What Constitutes A Successful Season?

[tyke1doe]

For me, it's already happened.

No matter what, this season has already been wildly successful. The Cowboys are back baby!

The present is a 13-3 record in a season that I thought was over before it started.

The present is a pair of rookies leading the league and setting records left and right, making the Pro Bowl right out of the gate.

And no matter what happens this year, the future looks incredibly bright. The two young cornerstones at two key positions, one the most important in all of sports (in my opinion), and what looks to be a grand slam of a draft already, with the possibility of two more contributors being added to it for 2017.

Add to that a defense that has exceeded any expectations I had for them, with a draft re-stocking hopefully coming in 2017?

That's already successful in my book. More than I ever could have hoped for. At this point, I'm enjoying and savoring every bit of this already magical ride. I can't lose.

A championship would be the 'icing on the cake', but, for me, I've already 'won'.

Well said. Not to make this a Romo vs. Dak debate, but if Romo were the starter, I would say anything short of a Super Bowl appearance would be an unsuccessful season because of his window of opportunity. But because Dak is a rookie, even if we somehow managed to fall short of the NFC Championship, I would deem this season a success because he's only going to grow as a quarterback and we will have set ourselves up for future Super Bowl runs.

Having said that, I hope we at least get to the NFC Championship. After that, everything else is gravy.

 

[Stash]

\
They players disagree with you. lol You can call it what you want they seem to have a different feeling about it. Win or lose will not change anything but these guys are out there to win period it means something to them regardless of out the outsiders may view it

I'm good with that. It we'll see what the decision-makers end up doing about it, not what the players think.

As I recall, Zeke had an early seat on Monday night, despite being in the running for the rookie rushing title. That wasn't by accident.

I just hope that they make the same prudent decision with Dak this time.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm good with that. It we'll see what the decision-makers end up doing about it, not what the players think.

As I recall, Zeke had an early seat on Monday night, despite being in the running for the rookie rushing title. That wasn't by accident.

I just hope that they make the same prudent decision with Dak this time.

I'm not saying the coaches will not take guys out of the game. I think as long as they are playing they will be playing to win and to continue to improve as a team. Will that be 1 half? 3 qrts? I don't know we will see. I don't think this team has the mindset of this is meaningless and really their views is what matters after all they play the game so I get it they get a bit ticked off at the media and the talk of meaningless. It is meaningless to those who do not play the game.

 

[DogFace]

#6 trophy displayed

 

[Risen Star]

It's already been a successful season.

Can't be unreasonable with a rookie QB. You get the 1 seed with a rookie under center and you've succeeded.

 

[Doomsday101]

It's already been a successful season.

Can't be unreasonable with a rookie QB. You get the 1 seed with a rookie under center and you've succeeded.

I agree but I have the feeling these player would not agree. lol I think these guys expect to go out and finish the job but then that is why I think they will be successful for a good while because their expectation are very high. I don't see this team being over whelmed or intimidated by any of this.

 

[tyke1doe]

Dallas should have a higher standard than most teams.

IMO, Dallas has to at least make it to the Superbowl.

They have dominated the NFC and they better dominate it for 2 playoff games.

Yep. Usually, the dominant teams standout pretty early and maintain their dominance throughout the season. The Panthers last year. The Broncos last year. The Seahawks the year before that.
This year it has been the Cowboys and the Patriots. The Cowboys have been the more complete team. The Patriots are a weaker team overall, IMO, but you can never count them out with Brady and Belichick.
I think the Chiefs might be ripe for an upset of the Pats. They have the defense to play the Pats straight up. The Steelers could sneak in too.

The Cowboys seem to be peaking at the right time. If the defense continues playing well, and Dak continues to show he's not your average rookie (the playoffs are another level), the Cowboys are going to be tough to beat.

 

[tyke1doe]

Expectations change once more information is gathered. Especially in sports. Especially in the NFL when what happened to Dallas this year happens all the time for different teams each season.

In the NFL you have to strike while the iron is hot.

The Patriots and whatever team Payton Manning is on have been the only real consistencies.

We can't expect Dallas to be good next year or have the opportunity they have right now just because we should be better next year in theory.. The NFL doesn't work like that.

The time is NOW.

I would put the Steelers and Big Ben in with New England and Peyton Manning as models of consistency.

 

[tyke1doe]

Love Dak. Love Zeke. Love Collins, Brown, Mayowa, and Irving. I love the future. But we didn't luck into 14-2. This is a good football team with unfinished business, and I doubt they're satisfied. Neither am I.

You don't luck into 14-2 or 13-3.

 

[LandryFan]

I think it has already happened. Dak will start the entire season and continue with his seasoning and development for the future. I think we all way a SB championship, but the big picture is the talent that has been added to this team and making this a dynasty.

