This years Cowboys team was forecasted to be the team to challenge the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated team.  Not so fast my friend.  You know that today’s loss to the hated rivals Washington Redskins hurt, especially with it being the last game that they will play the Redskins in Texas stadium.  The Redskins are looked at the fourth best team in the NFC East division behind the Cowboys, New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles.  The way the that the Eagles and Giants are playing this year makes this NFC East division the toughest division in the NFL by far.  It’s like the SEC conference with Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Georgia of the NFL.  Whatever two teams makes it out of this division to the playoffs this year will definitely be battle tested.  T.O. understands this like the rest of the Cowboys team, which is why he is frustrated even more.  T.O. and the Cowboys didn’t expect to lose to the Redskins, especially not at home.  Owner Jerry Jones has spent championship money on this Cowboys team this year.  This is the year that everyone not only expects its first playoff win in many years, but the Cowboys expect a Super Bowl.  They will tell you about it.  This team is confident and cocky, maybe a reflection of T.O.  Adam Jones called the loss a “reality check”.  It seems like some of the players forgot that in the NFL you have to strap it on and get ready play every game.  Any team in the NFL can be defeated on any given Sunday.  We’ll maybe not the St. Louis Rams beating a team, but every other NFL team can if the other doesn’t bring its “A” game.   We all know that T.O. loves getting his attention from the media.  He hasn’t gotten his usual love because the wealth is being spread around the whole offensive by Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett; who will eventually become head coach when owner Jerry Jones deem him to be ready to take over for head coach Wade Phillips.  What the Dallas Cowboys have done is put a tremendous amount of pressure on themselves with the “Super Bowl win or bust” theme that has been going around in Dallas.  Its the type of pressure that kept mounting for the New England Patriots last year with each and every win in the regular season and playoffs.

Similar to what Adam Jones said about the loss, this could actually have a positive affect on the team.  The loss takes the pressure off of having an undefeated season for Dallas.  A couple of more losses and the T.O. that we all know will be back.  We saw a glimpse of him tonight.

Quarterback Dan Marino was drafted in 1983 and is one the greatest quarterbacks of all-time setting numerous passing records. Dan Marino only reached the Super Bowl once in his illustrious career in 1985 losing to the San Francisco 49ers and their dynasty 38-16. The same year Dan Marino would set the all-time touchdown record in a single season with 48 which has been broken only by two touchdowns ever since, Peyton Manning with 49 in 2004 and Tom Brady with 50 in 2007. At one time Dan Marino held the records for most career touchdowns, passing completions, passing attempts, and passing yards. The Dolphins were constantly in the playoff picture every year with Dan Marino as quarterback but could not get that illusive Super Bowl victory. Football is the ultimate team sport and one man can’t lead a team to a Super Bowl championship. Dan Marino, who played is whole career as a member of the Miami Dolphins, was inducted in the Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Miami Dolphins were a league worse 1-15 in the 2007 season and are in the state of renewal and look to improve their status in the NFL once again. Being they are in the same division as the New England Patriots, victories have been minimal is years past with the Patriots dominating. While the successful years of the Shula/Marino seem like they are 100 years ago, the Dolphins can improve on a 1-15 season. All things considering, the Dolphins have reached more success then many of the NFL franchises who have been around longer in the league.