2013 Dallas Cowboys - Expensively Mediocre

LondonSox · Dec 16, 2013

Not even Dallas can choke vs Washington! Right??

It's a must win for them, because the Eagles play late. And as you say and Eagles win would mean Dallas would be out. Plus Washington is epically self destructing right now.

A loss to them in a must win game would surely see a lot of heads roll. I mean even if the Eagles lose to Chicago and you get a second chance would anyone have any confidence in them after that?

Still a double loss and a winner takes all crap shoot would fit the nfc east well.

dynomite · Dec 16, 2013

It will be very difficult for the Eagles to clinch in Week 16, both because the Cowboys are playing a terrible team and because the Eagles are playing a pretty good team.

Also, I would imagine the folks at NBC are praying to a variety of Gods that PHI @ DAL is a "win & in" game, especially in two large TV markets. Part of the point of flexing CHI @ PHI to SNF in Week 16 was to be able to pick from the entire slate of games in Week 17. But if the Eagles have already clinched, at the moment it doesn't look like there will be many solid alternatives.

- If the Lions lose to BAL, NYG, or MIN and GB/CHI both win, then GB @ CHI could be "win & in"
- If the Bengals lose to MIN & the Ravens beat NE, then BAL @ CIN could be "win & in"

That's about it, if I'm looking at this correctly.

Bosoxen · Dec 16, 2013

EP Sox Fan said:
I really don't want to hear about playoffs. This team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs an isn't going anywhere even it happens to sneak in by virtue of being in the worst division in the NFL. Seriously, how could any team with a defense that inept legitimately think it has any chance to win a game against any of the other NFC playoff teams? The roster is paper thin and ravaged by injuries. Their defense just made Matt Flynn look like Aaron Rodgers. And their coaches continually fail at their job. First half? Defense and offense did whatever they wanted to. Second half? Green Bay made some adjustments on both sides of the ball and the Cowboys couldn't. Kiffin looks like he's completely and routinely overmatched. Lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball really doesn't help.

Seriously. I'm tired of all the "we control our own destiny" bullshit. What's the point? If anything, making the playoffs will only serve to set the franchise back even further because Jerry can then point to the playoff berth and say, "See? We're making progress!" Fuck that shit. I want them to lose both games in embarrassing fashion - not at all outside of the realm of possibility - and force them to have to make major changes to the coaching staff and roster. Not that they will, but a 7-9 finish will make it more likely than 8-8 or 9-7 with backing into the playoffs.

Enough is enough.

dynomite said:
It will be very difficult for the Eagles to clinch in Week 16, both because the Cowboys are playing a terrible team and because the Eagles are playing a pretty good team.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The Eagles are a nightmare matchup for the Bears. We're talking about the best rushing offense in football against the worst rushing defense. You can bet that the Eagles will run roughshod over the Bears' defense, much like the Cowboys did, but they won't be so stupid as to abandon the one fucking thing they're doing correctly. I expect the Eagles to win a close game and then obliterate the Cowboys in Week 17 to put an end to this farce of a season.

Stitch01 · Dec 16, 2013

dynomite said:
It will be very difficult for the Eagles to clinch in Week 16, both because the Cowboys are playing a terrible team and because the Eagles are playing a pretty good team.

Also, I would imagine the folks at NBC are praying to a variety of Gods that PHI @ DAL is a "win & in" game, especially in two large TV markets. Part of the point of flexing CHI @ PHI to SNF in Week 16 was to be able to pick from the entire slate of games in Week 17. But if the Eagles have already clinched, at the moment it doesn't look like there will be many solid alternatives.

- If the Lions lose to BAL, NYG, or MIN and GB/CHI both win, then GB @ CHI could be "win & in"
- If the Bengals lose to MIN & the Ravens beat NE, then BAL @ CIN could be "win & in"

That's about it, if I'm looking at this correctly.

NBC really needs that Eagles/Cowboys setup to work. Otherwise their only sure bet for a meaningful game might be Miami @ Jets.

Oil Can Dan · Dec 16, 2013

Dallas is 1-2 when scoring 35 points this season. The rest of the league is like 45-2 or something.

How Jerry thought that Monte Kiffin would work out is beyond me. Not hindsight either. Everyone on the planet saw this coming.

