'Boys need to think about playoffs now
By NEWY SCRUGGS
Special to the Star-Telegram
The Cowboys made the playoffs last year and beat only one team with a winning record: The world champion Colts.
They were also average at home, going 4-4 and losing their last three.
Things must change this fall, and it starts in the division.
The Cowboys were just 2-4 in the NFC East in 2006. They beat Washington at home in Week 2 and beat the Giants in the Meadowlands on Dec. 3.
The Cowboys were outscored in those four losses 119-72.
A mark of 4-2 in the NFC East will almost guarantee a postseason berth. In fact, bet on it. Since the NFC East reduced itself to four teams in 2002, no team has missed the playoffs with at least four wins in the division.
This means the season opener against the Giants is important, a division game and a home game all in one. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter understands what's at stake.
"This is big," Carpenter said. "People say it's a can't-lose game. In some aspects it is."
After the Giants' contest, the Cowboys hit the road for games in Miami (always humid and tough to win there in September) and Chicago (defending NFC North champs). The Cowboys end the month with a home game against the high-octane St. Louis Rams.
A season opener isn't a must-win, but if the Cowboys are as good as they think, and if they want to get to where they want to go, then a win on NBC's Sunday Night Football is imperative.
"Your goal, first and foremost, should be to win the division," defensive lineman Chris Canty said.
The Cowboys haven't won the NFC East since 1998. That was Chan Gailey's first season in Dallas. It's all about winning division games.
Special to the Star-Telegram
The Cowboys made the playoffs last year and beat only one team with a winning record: The world champion Colts.
They were also average at home, going 4-4 and losing their last three.
Things must change this fall, and it starts in the division.
The Cowboys were just 2-4 in the NFC East in 2006. They beat Washington at home in Week 2 and beat the Giants in the Meadowlands on Dec. 3.
The Cowboys were outscored in those four losses 119-72.
A mark of 4-2 in the NFC East will almost guarantee a postseason berth. In fact, bet on it. Since the NFC East reduced itself to four teams in 2002, no team has missed the playoffs with at least four wins in the division.
This means the season opener against the Giants is important, a division game and a home game all in one. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter understands what's at stake.
"This is big," Carpenter said. "People say it's a can't-lose game. In some aspects it is."
After the Giants' contest, the Cowboys hit the road for games in Miami (always humid and tough to win there in September) and Chicago (defending NFC North champs). The Cowboys end the month with a home game against the high-octane St. Louis Rams.
A season opener isn't a must-win, but if the Cowboys are as good as they think, and if they want to get to where they want to go, then a win on NBC's Sunday Night Football is imperative.
"Your goal, first and foremost, should be to win the division," defensive lineman Chris Canty said.
The Cowboys haven't won the NFC East since 1998. That was Chan Gailey's first season in Dallas. It's all about winning division games.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:11 AM
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