OK, folks. . . preseason is over!
The next game the Cowboys play is on December 7th in Pittsburgh at 3:15 PM Central time. Did you catch that? I said "December". The Cowboys went into December last season at 11-1. They finished 13-3. And their one playoff game against a lesser ranked team, the Giants, wound up as a loss.
I've ranted for several years about how badly the Cowboys have played in December. I've said that until the Cowboys figure out how to win more games than they lose in their final five games of the regular season, they are bound for mediocrity. I, and others, have scratched our heads trying to figure out why the Cowboys continue to crater in December year after year. The only continuous common denominator between Cowboys teams of each year seems to be Jerry Jones. And we know there's nothing anyone can do about that except Jerry Jones himself. And I can't for the life of me figure out what in the cat hair Jerry Jones could possibly be doing that would cause the cratering. I honestly believe that no one wants the Cowboys to win more than Jerry Jones.
Yet they don't win.
I believed back during preseason that this Cowboys team had the best chance to get into the playoffs and actually win some games and possibly even make it to the Superbowl. I truly thought they had a legitimate chance. But here we are on the precipice, looking ahead at possibilities. And anyone not blinded by homerism surely can see there is more potential for bad things to occur than there is for good things to occur.
The Cowboys are 8-4. If they win these last four games, they finish 12-4. This would guarantee them a playoff spot. Their final four games are against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, the Giants at Texas stadium, the Colts at Texas Stadium and the Eagles in Philadelphia. Personally, I don't see any guaranteed wins in that lineup. Pittsburgh will be tough, especially if the weather becomes a factor. They're accustomed to playing in it. The Cowboys aren't. The Giants quite simply are the best team in the NFC at the moment. Yes, they can be beaten. No, it isn't easy, nor is it expected that the Cowboys will do it. The Colts are not going to lay down for the Cowboys either. They have aspirations of their own. And Philadelphia is always up for the Cowboys. That bitter rivalry generally brings out the best in play and the worst in sportsmanship of any team the Cowboys play. Even if the Eagles are out of playoff contention, maybe because the Eagles are out of playoff contention by that point, they will be looking to spoil the Cowboys' chances to make the playoffs.
If the Cowboys lose only one of those final four games, they finish 11-5 and, depending on which team they lose to and how other teams finish, the Cowboys could make it into the playoffs. But it's not a lock that they'll be in the playoffs at 11-5.
If the Cowboys lose two of those final games, they finish 10-6 and their playoff hopes are no longer in their hands. They do not control their own destiny any longer. While they can still make the playoffs, their chances are greatly reduced and depend on bad things happening to other teams.
If the Cowboys lose three of those final games, they finish 9-7 and there will be no playoff game this season that includes the Cowboys. And all hell breaks loose at Valley Ranch. Expect heads to roll, both coaches and players.
So, the Cowboys season now depends on how they play in December. And they're not playing against the Forty Niners and Seahawks of the world. They're playing against playoff contenders and/or bitter rivals. Anyone who thinks the Cowboys have a cakewalk into the playoffs is simply kidding oneself.
And don't talk to me about current winning streaks. Three games does not constitue a "winning streak" of any merit. Granted, it's better than losing three, but as I said earlier, the Cowboys had an 11-1 winning streak going into last December and screwed the pooch on that deal.
Injuries scare me the most this season. It's been a perpetual problem. Seeing Ware and Barber both with issues in the Seattle game had me on pins and needles. Quite simply, I don't know how the Cowboys would have survived the loss of those two players. Facing the schedule they have, the Cowboys need everyone healthy for every game.
Just for the record, I'm beginning to take a hard look at the conditioning staff on the Cowboys. If the Cowboys are simply worn out by the time December gets here, then it's time for a change. Other teams play through December and win more than lose. Their teams are in good enough condition to hang in there till the end of the season, and into the playoffs. Maybe Jerry Jones needs to look at this in depth.
OK, back on topic. It's December. The Cowboys have a chance. But it's an uphill climb against tough odds. Do they have what it takes to get the job done? I believe that if they go to Pittsburgh and win there, they have a chance. If they lose to Pittsburgh, I will be shocked to see them make the playoffs.
