Knocking Off an Undefeated Team
by DavidH22 on Dec 17, 2009 11:50 AM CST
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PrintThe Dallas Cowboys have faced teams with undefeated records late in the season very rarely; in fact, I could only find three games in their history where they played teams who were better than 8-0.
The first was in 1990, when they faced Joe Montana and Jerry Rice at their peak. The game was at Texas Stadium and the young Cowboys were no match for the defending champion 49ers, losing 24-9.
The next year, Dallas went up against the Redskins, who were 11-0 and in the midst of a Super Bowl season. Aikman got injured in the 3rd quarter but Steve Beuerlein came in and played well, leading the talented Cowboys to a 24-21 upset at RFK. I remember this classic for Jimmy Johnson taking chances all game long - going for 4th downs, onside kicks and Hail Mary's. Aikman even threw a bomb on the first play of the game (can't remember Garrett ever calling that to start off a game). Video from after the game showed Johnson telling the team in the locker room that (and I paraphrase), "when you face a gorilla, you don't hit him lightly - you hit him as hard as you can with everything you got!" But I also recall the offense running the ball down the defense's throat and controlling the clock on their way to the game-clinching field goal. What a great game!
Most of us probably remember the third game, when Peyton Manning came to town in 2006 with their annual undefeated streak. The Colts were 9-0 and led Dallas at halftime 7-0. It was Romo's 4th game as a starter and he was superb, hitting clutch passes to Terry Glenn and Anthony Fasano (!) to help the Cowboys take the lead in the 4th quarter and hang on to the win, 21-14.
Not sure if there are any lessons to be learned from any of these games. Romo has sort of been in this situation before, except his moment was at home. I'd like it if Wade and Garrett somehow imitate the strategy that Jimmy Johnson employed nearly 20 years ago - take chances and leave nothing on the field. This is not the time to play "not to lose." The season is on the line.
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Fans
It is going to be a great game. The SAINTS fans are going to be treating this game as a early Christmas present. Since its Sat night and they won’t have to work the next day the Dome is going to be rocking and propaply as loud as it has ever been. With this being your 4th game against an undefeated team it will be your 2nd loss. You all can throw all the hail mary passes you care to, it will not help! I am not saying it might not be close, however; I believe it won’t! The Saints offense and defense in this game is going to be so different you will look like the Pats vs the Saints. The Saints will win this one from just pure pride! It is not going to make a darn bit of difference what any football statistic says.
I suppose you will play your little Coybow hearts out, but in the end it won’t make a difference! The Saints pride will blow over you like Katria did to our city.
Good luck to you.
WHODAT!
Oh Man, I want to be in that number; when the SAINTS go marching in. (To Miami) WHODAT
by whodatone on Dec 17, 2009 12:30 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Jeez...
I thought Eagles fans were bad. Have we had a single Saints fan on here yet that could put together coherent thoughts? I’m not one to bust on people for misspellings here and there, this post reads with all the smoothness and flow of an old wooden roller coaster. I had to read each sentence three times to figure out what he was saying.
And this guy ends with a comparison to an event that destroyed his city and the lives of many of its residents. Stay classy, New Orleans.
JERRY: I worked a club in Dallas one time and they couldn't afford to pay me so they gave me these. Oh, I can't wear these! They look ridiculous!
KRAMER: Ah, you look like a cowboy! Huh?
JERRY: But I don't wanna be a cowboy!
by HEpennypacker on Dec 17, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
I think it's hysterical how much trash talking Saints are doing now
when they have been the laughing stock of the league for such a long time.
Man will they be crushed when the lose in the playoffs, but I’ll love it!
In Romo we Trust
yeah, before Jim Mora, Sr got there...
the Saints were historically the most consistent team in the league — they always had a losing record.
In fact, back in the day, an old college buddy of mine (who grew up in Baker, LA) said that there was a highway sign reading “Interstate 10” — and someone spray painted underneath “Saints 0.”
LOL!!!
Is playing smart too much to ask?
by silverblue5 on Dec 18, 2009 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
This team just does not have the talent…
…to hang with the Saints this Saturday. They might at the skill positions but not on the line of scrimmage. This O-line has not been consistent for a full game this entire season and they’d need to be to pull this off. Any holding or false start penalties will kill this team’s chances because the offense will have to score on nearly every possession to counter the deluge points the defense will undoubtedly allow.
The secondary is a mess and getting burned routinely now and I suspect we’ll see Saints players running wide open this Saturday night. This Saints’ team runs more plays from more formations than any other team in the league, (by far) and this Cowboys team is not smart enough to keep up with it. Add to that the unlikelihood that D-Ware will play (at least effectively) and it looks like a blowout is on the way, IMHO.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
by gee-roj on Dec 17, 2009 12:48 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
I hope you're wrong
BTW, been meaning to mention this for a while, but your signature is one of my favorites. Right up there with the one that someone had saying “if I had a nickel for every super bowl the eagles have won, i’d have zero nickels.”
JERRY: I worked a club in Dallas one time and they couldn't afford to pay me so they gave me these. Oh, I can't wear these! They look ridiculous!
