A Higher Standard?

Are the Dallas Cowboys held to a higher standard than other professional football teams? I don't know if I can answer that, but I do wonder sometimes.

They lost their last game of the season Sunday afternoon. They played against the Washington Redskins. They played rather poorly at that. But there are some things to be taken into consideration.

The Cowboys didn't really have anything to play for. They'd already clinched the NFC East, the first round bye, and home field advantage. The game, won or lost, wouldn't change anything for them as far as playoffs go. The Redskins, on the other hand, needed to win to make the playoffs. Not only that, they had gone through some tough times here recently, what with the death of Sean Taylor just a few short weeks ago. Yeah, they were more emotional about the game, and more motivated to win.

The Cowboys didn't want to risk injury to their starters going into the playoffs. Wade Phillips let Tony Romo break Danny White's last remaining record (most completions in a single season), then benched him for the rest of the game.

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Terrell Owens was out injured, as were four other starters. Terry Glenn played until he got his feet knocked out from under him, then he was benched. Even DeMarcus Ware was benched after the half. Heck, just one series into the second half, there wasn't a starter left on the field--except on the Washington team. They played all their starters (except the injured ones) the entire game. A bit of a mismatch, there.

Then there's the lingering question of Tony Romo's injured thumb. Not long after the Carolina game, he finally almost admitted how badly it really did hurt. Could it still be affecting his play?

So, yeah, they didn't play that well...but


They are still going to the playoffs.

They are still division champions.

They are still the number 1 seed in the NFC.

They still tied the record of the most wins in franchise history.

The have still set a buttload of individual and franchise records.

They still have as good or better of a record than any other team except the unbeaten Patriots.

They still have 11 players going to the pro bowl, including backup running back Marion Barber. Tell me, when was the last time you ever heard of a backup going to the pro bowl?

(STREETER LECKA/AFP/Getty Images)

But they lost.

When that game was finished, I turned over to watch the Indianapolis Colts do the exact same thing. Midway through the second quarter, Coach Tony Dungy emptied their bench and basically handed the game to the Titans. For three and a half quarters, Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, and the rest of the Colts' starters rode the bench. The second and third string played against the Titans' first team. And the Colts lost. You know who else lost this week? Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Seattle, and the Giants. All playoff bound. In fact, of the 10 teams who had already clinched a playoff berth, only three of them won. The other seven lost. Dallas was only one of them.

But where, I ask you, (that’s rhetorical, I don’t really expect an answer) was the analysis on how poorly these teams played? Where was the concern that they wouldn’t have momentum going into the playoffs? Where were the so called experts commenting that their play had really gone down hill since the first part of the season? Where was the questioning whether they still had a running game? Where were the subtle barbs in the comparisons between them and the Giants (as in “The Giants didn’t have anything to play for either but they played their guts out anyway.”) Where were the commentators mentioning that these teams looked like they were just going through the motions?

Think about it. The Boys have finished tied with the best won-loss record in club history (which has only happened once before in some 48 years) and yet they are being disparaged as if the record were 3-13 instead of 13-3. They finish with the exact same record as Green Bay and Indianapolis, yet nobody is asking what is wrong with those two clubs. Brett Favre had a bad game against Chicago last week. Peyton Manning had a bad game against San Diego a few weeks back. So where are the people calling those two a flash in the pan?

The Patriots finished 16-0. They are being hailed as the best football team ever, and tagged with descriptors like phenomenal, amazing, and miracle. The Cowboys finish anything less than 16-0, and they are called many things, not least of which is losers. Why?

Because they are the Dallas Cowboys.

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

There was a bright spot to the day. One of the commentators remarked that Jessica Simpson would be asking Washington Quarterback Todd Collins out now.

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

We should be so lucky.