Rather than get down on the team after the beatdown against the Vikings, I'd like to play the blame game. And I blame the Giants. If we could have won one of the matchups against them we're the 2 seed. If they could have beat the Vikings on the last week of the season we would have been the 2 seed. I really think this game would have been much different outside the Metrodome. For all those who said momentum trumps a bye week. How you feeling about that now?

On to the offseason and draft...and focusing some hate onto the Giants.

Hey BTB Nation,

You might get a kick out of this fella. I know most Cowboys fans on this site are very smart know their football inside and out. But being a Cowboys fan who's never actually even been to Dallas, I can relate to this guy. Not that I wear cow-print chaps, but I have been tempted to paint my car Cowboys silver and blue. 

Click here to view the Dallas Athletic Supporter

Ok BTB Nation, there's still hope for a bye. I think if we all band together and root for the right chips to fall, we'll get it so here's the gameplan.

MONDAY NIGHT: Go Bears. We need the Vikes to lose to give us hope in week 17.

Then SUNDAY here's how it needs to play out.

1:00: Giants make up for the embarrassing performance against the Panthers and beat the Vikings.

4:15: Cowboys take care of business and wipe the new Cowboy turf with the Eagles.

4:15: The Packers beat the Cardinals.

...and TA-DA! 2 SEED! It can happen. I'm just excited we're peaking at the right time, but a bye and a home game (or two) would be sweet.

Click here to see the projected Cowboys 2 Seed bracket

Cowboys amazingly still have a shot for a bye. Win out, Vikings lose out (@CHI, NYG), Packers (SEA, @ARI) and Cardinals (STL, GB) both lose one.

If the Cowboys win out, they win the division.

If they don't win out but still make the playoffs it will likely be for the sixth seed, due to their head-to-head loss against the Packers.

Even if the Giants lose tonight versus the Redskins, they are not eliminated due to their season sweep of the Boys.

Basically, as long as the Cowboys take care of their business, we'll be fine. 

After being carted off the field against the Chargers, then holding the Saints to 17 points, I think the Cowboys have stumbled onto a big gift. DWare the pass rush specialist. By playing him spariningly in only 3rd downs, he shined Thursday night. He was SO FRESH at the end of the game and locked up the win for us pretty much single-handedly. We all have been used to the Cowboys D not being able to hold offenses at the end of the game. With a fresh DWare the Saints were shut down. What do you think about keeping Ware our 3rd down/strictly pass situation guy? I think it just make make him even more dangerous. I guess another way to think of it is, is he giving us more on late passing downs that what he would be giving us on running downs during the bulk of the game? I'm leaning to YES.

Jerry Jones wants to see Marion Barber back to his old role as the 4th quarter punisher.

Jones: Barber should shoulder late load

I agree. The Cowboys should start with Tashard Choice, pepper in some Felix Jones as a change of pace, and for act III bring in MB III. The running game hasn't been very effective, and when it has it's been Choice and Jones. I think Barber can be very effective, just not as the first quarter lead back. Thoughts?