A Dallas Cowboys Fan’s Guide to the Five Stages of Grief
We had such high expectations.
This was supposed to be the season that it all came together for the Dallas Cowboys.
They were healthy. Ezekiel Elliott was signed for the long haul. Dak Prescott was primed for his best season in the NFL. The defense was coming off an excellent year and seemed poised to be even better in 2019.
The Cowboys got off to a 3-0 start, even if it was against inferior opponents.
And then it started disintegrating before our eyes. A three-game losing streak suddenly had everyone asking familiar questions about head coach Jason Garrett. The defense was a shadow of its former self. The wheels started flying off, they went through another three-game losing streak and their grip on the NFC East title began to slip away.
To help you, the Dallas Cowboys fan, cope through this emotional roller coaster, here’s a Cowboys fan’s Guide to the five stages of grief:
Denial
We’re all pretty good at this one. Maybe we should have paid more attention to Las Vegas. They had the Cowboys finishing 9-7. That seemed low in August. And even lower early in September. But Vegas knows what it’s doing and too many of us bought into the talent Dallas stockpiled the past three or four years. That talent appeared ripe to take it to another level this season. And by another level, we’re talking a couple of playoff wins. Now they need a small miracle to even qualify.
Anger
Anger fits perfectly at the second stage of grief for Cowboys fans because it set in quickly this year. After starting 3-0, they lost their next three, including an embarrassing beat-down at home to the Packers and an inexplicable loss to the Jets in New York. If one moment foreshadowed what was to come, it was the meltdown to the Jets that put Dallas at 3-3.
Bargaining
If losing meant a coaching change, that was fine with many of us. Whatever was necessary to get some new blood, a new set of eyes, and by all means, a new way of handling press conferences, a bunch of us were ready to let it play out. But then the Cowboys annihilated the Eagles and we thought maybe their mojo was back. After more losses they dominated the Rams and the dream was back on. But it wasn’t.
Depression
This is the worst part of the grieving process. In some ways, Cowboys fans have been in a dark depression for 23 years. It’s a never-ending cycle of renewed hope and dashed dreams, including the past 10 years under Garrett. This one has felt even darker, however. The end of an era is near, the decade is coming to a close, and what does Cowboys Nation have to show for it? Nada.
Acceptance
Some of us got here sooner than others. In fact, a good portion of Cowboys Nation long accepted the team’s fate as long as it is run as currently constituted. You know, with owner Jerry Jones allowing general manager Jerry Jones to run the team. We’ve accepted, as it appears Jones has as well, that Garrett is no longer the right coach for the team. We’ve accepted that perhaps the Cowboys talent has been overrated. We’ve accepted that we will not get a Super Bowl this season.
This story was originally published December 24, 2019 at 3:18 PM.
