Now that we have had a week to digest the poor performance in Minnesota, what does it mean for the Cowboys?  This defeat compares in scope to the Eagle defeat the year before.  Many commentators here and in the MSM wrote that the Cowboys organization was shaken to it's roots.  Intelligent but drastic action was undertaken.  The trouble makers were dismissed.  Quality character players with a few miles left on the tread were brought in, e.g. Brookings and Igor (love that name - 'Walk this way').  Coaches evaluated players on the bubble and made decisions about the future like letting Canty go and keeping Spencer for Ellis.  The Philly drubbing forced Jerry to make positive changes because he could no longer believe his team was just this close to succeeding.  Now we look at this year.

The Vikings dominated us and exposed every weakness that we had hidden so well in the last half of the season.  The Minn. Defense was playing at an unbelievable level.  (See what they did to Brees this week)  Now Jerry, Wade, and Steven need to find answers to the questions left from this season.  Just like last year, the problems seem focused in a few areas.  Careful use of FA, the Draft, and pushing existing players and coaches may take us to the next level.  You get the feeling that Jerry's Rose-colored glasses are off.  He should once again lean on his staff to help upgrade our personnel.  (Which begs the question- how many years of football GM experience is required to be a 'football guy'?)  I think the future looks bright.

One last aside concerning the Vikings-Saints game as it relates to our game with Minnesota:  On the Mike and Mike show this morning, they were going on about how the overtime rules should be changed because the Vikings never had a chance for their offense to get on the field.  It was not fair that the Saints won a coin toss, of all things, and got the ball first.  And then the Saints won.  Obviously not fair.  What a bunch of whiny B***S***!  Last week the Vikings and all the commentators were saying that the Cowboys should just stop Farve and the Vikings if we do not want them to score a meaningless touchdown in a blow out game with hardly anytime left on the clock. 

Now we know the rules in this game.  The Vikings should just stop Drew Brees and the Saints if they do not want them to score a meaningful field goal in a meaningful game with lots of time left on the Over Time clock!  What goes around, comes around!

Next year looks very promising.  Go Cowboys!