The Dallas Cowboys are America’s team, no doubt. No other team in sports conjures up love or hate like they do.
Sunday night was proof in point. After three weeks of the season, Dallas had posted a 3-0 record and several of my Cowboys fans — not all, but several — informed me that this year’s team was the equal of the 1992 and 1993 Dallas Super Bowl teams.
Now in all honesty, I have been very skeptical of all the hype for the simple fact that their three wins came over teams with a combined record of 2-10, with the two of those victories by the New York Giants, while both Washington and Miami are 0-4. The Redskins are very bad, and the Dolphins downright awful.
Even though I’ve pretty much sworn off the NFL due to the kneeling fiasco, I felt I had to see this great team, which it has to be something special if they are as good as the 1992 and 1993 teams, which I hold into the same regards as great squads such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, to name a few.
I thought the Sunday night showdown in New Orleans would be a bust since Drew Brees wasn’t playing for the Saints. Nonetheless, I decided to tune in to catch some of the demolition by Dallas of New Orleans.
First, let’s reset for a moment and look back at the ‘92/’93 Cowboys teams. Quarterback Troy Aikman — no offense Dak, you aren’t close. One of the greatest running backs of all time in Emmit Smith — sorry Ezekiel Elliott, that nod easily goes to Smith. Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper at wideouts — please, not even up for debate. Larry Allen and Nate Newton, two of the greatest of all time on one of the best units ever to play the game. And on defense, the great Charles Hailey at defensive end, Ken Norton at linebacker, and Russel Maryland at defensive tackle, to name a few. There was little wonder this team demolished great Buffalo Bills teams 52-17 and 30-13 in those Super Bowls, and why I saw no comparison.
But for three weeks, Facebook has been lit up on Sunday evenings with Dallas Cowboys fans which really provided some good entertainment. Without question, the battle lines had been drawn between the Cowboys lovers, and the Cowboys haters, with some of the most fun coming via live broadcasts after the games by the Dallas fans. I mean, the trash talk back and forth with non-Cowboys fans is pure comedy.
Still, I expected another Cowboys win on Sunday night with pretty much ease to set up quite a showdown the following week with the Green Bay Packers.
To say I was let down with what I saw in Dallas is an understatement. The vaunted offense behind Dak Prescott and Elliot managed just 268 yards of total offense in a 12-10 loss to the Saints, who were quarterbacked by Teddy Bridgewater — yes, Teddy Bridgewater. I mean, I would watch some of the game, take a break, and turn back to expect the Cowboys to have rattled off two or three touchdowns en route to an easy win. But it never materialized.
And after the loss, the eruption on Facebook was a sight not for the faint of heart. It was almost epic. The trash talk, memes, gifs, it was taken to a different level on Sunday evening as the Cowboys haters received what they have been waiting for now for a month, a Dallas loss.
It was an immediate frenzy as soon as the final Hail Mary pass from Prescott was picked off by the Saints. Many Cowboys fans that were so visible after the opening three wins of the season were suddenly no where to be found. A fun time by all was held at the expense of America’s Team on Sunday night, mostly in good fun. It was a good time and well worth staying up late into the wee hours of the morning to the thrills.
So for a week the Cowboys haters can yak it up a bit and relish in the Cowboys loss before next Sunday action begins. And all this sets up for quite the showdown with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday afternoon in a 4:25 p.m. contest. You can bet that night one thing is for certain, regardless of a win or loss by the Cowboys, Facebook will be hopping.
