Dallas Cowboys in a familiar territory – NFL News
No one could have expected a month ago that the Dallas Cowboys would be contending for a playoff berth at the end of the regular season. The credit naturally goes to the Cowboys for staging a few good performances during their recent games, but the New York
Giants’ slump has also helped the Cowboys’ cause.
With one more game to go in the regular season, the Cowboys (8-7) find themselves in a familiar territory. A win will take them to the playoffs as National Football Conference (NFC) East leaders, while a defeat will send them packing.
The Cowboys faced the same scenario last season when they faced the Giants in a do-or-die regular season finale. The Giants won that game and eventually the Super Bowl, and the Cowboys were left in awe.
As they face the same situation again, the only difference the Cowboys have is that of opponents. Instead of facing the Giants again, the Cowboys will now take on Washington Redskins, who are currently leading the division and have already beaten the Cowboys
once this season.
Some of the Cowboys’ players believe that they could learn from last year’s experience and use the last year’s elimination as a motivating factor. Others, however, are simply focused on the task at hand and want just to ensure a win to seal a playoff berth.
According to the details present on Cowboys’ website, defensive end Marcus Spears said of the team’s situation:
“For us to be like, ‘Oh, we’ve been in this situation before and we need to use that to whatever advantage it may be or motivation,’ it’s irrelevant because you’ve got to play this game.”
He added:
“You have to play it, regardless of what you’re taking into it. You’ve got to play it, and our main motivation is that we want to win, nothing else.”
On the other hand, linebacker DeMarcus Ware said while recalling last year’s failure in reaching the postseason:
“Now, guess what, usually they say that lightning doesn’t strike twice, but it has, and we have an opportunity to be exactly where we need to be.”
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