Well, now that I've calmed down a bit from Sunday afternoon's collapse in Filthadelphia, I thought I would give my opinions on the game, the players and the leadership/coaching (or lack thereof). I'll probably break this up into two separate posts though discussing the game and the players in one and the coaching in the other.
At the beginning of the season, I (along with A LOT of others) really had high hopes and expectations for this team. They went 13-3 last year and lost a hard fought playoff game to the eventual Super Bowl Champs. The team was featured on Hard Knocks on HBO and after starting the season 3-0, I think just about everyone had the Cowboys penciled in as the NFC representative for the Super Bowl. But that's when things started to go down hill and they never really picked up from there. The culmination of the season was a drubbing at the hands of one of the more hated rivals. I really thought Dallas would play a typical NFC East game (hard hitting and not a ton of points scored) and would do just enough to get the win. But after getting their rear ends kicked, to the tune of 44-6, a lot of people (myself included) are wondering what will happen in the off season and if they can bounce back next season.
On Sunday though, the Cowboys came out emotionless and error-prone. The offense gave up 14 pts and 4 sacks while scoring only 6 pts. The defense gave up 137 yards rushing only managed 1 sack (from Bradie James) and allowed McNabb to end the game with a 116 QB rating. Oh, and Philadelphia outscored the Cowboys, 41-0, during the second and third quarters. Against the Eagles, Dallas also allowed two of the longest fumble returns in franchise history – 73 and 96 yards. And that came on the heels of last week's game where the Cowboys allowed the two longest runs – 77 and 82 yards – in Texas Stadium history during the game's final four minutes which were also the final four minutes in Texas Stadium, period. The overall play the final two games of this season left a lot to be desired, to say the least.
The team didn't look prepared to play at all. They looked like a team that expected Filthadephia's playoff hopes would be dashed, they in turn would have nothing to play for and Dallas would get an easy win. Then when they realized the game meant as much to the Eagles as it did to them, the Cowboys did their best turtle impersonation and crawled into their shell.
How did all this happen? How did such a promising season end in ruins? How did Dallas not even make the playoffs? Here is LB Bradie James’ take on this season: “There were a lot of personalities put on this team and we didn’t jell. We didn’t find a way to jell. This past game, you could see it. When you know you’ve got something on the line and you’re playing to go into the playoffs, you know what you have to do, and you go out there and stink it up like that? That just speaks for itself.” There are several players that need to be jettisoned but at the top of my list is Pac Man Jones. What has he offered up this year that makes him worth the gamble of having him on the roster? A few pass defenses (no more than just a few) is all I remember. Trailing 17-3 to the Eagles on Sunday, with no margin for error, Jones committed a stupid personal foul when he hit Reggie Brown out of bounds, moving the Eagles to the Dallas 14 which assisted the Eagles in getting a touchdown. Then, as if that personal foul wasn't bad enough, Jones fumbled the ensuing kickoff to set up David Akers' 50-yard field goal on the first half's final play. What a knucklehead.
It looks to me like the fans take this more seriously than the players. With as much talent as that team has to not even make the playoffs is shameful but I don't see that attitude from the players. I mean, hey, they lost but they still got paid their millions and millions of dollars. A producer on the sports talk station I listen to was on the Cowboys team plane and said the flight back to Dallas was pretty festive and described the scene as “like the last day of school”, with dominoes being played in the back and lots of laughing and carrying on; if you did not know who won the Cowboys-Eagles game, you just might assume it was the Cowboys from their conduct on the plane. I was sulking most of Sunday night and I had nothing to do with the game...I just watching. These guys played in it, actually were responsible for the inept play and humiliating defeat and yet they are carrying on like they don't have a care in the world. Nice...
The Cowboys have now lost nine consecutive season finales and their streak of 12 consecutive seasons without a playoff win is now the longest in franchise history. Clearly, there needs to be some serious changes but Jerry has already said the coaching staff is staying put (at least, he won't be removing them). This thing is in such a mess right now, I don't really know what the answer is to clean it up. The team doesn't have a 1st round pick in the '09 draft as that was given up to Detroit for Roy Williams (who only caught only 19 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown over 10 games). I know there is a silver lining...somewhere. I just need time to find it.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
An Embarrassing, Gutless and Pathetic Loss
A 44-6 loss in a game with a playoff birth on the line...I'm too pissed off right now to share my thoughts. I'm gonna need at least a day to digest this one. This is quite possibly the most humiliating loss the Cowboys have had since I've been watching them...and that's a long time. The Cowboys didn't look prepared and didn't look like they gave a rip. How pathetic, how gutless, how embarrassing. I don't know any other words to describe it.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
The Playoffs Start This Weekend for the Cowboys
Even though this is the last week of the regular season, this is really the 1st "playoff game" for the Cowboys meaning that if they win this weekend in Filthadelphia they get into the playoffs...if not, then they don't. That is the definition of a playoff game, win and keep going...lose and go home. Even if the Foul win, they are not automatically in the playoffs as they need other teams to lose as well for them to get in. But that doesn't necessairly mean the Foul will roll over and die. And if there is one thing I KNOW about Filthadelphia, it's that they HATE all things Dallas, especailly the Cowboys. I expect the Foul to play exceptionally hard and feed off the raucous crowd so it would behoove the Cowboys to take the crowd out as soon as it can.