KRAMER: Ah, you look like a cowboy! Huh?
JERRY: But I don't wanna be a cowboy!
by HEpennypacker on Dec 17, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions
Glad to see you like the signature hahaha....
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Dec 17, 2009 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
Rec'd for the Jimmy Johnson quote alone.
‘Playing not to lose’ has been the red thread running through this season.
I want to see the Cowboys taking it to the Saints on every play, making them pay dearly for every yard they gain, playing with a lights out offense, Barber popping tacklers left and right like they’re popcorn, and making them run for their life in their own house.
I want to take pride in the way my team plays. Ferocious, ruthless, relentless. If they play like this and lose, I will still be content and applaud them for a valiant effort. If they fold like a cheap umbrella in a slight breeze (pun intended) I will be one unhappy customer.
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 17, 2009 2:04 PM CST reply actions
Everything would have been alright...
… If you would have said uncool customer…
But no, you had to screw everything up. You should know your own nick.
jk (if it isn’t that obvious).
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
exactly
and that’s a big part of the problem for da 2009-2010 version of the Dallas Cowboys.
from the head coach to the offensive coordinator to the players… there’s no predominant KILLER INSTINCT amongst this team.
every game our Boyz have lost this year has been close — and yes, even the loss to the Packers. Heck, we were within striking distance of them for about 3 + quarters.
damn, i miss having Jimmy-J as our HC.
Is playing smart too much to ask?
by silverblue5 on Dec 18, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
I hate to be the downer
but I just don’t have any of the confidence our team says they have and many of you on here seem to have. I know that you can’t measure this year by last year or the year before etc., but I have watched this team find INCREDIBLE ways to lose over the last few years and the idea that they are suddenly going to put it all together and beat a Saints team on fire just seems too far fetched for me.
I will be watching the game and rooting like hell but I will be completely shocked if the cowboys win this game. Worse than a blowout, they will probably keep it close and lose in the last two minutes.
I hope for us all that this is not a Baltimore/Pittsburgh type game like last year. That first loss crushed my spirit and the second loss kicked my crushed spirit in the nuts.
while it might be true that we've found incredible ways to lose
we have also had a few that we probably shoulve lost. Remember “Any Given Sunday”… We will see. I’m not saying we will win easy, but I’m not saying we don’t have a chance either.
That's the problem
We have a great chance to win every game but in this game of inches, this team finds ways to come up short. During the chargers game, I went numb during the goal line stand and for some reason, I knew that they had just lost the game.
Trust me bro, I would love it if they turned it around this season but the odds are not in our favor.
We dont perform when they are
might as well try the other way around. Besides the Saints have been begging for an upset all year.
Um...
I think it’s the Saints opponents that have been begging for an upset.
And, like the Cowboys Saturday night, they were all sent begging.
And if you want to get on the Saints fans for bragging and talking trash, you can STFU. I lived in Dallas during the Aikman/Irving/Smith years and I’m still picking Cowfan garbage out of my ears.
I would say “See you in the playoffs”, but, well, I think you know …
The only thing worse than losing is not winning.
by Tigernut on Dec 18, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah but Dallas during the Aikman/Irving/Smith years, the Cowboys won not only regular season games, but these games called "Super Bowls"
Win one of those, hell, just get to one of those, before you start talking trash
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
Thank you Seanrude
These scrub saints fans talk so much smack for a team that has NEVER WON ANYTHING. Ask the patriots how 18-1 feels. Get a ring and then talk and for the record, if the saints and colts meet in the SB, I’m laying $100 on the colts.
is that a rule because I must have missed it.
The one I read said that if you can go 13-0 with the NFC East in your back pocket, you’re entitled to a little trash talking.
The only thing worse than losing is not winning.
by Tigernut on Dec 18, 2009 11:32 PM CST up reply actions
OK I'll say it
The Saints beat the Coyboys!!!………….42 – 17
Oh Man, I want to be in that number; when the SAINTS go marching in. (To Miami) WHODAT
That's not even any different than their 2006 game
at least pick a score like 56-24 or something…
if we give up big plays and turn the ball over on O...
… then, i think whodatone will be correct.
i just want us to keep things close for a good majority of the game.
then, i want us to FINALLY make plays.
unfortunately, i don’t like our chances against that high-powered offense, turnover-producing defense, and loudly-raucous Superdome crowd.
plus — not that this has anything to do with anything — we seem to play better on NBC’s SNF than NFLN games.
i expect the worst.
Is playing smart too much to ask?
by silverblue5 on Dec 18, 2009 10:50 AM CST up reply actions
I think when we go out for the coin toss send your worst players and have Folk with them
And have him kick Drew Brees square in the junk. Then another player should say, we are going to do this all game long! Turn around and say your ball….
And...
He wold blame McBriar for not holding it correctly… wait…
by tyhall on Dec 17, 2009 7:04 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
omg ROFL
that alone made my day wonderful
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Dec 17, 2009 7:59 PM CST up reply actions
haha
nice
The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!
by aussie_cowboy on Dec 17, 2009 8:57 PM CST up reply actions
When they go out forthe coin toss
thats the closet this game will be then it’s all down hill for the cowboys
And folk would shank the kick at Drew anyway
Wha closet?
