2023 Season | Week 16 | Gameday Chatter Thread | Cowboys @ Dolphins | 12/24/2023

[Simpleton]

Knock it off, what's the point? Last week we got rolled by a tough physical team. Nobody seemed concerned since we backed into the playoffs. It was nothing to worry about, right? Today we lose to a finesse team. It's ok, we got Detroit at home with an outside chance of winning the division. Spoiler alert, not happening. Gonna be an early playoff exit. Get used to it.

Winning today would've had absolutely 0 impact on our chances of winning the division.

 

[p1_]

Winning today would've had absolutely 0 impact on our chances of winning the division.

That just sounds weird .

 

[Genghis Khan]

That was always the case and we knew that going in. Sucks to lose this game, especially since it was winnable. But it didn't change much and wouldn't have even if we won.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I haven't read most of the thread but even if it was said a thousand times, it bears repeating.

That fumble from Leupke at the goal line on the first drive was enormous, and obviously changes everything.

 

[Rev]

That was always the case and we knew that going in. Sucks to lose those game, especially since it was winnable. But it didn't change much and wouldn't have even if we won.

It would have changed a lot. Not division wise but their belief in themselves. The doubts are already showing publicly with statements from Micah and Dak questioning why and its just going to get worse as they keep losing these kind of games.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I didn’t care that the game is in Dallas next week. They will lose to the Lions. They are mentally fragile right now and the Lions will also be too physical for them

I disagree. I think we win next week. Maybe by a lot.

 

[p1_]

I disagree. I think we win next week. Maybe by a lot.

Suddenly optimistic?

 

[Genghis Khan]

It would have changed a lot. Not division wise but their belief in themselves. The doubts are already showing publicly with statements from Micah and Dak questioning why and its just going to get worse as they keep losing these kind of games.

I'm just talking about the math of winning the division.

But, I don't think this changes the psyche of the team at all. If they can't get past losing games like this, they were never mentally strong enough to begin with (which may actually be true).

 

[p1_]

I haven't read most of the thread but even if it was said a thousand times, it's bears repeating.

That fumble from Leupke at the goal line on the first drive was enormous, and obviously changes everything.

Why get cute? Just hand it to Pollard and be done.

 

[Couchcoach]

Winning today would've had absolutely 0 impact on our chances of winning the division.

It's not about the outcome of the game. These two losses are an indicator of the real problem. A contender would've won both of these games. We're not a contender. Regardless of what happens against Detroit and Washington, we're just not built to win big games.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I disagree. I think we win next week. Maybe by a lot.

Just saw we're 6 point favorites.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Winning today would've had absolutely 0 impact on our chances of winning the division.

That may be true but it is very telling in so much as this group cannot get past the performances of folding against good teams. The groups that make the playoffs are for the most part pretty good teams and that is not a mix that Dallas can seem to overcome. Sometime the Cowboys will have to show they can stand toe to toe against the better teams but that just hasnt happened to date this season. Now tell me that will change once the playoffs start. The Division as a goal is indeed irrelevant. There are no easy targets at that level.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Suddenly optimistic?

No, it's not so much optimism because I think in the end this is a divisional round losing team.

But I'm just reading the tea leaves of the ebb and flow of the season.

We just lost two in a row and now are coming home where we play way, way better. It's also a game that we can't afford to lose if we want the division.

Meanwhile Detroit is coming off of a high of just having won their division.

We need the game more than they do, we're at home, and I think we're better than Detroit.

It's actually set up nicely for us.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Just saw we're 6 point favorites.

Pretty telling. Vegas knows.

 

[Simpleton]

It's not about the outcome of the game. These two losses are an indicator of the real problem. A contender would've won both of these games. We're not a contender. Regardless of what happens against Detroit and Washington, we're just not built to win big games.

A favorite would've won both, a top 2ish team in the league, but that doesn't mean we aren't contenders. We're arguably the second best team in the NFC, we just aren't favorites obviously.

There are probably 6 or so legitimate contenders each year but there's no way a team like KC or Detroit would've won both of these.

 

[p1_]

No, it's not so much optimism because I think in the end this is a divisional round losing team.

But I'm just reading the tea leaves of the ebb and flow of the season.

We just lost two in a row and now are coming home where we play way, way better. It's also a game that we can't afford to lose if we want the division.

Meanwhile Detroit is coming off of a high of just having won their division.

We need the game more than they do, we're at home, and I think we're better than Detroit.

It's actually set up nicely for us.

Funny I said same earlier in the thread.

 

[Simpleton]

No, it's not so much optimism because I think in the end this is a divisional round losing team.

But I'm just reading the tea leaves of the ebb and flow of the season.

We just lost two in a row and now are coming home where we play way, way better. It's also a game that we can't afford to lose if we want the division.

Meanwhile Detroit is coming off of a high of just having won their division.

We need the game more than they do, we're at home, and I think we're better than Detroit.

It's actually set up nicely for us.

This is 1000% the truth.

 

[Couchcoach]

At this point, I wouldn't feel good about playing Philly on the road, at all. We may be able to beat Tampa. Beyond that I don't like our chances.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Why get cute? Just hand it to Pollard and be done.

I don't think that was getting cute. How many of us have been calling for Leupke to get goal line carries? Pollard isn't a short yardage back.

You just can't fumble there. That's on the player.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

At this point, I wouldn't feel good about playing Philly on the road, at all. We may be able to beat Tampa. Beyond that I don't like our chances.

I don't feel good either but if we win the next two, that's all we can do at this point. And hopefully get healthy. Then see what we can do in the playoffs.