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How does the expression go? It's not how you start but how you finish? Well, the Dallas Cowboys have not finished well, not in any recent year. And if they don't finish well this season, chances are there will be people finished in Dallas. It is that simple. As good as the Cowboys have been, as successful as their season has been, it all comes down to this: December. The month that has undone family budgets also has undone Cowboys seasons. And it threatens to do so again. Three times in the past six regular seasons (2008, '11 and '13), the Cowboys have won only one game in December and January. Even worse, since 1997, the Cowboys have compiled a 30-47 regular-season December-January record, tied for 28th in the NFL during that span.  Before the Cowboys get to December, they have a rather significant Thanksgiving date with the Philadelphia Eagles. But after Thursday's key NFC East matchup, their last November game this season, the Cowboys play three of their remaining four games on the road. Dallas plays at Chicago on Dec. 4 and at Philadelphia on Dec. 14, returns home for Indianapolis on Dec. 21 and closes out the regular season at Washington on Dec. 28. Nobody has traveled as well as Dallas, the only NFL team unbeaten in road games (5-0) this season. Yet Week 17 has been especially brutal to the Cowboys. Since 2000, the Cowboys are 2-12 in Week 17 games, the worst record of any team in that span. They have lost four straight "win-or-go-home" games dating to 2008 by a combined margin of 127-60. Now it is late November, creeping closer to December, when the Cowboys have withered. Maybe it's the opponents, maybe it's the pressure, maybe it's the injuries, maybe it's the long season, maybe it's a combination of everything. But something has affected the Cowboys in December, rendering them far less potent than they've been from September through November. The Cowboys' collapses have been historic. But this year's team has a chance, a real chance, to change the pattern. This team runs the football better, plays defense better, and has been flat out better. These Cowboys don't look like the same old Cowboys. They have started strong -- and need to find a way to finish the same way. Don't dismiss diminutive Badgers: Thanksgiving night offers a lesson for all front offices and scouting departments to heed: From now on, NFL teams need to pay closer attention to undersized players from Wisconsin. First, back in 2012, the NFL downgraded 5-foot-11 Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson for his size enough that he dropped into the third round, where the Seattle Seahawks selected the Ohio-born player with the 75th overall pick. History repeated itself last spring. The NFL downgraded 5-11 Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland for his size enough that he dropped into the third round, where the San Francisco 49ers selected the Ohio-born player with the 77th overall pick. Two former Wisconsin standouts, both born in Ohio, both being dinged for the same concerns, both being drafted in the third round, both winding up in the NFC West, now standing stall. Now they are preparing to square off in the first of what could be many meetings in the seasons to come. It's no longer a surprise to see Wilson, who already has a Super Bowl ring in his possession, thriving the way he has. Borland has been this season's surprise, not unlike Wilson was in 2012. Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian already has compared Borland to Carolina Panthers standout linebacker Luke Kuechly. One 49ers official called Borland "Baby Zach Thomas." His production has made those comparisons plausible. Using unusually seasoned instincts, Borland has 54 tackles in the past four games. Three weeks ago, he recovered a game-saving fumble to help beat the New Orleans Saints. Two weeks ago, he intercepted two passes to help beat the Giants. Borland is playing at a different level than any other defensive rookie, though it has been in limited time. Still, he has put himself square into the conversation for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. And he has reminded NFL teams to take closer looks at undersized Wisconsin players. Brady, Rodgers on similar tears: There aren't two quarterbacks today any better or hotter than New England's Tom Brady and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, who square off in this week's Game of the Week. Each started the season slower than normal and endured a tough, memorable loss that now seems like a long time ago. In Week 3, Rodgers' Packers lost 19-7 to the Lions. In Week 4, Brady's Patriots lost 41-14 to the Chiefs. Since those games, both Rodgers and Brady have played at an MVP-caliber level. Since Week 5, Brady has completed 67 percent of his passes while throwing 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions. The Patriots have outscored their opponents by 140 points during a 7-0 run. Since Week 5, Rodgers has completed 67.2 percent of his passes while throwing 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Packers have outscored their opponents by 112 points during a 6-1 run. They share more than successful seasons. Brady and Rodgers each grew up in Northern California as a big 49ers fan. Each was disappointed San Francisco didn't draft him, and each has made the 49ers wonder what might have been. And as most know, this might just be the opening act to the main performance Brady and Rodgers could be giving again in February, in Super Bowl XLIX. SCHEF'S SPECIALTIES• Player of the Week: Cardinals QB RB Drew Stanton -- One week after he struggled at Seattle, Stanton has a chance to get well in Atlanta. • Patriots at Packers: Nobody would be surprised if this turns out to be a Super Bowl preview. • Upset of the Week: Kansas City over Denver -- In their first meeting this season, the Chiefs held Peyton Manning to 46 snaps, his lowest snap total since he's been in Denver.
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