[S Clark]

...  Also, this was the first time I've watched Cleveland play and was shocked by how bad they are.  They are worse than the Cowboys!  That's not easy to do.

I bet the Cowboys would swap both offensive and defensive lines with the Browns in a heartbeat.  Dallas would probably like to swap offensive lines with just about anybody right now.  Romo was sacked 7 times, and the one decent lineman they had went out with a high ankle sprain.  The Browns gave Dallas 10, yes 10, first downs by penalty.  Bad game, bad teams.

[satfrat]

I bet the Cowboys would swap both offensive and defensive lines with the Browns in a heartbeat.  Dallas would probably like to swap offensive lines with just about anybody right now.  Romo was sacked 7 times, and the one decent lineman they had went out with a high ankle sprain.  The Browns gave Dallas 10, yes 10, first downs by penalty.  Bad game, bad teams.

A win's a win, 2 in a row infact, we're 5-5, we're only 1 game behind the idle Giants and 5 out of the last 6 games are at home.

You any relation to Jackman? Very similiar whining patterns. 

Cheers,
Robin

[S Clark]

Well  Robin, we've had this conversation before.  I feel that after following this Dallas team as long as I have, I have the right to say what I feel about them.  I've followed the team when they were worse ( but I don't think the O line has been this bad since 1965).  Those of us that bought tickets from Meredith though Aikman simply have higher expectations for this team than just another mediocre season.  And I don't agree that a win is a win.  They got a couple of big plays to pull ahead of a bad Philly team last week, and got soundly beaten by a bad team for much of today's game and pulled out an overtime win.  The Cowboys will have to improve line play to reach the level of mediocre.  A fan can assess a team without being blind to it's weaknesses. ... and yes, even after today's win, I'm in a bad mood.
As far as being related to Jackman, now you are really getting personal    (but I do like his dog)

[satfrat]

Well  Robin, we've had this conversation before.  I feel that after following this Dallas team as long as I have, I have the right to say what I feel about them.  I've followed the team when they were worse ( but I don't think the O line has been this bad since 1965).  Those of us that bought tickets from Meredith though Aikman simply have higher expectations for this team than just another mediocre season.  And I don't agree that a win is a win.  They got a couple of big plays to pull ahead of a bad Philly team last week, and got soundly beaten by a bad team for much of today's game and pulled out an overtime win.  The Cowboys will have to improve line play to reach the level of mediocre.  A fan can assess a team without being blind to it's weaknesses. ... and yes, even after today's win, I'm in a bad mood.
As far as being related to Jackman, now you are really getting personal    (but I do like his dog)

Yes we have,,,, I'm a glass is half full kinda guy and you're a glass is just flat out empty. It's sorta funny as I've always enjoyed listening to Jackman whine about his Chicago team but when a fellow Dallas fan does the same thing to my team, I'm not liking it as much,,,, go figure. 

Cheers,
Robin

[jackman]

Hey, leave me out if this.   It's not my fault both of your teams suck.  The Cowboys needed lots of help from the refs to win that game...and they still nearly blew it.  Losing to Cleveland should count as two losses. Beating them should include a * or count for less than a win.  Dallas needs something to cheat about but I wouldn't get my hopes up.  This is a bad team. Bad.

[twitch54]

The Cowboys needed lots of help from the refs to win that game...and they still nearly blew it. 

sad isn't it, replay clearly showed he led with his shoulder.....maybe 'Face lift Jerry' paid them off, I'm begining to think that pecker head is turning into another Al Davis........I hope so !!

[jimdgoulding]

Can't deny that a win is a win but the Pokes beat a 2-7 team in their own house by a field goal cause they couldn't score otherwise and in OT!  I'd still be embarrassed for them if they were my team.  The Pokes may very well win the division with five games at home.  Haven't looked up their opponents yet but we know the G'aints and Pokes have already met twice so that won't be one of them.  Haven't looked up NY's schedule either.  If the Pokes get there, they'll probably get embarrassed early (I think they are already embarrassing).  I'd love to see an upstart team like Seattle beat them.  My bad, I've had a grudge against the 'boys since Jerry Jones bought the franchise and I think Romo is a wuss that confuses easily.  But, if Robin's team does well, good for Robin.   