I saw a dog today. Have you seen a dog? You probably have. How was school? Was it fun? Did you get a lot of homework? Huh? Do you have any friends? Do you have a best friend? Does he have a big coat, too?
by Aaron Novinger on Dec 19, 2009 11:35 PM CST up reply actions
The Saints are a great story this year...
and their fans are ruining it. I’d be a little more cautious about trash talking if my team had absolutely no previous track record of success.
I would love to be able to root for the Saints (assuming the Cowboys were out), but after watching the “Who Dats” make fools of themselves, there is no way. I might be forced to root for the Vikings (ugh).
exactly how I feel
The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!
by aussie_cowboy on Dec 18, 2009 2:00 AM CST up reply actions
I
honestly believe that the Vikings are going to tear the Saints up in the championship game. They’re a more complete team than the Saints.
except that it will be the Cowboy's tearing them up in the Championship
right Terry?
The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!
by aussie_cowboy on Dec 18, 2009 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
+1
The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!
by aussie_cowboy on Dec 19, 2009 6:48 PM CST up reply actions
Then they will say Who Dat Who Dat
Sitting at home with bags on their heads….The Aints, The Aints….thats who dat!
I got money that neither that saints nor vikes make it to the superbowl
just look at the nfc representives the past few years
What the French?! Toast!
Please, root for the Vikings.
Wouldn’t want any Cowdouches rooting for us anyway.
The only thing worse than losing is not winning.
by Tigernut on Dec 18, 2009 11:33 PM CST up reply actions
Aww! Widdle baby is sooooo cute when he gets angry!
If you can’t handle fans of an opposing team being gracious towards you after beating you, please don’t bother visiting their site (much less posting on it).
You should really consider cutting back on the weed.
The only thing worse than losing is not winning.
by Tigernut on Dec 20, 2009 9:21 PM CST up reply actions
Best way to shut up trash talking fans of the opposition
is to beat them.
I’ve suggested before we either – play this as a track meet or grind it out/keep away football. Really think the choice of either depends on whether DWare is playing
Always be more than you appear and never appear to be more than you are
I think we have a legitimate shot to win this game. How many times have the boys been blown out this year? 0. They have been in every game, and i think the saint are due.
Everyone is ragging on the D but they held SD to 20pts. What more do you want?
"On a journey to anywhere you can draw your own map."
If
people are going to underestimate any team in the NFL, they’re dumb.
How stupid do people look for assuming the Eagles would tear up the Raiders? How about when the Steelers were supposed to roll up both the Raiders and Browns?
The saying is “Any Given Sunday” for a reason. Dallas has a good chance to beat them. Don’t think otherwise.
My outlook in life is
expect the worst and hope for the best. It’s worked so far! Low expectations are so easy to exceed…plus I love doing the reverse jinx.
The Saints are so awesome, there is no way that Dallas is going to even come close on Saturday night. Drew Brees is definitely not going to throw multiple interceptions, and the Saints defense is simply the best I’ve seen all year.
hahaha -- that's exactly how i think, too!!!
so with that same line of thinking…
After Saturday night, the Saints will still be undefeated.
Is playing smart too much to ask?
by silverblue5 on Dec 18, 2009 10:53 AM CST up reply actions
Tired of sheep?
The only thing worse than losing is not winning.
by Tigernut on Dec 18, 2009 11:27 PM CST up reply actions
Is he a natural or what?
Best damn dog I ever had.
The only thing worse than losing is not winning.
by Tigernut on Dec 19, 2009 6:24 PM CST up reply actions
Ill be cheering in my backyard again...
I know our boys will be in a dome but im gonna setup my projector and my firepit in the backyard and suffer the cold while I drink lotsa spririts and bbq my ass off. All while screaming my head off for my team. I could easily leave my home theater setup in my nice cozy living room, next to my fireplace.
But my team needs me!!! So Im gonna don all my warmest cowboy gear, stock up on firewood and hopefully party til Sunday morning!!! Win or lose im sure we will keep the liquids a-flowin.
Luckily all my neighbors are fans and will be present. YAAAY no noise complaints!
by ProudBoyzLifer on Dec 18, 2009 11:04 AM CST reply actions
I could see this being like the 2007 Pats game
where the Cowboys actually led (I believe) early in the 4th quarter 27-24, but then ended up losing 48-27. Might be too much to expect them to hang on all the way. We can always dream…
Pats had a much better defense
If the Saints had a defense that was good, I’d say we have no chance, but considering their defense is average at best, we have a shot.
In Romo we Trust
Playing in that dome concerns me more than anything.
I’m afraid that taking a shot for every Flozell false start would be a good drinking game. But I’m hoping for the best. GO BOYS!!
Definitely agree
Take shots down the field. How else will we jump to an early lead? Score, hold the Saints offense, and score again? Not likely, the way the Drew Brees is playing, it will be a shootout. If Romo can hit deep passes, the Cowboys will improve to 9-5.
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