For all the grief Dan Snyder takes at least he has the ability to more or less get out of the way on football operations. Until Jerry gets out of the way on the draft and player personnel and brings in a strong GM that can bring in talented coaches and let them do their jobs, the Boys are screwed.

Oil Can Dan · Dec 16, 2013

The only scenario that game doesn't matter is if Philly beats Chicago and the Boys blow the DC game. I'd say those are some long odds.

RedOctober3829 · Dec 16, 2013

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 1m
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant told reporters he left field early Sunday so no one would see him cry.

I think I've seen it all now.

Bosoxen · Dec 16, 2013

RedOctober3829 said:
I think I've seen it all now.

Dez may be a lot of things but an individual who doesn't care is not one of them. The dude wears his heart on his sleeve, so I actually do buy that explanation. The only other plausible explanation was that he didn't want to murder Jason Garrett, so he left to go cool off.

I guess one could also argue that his plan was to run up to the booth to murder Bill Callahan. I'd buy that, too.

Greg29fan · Dec 16, 2013

Oil Can Dan said:
Dallas is 1-2 when scoring 35 points this season. The rest of the league is like 45-2 or something.

From Schefty -

When scoring 35 or more points in a game this season, Dallas is 1-2. When scoring 35 or more points this season, other teams are 51-2.

dynomite · Dec 16, 2013

Oil Can Dan said:
The only scenario that game doesn't matter is if Philly beats Chicago and the Boys blow the DC game. I'd say those are some long odds.

Right. Cowboys have opened as a 3-point favorite in Washington. Upsets happen, of course, but with the Redskins in complete and utter disarray it doesn't seem all that likely.

LondonSox · Dec 16, 2013

dynomite said:
Right. Cowboys have opened as a 3-point favorite in Washington. Upsets happen, of course, but with the Redskins in complete and utter disarray it doesn't seem all that likely.

3 points? that's it?

Greg29fan · Dec 16, 2013

I think they'll absolutely lose to Washington. Cousins looked like he had a pulse yesterday; that should get him 4 or 5 TDs against the Cowboys.

Bosoxen · Dec 16, 2013

Greg29fan said:
I think they'll absolutely lose to Washington. Cousins looked like he had a pulse yesterday; that should get him 4 or 5 TDs against the Cowboys.

Put me in this camp, as well. The Redskins may be in "disarray" but the Cowboys are an absolute disaster right now. They're decimated by injuries, they're either old or cripplingly inexperienced at just about every position on defense and the coaching staff hasn't got a God damned clue. I would be shocked if the Cowboys won that game.

SMU_Sox · Dec 16, 2013

Which means they win this one. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Dallas wins by 2 TDS. The defense will make a few plays and Cowboy fans will think they have a chance before Chip Kelly comes to down and the Cowboys golf for another year in the playoffs.

Greg29fan · Dec 18, 2013

Terrance Williams is now injured with...wait for it....a hamstring!

Greg29fan · Dec 18, 2013

EP Sox Fan said:
Something in the water at Valley Ranch or what? Is there another team in all of pro sports that struggles with the same type of injury on this consistent of a basis?

In other news, GM Jerry thinks he's doing a fantastic job and there's no need for a change...ever. If insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, does continuing to be a Cowboys fan while GM Jerry is running the team mean that I am insane?

I also enjoyed him calling the abortion on Sunday a "show" and that everybody should be entertained.

Bosoxen · Dec 18, 2013

EP Sox Fan said:
Something in the water at Valley Ranch or what? Is there another team in all of pro sports that struggles with the same type of injury on this consistent of a basis?

In other news, GM Jerry thinks he's doing a fantastic job and there's no need for a change...ever. If insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, does continuing to be a Cowboys fan while GM Jerry is running the team mean that I am insane?

Didn't Fox flash a graphic showing that the Cowboys were second in the league behind the Bengals regarding hamstring injuries? Maybe that'll answer the second part of your first question. The first part is that their conditioning is a joke. I'd be inclined to point the finger at Mike Woicik but I'm going out on a limb and guess that it's a function of Jerry's country club atmosphere, particularly in training camp.

