NFL 2016 - <whatever Tony is doing>

pharmakos said:

Stafford lets his baseball experience show too much when he's under pressure (if that makes sense). starts trying to pull off throws that look more like someone trying to get a double play than someone throwing a football pass.

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he did make the nice sidearm delivery in the 1st half on a 3rd down that led to an eventual TD. Still...2nd and 31 isn't the time to start fucking around.

Merrith said:

Stuff...

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Fair enough. I don't buy "post season experience" all that much though. Sure as shit hasn't helped KC or the Bengals in recent years. Certainly didn't do much for the Eagles back in the early 00s, though they did make at least one Super Bowl. At some point you just kind of have to win and the only indication anyone has year-to-year on how a team might perform in the playoffs is the regular season. Previous success means nothing. Just ask the Panthers. Or the Broncos.

And if you're talking about the postseason "environment", keep in mind that both Dak and Zeke didn't exactly come from scrub colleges like North Dakota State. Zeke was in the CFP Championship game in 2014, which might as well be labeled "Super Bowl Lite". Dak came from the SEC. Both of them have been in big games before, and even though the NFL is different on the field, the ceremony surrounding said big games isn't all that different until you get to the Super Bowl. I think they'll be fine. Plus, the coaching staff was here two years ago so they know how to get the players ready.

At any rate, no one will know until three weeks from now whether or not Dallas is there yet. But it would be a mistake to discount what they've done to get to this point so far.

Chanur said:

Would be amusing for a Romo led team to eliminate the Cowboys from the playoffs.

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Funnier than drafting 2 SB winning QB's in a 3 year span while continuing to never win one? On a scale of 1 - Chargers where would it rank?

moontayle said:

Fair enough. I don't buy "post season experience" all that much though. Sure as shit hasn't helped KC or the Bengals in recent years. Certainly didn't do much for the Eagles back in the early 00s, though they did make at least one Super Bowl. At some point you just kind of have to win and the only indication anyone has year-to-year on how a team might perform in the playoffs is the regular season. Previous success means nothing. Just ask the Panthers. Or the Broncos.

And if you're talking about the postseason "environment", keep in mind that both Dak and Zeke didn't exactly come from scrub colleges like North Dakota State. Zeke was in the CFP Championship game in 2014, which might as well be labeled "Super Bowl Lite". Dak came from the SEC. Both of them have been in big games before, and even though the NFL is different on the field, the ceremony surrounding said big games isn't all that different until you get to the Super Bowl. I think they'll be fine. Plus, the coaching staff was here two years ago so they know how to get the players ready.

At any rate, no one will know until three weeks from now whether or not Dallas is there yet. But it would be a mistake to discount what they've done to get to this point so far.

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No one is discounting it Moon. You get your undies in a bunch if someone says anything other than Dallas is the proclaimed favorite going in. They are one of the favorites, but not some lock solid you can pen them in. You don't buy experience, and overlook KC...not realizing that the ONLY thing they have going for them on offense once the playoffs comes is Alex Smith's experience. It did plenty for the Eagles in that they were finally able to make it to the Super Bowl. It sure helped the Cardinals out when Kurt Warner's experience was able to lead them within a couple minutes of the Super Bowl. It has helped the Seahawks out the last couple of years as they became a playoff hardened team. You think it's not going to help Aaron Rodgers if Green Bay gets in?

It's one thing to say you don't think you need playoff experience to be successful, it's quite another to claim you don't buy into it being a factor at all. Just look at Joe Flacco's first couple playoff years, then look at his last couple. Tell me you don't see a progression there.

Previous success can mean nothing. Plenty of #1 seeds haven't gone to the Super Bowl because they weren't ready for the playoffs. It's not just a next season thing. The Cowboys will have their shot, but it's not crazy to point out some holes in the armor of late, or noting their lack of playoff experience.

Another weirdness, GB/Detroit could just kneel on the ball for 5 quarters and both get in, but there's still a scenario out there where Detroit can get the #2 seed I believe and the bye that comes with it. Of course, being the night game, they would know what seeding they would get with a win anyways.

Try to remember that the OL has playoff experience, all of them. Dez, Witten, Williams, Beasley do as well. The only difference in personnel on offense from the 2014 team is Dak and Zeke.

Carr, Claiborne, Church, Scandrick, Wilcox, Heath, Durant, T. Crawford, Lawrence, Wilber, Hitchens all have playoff experience with the Cowboys in 2014. Collins, Brown, Mayowa, Irving, J. Crawford, and Lee have no playoff experience. Thornton has playoff experience with the Eagles, T. McClain I'm not sure how much he played in the playoffs in 2014 because he was always injured off and on.

2016 Cowboys has a roster exploding with players who have won in the playoffs, minus the rookies who are shaping up to be the best draft class in Cowboys history.

Chanur said:

About as high as you are butt hurt at the moment.

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So not at all then lol.

Burnem Wizfyre said:

Try to remember that the OL has playoff experience, all of them. Dez, Witten, Williams, Beasley do as well. The only difference in personnel on offense from the 2014 team is Dak and Zeke.

Carr, Claiborne, Church, Scandrick, Wilcox, Heath, Durant, T. Crawford, Lawrence, Wilber, Hitchens all have playoff experience with the Cowboys in 2014. Collins, Brown, Mayowa, Irving, J. Crawford, and Lee have no playoff experience. Thornton has playoff experience with the Eagles, T. McClain I'm not sure how much he played in the playoffs in 2014 because he was always injured off and on.

2016 Cowboys has a roster exploding with players who have won in the playoffs, minus the rookies who are shaping up to be the best draft class in Cowboys history.

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This isn't a bad point. But even most of these guys have a lot less playoff experience than the Seahawks or the Pats. Hell, Dak/Zeke could be helped by NOT knowing. Historically it's just tough to go right in as a rookie and expect tons of success.

Looks like part of my Bills prediction is already wrong. They're keeping Whaley, though God only knows why. I guess Rex was an owner hire, so they probably want to give him a chance of "ride or die" with his own guy. I still don't see it though, he's been bad in the draft, which is the best way to build a team. He struck lightning with the McCoy deal but it's very rare to get gifted a superstar player like him.

I still think they make a play for Romo, regardless of who ends up as coach. Of all the available QBs he's the one most likely to bring success and Buffalo has the run game to make sure he doesn't have to do it all himself. Otherwise they really have to try and sell being mediocre to bad for a few more years as they try and find a QB worth a damn.