Dallas's Playoff Chances May Rest on This Weekend

As I said in the post below, last week's loss to the Rams was one of the worst losses I've ever seen from a Cowboy team...ever. It was a gutless peformance all the way around and it basically looked like most of the players didn't even get off the bus that day. But this is a new week and the team needs to leave last week's horrible performance in the past because a very good Tampa Bay team is in town and they smell blood in the water. Romo is not playing this week and probably won't, by his own admission, until at least the Washington game in 3 weeks. That means Brad Johnson is at the helm again (gulp!).

All I've heard all week, from the players interviewed, is that their back in against the wall and they know they have to win this weekend. My question is, where was that attitude last week? Where was that urgency? Why does it take 4 straight games of playing effortless, uninspired football and 2 bad losses to get to that point? I'm hoping that what I heard is the truth and not just lip service. I'm hoping we see the Cowboy team we saw the first 3 games of the season.

One thing is for sure though. If the Cowboys hope to even make the playoffs, then they really must win this weekend vs. Tampa Bay. I think that 10-6 gets you into the playoffs but anything less than doesn't. The Cowboys are 4-3 right now and I really don't see them going to NY next week and coming away with a win. So, if Dallas doesn't win tomrrow, then they will probably be 4-5 going into their bye week and would need to go 6-1 over their last 7 games to get to a 10-6 record. And with road games at Washington, Pittsburgh and Filthadelpia, I really don't think the Cowboys will be able to go 6-1 over their last 7 games. So, the game this week will give them a little room for error, but not much. So it is imperative that Cowboys win this weekend.

Maybe I'm the eternal optimist as far as the Dallas Cowboys go but something tells me that they will find a way to come away with a "W" tomorrow. I have no real basis for this other than they Cowboys are at home and their back is truly against the wall. That is what I'm basing my prediction on. I'm hoping what I heard this week is the truth and that they play with urgency and a sense of purpose and not like a team entitled to go directly to the Super Bowl despite the fact they haven't won a playoff game since 1996. However, the Cowboys are a wounded animal trapped in a corner and I beleive they will come out fighting tomorrow.

Prediction: Dallas 20, Tampa Bay 17