The water cooler talk this week has focused in part on whether the Cowboys are going to have another December meltdown like they did last year. Good question, but let’s take a look at a few other seasons to see how this year could wrap up.

Season: 1976 (11-3 record)

Final four games:

Nov. 21 (9-1) at Atlanta (3-7) L 10-17
Nov. 25 (9-2) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (8-3) W 19-14
Dec. 5 (10-2) vs. Philadelphia (3-9) W 26-7
Dec. 12 (11-2) at Washington (9-4) L 14-27

Playoffs:

Div. vs. L.A. Rams L 12-14

Why we could see a repeat:

Similar to this season, the Cowboys raced to one of their best records ever at 9-1, only to finish 11-3. A win in the season finale could have given Dallas the best record in the NFC, but instead that distinction went to Minnesota. The Cowboys in 1976 suffered from a lack of consistent running game, prompting the team to trade for the draft pick to get Tony Dorsett in the first round of the 1977 draft. There has been talk that Dallas will try to package its two first-round picks to get a running back next year.

Why it won’t happen:

Dallas had been to Super Bowl X the year before, and a return to the big game in the following year is rare. The running game was in worse shape in 1976 than it is this season, except that the team in all likelihood will be shopping for someone to back up Marion Barber.

Season: 1983 (12-4 record)

Final four games:

Nov. 24 (10-2) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (5-6-1) W 35-17
Dec. 4 (11-2) at Seattle (7-6) W 35-10
Dec. 11 (12-2) vs. Washington (12-2) L 10-31
Dec. 19 (12-3) vs. San Francisco (9-6) L 17-42

Playoffs:

Wildcard vs. L.A. Rams L 17-24

Why we could see a repeat:

The Dallas offense was surprisingly good in 1983, much like this year’s version. However, when both the offense and defense were derailed in the last two weeks of the season, Dallas could not rebound in the playoffs.

Why it won’t happen:

Dallas in 1983 had lost three consecutive championship games in the previous three seasons and was a team beginning its decline. The 1983 squad was the last team of the 1980s (and the last under Tom Landry) that had championship-quality talent, but it seemed as if the team had lost much of its drive. This year’s team is still trying to prove itself.

Season: 1992 (13-3 record)

Final four games:

Dec. 6 (10-2) at Denver (7-5) W 31-27
Dec. 13 (11-2) at Washington (8-5) L 17-20
Dec. 21 (11-3) vs. Atlanta (6-8) W 41-17
Dec. 27 (12-3) vs. Chicago (9-6) W 27-14

Playoffs:

Won Super Bowl XXVII

Why we could see a repeat:

Dallas gained a great deal of momentum in the final two weeks of the season by routing Atlanta on the road and then finishing up against Chicago. The win against Denver was more difficult than expected because the Broncos were forced to start third-stringer Shawn Moore, yet the Cowboys had to pull out the win on a last-minute drive. The Cowboys fell apart in the loss to Washington. In 2007, we’ve seen a last-second win against an inferior club, followed by a disappointing loss to a division rival. Dallas can still regain some momentum in the final two weeks of this year with strong wins over Carolina and Washington.

Why it won’t happen:

The 1992 club was more balanced in the various facets of the game and also had a deeper roster. The 2007 club is inconsistent on the ground, and its defense has some weak spots that other teams can exploit.

Season: 2006 (9-7 record)

Final four games:

Dec. 10 (8-4) vs. New Orleans (8-4) L 17-42
Dec. 16 (8-5) at Atlanta (7-6) W 38-28
Dec. 25 (9-5) vs. Philadelphia (8-6) L 7-23
Dec. 31 (9-6) vs. Detroit (2-13) L 31-39

Playoffs:

Wildcard vs. Seattle L 20-21

Why we could see a repeat:

The 2006 team was exposed on both sides of the ball in three of their final four games, especially on the defensive side. The home losses in both seasons to the Eagles were similar in many ways, with Philadelphia demonstrating that it could keep the Dallas offense on ice.

Why it won’t happen:

This Dallas team has proven to be more resilient than the 2006 squad, at least thus far. Both Dallas losses have come on the heals of very tough, last second wins, and the Cowboys were able to bounce back from the loss to New England very well.