I agree. The most difficult problem to solve going forward will be finding the cap space to keep our core players. We're eventually going to have to pay another two or three OL, a QB, a RB, some defenders who are coming on (Byron Jones, Anthony Brown, etc)...we just have a lot of young players who have a very high ceiling and will likely command big bucks when their rookie contracts expire. It's a good problem to have, but one that will require some creative cap maneuvering, IMO.

 

[LandryFan]

For me, it's already happened.

No matter what, this season has already been wildly successful. The Cowboys are back baby!

The present is a 13-3 record in a season that I thought was over before it started.

The present is a pair of rookies leading the league and setting records left and right, making the Pro Bowl right out of the gate.

And no matter what happens this year, the future looks incredibly bright. The two young cornerstones at two key positions, one the most important in all of sports (in my opinion), and what looks to be a grand slam of a draft already, with the possibility of two more contributors being added to it for 2017.

Add to that a defense that has exceeded any expectations I had for them, with a draft re-stocking hopefully coming in 2017?

That's already successful in my book. More than I ever could have hoped for. At this point, I'm enjoying and savoring every bit of this already magical ride. I can't lose.

A championship would be the 'icing on the cake', but, for me, I've already 'won'.

Amen, Brotha!!!

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree. The most difficult problem to solve going forward will be finding the cap space to keep our core players. We're eventually going to have to pay another two or three OL, a QB, a RB, some defenders who are coming on (Byron Jones, Anthony Brown, etc)...we just have a lot of young players who have a very high ceiling and will likely command big bucks when their rookie contracts expire. It's a good problem to have, but one that will require some creative cap maneuvering, IMO.

I agree which is why I see no way the Cowboys hold on to Romo after this season. His contract is the largest of the team and they must get that off the books to free up money so that they can address some key parts of this team.

 

[LandryFan]

I agree which is why I see no way the Cowboys hold on to Romo after this season. His contract is the largest of the team and they must get that off the books to free up money so that they can address some key parts of this team.

Yes, sir...he's a goner. The only question is whether he will be traded (and if so, for what) or he will be cut. Either way, he'll be elsewhere next year.

 

[tyke1doe]

Haha, so many posters are just happy the Cowboys have a successor at QB. Awesome low expectations guys. I guess years and years of it has made you numb to any real success.

The minute they put Romo on the shelf they should, and fans should be all in on expectations for this year. Not next year, or "seating up future runs" or "laying the ground work" crap.

Home field, heck, home state. They never have to travel out of state again this year to win the SB. They beat every team they faced except one. Contracts are coming due. Coaches will be pilfered. Division winning schedule next year. Windows are small and dont stay open for years.

This is the year. SB OR BUST.

Asking what our expectations are for this season and asking what we consider a successful season are two separate questions.
I expect to get to the Super Bowl and win it, particularly with the way the Cowboys are currently playing.
I consider this season a success because we have a young team that has exceeded expectations, which bodes well for the future.

 

[Stash]

I'm not saying the coaches will not take guys out of the game. I think as long as they are playing they will be playing to win and to continue to improve as a team. Will that be 1 half? 3 qrts? I don't know we will see. I don't think this team has the mindset of this is meaningless and really their views is what matters after all they play the game so I get it they get a bit ticked off at the media and the talk of meaningless. It is meaningless to those who do not play the game.

And I admire their grit and determination and their commitment to preparation and hard work. That just needs to be balanced out with some big picture, common sense thinking as well. There's a much bigger prize to possibly be won here.

 

[The Natural]

Anything short of a SB appearance is a bust.

 

[VACowboy]

You don't luck into 14-2 or 13-3.

I'm an optimist making assumptions.

 

[LandryFan]

Yo be 100% honest, I want the Cowboys to run the table, and big. The main reason is because I want to silence the critics and haters. I am sick of seeing all the comments in the Facebook posts by ESPN and NFL about the Cowboys being "one and done" and "don't worry, they'll lose in the playoffs". I want this team to break the stigma that the Cowboys can't compete in the playoffs. I want the Cowboys to be feared again.

Two things: One, the haters and critics will never go away. And for me, that's fine. It wouldn't be nearly as much fun if everyone was a Cowboys fan. Two, you can rest assured that the Cowboys already are and will continue to be (for the foreseeable future) FEARED.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Before Romo got hurt I would've said win the Super Bowl

When Romo went down i would have said making playoffs

Now with what Dak has become and how the defense is playing, win the Superbowl

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Feel sorry for those won't consider this season a success unless the Cowboys will a SB.

3 of the most successful seasons for me when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys are 1975, 1990 & 1991.

The '75 team of course lost to Pittsburg in the SB, but it was a retooled old team that had dominated for years and had a relatively uninspired 1974. The '75 team set the groundwork for the next decade. It was a successful season.

The '90 team came up short of the playoffs, but even in a losing season showed the spark of good things happening with the franchise. Yes a 7-9 record was successful.

The '91 team gave us the most successful season (record wise) in several years and even won a playoff game. It was a very success season.