IRVING, Texas -- For three consecutive seasons, the Dallas Cowboys finished 8-8 with a chance to reach the postseason in a win-or-go home game in the regular season finale.

The Cowboys lost those games.

Dez Bryant, a member on all three of those teams feels the team just didn't do enough.

"I'm going to give you my honest opinion. The years that we did go 8-8, I think – me, because this is just how I am -- I don't think we worked hard enough," Bryant said after Cowboys' practice on Thursday. "I'm not saying we didn't work, like, I mean the offseason, during the OTAs -- not the coaches. That's on us. The first thing that I did right after the game, we lost to Philadelphia (2013), my brother will tell you -- I was working out the next day. Just because I felt like 'Damn, we didn't do enough.' Obviously we didn't do enough, they was the better team. It feels different, it's a lot different -- it's a lot different from last year. We're more together, we want it more, we've got the same vision, and that's kind of hard when you've got a team like that."

The 7-3 Cowboys are tied for first place with the Eagles in the NFC East. The teams meet next Thursday on Thanksgiving Day at AT&T Stadium. But first, the Cowboys visit NFC East rival the New York Giants on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.

The Cowboys have won the last three meetings between the teams and enter East Rutherford, New Jersey with a 4-0 record on the road this season.

"It's a big game they are better than what they're record shows and we can't go in under estimating our opponent," Bryant said of the 3-7 Giants. They are a great football team and we got to come out and stick to our plan and execute these plays the best way we possibly can to get that victory."

Bryant credits coach Jason Garrett with the turnaround this season. While it's not guaranteed the Cowboys will make the postseason, Bryant said the team is more focused than ever before.

"It is him, because he let us know how things should be, and we see that and we understand that," Bryant said. "The older guys in this locker room should be accountable, making sure that the younger guys are doing right -- not trying to haze them, but making sure that they're on top of their game and trying to bring out the best in them."