Which (L) Game derailed Dallas's 2013 season?

[dstovall5]

Please don't answer with the last game, because obviously that game ended our season. Lets look deeper then that, which game in your opinion that we lost derailed any chance of success we had, was it the heart breaker against Denver? Or the defensive collapse against Detroit? Or the collapse against Green Bay at home late in the season? You don't have to pick any of these though, you can pick any game we lost.

I'll go first. In my opinion, I think our season was derailed Oct 27, against the Lions on the road. Dallas was 4-3 coming off an impressive win against the hyped up Eagles offense, which was an outstanding defensive effort in which we only allowed the Eagles 3 points.

Everyone was starting to get back on the Dallas bandwagon looking for them to break their mediocre roots, and to finally get back to a dominant team. Until that point, Dallas's season was looking very promising, they were 4-3 and currently had a 2 game winning streak against 2 division rivals. Even though they had 3 losses, most people were still excited because in all their previous losses they took 3 playoff caliber teams to the final second. Many were looking ahead into the upcoming weeks, seeing they had a very realistic chance to reach 6-3 before facing off against an offensive juggernaut in the Saints.

Then reality struck, Dallas was going to be the same mediocre team that we've become accustomed to for the past years. They had the Detroit game well wrapped up, only a minute left and looking superb with a very realistic chance at a 6-3 record. It was time for the HYPE TRAIN! Or so we thought, next thing we know, Tyron Smith gets a holding call on a run to the left and Detroit is getting the ball back with a minute left to win it, and we all know how these things play out for Dallas. A minute later and all our hopes of breaking away from mediocre were washed down the drain, Dallas was now sitting back again at .500.

I think had we not lost the Detroit game, we'd possibly have finished around 10-6 or 11-5 and made the playoffs, instead we finished 8-8. I think that game really took a toll on everyone, especially since it was only 3 weeks after the crushing lose to Denver. I really believe that game derailed our season, and it possibly influenced 2-3 other outcomes during the season, it definitely set the tone for mediocre.

So which game do you guys think was the one to derail our 2013 season?

P.S. - Off season sucks!

 

[17yearsandcounting]

It was Detroit. Any thought that anyone might have had about "things being different" this year was put to rest with another laughably improbable loss to Detroit. It showed that not a single coach on the team learned anything from the debacle a few seasons back.

 

[Direwolf63]

To me, it was the Detroit game. No doubt about it.

That game proved to me that this was the same old Cowboys team. Unable to close out games. Stupidiity in the extreme.

It's been a long time since I was as upset over a loss as that one. I still shake my head at that loss.

 

[Tabascocat]

Detroit brought us back to reality but I think the CHI game started the downfall only to lose the next week to GB. The season was not lost after the Lions but GB was the second to final nail. So, I will go with Green Bay.

 

[Idgit]

I don't agree with the overall premise of the thread, but the DET game was the most obvious and gut wrenching loss.

 

[Direwolf63]

Detroit brought us back to reality but I think the CHI game started the downfall only to lose the next week to GB. The season was not lost after the Lions but GB was the second to final nail. So, I will go with Green Bay.

To me, when we lost the Lions game, I knew those 2 games were a lost cause anyway. There was no hope to win those games. Then I was stupid enough to think we might beat GB when we were ahead 26-3 at halftime.

I know, how idiotic of me to think that. Based on that Lions game, I should have known better.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

To me, it was the Detroit game. No doubt about it.

That game proved to me that this was the same old Cowboys team. Unable to close out games. Stupidiity in the extreme.

It's been a long time since I was as upset over a loss as that one. I still shake my head at that loss.

I wasnt even mad. It was hilarious. It was so predictable to see it actually happen was unbelievable.

 

[dstovall5]

I don't agree with the overall premise of the thread, but the DET game was the most obvious and gut wrenching loss.

What don't you agree with? You don't think us being 5-3 headed to Minnesota was a big game changer? I believe it killed all of our momentum and was the main game that set the tone for the rest of the season, in my opinion it was the game that showed we were the same Cowboys of past years.

To me, when we lost the Lions game, I knew those 2 games were a lost cause anyway. There was no hope to win those games. Then I was stupid enough to think we might beat GB when we were ahead 26-3 at halftime.

I know, how idiotic of me to think that. Based on that Lions game, I should have known better.

