Well, I've been a little slack the past few weeks with posting thoughts on what's been going on with the Cowboys but really, I can't get too fired up about San Francisco and Seattle. Dallas did what they were supposed to do and dispensed with both with relative ease.
The annual Thanksgiving game vs. Seattle was never really in doubt as the Seahawks lost their fifth straight game and looked pretty bad doing it. It's a shame to see how far and fast they have fallen due in part to injury however the team is just not playing well. Julius Jones, who I thought would have been motivated to show Dallas just what they missed in not resigning him, showed the Cowboys what they saw the past couple of seasons when he was with Dallas. Jones was held to 37 yds. rushing on 11 carries. Now I remember why they didn't resign him. The defense racked up seven sacks—three by Ware, giving him an NFL-best 15. The offense seems to be clicking on all cylinders as they scored touchdowns on the first three drives and points on the first four. Romo looked like his old self again as he fired for 331 passing yards and 3 TDs. He is expected to be back to full strength for the next game with the splint on his finger being removed.
So, now that the Cowboys have clawed their way back into the playoff hunt, they will need to do something they haven't done since 2001...have a winning record in the month of December. And I can't think of a tougher final month they've faced in recent years than they will face this year: at Pittsburgh, home against New Yawk, home against Baltimore and they finish up the season in Filthadelphia. For any time this year, that would be brutal. But for a team that is 18-31 in the month of December since 1996, it looks almost impossible. Every one of those teams is in the top 11 defensively and 3 of them are in the top 7. So Dallas is going to have to slug it out, put their head down and bull rush their way toward the playoffs. Here's how I see the final month shaking out for the Cowboys:
Pittsburgh is the top defensive team (no surprise) in the league in just about every category. And judging from what they did to New England, in Foxboro, they are probably the top team in the AFC and more than likely will the the AFC representative in the Super Bowl. However, they are not a team that is going to put up crazy offensive numbers as they average just a little over 22 pts per game. If Dallas can jump on them early and get out to a lead, they might be able to hold them off. This is what I'm betting on but I really don't expect Dallas to get into a slug fest with the Steelers and win. But Dallas will do just enough to come away with a win.
The New Yawk Giants, much to my dismay, have just continued to roll through the season unfazed by any personnel loss or "distraction" that occurs off the field. That is definitely something I admire about the team. In the last couple of years, they have lost Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan, Jeremy Shockey, Osi Umenyiora and David Tyree and ended up with a Super Bowl win and a franchise first 11-1 start this season. Adding to that, their best offensive weapon, Plaxico Burress may not rejoin the team the rest of the year due to an off the field incident with a gun and guess what...the Giants don't even care. Why is that? Because they don't need him. They just keep winning. However, I have a good feeling about this game for Dallas...don't know why at this point but I'm calling this a "W" right now. You read it here first.
The Baltimore game is probably the trickiest of the bunch because it will be after what I think will be an extremely hard fought victory over the NFC's best team. Dallas will be emotionally and physically spent and I think Baltimore comes to town and beats Dallas pretty good...probably by 14 pts. The Ravens are a little like the Steelers in that they play hard nose physical defense, a staple of theirs, but also can hurt you with a few offensive weapons too. Their rookie QB Joe Flacco is not playing like a rookie and will be the key in their victory over Dallas.
And last, but certainly the least, the Filthadelphia Foul. This is where I think Dallas makes their mark. I think the Cowboys will have to have 11 wins to guaranty a playoff spot so this could be the determining game for that. And Filthadelpia loves to beat Dallas, especially TO Owens, so they will be pretty rev ed up. But I think Dallas goes in and beat a Foul team which will be out of the playoffs at that point and looking for a new QB...McNabb won't return to Filthy next season.
So, I have Dallas winning 3 of their final 4 games and getting into the playoffs as the #5 seed. Maybe this is just homer ism or blind faith because nothing in the recent history supports anything I just said. But something is different with this team and maybe it's the adversity they had to overcome in the middle of the season. But if the Giants, can turn their season around and use a productive December to vault into the post season, I certainly think Dallas can do it too. The gauntlet has been thrown...let's see if Dallas is up to the task.
Monday, December 1, 2008
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3 comments:
Oddly enough, I share your optimism. I am also encouraged by the Cowboys' early-mid season slump. The boys are getting confident and playing well just at the right time. At this point, it looks like a recipe for December success. And if they are at all what they were hyped up to be in preseason, then these are games they should be able to win. I, too, look for a 3-1 record in the last 4, but as for who they beat or lose to, there's no telling.
Anyways, enough about the Cowboys. Go Broncos!!
What is up with the Bronco's defense this year? I haven't watched many games, but #28 in total defense is not like Denver.
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