In the meantime, pull up a chair, stay close to the fire. It's December and we have perilous times ahead.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Well, folks, we're back to "if" again
We do this year after year after year. It's always "if the Cowboys can do this" or "if the Cowboys can do that". And obviously they haven't or we'd see, at the least, a playoff victory. Last year, we went into December looking great. It was "if the Cowboys can win out in December, they'll be the top seed yada yada yada". The year before that, it was basically the same thing.
And here we are this year. Nine games into the season and they're 5-4. And it's "if they can win against Washington, they'll get some confidence" and "if they can just win five more of the remaining seven. . . " and "if the defense steps it up. . . ." and "if the offense can score more points. . . ." and "if the defense can put pressure on the opposing quarterback. . . ." and "if Tony Romo can get the ball to his receivers. . . . and "if the receivers catch the ball. . . ." and "if the cornerbacks get some interceptions. . . ." and "if the offensive line decides to actually block this season. . . ."
You get the idea. It's all about "if". If this and if that. It is practically impossible to find an article or even a reply to a post on a forum that doesn't contain the word "if" when related to the Cowboys. Sure, it's a common word. And it's a very common word in Cowboys circles these days. Everything hinges on "if". When "if" doesn't happen, it sucks for Cowboys fans.
Last year, the Cowboys went into December 12-1. And there we were still hollering "if". What's wrong with that picture? "If" it's the coaching, then it's been the coaching for 12 years. "If" it's the players, then it's been the players for 12 years. "If" it's the owner's meddling, then it's been the owner's meddling for 12 years.
I say, "if" you're still a Cowboys fan after 12 years of this crap, then you're as crazy as I am. Obviously, we all are closet masochists to put up with this abuse over and over. Imagine what it would be like "if" we could have a season where we could proclaim our love for the Cowboys and not be ashamed of the way they ended their season.
Oh, man. . . . . what "if" . . . ."
And here we are this year. Nine games into the season and they're 5-4. And it's "if they can win against Washington, they'll get some confidence" and "if they can just win five more of the remaining seven. . . " and "if the defense steps it up. . . ." and "if the offense can score more points. . . ." and "if the defense can put pressure on the opposing quarterback. . . ." and "if Tony Romo can get the ball to his receivers. . . . and "if the receivers catch the ball. . . ." and "if the cornerbacks get some interceptions. . . ." and "if the offensive line decides to actually block this season. . . ."
You get the idea. It's all about "if". If this and if that. It is practically impossible to find an article or even a reply to a post on a forum that doesn't contain the word "if" when related to the Cowboys. Sure, it's a common word. And it's a very common word in Cowboys circles these days. Everything hinges on "if". When "if" doesn't happen, it sucks for Cowboys fans.
Last year, the Cowboys went into December 12-1. And there we were still hollering "if". What's wrong with that picture? "If" it's the coaching, then it's been the coaching for 12 years. "If" it's the players, then it's been the players for 12 years. "If" it's the owner's meddling, then it's been the owner's meddling for 12 years.
I say, "if" you're still a Cowboys fan after 12 years of this crap, then you're as crazy as I am. Obviously, we all are closet masochists to put up with this abuse over and over. Imagine what it would be like "if" we could have a season where we could proclaim our love for the Cowboys and not be ashamed of the way they ended their season.
Oh, man. . . . . what "if" . . . ."
Monday, November 3, 2008
Postcards from LaLa Land - Nov. 2008
Well, okie dokie, folks. It's time to read a few postcards from LaLa Land. After watching the Cowboys go from (as one writer called it. . .) "first to worst", I thought it was time to take a look at the mailbag and see what we're hearing from LaLa Land these days. In LaLa Land, the Cowboys can be in the 16th week of the season, with one game left to play and a 1-14 record and someone will tell us that the Cowboys still have a chance to make the playoffs. They use a different kind of math in LaLa Land, you know. Anyway, here are some excerpts from LaLa Land mail"
cmoney said:
in the back of everyones head going into this week we knew we where going to loose this game... but the way i see it is, we can regroup and get healthy in the bye week... and when we come back we will hopefully have romo, and felix jones back, and i see us going 11-5 this season!
washingtion: we are coming off the bye with plenty of time to study for this offense again and this is a must win... we will!
san fransico: (should have newman back) win
seattle: win
pittsburg: hard fought game but we might loose this one!
new york: pay back time! win!!!
baltimore: we are finding our stride... win
philly: mcnabb should be out for the season, like he has been for the last several years and we need it to make the play offs... win!
so as you can see i think we have a legitimet shot at 11-5 or 10-6 at the worst, but as long as we get hot out of the bye we will be ok!
