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Feb 26, 2015
Jan 31, 2015
Superbowl XLIX (49) is set
The Superbowl is the National Football League (NFL) championship game between the champions of the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), respectfully. This annual event is held at different NFL stadiums across the country. This year’s contestants are the defending champion Seattle Seahawks led by quarterback Russell Wilson and the three-time champion New England Patriots led by quarterback Tom Brady.
An estimated 112.2 million viewers watched last year’s “big game” making the Superbowl the most watched televised sporting event in America. For the players and coaches, the Superbowl is the summation of the season’s long quest for a championship. To play in such a meaningful event, signifies reaching the pinnacle of a career for all involved from the owner’s box to the field. For the fans of the teams that play in the game the experience takes on an entirely different meaning.
Win or lose just making it to the final game of the season is a fantastic accomplishment for both teams and their fans!
The winning team and its fans will have supreme bragging rights for the entire off-season and beyond. Along with a myriad of endorsement deals for the players, the winners will make a visit to the White House to meet the President and also have a ticker-tape parade in their home city. Sadly, for the loser they will be relegated to only a footnote in defeat which is really sour grapes.
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Jan 14, 2015
Really Different sports - Letdown in Lambeau #cowboysnation
Letdown in Lambeau but the sky is the limit in 2015 #CowboysNation #DC4L ☆
Dec 28, 2014
A season to remember - The 2014 Dallas Cowboys regular season - NFC East Division Champs!!!
(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.
S/o to @tedmadden @wfaasports ...bold predictions for @dallascowboys 2014 season. Another 8-8....#sadbuttrue #cowboysnation
— Really Different (@lockhartline) August 29, 2014The 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!
Let's get it started. ..#CowboysNation ☆ #DC4L ☆ #WeDemBoyz pic.twitter.com/Yte0Rws9hV
— Really Different (@lockhartline) December 23, 2014***** 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)
Nov 4, 2014
Tostitos Party Challenge--Go Cowboys! #CowboysNation
11/2/14- Out at the Arizona game fans got to make a video cheer. This was my entry! #tostitos #partychallengeentry
Oct 12, 2014
Seattle Showdown
The CowboysNation and the world have been painfully watching and waiting for the real Dallas Cowboys to please #StandUp.
For once, it appears that the 2014 Cowboys have taken notice and are doing something about it on the field.
The result of today's NFC mega-tilt, will be a defining factor on whether or not the 2014 Dallas Cowboys (4-1) have arrived to NFL - ELITE status or not.
They will go into one of the loudest stadiums in the country looking to silent the raucous Century Link field home crowd best known as the #12. They will face the league's top ranked defense against the run known as the Legion of Boom.
When these teams last faced off in 2012, the contest (if you can call it that), got out of hand early thanks in large part to miscues and mistakes made in all phases of the game by a floundering Dallas team that had yet to mature under their then second year head coach, Jason Garrett. Dallas would never recover losing 27-7, enroute to their second consecutive 8-8 season of the Garrett-era.
Seattle would go on to finish the season 11-5 winning a wildcard playoff game against the Redskins before losing in the final seconds against the Falcons in the divisional round.
But, have the Dallas Cowboys really turned the corner yet?
Well, we're not going to know for sure one way or the other regardless of the outcome today but, the defending Superbowl champion Seahawks (3-1) will surely be the Cowboys toughest test of the young season. Remember, it's only week 6.
Here's what I expect from both teams coming off big wins last week.
After, dispatching the woeful Washington Redskins (1-4) on the road last Monday night, Seattle will be amped and energetic returning home driven by their noisy home faithful and still riding the wave of their phenomenal playoff success last year.
Dallas, who needed overtime at home to defeat the Houston Texans (3-3) will be more disciplined this time around with a keen eye towards continuing to build on their early season success both offensively and defensively. "This game is about us.", said Dallas head coach Jason Garrett.
He's right.
Dallas- If the Dallas Cowboys can continue their balanced offensive attack, make manageable third down conversions and control the clock they will be victorious.
Seattle - In Russ they trust. Rely on the steady play of QB Russell Wilson and make turnovers on defense.
Hopefully, the real Dallas Cowboys come to play and treat the fans to an early season playoff level matchup.
Prediction:
Oct 5, 2014
Dallas & Houston battle in Big D
With nothing to lose and everything to gain the resurgent Dallas Cowboys (3-1) enter a high noon affair with their instate rivals the Houston Texans (3-1) today at AT&T Stadium for the "battle for Texas."
The relatively upstart Houston franchise comes in with a stout defense that is hungry and intense. After early wins against lesser opponents (Redskins and Raiders) they stumbled against the Giants and had to fight hard to defeat a scrappy Buffalo team at home 24-17 last week. Riding the stellar efforts of defensive standout JJ Watt, the Texans are more than confident coming into the Cowboys backyard looking for a road victory.
But, which Dallas Cowboys team will they see?
