Week 12 Dallas Cowboy thread (short week)

[Ishoutandscream]

An emotional win in Dallas, and all of a sudden, people are starting to believe. I still can't get over how the Dallas offense was able to score 24 on a very good defensive team like Carolina. Defense, of course, played a part with key turnovers to give the offense good field position. This is now a team with a lot of confidence, and many are wondering if they have what it takes to win the east and possibly home field advantage.

Yes, it's easy to get carried away. But I still can't see the Cowboys winning the east. Philly is on a roll, and McNabb is proving what an idiot Rush Limbaugh is. Dallas (hopefully) isn't focusing too much on their heralded matchup with Philly in two weeks. A desparate Miami team is coming to town that reminds me a lot of Carolina - excellent running game and a very good defense. It will be tough on Thanksgiving.

Team to watch - Green Bay. They are really coming on, and their defense is playing much better ball. Can see them overtaking a very underachieving Minnesota at this point.

Coach of the year - Well, all along I've been saying Parcells. But you can't overlook the outstanding job Marvin Lewis is doing in Cincy. Like Parcells, he has changed the psyche of a team who had gotten used to losing. Now, they are tied for the AFC northern division lead. If the Bengals make the playoffs, Lewis will probably
win coach of the year, and deservedly so.

Hopefully, Dallas will take care of business on Thursday with Miami. But it would be no surprise to see the Dolphins take care of business. A win over Miami will make the game against Philly the following week a must win for both teams. And how much fun that would be!

[Tempest]

1. Enjoy last week's win while you can

Miami's defense will shut down Dallas on Thursday.

[VermontDem2004]

2. God I hope not

Go Dallas! Please Cowboys win one for the Broncos Please! Please! I am saying this as a Cowboy hater. :mad:

[Tempest]

3. Denver needs a lot of outside help to make playoffs

From their remaining schedule (Raiders, Chiefs, Browns, Colts, Packers), they'll be lucky to win one of the games.

[VermontDem2004]

4. lucky?

They will win atleast 3.

[Shrek]

8. It won't happen

I have yet to see a game where Miami was successful in shutting down the option. Right?

Dallas will win comfortably.

[Ishoutandscream]

10. Ya never know

But I'm not underestimating the Dolphins. You are definitely underestimating the Cowboys. You may be very disappointed.

[TEXASYANKEE]

5. Remember the Thanksgiving ice game?

Remember this Dallas-Miami game of a few years ago? When Dallas was winning, blocked a field goal, and then OH MY GAWD Leon Lett runs over and tries to pick up the ball. He touches it, Miami recovers, scores a field goal and wins. What an emotional game. All that and an ice storm to top it all off.

And what do you think Parcells had to say to our secondary, who made those huge penalties, giving the Panthers easy touchdown chances yesterday? The score should have been 24-10. Go 'Boys!

[jobycom]

9. Dallas convinced me. And about that Leon Lett game...

First, Dallas proved they could beat good teams, not just the absolute worst (which is what most of their schedule has been. Now I believe that Dallas CAN (not WILL, yet) beat good teams. They need another over-the-middle short yardage receiver (Novacek style) to be reliably good.

About that Leon Lett game -- I watched that from bell to bell, and there is no way the Cowboys would have been in that game at the end without Lett. He was having an incredible game until that moment, and I was expecting him to be player of the game. I felt sorry for Leon, as shy as he was. He handled it well enough though, even though he hid from the media for a while.

On the Miami game-- Dallas will win. Dallas plays well on Thanksgiving. It's a source of pride and tradition, like a college rivalry. They will be up for the game, and they are coming off a very good win against the first legitemately decent team they have beaten all year. They will believe in themselves. Miami, on the other hand, is down, and wound too tight for this one. They are on the road, and desperate, and playing one of the best run defenses in the league without a good passing game. Anything can happen, but both teams would have to do something extraordinary for Miami to win this game.

Yeah, and I predicted Dallas would beat new England, too. So you might not want to put any money on my opinion. (although, aside from two long plays from scrimmage-- one an illegal pick even if it was a brilliant call, Dallas outplayed New England.)

[Ishoutandscream]

11. Yes, but's that's not the last Thanksgiving game against Miami

Remember a few years back, Jimmy brought the Dolphins to town. Miami was favored to win comfortably, but Dallas shut the Dolphins down.

[gratuitous]

6. God help me . . .

I'm going to be rooting for Miami this week. Damn you, Paul Tagliabue! Damn you to Hell!

[tom_paine]

7. I have to say I laughed my ass off when Jimmy Johnson said

"McNabb's critics have all gone into hiding...or REHAB!"

Goddamned that was beautiful! Never liked Helmet Head that much, I think he singlehandedly turned me against the Dolphins (except on Thursday, o' course), but I would've hoisted him to my shoulders for that dig on Pigboy on National TV!

I have to admit that McNabb's troubles were starting to make me wonder, but I just kept repeating to myself "The last three years were NOT AN ILLUSION," when McNabb displayed brilliant field generalship as well as a consistent 2-1 touchdown to interception ratio.

Anyway, no matter what happens next week, Dec. 7th at the Linc is gonna be a good old fashioned SHOWDOWN!

Dawkins and Taylor will hopefully be back (damn, it's been a rough year for injuries), and of course the stadium will be loud enough to shatter eardrums!

"Never underestimate the Tuna. Never count on anything with the Tuna," I always say. Dec. 7th is by no means an assured Eagles win.

But Quincy and the 'Boys better watch out. The Eagles are twice the team that played in Dallas two months ago. If Dallas doesn't rise to the occasion, they are going to be roadkill...

[Ishoutandscream]

13. After yesterday, I'm thinking the same about Dallas

Your boys better watch out Sunday. If Philly's d-line lets Stephen Davis run wild like Duece did yesterday, you may be in for a long afternoon. Carolina ain't too shabby.

[tom_paine]

14. The Eagles have won 5 in a row and 8 of 9

Though I won't be thrilled, I would understand a road loss to Carolina (do you really think the outcome of that game would have even been close had it been in Carolina).

Either way, I think Dallas can expect the same thing come Dec.7th

[joeybee12]

12. I predict Dallas over Miami!

Then again, I predicted Carolina over Dallas--so don't get your hopes up!

[Awsi Dooger]

15. I agree, Dallas has every advantage vs. the Dolphins

And I think the -3 impost on this game is very reasonable indeed.

Especially since the game will be played on artificial turf and Miami is coming off 2+ straight on grass and a win, similar to Carolina vs. Dallas last week. Trust me, that situation is EXTREMELY unfavorable to the road team, to the tune of a 70+% likelihood the home team will overcome a pointspread of underdog up to 3-point favorite. It is one of my best homemade angles on pro football.

Plus, Miami cannot block the Cowboys defensive front. The media has not been emphasizing how lame the Dolphin offensive line is this season, accounting for Ricky's subpar numbers. Top lineman Mark Dixon has not played a down all year, and guard Jamie Nails is far below his 2002 form after Achilles tendon surgery.

Last week, Miami's offensive line was: vulnerable 3rd round rookie Wade Smith at left tackle, converted center Seth McKinney at left guard, aging mediocrity Tim Ruddy at center, journeyman Greg Jerman at right guard, and steady but unspectacular Todd Wade at right tackle. That group has no shot to move the aggressive Cowboy DL, and in Fiedler's first road start after injury I expect him to be pressured into mistakes.