Last year at this time, the Cowboys were 9-5, coming off a big win against the NFC's top seed, with two games left, and in control of their own play-off destiny.
 
This week, the Cowboys are 9-5, coming off a big win against the NFC's top seed, with two games left, and in control of their own play-off destiny.
 
In other words, last week's big win will be quickly forgotten if it is the last one of the year.
 
Here is what we know about the games that are left: if the Cowboys win this week, then whether Philadelphia wins or loses, the last game will be for the NFC East title. If the Cowboys lose to Washington, then only the outcome of other teams' games will determine whether the season finale means anything at all to Dallas.
 
Did somebody say "must win?" The Redskins are in a shambles. They laid one of the biggest eggs of the year last week. The adage is that you can "throw out the records" in these rivalry games, but the fact is that this game is like a wide-open receiver, deep down the field on the game's final play. That is one of the hardest passes to throw. But you have to complete it. The Cowboys are better than the Redskins. They have to win this, and they can't allow it to be close.
 
But will they?
 
There were a lot of positives in the New Orleans victory, but to my mind, the team still did not erase some of the doubts that have nagged all year. It is sometimes pointed out that the Dallas offense depends too much on big plays. That may be true, but it is probably more true that the defense's Achilles heel has been giving up big plays. At New York, they did. At New Orleans, they didn't. And that was the difference in the two games.
 
The offense has been brilliant all year at piling up yards. Through 14 games, they've gained more yards than any Cowboys team in history. But they have failed to score more than 24 points in the last seven games, last doing so against Seattle on the first of November. That the defense held the Saints to less than half their average score was the story of the game. Five teams have put up more than the Cowboys' 24 against the Saints defense, including Miami, Detroit, and Washington.
 
Dallas wowed us with a spectacular array of big plays against Oakland on Thanksgiving Day, but came away with only 24 points that day, too.
 
I am thrilled with Romo's avoidance of turnovers this year, but his TD pass total is the lowest of his career. Witten's recent games have driven his catch and yardage totals close to his career averages, but he has one touchdown for the season. Folk's ten missed field goal attempts account for 30 points left on the field this year, but the 18 field goals he made account for as many as 72 more.
 
I've been hard on the defense at times this year, and sometimes they've deserved it, but no defense can stop the opponent on every drive, every game. Big plays happen from time to time. But it seems like far too often this season, the entire game depends on one big play, and that means the defense can't ever afford to slip - not even for one play. Nearly every game is a close game.
 
I am beginning to wonder if they should switch the opening kick-off music from "Start Me Up" to an older Rolling Stones hit, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." The reason for that is one of the biggest weaknesses this team has as it heads into the final stretch. It's the elephant in the room: the Cowboys can't score.