What would you guys consider a "choke" in the playoffs?

[esloan]

Reading other NFL forums and looking through my Facebook feed, I have noticed many opposing fans saying that the Cowboys would choke in the playoffs. This has started me wondering what exactly a choke would constitute for these Cowboys.

Many of us and most of the media pundits, thought this team would regress from last year's 8-8. You look at the team going into the season and you saw a defense that lost Ware and Hatcher. Then Sean Lee in the preseason. You also looked at Romo's back situation and wondered how he could possibly be good enough to put enough points on the board to make up for what looked to be a horrible defense.

This team played well above most of our expectations. Most of the media had them at 7-9 or worse. Looking at what many of us predicted and what has come into reality, what do you consider to be a choke in the playoffs? How can a team that everyone expected to have a losing season but, in reality, had 12 wins, choke?

 

[Staubacher]

If they play poorly or stupidly and lose to Detroit at home.

Anything past that is gravy

 

[StarBoyz83]

Playing the way they are if they were to lose to the Lions it would be a choke. But I do get what your saying.

 

[PoundTheRock]

If they play poorly or stupidly and lose to Detroit at home.

Anything past that is gravy

Pretty much my thoughts summed up. Lose to anyone in the NFC except Seattle or GB and it's a choke.

 

[viman96]

They could get to the SB and lose and everyone will talk about how Romo and the Cowboys choked. They are all waiting to say, "see I told you".

 

[esloan]

This team has an extremely hard road through the playoffs if they want to go to the Super Bowl. At Lambeau against the Packers and probably at Seattle against the Seahawks. That is tough. I think they can do it but it will be one tough haul.

 

[JoeKing]

There is no shame in losing in the playoffs by a few points but getting blown out is always shameful.

 

[Red Dragon]

Failure to advance to the NFC title game. It's been 19 years.


Since 1996, the Cowboys, Lions and Commanders are the only teams in the NFC to not make it to the conference championship game.

 

[Dale]

We are playing well enough right now to make a legit Super Bowl run. Still, this is a week-to-week league and I think it's premature to think we are so much better than anyone that a game is a gimme. We aren't that good, nor is anyone else in today's league.

For me, a choke would constitute blowing a double-digit lead or making one of those signature "gaffe" plays that leads to the loss.

A coaching choke job would be getting away from our ground game and getting pass happy.

 

[Red Dragon]

There is no shame in losing in the playoffs by a few points

I recall the Cowboys getting mocked relentlessly for losing 21-20 and 21-17 to the Seahawks and the Giants in the playoffs.

I recall the Patriots getting mocked relentlessly for losing 17-14 and 21-17 to the Giants in Super Bowls.

 

[MRV52]

They could get to the SB and lose and everyone will talk about how Romo and the Cowboys choked. They are all waiting to say, "see I told you".

I guess 31 teams choke each year trying to get to the Super Bowl and winning it. If we don't win the SB the haters will always say we choked.

 

[JoeKing]

I recall the Cowboys getting mocked relentlessly for losing 21-20 and 21-17 to the Seahawks and the Giants in the playoffs.

I recall the Patriots getting mocked relentlessly for losing 17-14 and 21-17 to the Giants in Super Bowls.

People do all kinds of idiotic things. Shaming a team for being edged out in a playoff game is one of them... doesn't mean the shame is legit.

 

[Blackspider214]

Sorry but expectations are fluid. Those expectations were before the season started. They mean nothing now. You have won 6 of the last 7 and killed every team the last 4 games. If we go out and lay an egg against Detroit, that will be a choke and a huge disappointment. You are kidding yourself if you don't think so. I want to hear nothing of "oh it was a good season". Good job good effort. Was anyone saying that in 2007 after that disaster of a playoff game? Nope.

Expectations have changed. This team is primed to make a playoff push.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I think choke is a term I wouldn't use unless we blew a huge lead late in the game.

Disappointment would be a word I'd use if we lost to Detroit. That's a team that we can and I think SHOULD beat at home. If we lost to Green Bay in the next round? I'd be really sad the season is over and rue the fact that they're probably the worst matchup for us and all the scenarios that could have played out over the last few weeks that would have kept us from having to play them, but I'd accept it.

 

[Tabascocat]

Whatever happens, if we lose to Detroit.........please do not let it be Romo's fault!

Nm, it wont matter if it is or not, he will get the blame, so lets just go out and win

 

[JoeyBoy718]

If they play poorly or stupidly and lose to Detroit at home.

Anything past that is gravy

Yep. Exactly.

A loss to Detroit (no matter how it happens) is a choke. We're the better team than Detroit and we should win. There's no excuse. I know, I know, the better team doesn't always win in the playoffs, but if Dallas wants to get the monkey of its back it has to beat the Lions in the 1st round. A loss is a choke and Dallas, Garrett, Romo and the rest will deserve whatever criticism they get.

After that, it all comes down to how we lose (if we lose). Nobody expects us to beat Green Bay, so a loss wouldn't be a choke. But if we're dominating the game and still find a way to lose (we had a lot of close calls in games we should have won easily; i.e. Texans, Seahawks, Rams) then it's a choke. And if we get completely blown out, I would also consider that a choke. But as long as we put up a good fight, win or lose, against Green Bay, nobody should be saying we choked.

Same goes for Seattle (if we play them in the conference championship). Same goes for whoever we play in the Super Bowl.

 

[khiladi]

A loss to Detroit would be a 'choke', but even then Jerry's World is an enigma for this team. I thought a play-off win wouldn't be a surprise because the East sucked and the change in play-calling, but that was where this team would probably end the season.

I've been out of the country, but from what I read briefly two forty point wins, and an emphatic win against the Commanders, considering how bad we use to handle their blitz is a surprise. This hot going into the play-offs, I'm feeling greedy.

 

[Romo_To_Dez]

Losing to the Lions and going one and done for sure

 

[BlueStar22]

I'm not even considering a loss. All I see is two Detroit losses two years in a row to avenge. One where we blew a big lead.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Dallas has to face three 12-4 teams on the road to the Super Bowl. Any of these teams can beat any other. If Detroit comes in and their DL manages to beat our OL and Megatron exploits our secondary and they beat us, then so be it. If we lose because of unforced errors (dropped passes, defensive confusion, fumbles, bad Romo decisions), then I suppose that would be choking.