2014 NFC EAST CHAMPIONS - DALLAS COWBOYS!!!!
A lot has been said about the "heart of a champion" and one of many character traits of a champion is the ability to endure the tests of time and overcome adversity and be victorious in the face of insurmountable odds.
Enter the 2014 Dallas Cowboys. Coming off their third consecutive 8-8 campaign, narrowly missing the playoffs and a division title in the final game of the last two seasons. These Cowboys were going to look different on the field but, they had retained the same GM/Owner, coaching staff and offensive nucleus (Romo, Bryant, Witten, Murray). That was a huge X-factor in my opinion because I didn't think they had that "it" to be elite. Gone where several well known and beloved fan favorites Demarcus Ware, Miles Austin and Jason Hatcher just to name a few.
(RD gives his vision for the Dallas Cowboys at the start of training camp!)
The voices in the crowd only stirred louder after a winless pre-season followed the passing on "draft darling" Johnny Manziel. Instead of being flashy, the Cowboys had chosen to draft smart. Taking "big uglies" to protect a now aging and aling 34 year old Tony Romo.
And let's not forget their last place defense that now had no big names and no identity. The future of Lee and Lawrence tandem would have to wait as both would be hobbled to start the season against the 49ers. By all signs, these Dallas Cowboys were going no where fast.
Although, the state of #CowboysNation remained strong at home and abroad the overall
hopes of the nation were bleek.
The view and flavor of the game in the West plaza SRO area suits my sort of fandemonium to the core. The fans of section 222, like me, are not only knowledgeable and critical of their Cowboys, they are undenibably true blue through and through. During the first half of the last pre-season game against the Broncos, I noticed one of the local newsies, Ted Madden of @wfaasports working the crowd in true beat reporter fashion. I listened as he polled the crowd, wondering what each had as a regular season prediction for Dallas. Fan after fan sullenly uttered that they only had a meager 8-8 prediction for these 2014 Dallas Cowboys and I could only agree.
In my mind and heart wanted to be bold and say sure that I still believed and I predicted this team would go deep into the playoffs. But, who was I kidding? This team had been such an anomaly on the field that one couldn't really seriously consider that they'd actually do anything other than go .500 or worst. So, when Ted asked me my thoughts, I too said, half-heartedly, that I predicted another 8-8 season.
I remained optimistic that Dallas would find a way to be successful and shock the world but I wanted to contain my optimism until they actually proved it on the field.
The much anticipated start of the regular season finally arrived. It's a time when the hopes of all 32 teams are highest. Unfortunately, the hopes of #CowboysNation were quickly dashed. The Cowboys stumbled and fumbled their way out of the gate against the 49ers. They were flat out lethargic and unprepared for the speed of the regular season and they were summarily trounced 28-17. A nightmarish beginning, cast a dark cloud over the sunny rays of hope and I let my disappointment show in my post game wrap - up.
(Pardon the Passionate potty mouth)
Then, as suddenly as the Texas weather changes from a raging tornado to a calm spring day, the Dallas Cowboys found a way to win again. Road victories against the Rams and Titans would set up the team for it's second big test against the former-bag heads from the boot, the New Orleans Saints at home.
In what would become their signature this season, these Dallas Cowboys came out firing on all cylinders like a well-oiled machine and never let up on the gas downing the Saints 38-17 for the victory as well as exacting a measure of revenge for last year's 40 first downs the Saints converted against the porous 2013 Dallas defense.
Next up was in-state rival Houston Texans which actually proved to be a pretty formidable foe although their record now (8-7) doesn't show it. Dallas had to go to overtime for the first time of the season to get the 20-17 win.
Then came another road test against the defending Superbowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Again, these Cowboys were all business with a relentless running game led by Demarco Murray, the accuracy of Romo to the majesty of Bryant the Dallas Cowboys did what Denver and San Franscisco could not, win in Seattle.
The Cowboys would next defeat a hapless Giants team before finally experiencing defeat for the only the second time of the season to the hated Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football.
The 20-17 overtime loss to Washington would be more costly than ever when it was reported that Tony Romo again had a suffered back injury. He would avoid having season (and perhaps career) ending surgery but would sit out a game to the dismay of Cowboys fans everywhere with two fractures of the transverse process bones in his lower-back.
Without their passing leader the team couldn't perform on offense and the defense returned to their old ways giving up major plays in the passing game and failing time and time again to get the all important third down defensive stop against the Arizona Cardinals.
Well, by now you can safely assume the naysayers were sharpening those Cowboys collapse shovels in preparation to bury this team after such a hot start to the season. Surely they were going to now come apart at the seams like they've always done in the past three seasons. The Cowboys organization could not escape the scrutiny at every corner. They coined a popular Twitter hashtag #CowboysUK to promote their overseas trip to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Mainstream and social media took turns pummelling the Cowboys PR team with jokes about how the team was now admitting to the world that they sucked (get it Cowboys UK had become Cowboy SUK). The Cowboys would get the last laugh in the end torching the Jaguars 31-17 before returning home for a bye-week before again hitting the road to face the Giants for the second time of the season.
Again re-focused, the Cowboys would take down the dissmal Giants to complete the season sweep and push their record to 8-3 setting up a holiday NFC East showdown for first place in the division against the Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) on Thanksgiving. Playing their second game in four days, the fatigued Cowboys were over-matched on the field in all phases. Romo faced a heavy pass rush from the Eagles defense and would be sacked four times in the 33-10 defeat.
As the calendar briskly moved into December, the Dallas Cowboys stood in a familar postion firmly in control of their "playoff" destiny. As you might expect the prevailing thought was that Dallas would find away to fail and again miss the playoffs, the division title and log another 8-8 season. But, not these Cowboys, they would not be defined by the failures of the past, no not this season. Another road game, this time in Chicago provided just the match light to set ablaze this team on the road to the next level. They would thoroughly trounce the Chicago Bears 41- 28 before facing the Eagles again in the rematch for the East Division title and the playoffs.
This time a much rested Dallas team proved to the world that they were no longer that same ole clunker that would break down when the going got tough, no these Dallas Cowboys were a vintage Corvette, retooled and energized to #FinishTheFight. Dallas would defeat the Eagles 38-27 then return home to face the Indianapolis Colts with the division title and a playoff spot firmly within their grasp. This time they would not wilt in the face of the adversity instead they bowed their legs and stood firm taking this team back to the playoffs for the first time in five years with a 42-7 home victory.
Next up was a meaningless road game with the Redskins. Well, meaningless to some but not coach Garrett. "There are no meaningless games." said Garrett to the assembled media earlier this week.
The Dallas Cowboys were undaunted and business-like in their approach against the Redskins Sunday and it showed in all phases of the game. The offense exploded for 44 points and the relentless no name "We-Fense" defense held the downtrodden Redskins 44-17 to end a magical regular season with a sparkling 12-4 record.
Where this team goes from here only time will tell but, so far the 2014 Dallas Cowboys have already logged its most memorable season and fans hope the best is yet to come!
Note:
***** Tony Romo #9 - Sets Cowboys regular season passing record with 3,406 yds w 9 INTs (Pro bowl selection)
***** Dez Bryant #88 - Sets Cowboys regular season TD receptions with 16 TDs (Pro bowl selection)
***** Demarco Murray #29 - Sets Cowboys regular season rushing record with 1,845 yds (Pro bowl selection)
