Stakes are high, clear for Dallas Cowboys
by Tim Cowlishaw
Dallas Morning News
Packers game will give winner inside track to home-field advantage
Because of two stunning Cowboys failures, the franchise is set to play its biggest regular-season game in 24 years.
Yes, failures.
I never would have believed the Cowboys could get to 10-1 for their first time ever and still:
One, fail to even get a mention as possibly the best team in the NFL.
Two, fail to even have an edge in the NFC for home-field advantage.
As for the first, well, the New England Patriots aren't allowing us to have a discussion except for whether they are the greatest team ever, and right now they are winning that one, too.
As for the latter, well, that's what Thursday's huge game is all about.
Not since 1983 have the Cowboys played a game with this kind of significance.
It was 24 years ago that both Dallas and Washington stood at 12-2. With the Redskins coming to Texas Stadium, the winner was going to lock up home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs.
There was even a story in The Dallas Morning News that week about a man advertising tickets on the 40-yard line "for $500 each."
That's back when a thousand dollars for two regular-season seats still seemed like a big chunk of change. Pretty soon you will be able to buy three seats on the 40 for about just over $1,000 a game (uh, not counting the $150,000 you will have shelled out for your personal seat licenses).
Longtime Cowboys fans will recall that was the infamous "No, Danny, no" game. With the Redskins leading 14-10 in the third quarter and the ball at midfield, coach Tom Landry wanted White to try to draw the Redskins offside on a fourth-and-1. If it didn't work, the Cowboys would punt the ball deep into Washington territory.
But White audibled to a running play. Ron Springs was thrown for a 1-yard loss. CBS' cameras caught Landry wincing and shouting, "No, Danny, no," as the failed play unfolded. Washington rolled to a 31-10 victory and a trip to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys went from 12-2 to 12-5, and their season was over.
That's what Thursday night at Texas Stadium is all about.
In 1993 and 1994, Dallas met San Francisco in regular-season games before their NFC title clashes. But the games were never so late in the season with the stakes so clearly defined.
How big is home-field advantage?
In the NFC, it tends to be huge.
Ten of the last 14 years, the team with the best record in the NFC went on to the Super Bowl.
That's what Thursday night at Texas Stadium is all about.
"I think it's always an advantage when you can play at home," coach Wade Phillips said Friday. "It was a big advantage for Green Bay until we went up there with Atlanta and beat them [in 2002]."
That was the Packers' first playoff loss ever in Lambeau Field. Come January on the frozen tundra, the Packers tend to get the job done.
That's what Thursday night at Texas Stadium is all about.
Phillips was a bit dismissive of the Packers' running game when the subject of a championship rematch in Green Bay was raised.
"If it's bad weather and they can't throw and they gotta go with their running game, that wouldn't be too bad," he said.
While Brett Favre is clearly the key to the offense, running back Ryan Grant has averaged 93 yards rushing and a 4.6 average per carry in his five starts. The balance he has brought to the offense has elevated Green Bay's play to Dallas' level.
Quarterback Tony Romo talked about the winner leaving with essentially a two-game lead. If Green Bay wins, Dallas would need a perfect December and hope the Packers lose twice in order to regain the home-field edge.
Same goes for Green Bay if Dallas wins.
Much like the unbeaten Patriots are dismissing the relevance of 31 other teams, Green Bay and Dallas have barred the rest of the NFC from any kind of home-field thoughts. The Giants are closest, and they trail both teams by 2½ games, and the deficit is really more than that since they lost to the Packers and were swept by the Cowboys.
So, just as it was four decades ago, when the Cowboys first tasted success, it's going to come down to Green Bay and Dallas.
For sure this Thursday.
Quite possibly again on Jan. 20.
That's what Thursday's game at Texas Stadium is all about.
Cowboys fans can only hope that at some key point we don't see Phillips shouting, "No, Tony, no."
Dallas Morning News
Packers game will give winner inside track to home-field advantage
Because of two stunning Cowboys failures, the franchise is set to play its biggest regular-season game in 24 years.
Yes, failures.
I never would have believed the Cowboys could get to 10-1 for their first time ever and still:
One, fail to even get a mention as possibly the best team in the NFL.
Two, fail to even have an edge in the NFC for home-field advantage.
As for the first, well, the New England Patriots aren't allowing us to have a discussion except for whether they are the greatest team ever, and right now they are winning that one, too.
As for the latter, well, that's what Thursday's huge game is all about.
Not since 1983 have the Cowboys played a game with this kind of significance.
It was 24 years ago that both Dallas and Washington stood at 12-2. With the Redskins coming to Texas Stadium, the winner was going to lock up home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs.
There was even a story in The Dallas Morning News that week about a man advertising tickets on the 40-yard line "for $500 each."
That's back when a thousand dollars for two regular-season seats still seemed like a big chunk of change. Pretty soon you will be able to buy three seats on the 40 for about just over $1,000 a game (uh, not counting the $150,000 you will have shelled out for your personal seat licenses).
Longtime Cowboys fans will recall that was the infamous "No, Danny, no" game. With the Redskins leading 14-10 in the third quarter and the ball at midfield, coach Tom Landry wanted White to try to draw the Redskins offside on a fourth-and-1. If it didn't work, the Cowboys would punt the ball deep into Washington territory.
But White audibled to a running play. Ron Springs was thrown for a 1-yard loss. CBS' cameras caught Landry wincing and shouting, "No, Danny, no," as the failed play unfolded. Washington rolled to a 31-10 victory and a trip to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys went from 12-2 to 12-5, and their season was over.
That's what Thursday night at Texas Stadium is all about.
In 1993 and 1994, Dallas met San Francisco in regular-season games before their NFC title clashes. But the games were never so late in the season with the stakes so clearly defined.
How big is home-field advantage?
In the NFC, it tends to be huge.
Ten of the last 14 years, the team with the best record in the NFC went on to the Super Bowl.
That's what Thursday night at Texas Stadium is all about.
"I think it's always an advantage when you can play at home," coach Wade Phillips said Friday. "It was a big advantage for Green Bay until we went up there with Atlanta and beat them [in 2002]."
That was the Packers' first playoff loss ever in Lambeau Field. Come January on the frozen tundra, the Packers tend to get the job done.
That's what Thursday night at Texas Stadium is all about.
Phillips was a bit dismissive of the Packers' running game when the subject of a championship rematch in Green Bay was raised.
"If it's bad weather and they can't throw and they gotta go with their running game, that wouldn't be too bad," he said.
While Brett Favre is clearly the key to the offense, running back Ryan Grant has averaged 93 yards rushing and a 4.6 average per carry in his five starts. The balance he has brought to the offense has elevated Green Bay's play to Dallas' level.
Quarterback Tony Romo talked about the winner leaving with essentially a two-game lead. If Green Bay wins, Dallas would need a perfect December and hope the Packers lose twice in order to regain the home-field edge.
Same goes for Green Bay if Dallas wins.
Much like the unbeaten Patriots are dismissing the relevance of 31 other teams, Green Bay and Dallas have barred the rest of the NFC from any kind of home-field thoughts. The Giants are closest, and they trail both teams by 2½ games, and the deficit is really more than that since they lost to the Packers and were swept by the Cowboys.
So, just as it was four decades ago, when the Cowboys first tasted success, it's going to come down to Green Bay and Dallas.
For sure this Thursday.
Quite possibly again on Jan. 20.
That's what Thursday's game at Texas Stadium is all about.
Cowboys fans can only hope that at some key point we don't see Phillips shouting, "No, Tony, no."
posted by The Gryphon at 5:17 PM
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