Dallas Cowboys: Week 16 and 17 Matchups Dictate Cowboys' Future

Over the last five years, Tony Romo, Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware have led the Dallas Cowboys to two division titles and four total playoff games, ultimately going 1-3 in them. Taking into consideration the 2010 season, in which he did not play the last 11 games due to injury, Romo has started five seasons for the Cowboys and has gone to the playoffs three times thus far.

In 2011, Romo has solidified the mental aspects of his game. He no longer (sans the Lions game) takes foolish risks and throws interceptions. He happily throws the ball away, or if he must, he takes a sack. He has finally matured into a quarterback who plays to his strengths and leads without trying to make up for the shortcomings of his teammates.

The final two games of this 2011 season will determine a lot for this franchise. In sports, we often throw around phrases like “do-or-die,” or “goat or hero” or “must-win,” but these final two games are simply monumental for this Cowboys team.

As Jerry Jones continues to invest in talent, this team continues to invest in disappointment and the failure to take advantage of opportunity.

This year has been a perfect example of that.

Here is a brief recap: throwing the game away against the Jets to start the season, doing the same thing against the Lions at home, and watching an enormous Sunday night lead vanish against Manning’s Giants.

Blunders are part of the game. Two blunders are acceptable out of 16 games. Three blunders? This team is far too talented for that.

If Dallas had won the Giants game a few weeks back, this would all be irrelevant. The Cowboys already would own the NFC East and could coast during the next two divisional games. Instead, they are struggling for their lives and may not make the playoffs.

The next two weeks will determine the future for the Dallas Cowboys. If the team loses and fails to make the playoffs, everything will change. The fluff (Marty B and Anthony Spencer, to name a few) will be gone, aging veterans like Brooking and James will be left out to dry and the secondary (primarily the cornerbacks) will be dramatically changed (I am looking at you, Newman).

Additionally, the Cowboys will finally have to begin relying more on the draft to develop players. This year, you can argue that the two best players on the team are rookies or sophomores (DeMarco Murray and Sean Lee).

If the Cowboys win, however, there will have to be a sense of validation around Valley Ranch. The new coach, a healthy Romo, an “is that Emmitt!?" at running back, a terrific set of wide receivers and an eccentric defensive coordinator will have led the Cowboys to a division title and a home playoff game.

While we may be tempted to monitor the results of the Giants and Eagles over the next two weeks, I urge Cowboys Nation to focus on what the Cowboys are doing, and how they are playing. Good things have happened all season for us to be at this point, and we must finish the season strong with a pair of must-win games during this holiday season.

Go Cowboys!