This person thinks this Dallas Cowboys team can win seven games in a row, with five of those games being the last five of the season. The Cowboys haven't won more than two of their last five games but once in the past twelve seasons. But, in LaLa Land, the Cowboys have a "legitimet" chance of this, whatever that is.
supercowboy8 said:
i agree we still have a great shot at the playoffs and going 12-4 11-5 or 10-6
A great shot, he says. . . . First of all, if they go 10-6, they'll need more than their record alone to get into the playoffs. This will require the Redskins and/or Eagles to lose some games, and no telling what else to happen to get the Cowboys into the playoffs with 10-6. The first thing that'll be required, of course, is for the Cowboys to win five more games. Contrary from what our first letter from LaLa Land intimates, there's certainly no guarantee this will happen. Sure, several of the injured players will be back on the active list, but those players have been sitting on the bench for weeks, even months for some and they are going to be rusty. So, I don't think there's a "great shot" for them to make the playoffs. In fact, I believe they have a much greater shot of not getting to the playoffs and it will require much less effort. Effort being one of the things that just happens to be lacking on this team right now. I also think they have a much greater shot of going 8-8 than I do 12-4. Do I like it? Of course not. But sometimes not living in LaLa Land has its downside.
supercowboy8 said:
this season is far from over. We can still make the playoffs easy. We have 7 games left and now we will have everyone back and healthy. All we have to do is win 5 out of the last 7 games and we get a wild card.
Well, of course, the first sentence is correct. The Cowboys have seven more games in which to show they are capable of climbing out of a huge hole like the Giants did last season. Unfortunately, they can use those seven games to show us they don't have to wait until December to begin their yearly meltdown, presuming they haven't already started it. And he's right that "all we have to do is win 5 out of the last 7. Unfortunately, in the past 12 years, they have only been capable of winning 3 out of 5 once. Yet, in LaLa Land, that 5 out of the last 7 seems like a walk in the park, regardless of the tough schedule ahead of them.
Mr_A said:
OFFENSE:
Johnson throws for 250 yards and 3 TDS.
Johnson throws 6 passes over 25 yards in-the-air.
Barber runs 17-for-105 yards 1 TD
T. Choice 7-for-205 yards 2TDs
Owens 6 pass receptions 130 yards / 1 running play of 9 yards.
Roy Williams 5 receptions 95 yards
Miles Ausin -1 TD, 4 catches 170 yards
M. Bennett, TE - 2 TDs 67 yards
Cowboys Defense shuts Giants down in the defensive game of the Century.
Cowboys 41
Giants 0
I had to include this one. This was in a thread predicting the final score of the Giants game. This person apparently believed (or hoped or prayed) that the Cowboys would win 41-0. Obviously, in LaLa Land, there's an over abundance of hallucinogens available. The writer must have had a lucid moment, a rare event in LaLa Land, because he tried to make fun of his own prediction in a later post.
Now, in my last post to my blog, I stated unequivicably that the Cowboys would not go to the Superbowl this season, nor would they win the NFC East. I also stated they would barely have a winning record at the end of the season, if they did at all. I also said they would lose the Tampa Bay game and the Giants game in New York. I was wrong on the Tampa Bay game. I was right on the Giants game.
I do not think having an extra week to rest up this week is going to re-energize the Cowboys. There are far too many problems with this team, beginning with the coaching and followed by discipline and heart. Too much of some, not enough of others. This isn't going to be a Superbowl season. And sadly, I believe this means it's going to be several years before the Cowboys see another one of those.
Man, it's tough being a Cowboys fan year in and year out. To see as much talent as they have on this team this season just going up in smoke is just tough. I'll be here next season. Anxiously waiting for next year's postcards from LaLa Land. In the meantime, I think I'll stamp this mail "Insufficient Postage, Return To Sender".
