The Cowboys have a huge match-up this week against the #2 seed Minnesota Vikings. But, I don’t think that will keep any Cowboys fan from relishing in what has transpired over the last month. Over these last 4 weeks the Cowboys have exercised all of their “demons” and now simply have to go into the Metrodome and take on the 12-4 Minnesota Vikings led by Brett Favre to advance to the NFC championsip. Piece of cake, right? Well before we stuff ourselves, let’s digest the last month of the season and see what the Cowboys were able to stomach (pun intended).
Demon #1: DECEMBER
It all started in New Orleans when the Cowboys took on the undefeated New Orleans Saints. They were coming off back to back losses to the Chargers and Giants and the December monster continued to loom. Most experts predicted that the Cowboys would not only lose Saturday night in New Orleans , but that they could possibly free fall out of the playoffs with more late-season losses. The Cowboys went on to man handle the Saints for the majority of the game and DeMarcus Ware added a signature performance to his growing legacy.
After handing New Orleans its first loss of the season, the Cowboys took on a semi-surging Washington Redskins team that wanted to show what they had to new GM Bruce Allen. Result: 17-0 shut-out, courtesy of Wade Phillips and his suddenly vaunted defense. The Cowboys had punched their ticket to the playoffs but I have to admit that there were still some unanswered questions.
Demon #2: THE EAGLES
Although the Cowboys defeated the Eagles 20-16 earlier in the season, the Eagles were considered by most to be the hottest team in the NFC going into the final week of the season. They were leading the NFC East and looking to put together a similar performance to their 2008 week 17 spanking of the Cowboys. Result: 24-0 shut out , courtesy of Wade Phillips and this suddenly vaunted Cowboys defense (déja vu?). The good news was that the Cowboys were NFC East Champions and had earned the #3 seed in the NFC. The bad news was that they would have to take on Philadelphia again the next week. Same Batman time, same Batman channel (not really, but you get the point). In order for the Cowboys to get their first playoff win in over 13 years, the Cowboys would have to do something that they had failed to do in two previous attempts…complete a 3 game sweep of a division opponent.
Demon #3: PLAYOFF VICTORY
The Cowboys last playoff victory came on December 28, 1996 when they beat the Minnesota Vikings 40-15. I was 10 and I’m not sure I even I even remember the game. I do know the Cowboys got whipped the next week against the Carolina Panthers, but I digress. The Cowboys’ first playoff victory this millennium would have to come against an Eagles team that hadn’t lost its first game of the playoffs since Andy Reid took over 11 years ago. They had plenty of film to dissect on the Cowboys and there was no way they were going to put up performance similar to the one from the previous week, right? Result: 34-14 beat down, courtesy of Jerry’s boys. Finally, it happened. I have to admit that I got a little emotional. I’ve been through my ups and downs with this team but this was by far the sweetest moment since the Cowboys won the Super Bowl back in ‘95. To go that entire span with only one playoff victory leaves you baffled but I never lost faith in this team.
Now these guys are 3 wins away from a world championship. Yep, I said it. Super Bowl Champions! I’m not saying they’re going to win it, but they’ve got as good a shot as anyone and that’s not something that every team can say at this point. The Cowboys have had a long hard road to get to this point but they key is that they’ve stuck together. Not a whole lot of drama. Not much dissension in the locker room. They simply went out each week and played football. It wasn’t always pretty (7-6 at home vs. Washington for example) but they found a way to get it done. So far, this has been a season to be proud of. But now is not the time to get complacent. 3 games is way too close to lay an egg now. The demons have been exercised, but the slaying must continue. Slay on Cowboys, slay on.
