At least the Mavericks won in 2011 for Dallas fans. The Cowboys saw their season end at 8-8 after a 31-14 loss to the New York Giants in the defacto NFC East title game on Sunday night, sending the Giants into the playoffs and the Cowboys to the golf course.
The Giants jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half, capitalizing on the lifeless Cowboys. Victor Cruz and Eli Manning set the tone early, as they connected on a 74 yard touch down pass as the Giants jumped out to a 7-0 lead.
From there, it only got worse for the Cowboys. Ahmad Bradshaw would score twice in the first half, once on a run, and once on a pass, as the Giants jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
Dallas cut the deficit to seven points in the second half, giving Cowboys fans everywhere false hope. Tony Romo and Laurent Robinson hooked up twice on touchdown passes, bringing the Cowboys within seven points.
That was as close as the Cowboys would get, as Lawrence Tynes extended New York's lead to 10 in the fourth quarter with a 28 yard field goal, making the game a two possession game.
Manning would later connect with Hakeem Nicks on a four yard touchdown, putting the game out of reach, and giving the Giants the 31-14 lead that they would win by.
For the Cowboys, they can only be wondering what-if. What if the Cowboys had beat the Jets in Week 1? What if the Cowboys had hung onto their lead against the Lions? What if Jason Garrett didn't call that timeout in Arizona? What if the Cowboys didn't blow their 12 point lead against the Giants? What if the Cowboys didn't come out lifeless in the first half against the Giants?
Cowboys fans will be wondering what-if, while the Giants and their fans prepare for a first-round playoff match-up against the Atlanta Falcons.
C'est la vie.