[S Clark]

Yes we have,,,, I'm a glass is half full kinda guy and you're a glass is just flat out empty.

Well, I wouldn't say empty.  Dallas has most of a very good team.
The Good- excellent linebackers, strong secondary, above average receivers, good quarterback (more than your assessment in PM), and one very good running back, one very good but hurt DT, and one very good left OT.   
The Bad- Unfortunately, they have a mediocre O line even when healthy(which they aren't), and the backups are just bad. The DE's are may not be bad, but are just ave.  The verdict is still out on the head coach. 
The Ugly-The GM is a carnival barker- even though the owner gives him whatever he wants  .

But it's just hard to win when your QB is running for his life on every other play.

[S Clark]

Oops. Double post

[Letitroll98]

Stop the presses!  Alex Smith not cleared to play and is out for tonight's MNF matchup against the Bears.  Kapernick vs Campbell moves the line from -7 to -5 in favor of the 49'ers (as of this writing, it could move more during the day).  Jackman can start posting again.

[jackman]

Romo is erratic but put him on a team with a good O'line, a running game and some decent receivers, and he is a Pro Bowl contender.  I'd like to see Tom Brady play behind that Dallas line with those Dallas receivers.  Not sure he would do any better than Romo.  Also, it seems the Dallas receivers drop tons of balls.  Dez Bryant is a guy with a ton of talent but he doesn't always show up and he lacks consistency.  This team might beat bad teams like Cleveland but I wouldn't get too excited if I was a Cowboy fan because they have too many holes. 

This is a strange year:

Underachievers: 
The Pack looks very beatable at times, the Ravens are overrated and dealing with some key injuries(IMO)  and can barely beat a depleted Pittsburgh team, the Bears have no offense and an injured QB, the Steelers look to be toast without Ben, the Giants do not look good, the Cowboys can barely beat a bad Cleveland team, the Falcons are the worst 9-1 team I have ever seen, the Niners have lost to bad teams and have looked very good and very bad this year, the Eagles are in major "rebuilding" mode and will probably have a new coach soon, the Texans barely got by Jacksonville on their home turf.

Teams on the upswing:
On the flip side, the Broncos look to be peaking and playing very well, the Pats are also putting it together (at least they looked like it yesterday against a young Colts team) and the Saints are at .500, after digging a 0-4 hole!, the Redskins are a team to look out for...next year.    These teams look to be moving in the right direction.  In fairness, the following teams could be in this category next week; the Pack, Texans, Niners, Bears (i'm a homer), and the Falcons.  Out of all of these teams, the Broncos and the Saints look to be  (okay, and maybe the Pats) the most dominant.  I would not want to face these teams in the playoffs! 

Bad Teams:
Are there more bad teams in the league this year or is it my imagination?  I'm probably forgetting a couple but the Browns are just BAD, the Bills are only good against BAD teams, the Lions are a bad team going nowhere, the Dolphins are bad, the Chiefs are BAD, the Jaguars are bad, the Panthers are bad, really bad, the Raiders are really bad, is it too soon to put the Chargers in this category?  I don't think so, they are bad but not as bad as the really BAD teams in this box.  The Eagles probably belong here as well and I'd say the Cowboys need to play much better to stay out of this category.  For now, they are on the edge of BAD.

Several teams are not quite BAD but are rebuilding with young QB's or dealing with major injuries.  I'd say the Bungles are not good but not bad, the Bucks are bad but not Cleveland-bad, and the Colts and Seahawks are young and getting better (with occasional understandable setbacks).

In many ways, this year is interesting.  There are no real dominant teams.   As soon as we think a team is dominant (see the Niners, Pats, Texans, etc.) they go and lose to a crap team.  This is what the league wanted and I have to admit it makes some games interesting. 

[jackman]

Stop the presses!  Alex Smith not cleared to play and is out for tonight's MNF matchup against the Bears.  Kapernick vs Campbell moves the line from -7 to -5 in favor of the 49'ers (as of this writing, it could move more during the day).  Jackman can start posting again.

I never stopped!  This looked to be a defensive struggle from the start, and I don't think that has changed.  I'm sure the Niners knew about Smith's situation (if he is really out) and were waiting until the last minute to announce it.  I have not heard anything about Smith not playing.   Campbell looked good in the pre-season but I recall Caleb Hanie looking like Dan Marino in the pre-season so I don't put stock in that. 