The answer to your final question is, "Depends." Did you expect things to turn out differently this season or did you expect the Cowboys to be 8-8 again this season? If the latter, I think it's safe to say at worst you suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. If the former, you need to be fitted for a straight jacket, pronto.

Kliq · Dec 18, 2013

Having Washington and Dallas play each other is like having two flaming fords crash into each other. Can't believe the game could mean the playoffs. If you are San Francisco or Carolina, how stoked are you that you could be playing THIS team in the first round?

Bosoxen said:
Seriously. I'm tired of all the "we control our own destiny" bullshit. What's the point? If anything, making the playoffs will only serve to set the franchise back even further because Jerry can then point to the playoff berth and say, "See? We're making progress!" Fuck that shit. I want them to lose both games in embarrassing fashion - not at all outside of the realm of possibility - and force them to have to make major changes to the coaching staff and roster. Not that they will, but a 7-9 finish will make it more likely than 8-8 or 9-7 with backing into the playoffs.

This is 100% true. If the Cowboys always maximize their fans suffering, then they will make the playoffs this year, and Jerry will give the whole coaching staff big extensions while every Cowboys fan is wasted from the probable 35-7 loss to San Francisco in the first round.

axx · Dec 18, 2013

I didn't see the game, but after looking at the play log, I don't have any problem with the play selection. They got 10 points in the second half. What killed the Cowboys was the first pick that Romo threw. Two runs that get a first down basically ends the game. Hell, a sack and a small pass that keeps the clock running to the TMW would have meant that the Packers would have gone the length of the field to take the lead. Instead it's Packers ball at midfield with 2:40 left.

Bosoxen · Dec 19, 2013

axx has to be a Jason Garrett hoax account, right?

Dan Murfman · Dec 22, 2013

So we get the heartbreak next week!

Greg29fan · Dec 22, 2013

It was gonna happen one way or the other. I had both them and the Eagles losing today but this works too...probably better.

axx · Dec 22, 2013

EP Sox Fan said:
Huh? They got 10 points. The Packers got 34. The Packers had three drives for TDs over 80 yards. The defense couldn't even make them breathe heavily. Murray was averaging over 7 yards per carry. If you switch the run/pass ratio you keep their offense, led by all-world against the Cowboys pass defense QB Matt Flynn, off the field. You also tire out their defense. Even if you don't get points at the end of the drives, you're chewing up the clock. Every incompletion stops the clock and gives them more time to run up the score. Romo's first pick was killer. But he should have never have been in that situation to begin with. They needed one of those clock killing 16 play 8 - 9 minute drives to kill that game. Not 5 plays and a punt that takes 1:30 off the clock.

You can't just sit back with a lead anymore in the new NFL, you have to continue to score points... and they did that. They had 3 drives before the one that ended with the first pick, and scored on 2. That should have been enough for a 23 point lead at halftime.

Bosoxen · Dec 23, 2013

axx said:
You can't just sit back with a lead anymore in the new NFL, you have to continue to score points... and they did that. They had 3 drives before the one that ended with the first pick, and scored on 2. That should have been enough for a 23 point lead at halftime.

Look, no one's saying you go into a shell and stop scoring points. Especially when you see that the Packers are scoring at will. But for the love of fuck, you do not abandon a running game that was shredding the opposing defense. I have never, in my entire lifetime, seen a team with a 20+ point lead run the ball only 18 times. EIGHTEEN. Bill Parcells would have run the ball 18 times in a single quarter with that kind of a lead.

What they did was completely inexcusable. If they were averaging 3.0 yards per carry, I could sort of buy that explanation. But they averaged 7.4 yards per carry! They were running at will and could have beaten the Packers into submission. They were starting to look tired at the end of the first half. A well-run team keeps up the pressure and runs them out of the yard in the second half. Instead, they got cute and did exactly what the Packers needed to climb back into the game.

Not to be outdone, they did the same fucking thing yesterday. Only, this time, they were playing a terrible team and were able to get away with it, despite committing two stupid turnovers. Had that been a team hovering near .500, they lose again and are out of the playoffs (not that that's necessarily a bad thing at this point).

The Cowboys are in the top 10 in the league in yards per rush, but are second to last in rushing attempts. Seriously.

Bosoxen · Dec 23, 2013

Now imagine what he would have been able to do with 250-300 carries, instead of the 210-215 with which he'll end up.

