly one year to the day. They dominated the Eagles in Philadelphia, weathering a 24 point run, and closing the game out in style. Then, came yesterday.
The Cowboys had destiny in their hands. They had two shots to claim the division title, and first up was a playoff team from the AFC, in Arlington, where the Cowboys had struggled all year long.
As they have demonstrated all season long, they would not be denied.
Similar to the Eagle game, the Cowboys jumped on the Colts early, and did not let them off the deck. The Colts were all too willing to contribute to their own demise, with errors in discipline and execution. Tony Romo was razor sharp, Dez Bryant was dynamic, Jason Witten was reliable, the defense was determined and opportunistic, and the crowd, as loud and in tune as any this season for the Cowboys, went home happy.
42-7, and it wasn't that close.
Major kudos to Jason Garrett for weathering the storm of the fan base and media. Same goes for Romo - he does seriously warrant consideration for MVP. The hire of Scott Linehan was outstanding, and has helped focus the offense. Bill Callahan has done a terrific job of putting aside his ego despite being demoted, and leading an offensive line that may be as strong a unit as there is in the NFL. Rod Marinelli has taken a talent deficient unit, and has had them play assignment sound, aggressive football. Yes, they are not a great unit, but the last two weeks, they have contributed greatly to key wins. Up and down the roster, there are contributors. DeMarco Murray, Cole Beasley, Ron Leary, Tyrone Crawford, Rolando McClain, Orlando Scandrick, Anthony Hitchens - there are many great stories of this team of misfit toys stepping up and becoming a team. A group more powerful together than they are individually.
Now, this team isn't perfect. The pass rush is still too pedestrian, and the backside blocking on run downs was pretty poor yesterday. The special teams seems to contribute at least one bad play per game. Putting that aside, it doesn't diminish what was accomplished yesterday and this season.
It's nice to have a Week 17 where it won't determine whether the Cowboys advance or stay home. It will bring some interesting questions - they will need a lot of luck to be anything other than the #3 seed, and they play at 1pm. Do you rest players who can really use a break (Romo, Murray, Zack Martin, Rolando McClain), or do you keep the foot on the gas, and surge into the playoffs? If it's me, I surge into the playoffs.
This has been as enjoyable a season to watch a team develop as I have witnessed in a long time. Having low expectations going in can tend to do that.
This is the view from the Crow's Nest, where it really doesn't taste like chicken.
I didn't see this coming at all, not by a long shot.
I truly believed that this team was too undermanned defensively, too reliant on Tony Romo, who was entering the season less than he had been in prior years physically. I believed that Jason Garrett was a smart man incapable of providing the intangibles that separate the average coaches from the very good coaches. I also thought that the Jones family stranglehold on this franchise would create an environment non-conducive to success, and hamper all of the efforts put forth by the players and the coaches.
I can candidly and honestly admit being wrong about this team and this season.
After a dumpster fire start to the season against San Francisco, where they looked completely discombobulated on offense, and overwhelmed on defense, things didn't look good. I forecasted 6-10 for the season. Truthfully, upon first glance, the game was a complete train wreck. However, when I looked at it a bit more closely, I saw a team that made a spate of errors in a short period of time, but demonstrated resilience in the trenches. For the first time in a long time, against a strong team, the Cowboys didn't look overmatched at the line of scrimmage. They dictated the play on the line. This was a foreshadowing of the rest of the season.
The Cowboys went on to assert themselves quite a bit, running off six wins in a row, including a referendum style win in Seattle against a team thought to be unbeatable at home. Yes, they had some hiccups against the Commanders and Cardinals, and completely were overmatched on Thanksgiving against Philadelphia, but this team demonstrated many strong traits throughout the season:
Focus. Pride. Determination. Resilience.
And, most of all, results.
The loss to the Eagles was one that would have derailed prior Cowboy teams. The Cowboys licked their wounds, and then licked their opponents. They pummeled an inferior Bear team that had humiliated them in Chicago nearly one year to the day. They dominated the Eagles in Philadelphia, weathering a 24 point run, and closing the game out in style. Then, came yesterday.
The Cowboys had destiny in their hands. They had two shots to claim the division title, and first up was a playoff team from the AFC, in Arlington, where the Cowboys had struggled all year long.
As they have demonstrated all season long, they would not be denied.
Similar to the Eagle game, the Cowboys jumped on the Colts early, and did not let them off the deck. The Colts were all too willing to contribute to their own demise, with errors in discipline and execution. Tony Romo was razor sharp, Dez Bryant was dynamic, Jason Witten was reliable, the defense was determined and opportunistic, and the crowd, as loud and in tune as any this season for the Cowboys, went home happy.
42-7, and it wasn't that close.
Major kudos to Jason Garrett for weathering the storm of the fan base and media. Same goes for Romo - he does seriously warrant consideration for MVP. The hire of Scott Linehan was outstanding, and has helped focus the offense. Bill Callahan has done a terrific job of putting aside his ego despite being demoted, and leading an offensive line that may be as strong a unit as there is in the NFL. Rod Marinelli has taken a talent deficient unit, and has had them play assignment sound, aggressive football. Yes, they are not a great unit, but the last two weeks, they have contributed greatly to key wins. Up and down the roster, there are contributors. DeMarco Murray, Cole Beasley, Ron Leary, Tyrone Crawford, Rolando McClain, Orlando Scandrick, Anthony Hitchens - there are many great stories of this team of misfit toys stepping up and becoming a team. A group more powerful together than they are individually.
Now, this team isn't perfect. The pass rush is still too pedestrian, and the backside blocking on run downs was pretty poor yesterday. The special teams seems to contribute at least one bad play per game. Putting that aside, it doesn't diminish what was accomplished yesterday and this season.
It's nice to have a Week 17 where it won't determine whether the Cowboys advance or stay home. It will bring some interesting questions - they will need a lot of luck to be anything other than the #3 seed, and they play at 1pm. Do you rest players who can really use a break (Romo, Murray, Zack Martin, Rolando McClain), or do you keep the foot on the gas, and surge into the playoffs? If it's me, I surge into the playoffs.
This has been as enjoyable a season to watch a team develop as I have witnessed in a long time. Having low expectations going in can tend to do that.
This is the view from the Crow's Nest, where it really doesn't taste like chicken.
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