Preparing for an epic battle against a familiar foe with plenty on the line: Cowboys playoff riffing

 The playoffs are one big ice-cream headache of glorious anxiety. Not knowing if you are about to enjoy the ride of a lifetime or another trip to the heartbreak hotel. It can be the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Unfortunately, for anyone involved with Dallas Cowboys football, it is the feeling that it will never be their year again. We doubt that dubious fatalism is productive, but just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, we can safely tell you neither was Cowboys cynicism.

You know the story. They have gone way too long.

https://theathletic.com/3070190/2022/01/14/preparing-for-an-epic-battle-against-a-familiar-foe-with-plenty-on-the-line-cowboys-playoff-riffing/

In pursuit of that very rare successful Cowboys season: Pregame riffing

 Let’s have a dialogue.

In this spot you no doubt expect a thorough game preview and I am honored to normally provide one. However, this week, we find a game where neither team seems terribly compelled to risk much in terms of personnel or tactics, and they also have very little to gain. The Cowboys and their hated rivals from Philadelphia will meet on the field and for some reason will be featured as the best game for Saturday night, despite neither team promising much more than a brisk run-through in which they try not to get anyone hurt. In what will serve as a small dress rehearsal, Dallas will try to find its groove, but in the end, there is nothing that can be accomplished on Saturday night that can be defined as meaningful or terribly important.

https://theathletic.com/3056034/2022/01/07/in-pursuit-of-that-very-rare-successful-cowboys-season-pregame-riffing/

The Cowboys defense now faces the difficult Kyler Murray test: Pregame riffing

 We have been waiting on this one for quite a while. This was billed as potentially a game of the year for the Cowboys where they might need to get it to secure a spot in the playoffs or a chance to win the NFC East.

https://theathletic.com/3044298/2021/12/31/the-cowboys-defense-now-faces-the-difficult-kyler-murray-test-pregame-riffing/

How close is Micah Parsons to Defensive Player of the Year? Cowboys pregame riffing

 Thanks to COVID-19 and any additional variants that have complicated the football weekend, hopefully you can understand my reluctance to get too carried away about specifics regarding the game. In digging through the Giants news, it seems incredibly difficult to suggest who will be playing and who will not.

We will do our best, but both the texts and visual aids of this Friday tradition, you might see some things that are affected with late-breaking availability news. Please offer us a fair amount of latitude to offer our educated guesses.

https://theathletic.com/3021535/2021/12/17/how-close-is-micah-parsons-to-defensive-player-of-the-year-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

Walking into Washington with confidence. It’s prove-it time: Cowboys pregame riffing

 This is a big one. Very big.

With a two-game advantage on Washington, Dallas has a nice lead — but certainly not one that is secured. Lose this game Sunday and suddenly the Cowboys’ lead is just one and they would also not hold the tiebreaker, by virtue of the head-to-head loss.

https://theathletic.com/3008327/2021/12/10/walking-into-washington-with-confidence-its-prove-it-time-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

The Cowboys visit New Orleans in desperate need of a win: Thursday pregame riffing

 There was a time — not so long ago — when Sean Payton was that year’s version of Kellen Moore. The young hotshot assistant and offensive mastermind who was going to take over the coaching world as his own boss soon and what if he didn’t do it here?

https://theathletic.com/2992458/2021/12/02/the-cowboys-visit-new-orleans-in-desperate-need-of-a-win-thursday-pregame-riffing/

Dallas goes to Arrowhead to measure its quality against the Chiefs: Cowboys pregame riffing

 Well, if you haven’t been waiting for this game since the schedule was released, you may want to check your heart rate and pulse. Because those of us who are still showing vital signs have been talking about this one and counting it down with eager anticipation since the day the fixture dropped.

This is Dallas’ first trip to Arrowhead Stadium since 2013, which pitted Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant in a Week 2 battle against Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe in a game where former defensive coordinator Bob Sutton blitzed the Cowboys into submission. Large human Dontari Poe had a couple sacks that day and the Cowboys limped home as 17-16 losers.

https://theathletic.com/2965875/2021/11/19/dallas-goes-to-arrowhead-to-measure-its-quality-against-the-chiefs-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

Dallas tries to prove to us that it is a different team: Cowboys pregame riffing

 Losing can play tricks with your head for sure. You lose one game in two months and then hear that Randy Gregory won’t play for a while, Tyron Smith is unlikely to return this week, and things snowball in your head. Before long you feel the stress of wondering about the traditional three games in 12 days stretch and with the Chiefs and Raiders waiting in the wings, you start to stress about how important this game is starting to look.

https://theathletic.com/2951093/2021/11/12/dallas-tries-to-prove-to-us-that-it-is-a-different-team-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

Dallas free agents to be and the Broncos come calling: Cowboys pregame riffing

 This game is not the most interesting game on the schedule. Not even close. So if I am going to tell you when games are very interesting, then I better preserve a few weeks where I don’t try to pull your leg.

