DMN: Games take on bigger meaning for Dallas Cowboys
by Todd Archer
IRVING – Last week, Wade Phillips' message to his team was that everything it wanted to accomplish in training camp remains possible.
While true, it is certainly more difficult at 5-4 and in a conference that has nine teams within a game of each other.
But Phillips said the Cowboys' 3-0 start and the return of several injured players, such as quarterback Tony Romo, are reasons for hope that good days are ahead.
Well, you've got to get on a run in this league," Phillips said. "We were able to last year, and this year we started out [that way] and didn't keep it going. We've got a chance to come back."
The Cowboys' push begins with Sunday's game at Washington.
If they beat the Redskins, who are 6-3, they will be in position to get on a three-game roll through Thanksgiving, with home games against San Francisco (2-7) and Seattle (2-7).
A loss Sunday would not eliminate the Cowboys from the playoffs or even from winning the division, but it would make both dramatically more difficult. They'd be in a bigger hole in the event of a tiebreaker, and December games at Pittsburgh and Philadelphia would become must-wins.
"I think you can see our division is tough, and we've got a lot of tough games left, as do a lot of other teams," Phillips said. "But the only thing you can control is what you do."
FedEx Field has not been kind to the Cowboys lately, even if Washington has lost its last two games there. The Cowboys have not won at Washington since 2004. Two of the three losses have been by 28 (2005) and 21 points (2007).
"When you're 8-1, you have a little room to move, and you can deal with situations," tight end Jason Witten said. "At this point in the season, we understand there's not a lot of room for error."
The magic number is normally 10 – just don't tell that to Zach Thomas.
Since the playoffs were expanded in 1990, five teams have won 10 games and not made the playoffs, including Miami in 2003. The only 10-win NFC teams not to make the postseason were Philadelphia and San Francisco in 1991.
Thomas said the Cowboys should target 11 wins.
"I've been 10-6 before and not made the playoffs," he said. "I can guarantee you on 11-5. I don't know any team that's been 11-5 and not made it, if you want to count it up. But I don't try and look at it like that. I just know we've got to get playing better."
IRVING – Last week, Wade Phillips' message to his team was that everything it wanted to accomplish in training camp remains possible.
While true, it is certainly more difficult at 5-4 and in a conference that has nine teams within a game of each other.
But Phillips said the Cowboys' 3-0 start and the return of several injured players, such as quarterback Tony Romo, are reasons for hope that good days are ahead.
Well, you've got to get on a run in this league," Phillips said. "We were able to last year, and this year we started out [that way] and didn't keep it going. We've got a chance to come back."
The Cowboys' push begins with Sunday's game at Washington.
If they beat the Redskins, who are 6-3, they will be in position to get on a three-game roll through Thanksgiving, with home games against San Francisco (2-7) and Seattle (2-7).
A loss Sunday would not eliminate the Cowboys from the playoffs or even from winning the division, but it would make both dramatically more difficult. They'd be in a bigger hole in the event of a tiebreaker, and December games at Pittsburgh and Philadelphia would become must-wins.
"I think you can see our division is tough, and we've got a lot of tough games left, as do a lot of other teams," Phillips said. "But the only thing you can control is what you do."
FedEx Field has not been kind to the Cowboys lately, even if Washington has lost its last two games there. The Cowboys have not won at Washington since 2004. Two of the three losses have been by 28 (2005) and 21 points (2007).
"When you're 8-1, you have a little room to move, and you can deal with situations," tight end Jason Witten said. "At this point in the season, we understand there's not a lot of room for error."
The magic number is normally 10 – just don't tell that to Zach Thomas.
Since the playoffs were expanded in 1990, five teams have won 10 games and not made the playoffs, including Miami in 2003. The only 10-win NFC teams not to make the postseason were Philadelphia and San Francisco in 1991.
Thomas said the Cowboys should target 11 wins.
"I've been 10-6 before and not made the playoffs," he said. "I can guarantee you on 11-5. I don't know any team that's been 11-5 and not made it, if you want to count it up. But I don't try and look at it like that. I just know we've got to get playing better."
posted by The Gryphon at 9:21 AM
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