Perspective

The 'Boys did not have the year we hoped for, ending with a thorough thrashing at Philly. But let's give the season some context.

At this writing four teams remain in the playoffs, all Cowboy foes this year: Arizona, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Going into the weekend, five of the eight post-season survivors were Dallas opponents; only the Giants were eliminated, by the Iggles.

Much is made of the Cowboys' losing December record these past 11 years, but being America's Team contributes to that statistical notation. The NFL-televising networks love to feature Dallas, no different in 2008. NBC's two top Sunday night audiences were Cowboy games. The #1 ESPN Monday night game showcased Dallas. The top late afternoon rated slot on Fox was a Cowboy contest. What's new?

But in support of these TV ratings, the league back loads the best games. In addition to division foes NY and Philly--predictable late-season must sees--the Ravens and Steelers slid into the December schedule, surprise, surprise. When this kind of scheduling happens year after year, no wonder the Cowboys tend to lose a few in the holiday season.

Other than six division games (still the toughest in football; the Eagles, a 2-4 team within its division, are now one win away from the Super Bowl) and the rotational divisions (AFC north and NFC west in 2008), the other games are filled by formula that dealt the Cowboys a very tough hand, partly because of those 13 wins in 2007. Every expert correctly had the defense-heavy Ravens and Steelers on a short list of Super Bowl possibles. But Green Bay also won 13 last year and Tampa Bay was leading its division when the Romo-less Cowboys beat the Bucs in week eight. While the teams did not meet expectations, the cognoscenti thought Dallas had a tough opening schedule with road games at Cleveland and Green Bay in the first three weeks.

NFL watchers acknowledge the schedule-cycle gauntlet, but when pondering the Cowboys' annual late season fade, take into account the rough road prepared by the league and the networks. It's a factor, as sure as injuries and those locker-room-destabilizing personnel problems.