Rod
cmoney said:
in the back of everyones head going into this week we knew we where going to loose this game... but the way i see it is, we can regroup and get healthy in the bye week... and when we come back we will hopefully have romo, and felix jones back, and i see us going 11-5 this season!
washingtion: we are coming off the bye with plenty of time to study for this offense again and this is a must win... we will!
san fransico: (should have newman back) win
seattle: win
pittsburg: hard fought game but we might loose this one!
new york: pay back time! win!!!
baltimore: we are finding our stride... win
philly: mcnabb should be out for the season, like he has been for the last several years and we need it to make the play offs... win!
so as you can see i think we have a legitimet shot at 11-5 or 10-6 at the worst, but as long as we get hot out of the bye we will be ok!
This person thinks this Dallas Cowboys team can win seven games in a row, with five of those games being the last five of the season. The Cowboys haven't won more than two of their last five games but once in the past twelve seasons. But, in LaLa Land, the Cowboys have a "legitimet" chance of this, whatever that is.
supercowboy8 said:
i agree we still have a great shot at the playoffs and going 12-4 11-5 or 10-6
A great shot, he says. . . . First of all, if they go 10-6, they'll need more than their record alone to get into the playoffs. This will require the Redskins and/or Eagles to lose some games, and no telling what else to happen to get the Cowboys into the playoffs with 10-6. The first thing that'll be required, of course, is for the Cowboys to win five more games. Contrary from what our first letter from LaLa Land intimates, there's certainly no guarantee this will happen. Sure, several of the injured players will be back on the active list, but those players have been sitting on the bench for weeks, even months for some and they are going to be rusty. So, I don't think there's a "great shot" for them to make the playoffs. In fact, I believe they have a much greater shot of not getting to the playoffs and it will require much less effort. Effort being one of the things that just happens to be lacking on this team right now. I also think they have a much greater shot of going 8-8 than I do 12-4. Do I like it? Of course not. But sometimes not living in LaLa Land has its downside.
supercowboy8 said:
this season is far from over. We can still make the playoffs easy. We have 7 games left and now we will have everyone back and healthy. All we have to do is win 5 out of the last 7 games and we get a wild card.
Well, of course, the first sentence is correct. The Cowboys have seven more games in which to show they are capable of climbing out of a huge hole like the Giants did last season. Unfortunately, they can use those seven games to show us they don't have to wait until December to begin their yearly meltdown, presuming they haven't already started it. And he's right that "all we have to do is win 5 out of the last 7. Unfortunately, in the past 12 years, they have only been capable of winning 3 out of 5 once. Yet, in LaLa Land, that 5 out of the last 7 seems like a walk in the park, regardless of the tough schedule ahead of them.
Mr_A said:
OFFENSE:
Johnson throws for 250 yards and 3 TDS.
Johnson throws 6 passes over 25 yards in-the-air.
Barber runs 17-for-105 yards 1 TD
T. Choice 7-for-205 yards 2TDs
Owens 6 pass receptions 130 yards / 1 running play of 9 yards.
Roy Williams 5 receptions 95 yards
Miles Ausin -1 TD, 4 catches 170 yards
M. Bennett, TE - 2 TDs 67 yards
Cowboys Defense shuts Giants down in the defensive game of the Century.
Cowboys 41
Giants 0
I had to include this one. This was in a thread predicting the final score of the Giants game. This person apparently believed (or hoped or prayed) that the Cowboys would win 41-0. Obviously, in LaLa Land, there's an over abundance of hallucinogens available. The writer must have had a lucid moment, a rare event in LaLa Land, because he tried to make fun of his own prediction in a later post.
Now, in my last post to my blog, I stated unequivicably that the Cowboys would not go to the Superbowl this season, nor would they win the NFC East. I also stated they would barely have a winning record at the end of the season, if they did at all. I also said they would lose the Tampa Bay game and the Giants game in New York. I was wrong on the Tampa Bay game. I was right on the Giants game.
I do not think having an extra week to rest up this week is going to re-energize the Cowboys. There are far too many problems with this team, beginning with the coaching and followed by discipline and heart. Too much of some, not enough of others. This isn't going to be a Superbowl season. And sadly, I believe this means it's going to be several years before the Cowboys see another one of those.
Man, it's tough being a Cowboys fan year in and year out. To see as much talent as they have on this team this season just going up in smoke is just tough. I'll be here next season. Anxiously waiting for next year's postcards from LaLa Land. In the meantime, I think I'll stamp this mail "Insufficient Postage, Return To Sender".
Rod
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