Post by prossman on Dec 22, 2008 23:34:55 GMT -7
Playoff Hopes Hinge On Winning In Philadelphia
Playoff Hopes Hinge On Winning In Philadelphia
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Zach Buchanan - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 21, 2008 6:39 PM Change Font Size A A A A
IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys will not have to worry about the NFL's convoluted tiebreaking procedures against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday ironically because of a tie.
Since the Eagles tied the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, there is no way both Dallas and Philadelphia can finish the season with the same record, meaning that no matter what happens in Week 16, the Cowboys must beat the Eagles in the season finale. If the Eagles win, they're a half-game ahead of the Cowboys at season's end. If they lose, they're a half game behind.
So while the Cowboys, who lost to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday night and fell to 9-6, still need the stars to align to land a wild-card spot in the playoffs, they know that if they don't beat the Eagles in Philadelphia next Sunday, Jupiter potentially aligning with Mars is completely meaningless.
"We've got a tough one on the road next week," said Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams. "Right now we'll see what happens - see if we're in or see if we're out. We're definitely out if we don't win, I can tell you that."
In order to beat the resurgent Eagles, winners of three straight as of Saturday since tying Cincinnati and losing to Baltimore in November, the Cowboys will have to get over one of the toughest losses in recent memory - a 33-24 defeat at the hands of the Ravens that carried postseason as well as historical significance since it was the final game to ever be played at Texas Stadium.
"It's just disappointing right now, especially to close down Texas Stadium that way," said wide receiver Patrick Crayton. "Right now all we can do is get a little pissed off about this one tonight, and tomorrow we're going to start getting ready for Philly."
Even though the past three games have been labeled "must-wins" for the Cowboys, none of them - a loss at Pittsburgh, a win against the Giants and Saturday night's melancholy farewell to Texas Stadium - have resulted in the Cowboys being categorically in or out of the playoffs. While a win in Philadelphia alone won't clinch a spot, a loss would certainly send the Cowboys on vacation earlier than hoped.
So no matter the playoff atmosphere of the past two games, Sunday's game in Philadelphia (a noon CST start which still may be flexed into the Sunday night spot), is different than the other must-wins. It's a can't-lose.
"Nothing matters if you don't go and win," Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten said of facing the Eagles a second time this season after beating them in Week 2, 41-37, at Texas Stadium.
Still, the "no guarantees" nature of a win in Philly is frustrating to the Cowboys. Because of the loss to Baltimore, the Cowboys will still inevitably rely on other teams to piece together Dallas' playoff puzzle. Even if everything goes right externally for the Cowboys during Week 16, they'll need more miracles to occur in Week 17 as well.
The Cowboys' loss to Baltimore Saturday night with Texas Stadium closing down around them not only enhanced the playoff hopes of Tampa Bay and Atlanta, but also has dragged the Eagles and Chicago back into the muddled NFC wild-card picture.
"I'm on a knee now," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after Saturday night's crushing loss, now knowing securing one of the NFC's two wild-card spots into the playoffs likely will come down to tiebreaking procedures should his club beat Philadelphia next Sunday in the season finale. "I hope that something happens with these other games to give us a shot to win a game and maybe something will happen next week, but we're running out of time on it, and that's why it's so disappointing here."
While some Cowboys may simply hone in on the task at hand - beating the Eagles - others, like Crayton, will still pay attention to the overall playoff picture, even though the entire situation is distasteful. They realized leaving Texas Stadium for the final time if Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Philly would win out, they are completely out of the playoff picture.
Hard to accept for a team starting the season as most everyone's Super Bowl favorite.
"You hate it, you hate it, man," Crayton said. "You've got to start cheering for opponents, and you hate that. You're hoping the cards fall the way we need them to fall. You hate to pin it on others."
The Cowboys would hate it worse, though, if they don't beat the Eagles next Sunday.
Playoff Hopes Hinge On Winning In Philadelphia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zach Buchanan - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 21, 2008 6:39 PM Change Font Size A A A A
IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys will not have to worry about the NFL's convoluted tiebreaking procedures against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday ironically because of a tie.
Since the Eagles tied the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, there is no way both Dallas and Philadelphia can finish the season with the same record, meaning that no matter what happens in Week 16, the Cowboys must beat the Eagles in the season finale. If the Eagles win, they're a half-game ahead of the Cowboys at season's end. If they lose, they're a half game behind.
So while the Cowboys, who lost to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday night and fell to 9-6, still need the stars to align to land a wild-card spot in the playoffs, they know that if they don't beat the Eagles in Philadelphia next Sunday, Jupiter potentially aligning with Mars is completely meaningless.
"We've got a tough one on the road next week," said Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams. "Right now we'll see what happens - see if we're in or see if we're out. We're definitely out if we don't win, I can tell you that."
In order to beat the resurgent Eagles, winners of three straight as of Saturday since tying Cincinnati and losing to Baltimore in November, the Cowboys will have to get over one of the toughest losses in recent memory - a 33-24 defeat at the hands of the Ravens that carried postseason as well as historical significance since it was the final game to ever be played at Texas Stadium.
"It's just disappointing right now, especially to close down Texas Stadium that way," said wide receiver Patrick Crayton. "Right now all we can do is get a little pissed off about this one tonight, and tomorrow we're going to start getting ready for Philly."
Even though the past three games have been labeled "must-wins" for the Cowboys, none of them - a loss at Pittsburgh, a win against the Giants and Saturday night's melancholy farewell to Texas Stadium - have resulted in the Cowboys being categorically in or out of the playoffs. While a win in Philadelphia alone won't clinch a spot, a loss would certainly send the Cowboys on vacation earlier than hoped.
So no matter the playoff atmosphere of the past two games, Sunday's game in Philadelphia (a noon CST start which still may be flexed into the Sunday night spot), is different than the other must-wins. It's a can't-lose.
"Nothing matters if you don't go and win," Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten said of facing the Eagles a second time this season after beating them in Week 2, 41-37, at Texas Stadium.
Still, the "no guarantees" nature of a win in Philly is frustrating to the Cowboys. Because of the loss to Baltimore, the Cowboys will still inevitably rely on other teams to piece together Dallas' playoff puzzle. Even if everything goes right externally for the Cowboys during Week 16, they'll need more miracles to occur in Week 17 as well.
The Cowboys' loss to Baltimore Saturday night with Texas Stadium closing down around them not only enhanced the playoff hopes of Tampa Bay and Atlanta, but also has dragged the Eagles and Chicago back into the muddled NFC wild-card picture.
"I'm on a knee now," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after Saturday night's crushing loss, now knowing securing one of the NFC's two wild-card spots into the playoffs likely will come down to tiebreaking procedures should his club beat Philadelphia next Sunday in the season finale. "I hope that something happens with these other games to give us a shot to win a game and maybe something will happen next week, but we're running out of time on it, and that's why it's so disappointing here."
While some Cowboys may simply hone in on the task at hand - beating the Eagles - others, like Crayton, will still pay attention to the overall playoff picture, even though the entire situation is distasteful. They realized leaving Texas Stadium for the final time if Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Philly would win out, they are completely out of the playoff picture.
Hard to accept for a team starting the season as most everyone's Super Bowl favorite.
"You hate it, you hate it, man," Crayton said. "You've got to start cheering for opponents, and you hate that. You're hoping the cards fall the way we need them to fall. You hate to pin it on others."
The Cowboys would hate it worse, though, if they don't beat the Eagles next Sunday.