Will they see the error prone and confused team that we saw give away game 1 against San Francisco? Or will the resilient Cowboys team we saw rise above the early road adversity against the Rams to comeback, then totally dominate the once mighty Saints from start to finish last weekend at home show up?
To the casual fans and many media pundits, the 2014 Dallas Cowboys are in many ways just beginning to mature as an offense and surprisingly through four games are coming together quite nicely as a patchwork "no name defense."
However, the #CowboysNation knows all to well the roller coaster ride that has been the Dallas Cowboys team under Jason Garrett so, excuse our tempered excitement as we collectively apply the "wait & see" approach to the offensive commitment to running the ball and a revamped defensive secondary that plays to win and not to lose. But most importantly, we're hopeful for improved game management in the winning moments of the 4th quarter.
Yet after four games, the Dallas Cowboys have the league's top rusher so it wouldn't surprise most that they would continue lean on that ravenous offensive line and ride the legs of DeMarco Murray again.
If they are successful running the ball and can allow the Tony Romo rehab experience to continue its week to week improvements this Dallas team will have everyone remembering and making comparisons to those championship teams the '90s.
The Houston Texans however, are not just another fluffed up AFC paperweight team by any stretch. Although, they are still finding their way on offense behind Pro-bowl running back Arian Foster, their young defense is ranked 19th against the run. (allowing just over 100 yards a game) And don't forget that they have one of most terrifying pass rushers in the game today in defensive end JJ Watt. Watt will be matched up at times against Doug Free so the Cowboys will have to be creative in their protection of Romo.
The Cowboys and Texans have only matched up three times with Dallas holding a 2-1 advantage winning the last two games in '06 & '10. I expect a better than average game with Dallas taking the home win 30-24.
This is the first time that Dallas has been 3-1 to start a season since '08 when they finished 9-7 and failed to make the playoffs under the head coach Wade Phillips.
Jul 18, 2014
LHL : 7.18.14 Really Different sports #behindthewheelreporting - Is it September yet? #HurryUpNFL
OK so we have a chance to crown a winner for the #teamplayeroftheyear, 'maestro drumroll please'...."He's a 6'10" all world power - packed, 3-pt fadeaway-assassin, the blonde-bomber from Deutschland..number 41 ...Dirrrrrk Nowitzki! The future hall of famer has reportedly taken far less than the max contact he's due for the 2011 title he brought to Dallas at a minimum and his steadfast winner's approach overall. Kudos mein fruend. We'll see what shakes out in November. ... #NotamavsFan
The eyes of the PGA are across the pond this week as the tour presents another major tournament not won by Tiger Woods. As much as it disappoints this analyst that he hasn't responded well to surgery and time off. His up and down play in majors is beginning to spin visions of premature doom for the "Cablinasian persuasion prince" into reality and the once dominant Tiger may find himself forever tamed as an all-time runner - up in the race for most majors. No sour grapes for @TigerWoods #IJS. ..
It's now count them 47 days until the official start of the 2014 NFL season. #HurryUpNFL
Get your popcorn ready for some training camp action. We're days away from several teams start to training camps and the plot will surely thicken as teams read react and respond to free agents, rookies and the perennial all - pros preparing for the road to SB XLIX in Phoenix 2015. Let hope reign supreme in all of Fanland...as all 32 teams can legitimately stake claim to the Lombardi trophy at this time.
I'm not going to kid myself or you all in the world at large. So I will state it for the record that I firmly and feverishly predict that the 2014 champion of the NFL will be none other than the @DallasCowboys. Write it down, take a stunning picture of it and show it to the ones you love and those you love to hate. Remember 1994-1995! #CowboysNation ☆
Jul 11, 2014
LHL: Really Different Sports-- Cleveland is LeJoycing!
Let them Lejoice in Cleveland. The Prodigal son is returning to Cleveland. The saddest day in Miami sees the #HeatNation show their true colors. Wow first Johnny Football now LeBron makes his return what's next for Cleveland? ??? Late reports has others (Wade, Anthony & Bosh) thinking of home as well. The rest of the world awaits the next NBA free-agent domino to fall... Up Next-- Who's gonna have the best conference now?? #East or #West
OK so after a dreadful return to the circuit @TigerWoods will play in his first major of the year next week at the British Open. Does he have a chance to win #15? Well it depends on who you ask. From Azinger to McIlroy everyone is weighing in on the now waning Tiger mystic. Still the @TigerWoods brand has a colossal amount of marketing pull. @Espn will have a Tiger-only channel as the former champion looks to regain his winning form. O/U he beats or matches Jack for most majors only time will tell. Age 37 is not an end but a beginning to a career in golf.
What time is it? Sorry, fans it's not yet NFL game time. But, you wouldn't know it on social media before the #Le-announcement today. I've seen more #CowboysNation hate and condemnation over the past few days that I long for training camp to start to see it end and preseason to begin. Alas, we have 55 days to go before real play begins. #HurryUpNFL
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