(1) The maturing of Dez Bryant who played very well without the antics;
(2) A Cowboys team that has no where to go but up with a stud -- and still young -- offensive line and even younger stars at QB and RB. Any (and I do mean ANY) upgrade on defense makes them all the more scary in the years to come.
The good new for the Giants... in a way they are the Cowboys in reverse with a stud (and still fairly young) defense and an offense that has only one way to go with any new infusion of talent along the front line: UP.
The bad news for the Giants vis-a-vis the Cowboys: our answer for a future QB is not on the roster, while they have an answer right now for the next 10 years.
With respect to Dallas, they have outstanding pieces in place, no doubt, but I don't believe the "nowhere to go but up" mantra is an inevitability. Things change from year to year, teams will study Prescott's film/tendencies all offseason, and I suspect Philadelphia and Washington will take steps this to follow the Giants' formula of adding major interior DL bulk specifically to stop Elliott.
Dallas will face a first place schedule next season, so the level of competition will be somewhat higher. Every season takes its own course, and while the general consensus this year will be to spot Dallas the NFCE crown and 12-14 wins, how many times have we seen this story play out?
Look at the Panthers.
There is no guarantee Dak matures without any setbacks. Injuries are always threat to any team in any year. Witten is not what he used to be and the defense, while ok, is going to need a major infusion of talent.
Dallas can easily be where the Redskins were this year.
Prescott wasn't the reason they lost, but he wasn't enough of a performer for them to win. He's solid, but that's going to run out of steam quickly in the playoffs every time.
Had GB not gotten a bit banged up during the course of the games (Bakthiari and Adams), and Rodgers not made an uncharacteristic mistake, at 28-13 and driving that game would have been out of reach quickly despite being Dallas at home after a bye.
Including some contributors like Ron Leary, Rolondo McClain, Barry Church, Mo Claiborne (who finally had a decent year), Jack Crawford, Justin Durant, and more.
Not exactly penciling them in for another 13 - 3 season.
Plus the Giants beat them twice and I think match up well with them.
Fuck Dallas Romo would have torched that Packers secondary. Lol
Can't imagine how Jerry is feeling this morning.
NFL is year to year. Look at the Giants offense from last year to this year. You never know how things will turn.
Dallas Blew it! Bottom line. They had the easy road to the Superbowl and couldn't even get past the first game. Next year they probably don't win the NFC East.
Sorry, but you're talking to the wrong person. I've been a huge, loyal Giants fan for decades before you were even born. But I also like to keep it real.
NFL is year to year. Look at the Giants offense from last year to this year. You never know how things will turn.
Dallas Blew it! Bottom line. They had the easy road to the Superbowl and couldn't even get past the first game. Next year they probably don't win the NFC East.
Sophomore Jinx...Book it
Look at the Panthers.
There is no guarantee Dak matures without any setbacks. Injuries are always threat to any team in any year. Witten is not what he used to be and the defense, while ok, is going to need a major infusion of talent.
Dallas can easily be where the Redskins were this year.
I was just going to post. The same holds true for the Giants. They can upgrade some holes and there's no guarantee they make the playoffs next year. For most teams, the season comes down to a handful of plays. It would be a completely different story if the Packers miss the long field goal (or pick anyone of a dozen plays) last night.
Prescott wasn't the reason they lost, but he wasn't enough of a performer for them to win. He's solid, but that's going to run out of steam quickly in the playoffs every time.
Had GB not gotten a bit banged up during the course of the games (Bakthiari and Adams), and Rodgers not made an uncharacteristic mistake, at 28-13 and driving that game would have been out of reach quickly despite being Dallas at home after a bye.
Dak played very well last night, but their defense had no answer for the same guy we had no answer for: Aaron Rogers.
I think we saw Dak Prescott's best this year, which isn't bad but not at the level of Romo and I don't believe he will ever be considered an "elite" QB in the NFL.
Wentz is a different story. He seems to have similar talent to Rodgers in that he can throw accurately from weird angles and on the move/run. He is not as fast as Rodgers but is bigger and stronger - sort of like in between Rodgers and BenR. He has a chance to be an elite QB. If Dak and Wentz changed teams, I think the Cowboys would be going to the NFCC game and the Eagles would have had an even worse record than they ended up with.
Prescott wasn't the reason they lost, but he wasn't enough of a performer for them to win. He's solid, but that's going to run out of steam quickly in the playoffs every time.
Had GB not gotten a bit banged up during the course of the games (Bakthiari and Adams), and Rodgers not made an uncharacteristic mistake, at 28-13 and driving that game would have been out of reach quickly despite being Dallas at home after a bye.
I disagree here. The Dallas Defense was atrocious in the first half and if not for a too many men in the huddle penalty Dallas would likely have gone into the half down by 11 instead of 18. Dak looked great. Threw for 300 yeards and 3 TDs. Lead his team down the field late in the 4th to tie the game. Then his defense failed him again, though Rodgers made a pass completion for the ages.
Dak is legit. Romo probably would have done well until he got hit and carted off the field and Dak goes in anyways. Dak is the future in Dallas and we'll be dealing with an ever improving franchise QB down there for a while.
Lol, thats moronic. He played a great game last night, his offense put up 31 points, he had 3 TDs over 300 yards. You obviously don't know talent when you see it. Clearly blinded by blue.
