Cowboys the underdog?

by bryangene on Jan 11, 2008 8:40 AM CST Comment 17 comments

Nobody likes the Cowboys

The Cowboys always seem to be underdogs in all big games this year. Games like the second time the Cowboys met the Giants. The Giants had the momentum and they were considered the best team in the NFC. Their defensive front was sure to apply pressure to Tony Romo, and be an unfavorable match-up for the Cowboys.

Fast forward to the Green Bay game where again, the Cowboys were to be no Match for Brett Favre and his receivers. The Cowboys suspect pass defense was a lock to get torched, and Al Harris shutting down T.O were why all the media (ESPN) favored the Packers to win. We all know what happened this game.

Here we are in the divisional playoffs facing the Giants again, and nationwide we are picked to lose. The number one seed and second best record in the NFL is picked unanimously to be beaten by New York. Everywhere you watch or listen they talk of one home team being beat this weekend, and it is Dallas. Your hear about Eli Manning's maturation, the Giants defense rolling on all cylinders, Tony Romo in Mexico, etc.

I know about the media's love fest in bashing the Cowboys, but seriously. I also don't buy into the Giants thinking they are the underdogs when they are unanimously picked to win this game. I hope the Cowboys go into this game knowing that nobody picks them to win, and hopefully that lights a fire. I can see, more so I'm hoping, Tony Romo has a career day, and the defense shuts down the run and Eli Manning.

If we are to win this game, which I will say we will, we will again be the underdog next week if we face Green Bay, and the same goes for the Super Bowl. I want the Cowboys to go into the playoffs and hopefully Super Bowl knowing that nobody, except their faithful, believes that they are for real.

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Comments

I stopped watching ESPN

about midway through the season. I felt like I was watching reruns over and over. I'll flip over to it briefly from time to time but as soon as they mention the Cowboys it's back to the same old hater nation. It used to annoy me, now I know the media has an agenda and that's to get viewers. As big as Cowboy Nation is, Cowboy hater nation is bigger, and that appeals to both sides.

by sublimezg on Jan 11, 2008 8:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree, sublime

I'm from the NY City area, and as a Mets fan, love to hate me some Yankees. Then I moved to Boston for 7 years, and the Red Sox... blah blah... you get the idea. As big as the Yankees bandwagon fan base is, the haters are MUCH larger nationally. And the Cowboys are the same way.

New York Yankee fans have grown to love the media hate. It's just proof that they've been on top so many times. The Cowboys can't boast quite the dominance of the Yankees, but imagine what it's like to be the fan of, say, the Bills? The Chargers? That's a whole lot of sad endings.

I'll take the media hatred, and especially in this case, as BryanG agrees, it probably helps motivate the players.

In the famous words of BP:

"AND THAT'S A GOOD THING..."

Cowboys and Tar Heels

by DalaiLuke on Jan 11, 2008 9:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Luke I guess thats where our similarities end

I'm from the NY City area, and as a Mets fan, love to hate me some Yankees. Then I moved to Boston for 7 years, and the Red Sox... blah blah... you get the idea. As big as the Yankees bandwagon fan base is, the haters are MUCH larger nationally. And the Cowboys are the same way.

We're both cowboys die-hards and tar heel alums(did ya catch psycho T slamming over 7'7" kenny george the other night?)....But i'm a die hard yankees fan....HaHa....Dallas and the yanks franchise kinda remind me of each other in that you either love'em or hate'em.

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Jan 11, 2008 12:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does "ABC" ring a bell?

Dallas, Yankees and Tar Heels... you've picked some winners, I cannot argue that. Who's your NBA team? I hope it's the Bobcats.

I missed Hansbrough on Wednesday night, but how about that Sunday Night ending. Imagine being a Clemson fan - they've NEVER EVER EVER won in 60+ tries in Chapel Hill.

By the way, for non-ACC fans, "ABC" refers to "Anyone But Carolina" ... because of our early dominance in the conference, and especially the ACC tournament, if Carolina was on the floor, all other fans would pull hard for the opposing team.

Cowboys and Tar Heels

by DalaiLuke on Jan 11, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah,I keep up with the

Bobcats,not really big into the NBA these days though...I really enjoy the excitement of college ball!
and yeah that clemson game was a doozy
usually by now I'm full on into UNC hoops,Its good that the cowboys are back and we'll watch them both kick tail!

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Jan 11, 2008 11:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I looked at the picks section

most of them who have made picks have picked dallas but it is a 60-40 split. But in reality it is a pick they begrudginly made. If anyone watched Insid the NFL on HBO yesterday or the day before; Cris Collinsworth picked dallas, but it was as if he was not convinced in his pick, but had a feeling they would somehow win. I feel a lot of what these guys based their decision to go with the boys was based on the fact that TO looks good and that somehow dallas will win. I feel that if dallas executes its gameplan and does not turn the ball over, the giants will not be able to keep it together and the boys will win.

by cowboy78 on Jan 11, 2008 8:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was listening to M&M this morning

And I had to hand it to Mel Kiper Jr. He joined the Mikes and I think Mark Schlereth, who was ripping Dallas and praising the sudden "maturity" of Eli.

