Well technically, the month of December is still a couple of days away, but when the Cowboys suit up for their next game, the calendar will be turned to that final month of the year and we all know what that means around here.
It means, the real season is finally upon us. Not that the other games haven't counted to this point. We all know if the Cowboys hadn't taken care of business and entered this month with an 8-3 record, then December wouldn't mean much anyway.
But all season long, even before the first game of the year, the talk has centered on December. The Cowboys' struggles in this month have been well documented. Dallas went 1-3 last December, and haven't had a winning record in the month since the 2001 season, when they went 3-2, only to improve to a 5-11 season.
Basically, when it's really mattered around here, the Cowboys haven't had performed well in December.
And once again, things will certainly matter surrounding the Cowboys, who enter the final month with a one-game lead in the NFC East over the Eagles, who survived the Redskins Sunday with a 27-24 win. The Cowboys have a two-game edge on the Giants, who just happen to be the next opponent staring Dallas squarely in the face. The Cowboys and Giants will meet next Sunday in the Meadowlands. A Cowboys' win would all but bury the Giants, who would be three games back in the NFC East race. However, a win over Dallas would pull them within just one game, with four to play.
Clearly, the race is tightening and the schedule only gets tougher.
The Cowboys not only face the Giants on the road next week, but will follow that with a pair of games against division leaders, New Orleans and San Diego. The Cowboys then finish the season with a road game at Washington, who has nearly won two straight road division games in Dallas and Philadelphia, and then the Cowboys finish the season at home against the Eagles.
"We know the road will be tough for us, and it's not because it's December, but because the schedule gets a lot tougher for us," Tony Romo said. "It's always going to be tough to win games at the end of the year. But what you do is try to put yourself in the best position you can to win those games. And I think we've done that."
Just like the Cowboys have been scrutinized for their December woes, the pressure has been placed heavily on Romo's shoulders as well. However, when asked if he felt added pressure to win during this month, the quarterback shrugged off the notion of having something to prove because of previous December troubles.
"I think we have something to prove, just for this season," Romo said. "I don't think any other season has absolutely any bearing whatsoever to this season. I think, for us, it's strictly about right now. We're not trying to be a great December ballclub. That wasn't our goal. If we end up being one, that's good, that'll be a bonus."
While Romo's record as a starter in December is just 5-8, he has been rather stout in the month of November, positing a 15-2 mark. Romo's point is that he's not trying to focus on one month, but rather the entire season.
"If we're good in September and October and November, then December will take care of itself. January will take care of itself," Romo said. "But that's just the way it is around here. I think it's something we'll continue to answer until we do good."
While Romo will be the one answering most of the questions, some of his teammates, particularly the ones who haven't been around much, don't seem to care about history.
"I don't care about the month of December," linebacker Keith Brooking said. "I care about next week and the New York Giants. I don't think there's a big deal about this team about how they've kind of collapsed in the final month. I could care less about that. I care about this year and getting ready for next week's game against a good football team. All of that stuff doesn't matter if you go out and just win."
Just winning has been tough for this team, especially this time of year. But head coach Wade Phillips said a tough schedule or not, he knows his team will have a chance.
"We've got a rough schedule, but we have had a rough schedule all the way through," Phillips said. "At least we had a chance to win every game we have played. I feel good about that. Going into any game I think you can't say they don't have a chance to win that game because they do.
"This is a close-knit group. Our guys are not selfish. They are very focused. I could tell it this week and I think they will continue that. They are the kind of group you love to coach. It is not a big ego group, but it is a group that pulls together and pulls for each other - offense, defense and special teams."
If indeed this is a different team with a different attitude, there's no better time, or month, to prove it.
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Nick Eatman - 
