Mailbag: Are Cowboys playing loose and free?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

It sure is fun to watch these Cowboys finish the season strong. Could it be that playing loose and free, more like when they were kids, is just as effective as buckling down for a championship run? – Les Hoffman/Pell City, AL

Nick: I think there's something to be said for that. But maybe they're playing that way but it doesn't feel like they're coaching that way. Usually, you'll see a ton of trick plays and fake punts and all that. We're really not seeing that. Maybe from the players' standpoint, the mindset feels that way and the pressure is off. But I think the reason for the team's success has been the defense for starters. Micah Parsons is playing phenomenal football right now and he's doing what great players do - elevate the guys around him. And more than him, the guys are taking the ball away. We saw two plays - Lewis and Bland - where they just wanted the ball more and took it.

The offense has been pretty good as well. Cooper Rush is more than solid right now and aside from Sunday's game, it's been a balanced attack of run and pass. I give a lot of credit to the offense for being able to score 26 points despite being so one-dimensional. What helps is having a kicker like Brandon Aubrey to clean up the mess. Getting to the 40 means a punt for some teams, but the Cowboys get three points. That's the definition of complementary football, when two of the three phases can pick each other up.

Maybe that's loose and free, but overall, I think the Cowboys are just executing at a much higher level.

Kurt: We often think there is a "we've got nothing left to lose" vibe in situations like this, so guys relax and just have fun, which consequently leads to success. There's no stress to now make the playoffs, so why worry? Let the chips fall where they may. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. There is always – ALWAYS – something to play for.

You can start with the simple pride factor. One trait that sets most professional athletes apart from everyday Joes like you and me is their pure love of competition. They simply don't like to lose, whether that be in an NFL football game, playing Fortnite with friends or shooting baskets in the backyard. They want to compete, and they want to win, postseason or not.

Secondly, when it comes right down to it, they're playing for their futures, even if that's not with the Cowboys. Remember, this is also a business. They've got contracts to secure for next year and beyond. Think a few extra sacks isn't going to help Micah Parsons in his upcoming negotiations? Of course they will. Can proving he's a force, win or lose, benefit Osa Odighizuwa when he's hunting for a free agent deal this offseason? You bet. Put out bad tape, show a little give-up, and that hurts the player and his family's bottom line.

Is it selfish? Maybe.

But if it keeps the players motivated in a lost season, the results on the field can only help the team create a culture of winning off the field. Nobody cares about draft positioning. They're here to win.