Dallas Cowboys: Momentum is all the Cowboys needed

After starting the season 3-5, the Dallas Cowboys discovered their mojo, won seven of their last eight games and captured the NFC East. This team is clicking at the right time going into the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up the NFC East crown almost two weeks ago, and played a meaningless game against the pathetic New York Giants in the last game of the regular season.

The thought process was that the Cowboys would rest the majority of their starters and let others nurse nagging injuries. All Pro offensive linemen Zack Martin and Tyron Smith and NFL leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott didn’t suit up. Besides, all three of them were banged up and deserved the much needed rest.

That was a no-brainer to say the least.

But what surprised everyone from Cowboys Nation to NFL analysts was that quarterback Dak Prescott and the majority of the offensive and defensive starters would play the entire game.

What for? Why risk injury in a game that resembled a high profile preseason game that counted?

It made no sense because the Cowboys had won the division and didn’t need to risk injury to a key player (Leighton Vander Esch).

So why did Garrett play his starters the entire game?

Because the Cowboys have all the momentum needed to make a run to the Super Bowl and upset the apple cart along the way. And Coach Clapper from Princeton University knows it better than any player on Dallas’ current roster (I’ll explain later). It’s really that simple.

Garrett saw his team go on a five game winning streak and beat teams in convincing fashion, especially upsetting the New Orleans Saints in another must win game scenario. Also, Dallas had waves of momentum in those particular games.

Garrett reached back to his roots and took a page out of Jimmy’s book. Garrett learned his lesson the hard way back in 2016 when he rested all of his starters at season’s end-only to lose in heartbreak fashion to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the divisional round.

Remember how Dallas’ offense was stagnant in the games against the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles? But then Dak and wideout Amari Cooper connected and lit up those opposing defenses like a grillmaster in a Texas barbeque contest.

Garrett wanted his team to play the Giants as if they needed to win that game to go into the playoffs. And as we all witnessed, Dallas played as if it was a must win game to enter the playoffs.

Dallas played hard on offense and defense. In the first half of the game, the defense forced two turnovers and the offense had scored two touchdowns.

I was beyond impressed. Who cares if the Giants aren’t a good team!

Dak threw the ball 44 times for 387 yards and four touchdowns (five scores if you count the game winning 2-pt conversion). The play of the game was the laser like pass to slot receiver Cole Beasley, who made one of the best catches of his NFL career.

But back to Coach Clapper.

Garrett understands the power of momentum as being the former backup quarterback to Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. Garrett was on two Super Bowl winning teams back in the 90’s and saw first hand how Dallas steam rolled over teams.