In week 16 of the 2011 season, the Dallas Cowboys were 8-6 and controlled their own destiny to the playoffs. If they had won their final 2 games against the Eagles and Giants, they would have won the NFC East for the first time since 2009. Nevertheless, the Cowboys came up short. They didn’t win the East, or earn a wild card spot. Instead they watched the rival Giants go on a miraculous run and win the Super Bowl.
Oddly enough, here we are again in week 16. The Cowboys are 8-6 and need to win their final 2 games to win the division. However, unlike last year’s team which finished 1-4 down the stretch, the 2012 Cowboys have won 5 of their last 6. They are surging at the right time with dates against the Saints and Redskins remaining on the schedule. The remaining two games offer the Cowboys a chance at redemption. If they can win this Sunday, they will again find themselves in a week 17 match up against a division rival for the NFC East Championship.
Sunday afternoon’s match up with the Saints will not be an easy one. Despite their 6-8 record, the Saints possess one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. Saints quarterback Drew Bree’s is having a typical Drew Brees kind of season. This year, he has thrown for a league leading 4,335 yards and 36 touchdown passes. However, Brees also leads the league with 18 interception.
If the Cowboys are going to stop Brees, cornerback Brandon Carr will need to continue his recent outstanding play and look to add to Brees’ interception total. In the Cowboys’ last two wins over the Bengals and Steelers, Carr has come up with two important interceptions. Last week’s game defining overtime interception against the Steelers won Carr the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
In addition to the Cowboys defense needing to step up, their offense will need to continue running the ball effectively. Since the return of DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys are 3-0. Murray has scored a TD in all three games and should look to score again against a Saints defense which is the worst in the NFL. The Saints have allowed 6,006 net yards this season. On average, the Saints are allowing opposing running backs to run for 146.3 yards per game. Expect the Cowboys the feed Murray the ball and attempt to control the pace of the game.
All throughout this season, the Dallas Cowboys have been winning close games. Of their 8 wins, 2 were in overtime. In addition, only 1 of their wins has been by more than 7 points. The perception that the Cowboys can’t win in the clutch is one one of the biggest misconceptions in the league. However, once again the Cowboys control their own destiny. They will have the opportunity to win the NFC East, redeem themselves for last year’s collapse and change their perception throughout the league.
