What happened to the Cowboys

I was hoping someone else was going to venture this observation so I didn't have to, but in all the discussion of why the Cowboys lost their playoff game to the New York Giants, no one has dared to suggest the possibility that maybe the Cowboys were a little overrated. What warrants more discussion I think is that the Cowboys 13-3 regular season record was inflated by the fact that it came by playing a comparatively weak schedule. The combined record of all the teams the Cowboys defeated this season was 84-108, a winning percentage of .438. And, if you take Green Bay out of that mix (and the Packers came within 10 points of the Cowboys without Brett Favre for most of the game), that percentage dips to .403.

The Cowboys are also fortunate that they play in the weaker NFC. Put them in the AFC and they are no better than -- at best -- the fifth best team in the conference behind New England (obviously), Indianapolis, San Diego, and Jacksonville. You could also make a case that they could rank behind the Steelers and the Titans on those teams best days.

I just think too many people expected too much from a team that did not have that much to give.