Generally agree with this - maybe not quite Alex Smith level but see the comparison.
The fact is, there is very little more they can expect from this team.
In yesterday's game:
The QB rarely faced a pass rush.
There were huge holes for the running game (with a good RB to take advantage).
...AND they were playing against a bad/beat up defense.
And still lost.
For '17 they will have to deal with:
1. Bad Cap situation...and no real market to trade Romo (few teams want a 37 year old QB with a bad back, and $25M Cap hit).
2. A first place schedule (vs. last place in 2016).
3. The same defense that at best was "bend but don't break"....except they broke yesterday.
4. The same HC that has proven on a regular basis that he cannot win the big game (e.g. substitution issues, poor use of timeouts/spiking the ball, weak game plan that led to an 18 point deficit at home).
Prescott may improve some next season, but they may look back on this as the peak performance of their tenure (similar to the Jets in Ryan's first 2 seasons).
Quote:
Part 2. He's not putting a team on his back and willing a victory.
Lol, thats moronic. He played a great game last night, his offense put up 31 points, he had 3 TDs over 300 yards. You obviously don't know talent when you see it. Clearly blinded by blue.
I know I saw multiple balls thrown by Prescott that, against even an average NFL defense, would have been picked.....and he had to deal with little to no pass rush, due to his Oline.
He played well for a rookie QB (held his composure, directed his team, etc) but other than hitting wide open receivers, I saw very few high quality NFL throws.
Not saying I'd acquire him, but in a market with younger options like Garoppolo I think Romo would be attractive only to a team like Denver or even someone like Houston (a stretch) that has a Championship caliber defense, some good skill guys on offense, and a non-championship QB.
Denver's OL would be a problem though.
and then the team could cut Romo after that season with no cap implications. All the guarantees escalate onto the Cowboys 2017 cap and they'd save around $5M by trading him.
It means though that while Romo is tradeable, I'm not sure how much I'd part with to get him.
That might be a smart move depending on what Romo costs the Redskins.
McCarthy thinking Super Bowl
Who do they lose in free agency/salary cap issues?
Does Whitten play at a high level next year?
Is Dez breaking down? (I don't see the same explosiveness).
Just because I hate the Cowboys doesn't mean I've become delusional. Dak is the real deal.
Firstly - I think the Cowboys way over-performed this year. Dak is good but he's not all world, and the Cowboys may have seen his ceiling in the first year. Secondly, as the past has shown, one or two key injuries can change the fortunes of a team in a hurry. Thirdly, the Cowboys are up against the cap more than any other team in the NFCE.
I have no argument with Elliot being the real deal - or the Cowboys Offensive Line being even premier -- but those things in themselves are not enough to reach a championship -- and the Cowboys have proved that over and over again.
Lastly -- who would have thought the Giants Offense had anywhere to go but up after last year -- and look what happened this year -- let that be a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks things can only go in one direction.
And yet, against an abysmal GB defense, he managed 31 points at home.
Romo would have done better. Not hard to project that, seeing as how he's managed better in the past without the same setup. His playoff record might suck, but Dak's starting at 0-1 and could easily be winless for awhile.
McCarthy thinking Super Bowl
Oh, please!
In other words: perfect playing conditions.
He's been excellent so far, but so was RG3 early. We'll see if he can sustain success, which is far more difficult than starting hot.
Either come out of the closet and admit your not a Giants fan or try looking on the semi bright side once in a while, assuming you are in fact a Giants fan.
Dallas lost despite the NFL being there for the taking for them. Shut it.
Like I said last night when the winning kick sailed thru the up rights - "suck it Dallas"
He is a great fit for that offense and as long as they have the surrounding pieces in place, they have found a very cheap and competent starting QB. That's not good news. HOWEVER, I agree with others in the "he doesn't scare me camp", at least, not yet. As suggested above, put Wentz on that team, and I believe the results would be better. I just don't know how you can watch him camp out in the backfield while defenses (unsuccessfully) devote extra guys to stopping the run and not acknowledge how much easier it is to quarterback that offense than basically any other team in the league.
That is just bull. I believe MS was talking about Dallas's body of work this year. If you don't think their arrow is not pointing up you are just kidding yourself.
I just don't see what MS said as a shot at the Giants. MS bleeds Giants blue like the rest of us.
Prescott wasn't the reason they lost, but he wasn't enough of a performer for them to win. He's solid, but that's going to run out of steam quickly in the playoffs every time.
Had GB not gotten a bit banged up during the course of the games (Bakthiari and Adams), and Rodgers not made an uncharacteristic mistake, at 28-13 and driving that game would have been out of reach quickly despite being Dallas at home after a bye.
Really? I thought Prescott played great. He's a 23 year old rookie who brought his team back from an 18 point deficit throwing 3 TD's. What exactly did he not do last night?
More like russel Wilson. That's who dak reminds me of. He's a good player but some of you probably insist that Russell Wilson isn't any good as well. Keep watching NFL games with your head in the sand.
^ This. Wow, so many are so desperate to be blind to a very strong upside going forward in Dallas, big challenge for Giants for many years.
That game isn't close if a healthy Romo is taking snaps.Prescott wasn't the reason they lost, but he wasn't enough of a performer for them to win. He's solid, but that's going to run out of steam quickly in the playoffs every time.
NYG have their work cut out