Dallas Cowboys: Why Close Call with Miami Was a Good Thing

The Dallas Cowboys were able to win a nail-biting game with the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving Day, adding to the many other close contests Cowboys fans have seen this season.

Because of the vast amount of media coverage Dallas receives on both a local and national scale, many analysts will say that the 'Boys should have blown out the Miami Dolphins yesterday, and they'll act like the win meant less because it was close, when in fact it meant more.

As I've stated in previous articles, I believe this group of Cowboys excel when the national limelight is focused on other teams, like the Green Bay Packers for instance, because it allows them to go a bit under the radar and just focus on playing good football.

Eight of Dallas' 11 games this year have been decided by six points or less, with the Cowboys winning five of them. Great teams have to win the close games regardless of their opponent's record, and any coach will tell you that you have to win the games you're favored to win.

The Cowboys were favored in each of their November games, and they went perfect through the month. With only a few lopsided wins to their credit this season, that doesn't make Dallas any less of a threat in the NFC. It's actually better because they have learned what it takes to win the nail-biters.

When the Indianapolis Colts were blowing out every opponent back in 2007, the media was ready to crown them back to back Super Bowl Champions before the playoffs, and look how that ended up.

It's better to be tested and win the close games against teams like Miami who are playing their best football of the season and get the win then it is to steamroll all comers, because then the team knows what it takes to win in the close encounters and big-time games.