What's Your New Threshhold?

[Cowboy06]

We have a good chance of finishing 8-0 on the road. We have 6 pro-bowlers on offense and what's thought of as the best offensive line in football. We have two legit MVP candidates, won our division and beat the #1 seed at their place. I'm just pointing out what everyone else that bleeds silver and blue will be thinking once the tournament starts. It's ok to dream big right?

Man, I feel like I was in church reading this post. Almost wanna call you the Most Right Reverend TheHereAfter... In all seriousness though. I would agree with you 100% if this defense can shut down Washington tomorrow and win big in the first playoff game. I think this team reminds me of the Colts team that won the Super Bowl with Manning. It's a very good offense and a defense that is coming together at the end of the year. Anything can happen at this point....anything.

Amen.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

To me, calling any season successful that did not result in a SB trophy is a moral victory.....and I hate moral victories.

 

[KingLerxst]

Any loss is a disappointment. No matter your expectations for the team. A loss in the playoffs will be even more painful. No matter the situation. So if we do lose a playoff game I will be upset for at least a day or two.
But. I know after the initial pain subsides. I'll be able to look back at this season as a success. We added yet another great player in the draft. Added what looks like a steal at LB'r in the 4th round. We have an UDFA in Beasley coming in to his own. Crawford is looking like what we all hoped for when he was drafted. MCClain possibly being a huge addition going forward.Etc.
The bar is pointing up in every direction. No fan could find a way to call this season a disappointment. No matter what happens from here on out.

Don't want this season to end. But I'm already looking forward to the offseason and next year. It's a great time to be a Cowboy fan!

 

[Everson24]

Just to advance farther than the Steelers what ever that is. One year we happen to surprise people and they do also. I'm still ticked over how the 2010 season played out. We started off being super bowl favorites and they wind up playing in the super bowl at our house.

Others may want a Steeler Cowboys super bowl. I do not. I want them eliminated in the first round and us to get there.

This season has been a very pleasant surprise for me so far that they do not have to get to the NFC championship game but they better at leat outlast the Steelers.

 

[BIGDen]

The interesting thing is that if they had ended up 11-5 but out of the playoffs, most would end up considering it a successful season because the expectations were low and it's definitely progress from past seasons; however, now they can be 11-5 or 12-4 and lose the first playoff game and people will complain that it was a failed season.

This is true to some degree. I think if our recent history were different, the mindset might be a little different. Fans are so tired of hearing about "1 playoff win in X amount of years" and "can't get past the 2nd round of the playoffs" that they want more and for the naysayers to shut up so badly. The fact that this team is undefeated with a healthy Romo (and on the road) raises our expectations. The December narrative has already been crushed and we're all rejoicing. One and done would be very disappointing and get the anti-Cowboys crowd out in full effect. None of us want to deal with that again. Anything less than getting to the NFC Championship will likely be a disappointment (not a failed season) since the bar has been raised. The thing is, the team has raised this bar - it's not just fans' optimism causing this mindset. We know this team CAN beat anyone, anywhere (see Seattle and Philly). IMO, a Lombardi is not unrealistic. Unfortunately, we will likely have a very tough road with teams like GB and Seattle on the road. I'd feel much better if we had a bye and home field, but we can still achieve our goals. Being healthy and winning the turnover battle is the key. Just keep saying prayers that those two things occur and number 6 could be here sooner than most of us expected.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I can live with a close loss at GB or Seattle providing we don't beat ourselves. It's hard though because nobody knows what the future holds. In 2009 everyone thought the Cowboys were in their prime. In 2010 they were favorites to win the SB and look what happened to them. You have to take advantage of your opportunities because nobody knows how many you have. Saying that though this has been a very enjoyable season.

 

[Staubacher]

To answer my own thread, I feel at least a first playoff game win will "validate" our great regular season. Winning that first round home game would be sweet and advance us at least as far as our last playoff entry in 2009.

If we were to lose after that in Seattle or Lambeau I couldn't really fault the team, those are tough draws and we would be underdogs.

As others have said, if and when we are eliminated it will hurt but not for too long, as the context of this whole magical season comes back into focus.

And I strongly feel we have permanently turned a corner and will be regular contenders now like the elite teams. So this season will be looked back on as the turning point.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

After years of futility and begging that the team put something other than JAGS on the OL I cannot express fully the satisfaction in seeing the incredible surge forward this team has experienced this season as a result of finally doing so. The defense is performing above expectations and the coaches are demonstrating their worthiness,,, they've beaten good teams and our division rivals and shown the characteristics of winners, so the only thing I would consider an expectation now is that they play well in the playoffs. A loss to Detroit or GB or Seattle wouldn't be unforgivable, they are all good teams and arguably more balanced,,,, but getting past the first round would help shut up the mediots.

 

[Fredd]

to me as a fan, I predicted 10-6 with possibility of 11-5 with health...so my expectations were pretty close...I feel this is a successful season especially that there is a pronounced apparent future for the team - that is where my expectations are.....but, for the love of God, I am SOOOOOOO tired of hearing "one playoff win in 17 years"....so, get into the NFCCG minimally so I can stop hearing that (please)....

 

[Fmart322]

One post season win. It can't be followed by a blowout.

 

[ufcrules1]

I'll tell you once the playoff bracket is fully established and I know the path to the SB.

I will help you with that. See below.

1. Seattle first round bye
2. GB first round bye
3. Dallas plays Detroit
4. Atlanta(but doesn't matter) plays Arizona
5. Arizona wild card
6. Detroit wild card

 

[Tawney88]

I guess a close loss in the NFCCG, I'd consider it a good playoff run. If we're one and done that will be a huge disappointment.

I agree now that would be a disappointment. Although I'm playing with house money now. I didn't think we'd have a winning record.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I will help you with that. See below.

1. Seattle first round bye
2. GB first round bye
3. Dallas plays Detroit
4. Atlanta(but doesn't matter) plays Arizona
5. Arizona wild card
6. Detroit wild card

If Arizona loses would they be the 6th seed?

 

[PoundTheRock]

Don't lose to any NFC opponent aside from Seattle or Green Bay in the playoffs.

 

[ufcrules1]

If Arizona loses would they be the 6th seed?

Nope. It would still be AZ. Even if AZ loses and Detroit wins this week AZ would be 6th seed and GB would be 5th.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

So Arizona wouldn't be the 6th? That statement says both,,,

 

[JohnsKey19]

At this point, you have to win 1 playoff game at home, whether it's next week in the WC round or if the Cowboys get a bye and host the divisional round game. Now , if you asked this question 3 months ago, the expectations would've been much lower.

 

[Deep_South]

This had been a very good season. We get at least one extra week of Cowboys football for the first time in years, and that alone is tangible proof the Cowboys' brain trust is making progress. But, there is no guarantee getting through the door means we will find it open next year because there are a lot of good teams in the NFC. So, as long as we've made it this far. let's go ahead and make the most of it and get number six while we have the chance.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I've already checked this off as a successful season.
I will check it off as a great season if we make noise in the playoffs

 

[daveferr33]

Its a successful season by any measure.

That said, I am a big believer in windows of opportunity in this league and I believe that with an Elite 34 year old QB ours might be a narrow one and therefore we cannot let this opportunity pass us by.

So anything less than a SB victory will be a disappointment simply because you never know if the team will be in this position again--a strong running game, great o-line, Elite QB and a defense that is coming together at the right time.