INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 16: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys is sacked by Tyquan Lewis #94 of the Indianapolis Colts during the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

People are really freaking out after the Colts shut out the Dallas Cowboys, 23-0. Was this the punch that will knock out the ‘Boys for good? Let’s chat.

Let’s get right into it, shall we? The Dallas Cowboys need only worry if they can’t respond after the 23-0 shutout loss to the Indianapolis Colts. It’s a little too early to overreact, and it’s certainly too early to write off the ‘Boys.

Sure, the Cowboys put up a dud of a performance. People are saying the defense forgot to jump on the plane to Indianapolis. The special teams folded into ghost mode when it mattered most. That Jason Garrett clapped (again) when he should have done something else, like coaching. People are right to call out the lackluster and mundane play-calling (again).

All the fires around the Internet and the mumbles of horror from your favorite auntie are mostly right. Jerry Jones should probably refund fans with some gas money. Anytime a team gets shut out, especially an offensive oriented team, things can look a little blurry.

But I’m not buying all that. And here are my eight parting shots on why this is nothing more than a glitch in the Matrix. Lessons will be learned from this and like the Colts, the Cowboys will find fire from this major game.

#1 – Okay, let’s fly back to 2003. Bill Parcells was the coach. It was also the last time the Cowboys were shut out. It happened in New England, 12-0 against Bill Belichick and some old dude named Tom Brady as the starting quarterback. Remember those days?

Okay, a little more about those 2003 days. After throwing up zero points that night, the Dallas Cowboys would finish the season 3-3 with a final regular season record of 10-6. Eventually, they lost in a Wild Card game with the Panthers, who um… went on to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

#2 – Did you know the Dallas Cowboys got shut out three games before facing the Patriots that year? Yup. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by coach Jon Gruden, beat the ‘Boys 16-0 in Tampa. Prior to that loss, the Cowboys were riding a five-game winning streak. Oh, and the Cowboys play the Bucs this week. Weird.

#3 – I think Cowboys Nation needs a reminder. Heading into the bye, the Cowboys were 3-4. On November 5th, they faced the Titans at home and fell 28-14 with a 3-5 record. The Dallas Cowboys would go on to rip off a five-game win streak, beating the Eagles, Falcons, Redskins, Saints, and Eagles again.

Now, I’m not saying let’s bathe in the sunlight and brag about the win column there. I’m saying this Colts meeting was a speed bump, an opportunity to correct flaws obviously haunting the team. Time to take some medicine!

Running back Ezekiel Elliott told DallasCowboys.com that this was the type of performance by Dallas that can not be tolerated.

“We can’t go out there and do that. We cannot. That is not us, at all. It’s embarrassing.”

#4 – A side thought: Is it me or the referees messing up Dallas Cowboys games as of late? Doesn’t matter who they play. Bad calls going both ways.

#5 – I appreciated the fourth down calls. I like the guts, the heart. This by no means implies I’m a Jason Garrett fan, nor am I coming to his defense. Sure, the play calls could have been dialed up differently. But that’s the nature of these games. That drop pass in the end zone can’t happen. Dak Prescott can’t throw and catch, and he certainly can’t kick field goals or block for that matter.

#6 – The loss was medicine. Had the Cowboys secured the NFC East division last Sunday, then what? They play donut-style football the final two games and dance as the fourth seed? Nah. This loss was a fertilizer spreader of lessons for a team bound to get into the playoffs. Ladies and gentlemen, they needed this.

#7 – As much as we spotlight the Cowboys poor play, let’s credit the Colts. They are a haunting menace behind the scenes, but that’s not the case now. The Colts uncovered themselves. Andrew Luck is back better than ever. My previous prediction was Colts 24, Cowboys 20. I guess I was close? Both teams were hot coming in, but it’s obvious who needed and wanted that game more. Indianapolis played well in all football phases.

#8 – Stop stressing over the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. Trust me. Stop.

Prediction time!

The Dallas Cowboys crush the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home, 30-17. It’s not even close. And for those limping New York Giants at the end? No chance for spoiler play — Cowboys best them for the heck of it.