SMU_Sox · Dec 23, 2013

Bosoxen said:
Now imagine what he would have been able to do with 250-300 carries, instead of the 210-215 with which he'll end up.

Even if you alternated carries they need to run more. Murray is a fantastic runner. Football Outsiders, PFF, advanced NFL stats, my eyes, I mean everything tells me he is a fantastic runner. Look at his yards per carry. He's 6th in yards after contact. The guy is an absolutely dynamic playmaker and doesn't get enough ball. Plus the play action game opens up when he is going. The defense has to commit more to stopping the run or he'll get 5+ per carry which is efficient. Their offense is too talented for their results. The defense is another story.

Bosoxen · Dec 23, 2013

SMU_Sox said:
Even if you alternated carries they need to run more. Murray is a fantastic runner. Football Outsiders, PFF, advanced NFL stats, my eyes, I mean everything tells me he is a fantastic runner. Look at his yards per carry. He's 6th in yards after contact. The guy is an absolutely dynamic playmaker and doesn't get enough ball. Plus the play action game opens up when he is going. The defense has to commit more to stopping the run or he'll get 5+ per carry which is efficient. Their offense is too talented for their results. The defense is another story.

Makes one wonder why they don't use play action more, doesn't it?

CaptainLaddie · Dec 23, 2013

Romo ruled out for rest of season per Schefter.

CaptainLaddie · Dec 23, 2013

Can NBC re-flex the Packers/Bears game now? Yikes.

Morning Woodhead · Dec 23, 2013

Wow, where the hell did that come from.

Greg29fan · Dec 23, 2013

Well that's a fitting end to the Cowboys' season.

CaptainLaddie · Dec 23, 2013

It's all over Twitter.

Greg29fan · Dec 23, 2013

BigSoxFan said:
I haven't seen any link to support this. Did Shefter just say over the air or something?

Mort and Schefty on Twitter

Stitch01 · Dec 23, 2013

Kyle Orton playing with the season on the line, amazing!

Tim Tebow still freely available.

SMU_Sox · Dec 23, 2013

CBS Sports mobile is running with it too.

Morning Woodhead · Dec 23, 2013

I didn't see the game on Sunday. Was he banged up? Did it occur during the game?

Dehere · Dec 23, 2013

Cut-ins coming on multiple networks at 4:45p. Wowsers.

SMU_Sox · Dec 23, 2013

My Eagles 10-6 NFC East Champions is looking pretty pretty pretty pretty good right now.

Greg29fan · Dec 23, 2013

Morning Woodhead said:
I didn't see the game on Sunday. Was he banged up? Did it occur during the game?

He aggravated it on the field goal drive in the 4th quarter but he's been playing through something.

jsinger121 · Dec 23, 2013

This may save Garrett's job. Unbelievable.

lithos2003 · Dec 23, 2013

Here's a link since no one has posted one yet...

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/10187713/tony-romo-dallas-cowboys-miss-rest-season

Greg29fan · Dec 23, 2013

BigSoxFan said:
If this saves Garrett's job, talk about a double whammy. Amazingly, Romo turns 34 in April. Cowboys may need to search for his replacement a little sooner than expected.

Only if you believe Garrett's job was ever at risk, which I don't.

singaporesoxfan · Dec 23, 2013

Wow, Tony Romo threw his back out and it didn't get intercepted.

SMU_Sox · Dec 23, 2013

singaporesoxfan said:
Wow, Tony Romo threw his back out and it didn't get intercepted.

31 TDs 10 INT but the point still stands. Well played sir.

Oil Can Dan · Dec 23, 2013

Not sure this is good news for the Eagles...

RedOctober3829 · Dec 23, 2013

One's back tends to hurt while carrying an entire team

Bosoxen · Dec 23, 2013

Not sure this is good news for the Eagles...

This can't be overstated. The Cowboys are clearly a much better running team than in years past. And now without the Romo crutch, they may actually run the ball 25-30 times. Granted, the game plan's success is predicated on the defense doing its best impression of an NFL defense but it'll be interesting to see what they do when they actually make the quarterback drive it like a bus, rather than a rally car.

2013 Dallas Cowboys - Expensively Mediocre

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