Trust me, you weren't alone in thinking we had that game wrapped up as well. That game really showed how horrible our offensive play calling is, had we literally handed off on every down in the 2nd half, we would've walked away with a W that day, frustrating.

 

[bark]

Detroit was the beginning of the end

 

[Idgit]

What don't you agree with? You don't think us being 5-3 headed to Minnesota was a big game changer? I believe it killed all of our momentum and was the main game that set the tone for the rest of the season, in my opinion it was the game that showed we were the same Cowboys of past years.

Yeah, I'm not a big believer in momentum. We've lost out each of the last three years because we can't play pass defense. It doesn't matter if you're 5-3 if you're heading into a stretch with teams who throw the ball, and you're among the worst in the league at defending the pass. The chances of winning games against good QBs with one hand consistently tied behind your back are low.

 

[Donny Phoenix]

Detroit, easily. That was the game that destroyed Carr for the season and exposed the whole secondary. He was never the same. That Matt Stafford TD was just as deflating as they come, reaching the ball over the goalline while the whole defense stands around and watches. SMH... I need a drink just thinkin about it.

 

[Alexander]

Green Bay. It exposed every single weakness, from poor defense, to the lack of trust in the things that were working to the deplorable clock management.

As bad as the Detroit game was, you could chalk it up to a once in a lifetime miracle win for the Lions. And we did actually recover from that loss to put ourselves in the position to win the division only to blow it in epic fashion to the Packers. A win there and the division was basically ours for the taking.

 

[MonsterD]

The Chargers game, they were not an elite team and we should have beat them by a good margin. I think three of their starting Olinemen were out in that game and Ware got stoned against a rookie FA tackle. Was humiliating for me. After that I knew without a defense we were not going to do much of anything,

 

[Direwolf63]

Green Bay. It exposed every single weakness, from poor defense, to the lack of trust in the things that were working to the deplorable clock management.

As bad as the Detroit game was, you could chalk it up to a once in a lifetime miracle win for the Lions. And we did actually recover from that loss to put ourselves in the position to win the division only to blow it in epic fashion to the Packers. A win there and the division was basically ours for the taking.

I always find it amazing how many "once in a lifetime, miracle wins" this team gives up every single year. There aren't too many teams out there icing their own kicker.

The Detriot game is a systemic issue, not a one off miracle.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Even if we pulled off the DET game, we would have been exposed for what we really were. No one game derailed our season, injuries, poor play, and poor coaching did.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Detroit.

 

[Alexander]

I always find it amazing how many "once in a lifetime, miracle wins" this team gives up every single year. There aren't too many teams out there icing their own kicker.

The Detriot game is a systemic issue, not a one off miracle.

Yes, but if you asked Detroit to repeat those circumstances and pull off the win again, they would brobably fail 99 times out of a 100. The holding penalty on Smith, the complete lack of awareness from the defense lost that game that really had no business being that way.

The Green Bay game was a quarter and a half of sustained idiocy from our coaching staff and bad football sense from our defense that most teams could have taken advantage of repeatedly.

 

[Alexander]

The Chargers game, they were not an elite team and we should have beat them by a good margin. I think three of their starting Olinemen were out in that game and Ware got stoned against a rookie FA tackle. Was humiliating for me. After that I knew without a defense we were not going to do much of anything,

So what made it so we should have beaten San Diego by a "wide margin"? Their OL was beaten up in that game but they still ended up overachieving and finishing the season strong.

 

[Picksix]

Hard to pick one. You had Detroit and GB, which were gut wrenching and exposed a lot of weakness. Then you had Chicago and NO, where we just got slammed, which also exposed a number of weaknesses. The SD game was just an overall disappointment. Even with all that, we were still in playoff contention until the Philly game. I don't know if there was any one loss that specifically derailed the season. If I had to go with one, I'd say GB. That one felt a little more devastating than the others. But overall, I'd say it was many of them, collectively.

 

[Fmart322]

I can't decide. Detroit, Chicago and Green Bay combined all contributed to our seasonal collapse. KC, SD and Denver were all winnable games too, so no help there.
New Orleans just wasn't in the cards.
still, as bad as they were, the Eagles game to end the season was ours for the taking. That Orton pick on the last drive was typical of every big game the past 5 years. Sickening.