I've been trying to figure out what makes for improved motivation come December. Is it  having something to play for within the season still (like the Giants seeking the Wild Card and so it was push or bust)?   

Is it the coaching staff seeing new things and coming up with motivation for tired players (and maybe bored players if there's not a lot to play for) like the Giant's defensive coordinator did by challenging his guys to cover and then feeding them with blitz's such that while other teams were coasting his started boasting sacks and pressures and INTs?  

Seems conditioning is out of the question because we get the Thanksgiving 10 day break.... but then again is it?   What do they do conditioning wise? Run, lift, playbook (conditioning for the mind), and execution of plays.... is any of that building towards December or needing to change so it can build in December?  What do other teams do? And wouldn't it be wise of Jerry to do a study of the 10 most successful teams in the month of December, all their routines, treatments, strategies and regiments?   Consistent winners win consistently for easy to document reasons and obviously we need to find a working pattern that works.

I see it the NFL keeps putting at least 2 divisional games in December for us so if we can't get up for Philly and the Skins and or the G-men then who can we get excited for.....and yet look what we have done!   Would charting our Decembers help using all the factors you can think of?    How about a slightly different approach, why don't we try some different things?  ---Off the top of my head as a for instance- one big concern is wearing guys out before the Playoffs. Well that can be done mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.   What do you think, if we have a winning total lead like last year going into December why don't we decide to rotate Second String guys up to Starters during the Thanksgiving day game (and progressively use them for two games in December before putting in our top dogs again). It might get the First String guys to act as mentors; it might also irritate them and remind them that they Want to be the starters so come December they do still have something learn and to prove (in a hope to reinject heart and a need to will us over the top). --You know a sword is only sharpened by the friction of another hard surface.   And really, something Has to change. It is bad enough to loose in December but to loose to Washington and Philly is horrible and even worst when you are dominated and made to look and feel bad like we have been for the last 3 or 4 years...and ever the question of WHY?    

So what are your thoughts?    Maybe our brainstorming will hit a note or strike a key and get pushed along to the big brass to look at and maybe, just maybe it will help our Cowboys to reverse that trend in crunch month, December.  Cause I would love for people to start fearing playing Dallas at the end of the year!