Anyhow Kiper finally said "who here has the guts to actually pick one of the road teams?" There was a lot of ums, uhs, and ahs, until finally Greenie the Weenie said he would pick NY but he wouldn't "bet his mortgage on it".

The fact is this is the game all the talking heads love, because its a rivalry game, Dallas is seemingly on the decline and NY was, hey I can admit it, impressive versus T.B. It's all about the storyline. In my humble opinion it is less about Cowboy hate and more just covering their own butts by highlighting the easy stuff and then quietly picking Dallas.

So underdogs? I don't think so but I will say this, if I am a Dallas Cowboy, I've got plenty of bulletin board material this week if I need it.

by gaz0425 on Jan 11, 2008 9:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

ggrrhhh

I see Peter King on cnn/si talking about how the Dallas OT's can't block the Giants DE's, ignoring the fact that in their first 2 games those guys got a total 12 tackles and 1 sack, and only 3 of those tackles and 0 of those sacks came from Umeurine. (he picked the cowboys grudgingly), but it's just an example of all this faulty reasoning as to why the Giants may win. I pick up my paper here in Philly and see 6 out of 8 "experts" pick the Giants. Anytime Dallas plays a decent team, the media picks the other team. Chris Berman on ESPN picked Dallas to lose every game this year with the exception of the Carolina and Rams game. It's crazy how much these guys hate the cowboys. I hear a guy an analyst from the sporting news on the radio this moring talking about how NY is familiar with Dallas....well wouldn't it stand to reason that Dallas is familiar with NY? The bottom line is if T.O. is ready we are going to beat them.

by stephen1 on Jan 11, 2008 9:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Do not pay attention to berman

dude, the guy is a 49ers super homer. He hates dallas.

by cowboy78 on Jan 11, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Those who know

and make a living off picking games, that would be the people who set the line in Las Vegas are picking Dallas, by a touchdown. So the "experts" are picking us to win. These commentators don't stake their career off these picks, the guys in Vegas do, so I'd go with them. Maybe not a touchdown, it might be closer and that is what they want you pick on, but I'll still take my Boys for the win.

First to six!!!

by sduncan24 on Jan 11, 2008 10:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

exactly - money talks - Vegas has Dallas by 7.5

it's easy to babble on as an analyst on ESPN and pick whoever you can justify based on the last two games or so, but the Kiper episode on Mike and Mike highlighted by gaz above illustrates the point - Greenberg said he would pick NY, but when pressed on it he admitted "I wouldn't bet my mortgage on it."

Well those who are actually putting down money on the game have Dallas by 7.5 points.

Try Card Bowl: Football with Playing Cards at cardbowl.org

by scottmaui on Jan 11, 2008 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

or rather those who are taking the money

Try Card Bowl: Football with Playing Cards at cardbowl.org

by scottmaui on Jan 11, 2008 11:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I get the impression

they all want the 'Boys to lose of course, but they are only actually picking against them because they don't want to pick the home team to win all the games and ours is the easiest to justify an upset. I don't buy the Giants hype...TB has no where near the talent we do. 'Boys by 10

by bluewolf021 on Jan 11, 2008 10:10 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That is what's going on

It looks like all 4 home teams will win, and that rarely happens, so people are saying Dallas will lose. It's understandable, because we probably have the most competitive matchup, but come Sunday night people will realize they were mistaken.

by grapejoos on Jan 11, 2008 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with all the above...

I never realized that I was a part of yankee-hater nation and how that compared to the Boys. Hmmm, food for thought. In the meantime, healthy T.0., TG, T-New, (any other t's?)...34-21 Cowboys.

I have noticed a new resurgence in Cowboy hating in 2007, which can only mean one thing- We're back.

by nspirals on Jan 11, 2008 10:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Madden simulation - Dallas 31-10

The Madden simulation game has Dallas over NY 31-10.

Tony Romo broke out of his mini-slump in a big way, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns to lead Dallas to a convincing 31-10 win over the New York Giants in a Divisional Playoff matchup of NFC East rivals at Texas Stadium.

Try Card Bowl: Football with Playing Cards at cardbowl.org

by scottmaui on Jan 11, 2008 11:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

its actually rediculous

that a team so heavily favored is being torn down so hard in the media. i have yet to hear someone pick dallas to win, all i hear is the "momentum" that the giants have.

we won 13 games this season, that is a good season by anyone's standards, yet no one expects us to win a game against a team we have proven we can beat? (twice)

eli manning has been in this league for quite some time now, and all i hear is how he has finally matured. because he played well against the pats and he beat the bucs. well in my opinion, we played well against the pats back when the patriots were romping everyone they faced. the patriots have not been blowing out teams the past few weeks and the giants get all the props for playing so well against them.

ive just decided to give up watching espn until after the football game, when the sports announcers have something substantial to report. at the moment its just who can jump on the anti-dallas bandwagon faster.

don't worry guys, these so called sports experts will be eating their words soon enough.

by ender0887 on Jan 11, 2008 3:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs