Gotta be a nay-sayer here

I'm as excited about Gibbs coming back as anybody. But with Gibbs record versus Parcells, and the Redskins record versus Dallas, the odds don't look good for us. And yes, I know, they are just that: odds. Sorry to be pecimistic, but I don't know if we will be beating those Damn Dirty Cowboys any time soon. Am I alone on this? Does anybody else feel the odds are against us? I pray I get proved wrong in a HUGE way.

I agree that the odds are against us but with Coach Gibbs back and a bunch of new impact players like Portis and Taylor we'll definitely make a game of it. Our guys have a lot to prove. Both of our possible starting QBs are better than Quincy Carter too. I really think we'll beat the damn girls!! :dallas:

If you look at the talent level between us and the Cowboys we far surpass them. If that equates to wins or not has yet to be seen.

Are you kidding me? We added a top 5 RB, upgraded our D and hired a workaholic HoF head coach and a coaching staff with actual NFL experience. Dallas is going with rookies at QB and RB, and added a locker room cancer at WR and you think they have the upper hand? I think you have to lay off the depressants dude.

How many games have we won against the Cowboys in the last ten years? Not too many. They've had our number by and large, so yes I'd agree that they have the upper hand, for now, then add in the fact that Parcells has a pretty good record against Gibbs. And all too often a sports curse is not so easily lifted, even by someone "great" like Gibbs (e.g., MJ and the Wizards). But I have a lot of faith in Gibbs' ability to field a championship team, and I like our chances of beating Dallas a hell of lot more than I did last year. The Skins should be highly competitive but the NFC East is going to be brutal this year.

Also, don't forget what the Cowboys have on defense ... they don't have to be overpowering on offense with a D like that.

A lot of expert's thought that the one defining difference in parcell's ability to beat Gibb's, was LT, LT forced Gibb's to change his game plan, with LT in there the QB's never had time to look down the field, and even when they had time they were alway's looking over thier shoulder's worried that LT was going to hit them at any second, we also now have a D-coordinator who will give parcell's some of his own medicine, should be interesting.

I've never seen a defender dominate a football game like LT used to do ... he gets my vote as the best defensive player in NFL history, or at least the most disruptive, explosive, having the most impact on the field, etc. Whenever he was on the field you just had to watch him because you knew he was practically going to murder some poor bastard. The only time I ever saw him scared or off his game was when he broke Joe Theisman's leg and got freaked out, jumping up, his eyes wide as saucers, waving for the medical personnel to get on the field.

There were more people than LT who were responsible for the Redskins history of losing to Parcells and Dallas (Phil Simms, Troy Aikman, Michael Irving, et al).

I think the talent level is stacking our favor (at least against NY and DAL).

It's a whole new ball game this year. Both Parcells and Gibbs have changed things up a bit since the first time around. The slate is clean and ready to be written.

There is also 14 other games on the schedule. The Cowboys aren't the only concern.

Talent level has less to do with winning than intensity and focus. Take for instance that game against Dallas when Schottenheimer was coach. We were coming off five straight victories and Dallas was struggling. They ended up killing us. When we made the playoffs during Norv Turner's tenure, we still lost twice to Dallas, even though we had a better team. I think Gibbs can turn things around for the 'Skins but I'm not too optimistic about his record versus Parcells.