Win or lose, I hope the Bears don't hand the ball off fifty times and limit their passing game to short passes and screens, etc.  They paid Campbell a ton of money (for a backup) and he's got Marshall, Forte (good receiving RB) and some good tools on offense.  If the Bears' offense is too predictable, and if they handle the ball like it's dipped in lube, it could be a long night.  If they can run effectively, throw in some trickeration and hold on to the ball, they should win this one.  Fun game!

J

[jimdgoulding]

This isn't the first time we've seen Romo come apart.  Sure, a better O line and he wouldn't come apart until the playoffs.  He has a fine arm.  His problem lies elsewhere.

[satfrat]

This isn't the first time we've seen Romo come apart.  Sure, a better O line and he wouldn't come apart until the playoffs.  He has a fine arm.  His problem lies elsewhere.

IF Dallas can make the layoffs with the way they've played this season, I would be very very satisfied. While I do agree with Scott that it's ashame for Dallas to play like they have this season with all the talent they have on that team, it's no more of a crime than Goulding & Clark's imitation of Jackman's crying posts (wait til Chicago repeats 2011, the tears will come). 

IF I can give with that, I can very well handle a winning Cowboy season, if infact it's even in the cards. My toes & fingers are crossed. 

Cheers,
Robin

[jackman]

Robin,

I just feel bad for people who have to root for bad teams like the Cowboys and that irritating owner.  Even the small rodent he has strapped to his skull (in lieu of hair) is about to abandon ship.  The team will never be great as long as Jerry Jones is at the helm.  That guy is a loudmouth loser.  My sympathies.

Lastly, I'm not crying and was not crying last year.    I'm from Chicago and we have a long, rich history of losing big games (and losing teams in general) in this town.  Over the years, we expect our teams to lose (except the Jordan Era Bulls and '85 Bears).  Even when our teams win, or make it to a big game, as the Bears did a five or six years ago, and the Hawks did a few years ago,  we secretly expect them to lose and are occasionally treated to a surprise victory.  The 2011 Bears were toast, as soon as Cutler broke his thumb.  No Bears' fans expected the backup QB's to take the team far into the playoffs.   

We proudly have the biggest loser team of ALL TIME in this town, the Cubs.  After a hundred plus years of losing, a couple blown games or seasons for that matter, have no affect on us.  Sad...






J

[roscoeiii]

I miss the Dark Lord.....ummm I mean Al Davis.

[jimdgoulding]

Dallas doesn't deserve to make the playoffs this season.  I don't believe in in the cards,  But, with New York putzing around, they may.  We'll see if either/or can improve their credibility.  There is still some season left.  May the best team win on the field of play.  Looking to see who lucked out with the easier schedule cause neither is beating the creme of the crop, I don't think.  Want Romo to throw some picks, blitz him and he will.  Does he seem like a leader in need of some cred to anyone else?  And if he hasn't gotten it yet, what do you make of that. 

[satfrat]

Dallas doesn't deserve to make the playoffs this season.  I don't believe in in the cards,  But, with New York putzing around, they may not either.  We'll see if either/or can improve their credibility.  There is still some season left.  May the best team win it.

In the cards reads in the future, what's not to believe? Speaking of Giants, they barely scratched their way to the playoff's in 2011, just making the playoffs thanks to a last game win against Dallas and they ended up beating Peyton Manning for the SuperBowl. Anything can happen in the NFL, a team needs only gel at the right time. 

Regardless of all Scott & Jim's continual negativity towards their team, the 1st game of the season against the Giants proves what this team is capable of accomplishing. Personally I'd rather focus on that 1 game than the next 9 games and hold out hope that my 5-5 Cowboys will regain that 1st game form when it counts and take it all the way home with a Super Bowl win. That's my story and I'm sticking to it til proven elsewise.

Cheers,
Robin

[jimdgoulding]

Not this year, ole faithful.  BTW, NY has the tougher schedule, I checked.  I think your team will be going to the playoffs, Robin.  Best wishes.

[thunderbrick]

No worries.  The Cowpukes will prove otherwise.