When these teams met in Dallas in Week 2, it was all about offense as the Cowboys outlasted the Eagles, 41-37. Romo was 21 of 30 for 310 yards and 3 TDs. It looked like Dallas' offense had everything clicking and the Super Bowl was in the reach. My how things have changed. Since that point, Romo got hurt and missed 4 games and since his return has been up and down from game to game. Two weeks ago against the Giants, he was up and finished the game with a 113.8 QB rating. Last week against the Ravens, he was down and finished the game with a 66.2 rating.
Not only has Romo been up and down each week but so has the offense as a whole. Dallas either blows away an opponent on the strength of Tony Romo’s passing, or it inexplicably struggles to score, letting down what’s usually a good defensive effort. I think Dallas' defense will shake off what happened to them the final 4 minutes of the Ravens game and play very well in a hostile environment. I think DeMarcus Ware will play well, as he has all year, and I hope he can break Strahan's single season sack record...all he needs is 3. That would be so great especailly coming against Filthadelphia. However, the defensive secondary needs to be wary of 2 players, DeSean Jackson (who burned them for a 60 yard completion in the earlier game) and Michael Westbrook who is basically the heart and soul of that offense. So goes Westbrook, so goes the Foul's offense. Dallas needs to account for both of those guys every play.
So with both of these defenses likely to be an attack mode, it comes down to which quarterback stands tall to consistently deliver the ball downfield. Romo has got to be smarter with the ball, not force the issue and just take what the defense gives him. If he has to throw the ball away, throw and incompletion or even take a sack he should do that rather than risk turning the ball over. This is NOT the game to get cute with the ball. TO Owens seems to play well against his former teams so I'm hoping he is a little more amped up than normal for this. If that is the case, I look for him to have a big game.
I think that the game will be similar to the Ravens game where both defenses control the other's offense and the team with the fewest mistakes will win. With everything that is on the line for Dallas and all the expectations of the team and the fact that they seem to play better when their back is against the wall, I think they will emerge victorious and grab the #6 seed. And I can think of few better opponents to do that against than Filthadelphia.
Prediction: Dallas 21, Filthadelphia 17
When these teams met in Dallas in Week 2, it was all about offense as the Cowboys outlasted the Eagles, 41-37. Romo was 21 of 30 for 310 yards and 3 TDs. It looked like Dallas' offense had everything clicking and the Super Bowl was in the reach. My how things have changed. Since that point, Romo got hurt and missed 4 games and since his return has been up and down from game to game. Two weeks ago against the Giants, he was up and finished the game with a 113.8 QB rating. Last week against the Ravens, he was down and finished the game with a 66.2 rating.
Not only has Romo been up and down each week but so has the offense as a whole. Dallas either blows away an opponent on the strength of Tony Romo’s passing, or it inexplicably struggles to score, letting down what’s usually a good defensive effort. I think Dallas' defense will shake off what happened to them the final 4 minutes of the Ravens game and play very well in a hostile environment. I think DeMarcus Ware will play well, as he has all year, and I hope he can break Strahan's single season sack record...all he needs is 3. That would be so great especailly coming against Filthadelphia. However, the defensive secondary needs to be wary of 2 players, DeSean Jackson (who burned them for a 60 yard completion in the earlier game) and Michael Westbrook who is basically the heart and soul of that offense. So goes Westbrook, so goes the Foul's offense. Dallas needs to account for both of those guys every play.
So with both of these defenses likely to be an attack mode, it comes down to which quarterback stands tall to consistently deliver the ball downfield. Romo has got to be smarter with the ball, not force the issue and just take what the defense gives him. If he has to throw the ball away, throw and incompletion or even take a sack he should do that rather than risk turning the ball over. This is NOT the game to get cute with the ball. TO Owens seems to play well against his former teams so I'm hoping he is a little more amped up than normal for this. If that is the case, I look for him to have a big game.
I think that the game will be similar to the Ravens game where both defenses control the other's offense and the team with the fewest mistakes will win. With everything that is on the line for Dallas and all the expectations of the team and the fact that they seem to play better when their back is against the wall, I think they will emerge victorious and grab the #6 seed. And I can think of few better opponents to do that against than Filthadelphia.
