Cowboys Defense: Don't Buy Into Hype, Stay Focused

In the last few days there have been plenty of reports, articles, and features on sports networks about the Cowboys stellar defense.

Analysts have people feeling like the Cowboys are going to dominate the Vikings like they did the Eagles. Just read this or this.

However, the Cowboys defense can't buy into this because there's one thing that they know. 

The Vikings aren't the Eagles.

The Eagles need big plays to move the ball; the Vikings don't. The Eagles can't run and don't try to run (23 carries in the last two games against Dallas); the Vikings ran the ball 408 times between Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor this season.

The Eagles offensive line is a running joke (and has been for a while), while the Vikings offensive line can actually protect their QB (for the most part).

I'm not saying the Cowboys' defense will get beat bad or that the Cowboys will lose. What I'm saying is, in recent years when the Cowboys win a few games and ESPN, NFL Network, and Fox Sports start talking about them, they believe the hype fast and it leads to blown coverages, penalties, and ultimately a loss. 

So much so that a friend of mine and a die-hard fan refuses to watch or read anything about the Cowboys—not even a pregame conversation by the commentators. He just watches the games.

"It's a new team and a new year."

"All the distractions are gone."

"Phillips has the players in the right mindset."

I've heard all these in recent weeks and they're great things, but if they have a let down and get blown out, the same things that were being said after the loss to San Diego will be said again.

"They bought into the hype."

"It's the same old story."

"Phillips needs to go...get Cowher in here."

The defense is playing at a great level with Keith Brooking leading the unit. The front seven has been stopping the run and getting a great pass rush. Because of that, Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman are shutting receivers down. Even Bobby Carpenter and Orlando Scandrick have stepped up their game.

But they have to stay humble and focused—it's only the divisional round. Now's not the time to celebrate and rejoice.

Now's the time to clamp down and push harder to reach the ultimate goal, because the only team that gets to celebrate is the champs.

The Cowboys will get there with their defense, but they have to keep moving. They're not there yet...the journey continues.