My point again, is that by the NFL marketing him their "Golden Boy" has Pissed other NFL players off & thus motivated them to Get them Cowboys. The Lions for a 2-13 playing their last game were REAL fired up to beat them BOYS.
You put way too much emphasis on motivation. The fact is, Dallas's D sucked since Greg Ellis went down---and he was only keeping it respectable, not great. The O-line is lame, and the running game non-existent.
Sean Payton out-game-planned Parcells. Motivation had little to do with it.