Dallas should win this game — and win it pretty easily. Denver is not very good and it is also pretty beat up. Plus, the Broncos just traded their biggest franchise star in Von Miller. Their coach has been a leading candidate to not see the holidays on duty, despite being a well-loved football lifer who everyone wants to succeed.

https://theathletic.com/2936814/2021/11/05/dallas-free-agents-to-be-and-the-broncos-come-calling-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

Huge test against Mike Zimmer’s defense awaits on Sunday Night and two big storylines: Cowboys pregame riffing

 There are two stories this morning that shape how we prepare for the showdown in Minnesota with a Vikings’ side that is also coming off a bye week and more than capable of causing all manner of issues for this Cowboys’ train on Sunday night.

https://theathletic.com/2920766/2021/10/29/huge-test-against-mike-zimmers-defense-awaits-on-sunday-night-and-two-big-storylines-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

Cowboys pregame riffing: Bill Belichick’s challenge awaits for Cowboys’ offensive machine

 No, it is not a prelude to the Super Bowl. It just isn’t.

But, that won’t mean it won’t feel like a huge game. The Cowboys haven’t beat the Patriots since they have been defending Super Bowl champions.

Seriously.

The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots have played 13 times to date in the history of the NFL.

https://theathletic.com/2890741/2021/10/15/cowboys-pregame-riffing-bill-belichicks-challenge-awaits-for-cowboys-offensive-machine/

Cowboys pregame riffing: The Giants present issues, but Dallas should have answers

 Well, let us never suggest that the NFL schedule-makers do not possess a sick sense of humor.

Are you kidding me? Fifty-two weeks later — 364 days later? The exact fixture on the schedule as it was in 2020 when it all went down and the 2020 season all but ended for the Cowboys.

There is only one week where the Cowboys’ schedules in each of the last two seasons are completely identical. One.

Week 5.

https://theathletic.com/2875956/2021/10/08/cowboys-pregame-riffing-the-giants-present-issues-but-dallas-should-have-answers/

Cowboys pregame riffing: Undefeated Panthers will challenge Dallas with their blitzing defense

 You certainly are aware that the Dallas Cowboys have lived two lives. The first life would be from the birth in 1960 until the victory in Super Bowl 30 at the end of 1995. That marks the proudest era for the proudest franchise in the sport with championships and near championships at a level the rest of the league could only dream.

https://theathletic.com/2860785/2021/10/01/cowboys-pregame-riffing-undefeated-panthers-will-challenge-dallas-with-their-blitzing-defense/

Cowboys pregame riffing: Home-opening battle with the Eagles will require points … many points

 The 2000 season featured an early-season (Week 1) visit from those hated Eagles. Philadelphia featured a pretty new and unproven coach, an exciting and potential-filled quarterback and a team that the Cowboys thought they should certainly beat to get where they wanted to go — especially given that the Eagles were not near the threat that Washington was. You know, the Washington that won the division last year?

https://theathletic.com/2850934/2021/09/27/cowboys-pregame-riffing-home-opening-battle-with-the-eagles-will-require-points-many-points/

Cowboys pregame riffing: Patience required for Dallas to score enough against Brandon Staley’s Chargers

 Fifty-eight days since the Dallas Cowboys training camp held its first full practice in Oxnard, Calif.; 149 days until Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, Calif.; and just two more days until the 3:25 pm CT start on Sunday at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood where the Cowboys visit the Chargers for a Week 2 battle …

They have started the season 0-2 four times since 1990.

It worked really well in 1993. That year, the Cowboys started 0-2 with Emmitt Smith holding out. They then signed him to a new deal, and Dallas went on to win the Super Bowl. No problem.

They did it again in 2000 and finished 5-11.

https://theathletic.com/2831436/2021/09/17/cowboys-pregame-riffing-patience-required-for-dallas-to-score-enough-against-brandon-staleys-chargers/

The NFL's toughest opening game awaits Dallas in Tampa

 Fifty days since the Dallas Cowboys training camp held its first full practice in Oxnard, Calif.; 157 days until Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, Calif.; and just a few hours until the 7:20 p.m. CT start at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa ... 

We made it. It has certainly been a while since a difficult-to-watch contest ended at Giants Stadium on Jan. 3 with the Cowboys logging their 10th loss of the season. It seemed a year when everything went wrong, mostly because it did. The offseason never happened.

https://theathletic.com/2815683/2021/09/09/cowboys-pregame-riffing-the-nfls-toughest-opening-game-awaits-dallas-in-tampa/