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At the time I didn't really think it was a smart move to spike the ball on first down on the final drive because it cost them a down. I wasn't even really thinking about the extra time that it would potentially leave on the clock either. Not spiking it on first down could have won Dallas the game potentially.
It was a terrible decision. We wondered what they were doing there. I would have ran the ball once because the packers were on their heels. They were bailed out on that spike.
The Cowboys should feel some optimism and will be the favorites in the NFC East but
Everything went right for them this year with health and some luck. I expect things to be more of a dogfight next year in the division with the Eagles being improved. They'll also draw the AFC West which will be tougher than this year's AFC North. On top of the divisions, they'll get the first place Packers, Falcons and Seahawks. The only pushover teams they'll draw is San Fran & the Rams.
Can they also stay healthy on both sides of the ball? In years past, we've seen injuries to Bryant, Sean Lee and others that killed their season. Besides Bryant missing a few games, they were completely healthy this year. I'm not bashing Dallas here but in this age of parity it's an outside shot to win 12 or 13 games again. They'll be the favorites but will have to earn their way to the playoffs.
As long as Dallas has their lineman locked up for the next few years, they will have no issues competing. That line is the best in football and is a large reason their team won 13 games this year. They had 3 guys on the All Pro First Team for 2016.
NFC East as of right now, is going to be a division to watch for 2017. Assuming Washington retains Cousins it's going to be a very tough division next year.
The Cowboys should feel some optimism and will be the favorites in the NFC East but
Everything went right for them this year with health and some luck. I expect things to be more of a dogfight next year in the division with the Eagles being improved. They'll also draw the AFC West which will be tougher than this year's AFC North. On top of the divisions, they'll get the first place Packers, Falcons and Seahawks. The only pushover teams they'll draw is San Fran & the Rams.
Can they also stay healthy on both sides of the ball? In years past, we've seen injuries to Bryant, Sean Lee and others that killed their season. Besides Bryant missing a few games, they were completely healthy this year. I'm not bashing Dallas here but in this age of parity it's an outside shot to win 12 or 13 games again. They'll be the favorites but will have to earn their way to the playoffs.
I absolutely expect them to struggle more next year. You are right that until last night, the ball always seemed to bounce their way this year.. I bet they don't win 13 games next year but i do expect them to win 11 or 12 and win the NFC East.. they will be better next year, they may not have as many regular season wins but they will be better and they will advance further in the playoffs.. Its been a LONG time since i really felt that way, now i do and barring injury to Dak .. i am willing to bet on it!
The last 3 playoff winning seasons for the Cowboys have been followed by a disappointing injury filled (specifically ROMO), losing season! ARGH! I think they can overcome any star player injury except for DAK.. the proved this year they can win without Dez.. and god help 'em if they lost Zeke for any length of time.. but loss of DAK would be a train wreck because RIGHT now (or once Romo is officially gone) they HAVE NO BACKUP QB>>>
As long as Dallas has their lineman locked up for the next few years, they will have no issues competing. That line is the best in football and is a large reason their team won 13 games this year. They had 3 guys on the All Pro First Team for 2016.
NFC East as of right now, is going to be a division to watch for 2017. Assuming Washington retains Cousins it's going to be a very tough division next year.
The Cowboys have the opportunity to dominate the NFC East for several years. The Giants will need to make decisions on long-term plans past Eli Manning. The Redskins need to resign Cousins, or shop for a quarterback. The Eagles need another season to find themselves.
The Cowboys should feel some optimism and will be the favorites in the NFC East but
Everything went right for them this year with health and some luck. I expect things to be more of a dogfight next year in the division with the Eagles being improved. They'll also draw the AFC West which will be tougher than this year's AFC North. On top of the divisions, they'll get the first place Packers, Falcons and Seahawks. The only pushover teams they'll draw is San Fran & the Rams.
Can they also stay healthy on both sides of the ball? In years past, we've seen injuries to Bryant, Sean Lee and others that killed their season. Besides Bryant missing a few games, they were completely healthy this year. I'm not bashing Dallas here but in this age of parity it's an outside shot to win 12 or 13 games again. They'll be the favorites but will have to earn their way to the playoffs.
i agree with you JV, the cowboys had the advantage of a healthy team all year long. that likely wont happen next season, as i expect a few people to go down with injury. however i figure the cowboys will use the draft and free agency to mitigate those issues.
as for not having a back up for next season, is everyone forgetting about kellen moore? he was injured in he preseason, and was out for the season, but he will be back for 2017, and is a very good back up quarterback. all dallas needs now is a number three quarterback, not sanchez. he couldnt navigate his way out of a paper bag with tom brady helping him.
the other thing dallas needs to address is their defense, primarily the secondary. though they did well this year, things are going to get tougher next season, and dallas wont dominate like they did this season. i do figure however that they should win the division again, but with something more like an 11-5 record, splitting with the giants and eagles and sweeping the redskins, though barely.
the NFC east will be a tough division next season.
Everyone is analyzing last nights game from the wrong perspective. While it's true, Greenbay is on fire, the Cowboys ARE the better team. The problem was simple and it's called the bye week. Fresh legs, sure, but out of synch, every team is coming off a bye week. And the Cowboys essentially had not played a meaningful game in four weeks until last night.
So what happened? The Cowboys were tight, going through the motions until the third QT, when they started just playing and being the Cowboys they were all year. It was too late.
Don;t believe this bye week phenomenon? Look at New England, they struggled with possibly the worst team to be this far in the playoffs in NFL history. We all know New England to the best team in the league overall and they looked so flat. They will play better next week.
Cowboys were just still for 2 quarters and got behind 21-3 and could not catch up. Had the game started in the 3qt, scoreless with 4 quarters out from, the Cowboys win that game something like 31-13, or by more. They were the better team, just couldn't get it going until it was too late.
Everyone is analyzing last nights game from the wrong perspective. While it's true, Greenbay is on fire, the Cowboys ARE the better team. The problem was simple and it's called the bye week. Fresh legs, sure, but out of synch, every team is coming off a bye week. And the Cowboys essentially had not played a meaningful game in four weeks until last night.
So what happened? The Cowboys were tight, going through the motions until the third QT, when they started just playing and being the Cowboys they were all year. It was too late.
Don;t believe this bye week phenomenon? Look at New England, they struggled with possibly the worst team to be this far in the playoffs in NFL history. We all know New England to the best team in the league overall and they looked so flat. They will play better next week.
Cowboys were just still for 2 quarters and got behind 21-3 and could not catch up. Had the game started in the 3qt, scoreless with 4 quarters out from, the Cowboys win that game something like 31-13, or by more. They were the better team, just couldn't get it going until it was too late.
That's right - I don't believe it. Your sample size of two games is statistically meaningless.
Collectively over the last ten seasons, NFL teams are 39 games over .500 after bye weeks. The reality is that, on average, NFL teams perform better after bye weeks than they do otherwise. That's not simply an opinion, it's what the data shows
I don't care for Dallas or Green Bay (I'm a Falcons fan). I thought Dallas spent the first 3 quarters playing defense "not to lose"- very tentative and cautious. Against Aaron Rodgers- very stupid. The Cowboys had the better team, but the better team does not always win. I hope Atlanta plays aggressive defensively against Rodgers.
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