Just think...

[Texas Ace]

Losing to Detroit would be similar to me to the 2007 loss to the Giants. You don't want to have this type of season then be 1 and done in the playoffs. That's a failure.

Exactly.

And for as many good things as we've achieved this year, I don't know if it all goes to waste if we lose, but the positive impact of what we did would take a big hit and strongly diminish the big character wins and the 4-0 December.

We all know how hard it's been to watch this team display it's loser mentality an thin skin over the years. That's what has made this season so great - the fact that they are doing everything opposite of what the old Cowboys used to do. This season could be the stepping stone to creating a new team mindset. All of the new faces coupled with this newfound character and mental toughness could end up creating a sustainable winning team for the first time in a long time. But if we lose to Detroit, guys will go into next season hoping not to fail, even if they've had a small taste of success.

We don't want these young guys going in thinking they can do it but hoping they don't falter. We want them to go into next year KNOWING they can get it done and believing that they are always going to find a way. Winning this game at home ensures the latter, but losing it could cause the former.

We have to win this game, period.

 

[mcnuttz]

For [MENTION=24]mschmidt64[/MENTION]...the Garrett Way is the Right Way!

 

[Cotton]

God damn. This is homer central

BELIEVE!!!

 

[dallen]

You guys disgust me.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Out of curiousity, the people who expected a 6-10 season this year, if the team had gone 7-9 you wouldn't have called this season a failure then? However because they went 12-4 a loss in the first round of the playoffs makes this season a failure? J

 

[Texas Ace]

Out of curiousity, the people who expected a 6-10 season this year, if the team had gone 7-9 you wouldn't have called this season a failure then? However because they went 12-4 a loss in the first round of the playoffs makes this season a failure? J

I expected 6-10, and I wouldn't have called this season a failure if we were 10-6 like the Eagles and missed out.....but again, expectations change.

After what I saw this team do after Thanksgiving, I would consider this season a failure for a team that went 12-4 and hosted a home playoff game if they couldn't notch a win in said home playoff game.

 

[mcnuttz]

Out of curiousity, the people who expected a 6-10 season this year, if the team had gone 7-9 you wouldn't have called this season a failure then? However because they went 12-4 a loss in the first round of the playoffs makes this season a failure? J

No, 7-9 wouldn't have been a failure.

When they run the ball, keep the defense rested, and let Romo pick defenses apart, I don't think they can be stopped this year.

My expectations have changed because they've shown in the last month that they're legit. So failing in the playoffs is just the same ol' shit.

Is it ok that we adjust our expectations?

 

[mcnuttz]

I've upped my expectations, so up yours.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The Skins played their ass off against Philly the week before.

Yeah, I know they did. I don't think they did against us.

Not saying we wouldn't have beaten them anyway -- of course we would have. But I don't think they were very into it, either.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I expected 6-10, and I wouldn't have called this season a failure if we were 10-6 like the Eagles and missed out.....but again, expectations change.

After what I saw this team do after Thanksgiving, I would consider this season a failure for a team that went 12-4 and hosted a home playoff game if they couldn't notch a win in said home playoff game.

I disagree. I don't think it makes the season a failure at all. I think it makes the game a disappointment but when you step back and look at the season in it's entirety I think this team took some major steps forward. I'm not going to ignore all of that because of one bad game.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Is it ok that we adjust our expectations?

I just think it's funny that a team exceeds people's expectations and instead of being happy about that we must raise the bar. You're basically asking to be pissed off no matter what the team does.

 

[Texas Ace]

I disagree. I don't think it makes the season a failure at all. I think it makes the game a disappointment but when you step back and look at the season in it's entirety I think this team took some major steps forward. I'm not going to ignore all of that because of one bad game.

If that one bad game occurs in the playoffs at home against a team that are better than, then you should view it as a failure.

 

[skidadl]

Out of curiousity, the people who expected a 6-10 season this year, if the team had gone 7-9 you wouldn't have called this season a failure then? However because they went 12-4 a loss in the first round of the playoffs makes this season a failure? J

My expectations changed with the team's capabilities. I honestly was doom and gloom for this team all the way. I thought that romo might be done and the defense would continue to be quitters with no talent. Since they have proven me really really wrong I have to reevaluate my expectations. They clearly are contenders now. I expect them to win agains the Lions. To not do that would be to underachieve at this point.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

If that one bad game occurs in the playoffs at home against a team that are better than, then you should view it as a failure.

It's one game though. Shit happens in the NFL and teams lose games all the time that they should win. Certainly the game itself would be a disappointment. I don't think you can wrap this entire season up into one game though. That's just silly in my opinion. Especially since you don't expect this team to win the superbowl either way.

 

[Texas Ace]

Especially since you don't expect this team to win the superbowl either way.

That is a loser's mentality.

"Hey, you didn't expect them to be good, so you can't get upset no matter how or when they lose."

GTFO with that nonsense.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

That is a loser's mentality.

"Hey, you didn't expect them to be good, so you can't get upset no matter how or when they lose."

GTFO with that nonsense.

So 12-4 with a playoff win and then a playoff loss is

12-4 with a playoff loss is

That's just retarded. Either way you're sitting at home watching the superbowl so the end result is exactly the same. Either way you still have a 12-4 team and a division winner. Just seems silly to throw a season away over one game. Now if you look at this team and say they should win the superbowl. Then I could see why a first round playoff loss would be a failure of a season.

 

[Texas Ace]

So 12-4 with a playoff win and then a playoff loss is

12-4 with a playoff loss is

That's just retarded. Either way you're sitting at home watching the superbowl so the end result is exactly the same. Either way you still have a 12-4 team and a division winner. Just seems silly to throw a season away over one game. Now if you look at this team and say they should win the superbowl. Then I could see why a first round playoff loss would be a failure of a season.

No, because this team is a good one, not a great one, IMO. But despite being flawed and having holes, they've proven that they can beat any team on any day, and they've beaten much better teams and under more difficult circumstances than the Detroit Lions in Cowboys Stadium.

I can live with them losing to a Green Bay or Seattle team who I believe are better, but not the Lions.

That is why the outcome of one single game can change so much.

 

[mcnuttz]

I disagree. I don't think it makes the season a failure at all. I think it makes the game a disappointment but when you step back and look at the season in it's entirety I think this team took some major steps forward. I'm not going to ignore all of that because of one bad game.

Tony Romo's reputation is that he can't handle the pressure of the playoffs.

That must change or it's the same ol' same ol'.

 

[mcnuttz]

I just think it's funny that a team exceeds people's expectations and instead of being happy about that we must raise the bar. You're basically asking to be pissed off no matter what the team does.

Good point, I'm going to mention that to my boss at my next performance evaluation.

 

[Cotton]

So 12-4 with a playoff win and then a playoff loss is

12-4 with a playoff loss is

That's just retarded. Either way you're sitting at home watching the superbowl so the end result is exactly the same. Either way you still have a 12-4 team and a division winner. Just seems silly to throw a season away over one game. Now if you look at this team and say they should win the superbowl. Then I could see why a first round playoff loss would be a failure of a season.

While I have gone full on homer, you have gone bleedblue homer.