Prediction: Dallas 21, Filthadelphia 17
Friday, December 26, 2008
Mavs Still Continue to Surge
Well, the Mavs continue to surge (15-4 in its last 19 games after opening 2-7) and got a real good win last night in Portland beating the Trailblazers 102-94. Before last night, Portland was 10-2 at home and has been one of the surprise teams this year. Portland hasn't made the playoffs since the 2001-2002 season but looks like they are set up for a while to come with solid young players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Travis Outlaw, Joel Pryzbilla and Brandon Roy. The Mavericks have played on Christmas just one other time, a win over Sacramento in 2003.
One thing that has been said about the Mavs in the past is that they are, typically, a soft team that is just content taking jump shots but don't drive to the basket that much and don't play with much of an edge. Well, last night, the Mavs definately played with an edge as Dirk spent most of the 2nd half on the bench in foul trouble and Josh Howard was ejected. Howard sent 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla sprawling to the floor, then was hit with a technical for jawing with Przybilla, got the second technical seconds later and was ejected. Howard finished with 15 points.
Dirk did most of his damage in the first half of the game scoring 24 of his 30 points going 12-of-18 from the field. Jason Terry had 19 points off the bench. Terry has been vital coming off the bench this year and, right now, is a shoe in for the 6th Man of the Year award. I love JT but he is a one trick pony (even though he does that trick real well). And with the emergence of JJ Barea as a legitimate point guard, Terry is more valuable providing a scoring threat off the bench. I've seen some games this year where, for whatever reason, Dirk and a few other starters just weren't hitting that night. Terry came in, provided a spark and basically was a big reason they won in those games.
Speaking of J.J. Barea, he and Brandon Bass ran their own personal two-man game in the second half and combined for 14 points. They ran the pick and roll about as well as you can run it and Portland had no answer. Barea has come into his own, so to speak, the past month or so and has provided a lift at times when Dallas needed it. Although his consistency isn't quite game to game yet, there have been times where Barea looked like a poor man's version of Steve Nash. Let's hope he can continue to progress so when Kidd exits stage left, Barea can step in and fill that role.
Also, Dallas' defense has been better overall this year than it was last year. I know Avery Johnson talked, preached and, at times, screamed defense but the players just started to tune him out last year and it showed on the floor. And it looked like it would be more of the same this year thorugh the first 10 games as Dallas lost games in the final quarter multiple times. However last night, the Mavericks closed the game with a 12-2 run, while holding Brandon Roy to 0-for-3 in the final 3:33 of the game. That's the kind of defensive effort needed on a consistent basis for Dallas to contend for a playoff spot. With 7 of their next 9 games being against teams with sub .500 records, this is definatly the time the Mavs need to pad their record.
One thing that has been said about the Mavs in the past is that they are, typically, a soft team that is just content taking jump shots but don't drive to the basket that much and don't play with much of an edge. Well, last night, the Mavs definately played with an edge as Dirk spent most of the 2nd half on the bench in foul trouble and Josh Howard was ejected. Howard sent 7-foot-1 Joel Przybilla sprawling to the floor, then was hit with a technical for jawing with Przybilla, got the second technical seconds later and was ejected. Howard finished with 15 points.
Dirk did most of his damage in the first half of the game scoring 24 of his 30 points going 12-of-18 from the field. Jason Terry had 19 points off the bench. Terry has been vital coming off the bench this year and, right now, is a shoe in for the 6th Man of the Year award. I love JT but he is a one trick pony (even though he does that trick real well). And with the emergence of JJ Barea as a legitimate point guard, Terry is more valuable providing a scoring threat off the bench. I've seen some games this year where, for whatever reason, Dirk and a few other starters just weren't hitting that night. Terry came in, provided a spark and basically was a big reason they won in those games.
Speaking of J.J. Barea, he and Brandon Bass ran their own personal two-man game in the second half and combined for 14 points. They ran the pick and roll about as well as you can run it and Portland had no answer. Barea has come into his own, so to speak, the past month or so and has provided a lift at times when Dallas needed it. Although his consistency isn't quite game to game yet, there have been times where Barea looked like a poor man's version of Steve Nash. Let's hope he can continue to progress so when Kidd exits stage left, Barea can step in and fill that role.
Also, Dallas' defense has been better overall this year than it was last year. I know Avery Johnson talked, preached and, at times, screamed defense but the players just started to tune him out last year and it showed on the floor. And it looked like it would be more of the same this year thorugh the first 10 games as Dallas lost games in the final quarter multiple times. However last night, the Mavericks closed the game with a 12-2 run, while holding Brandon Roy to 0-for-3 in the final 3:33 of the game. That's the kind of defensive effort needed on a consistent basis for Dallas to contend for a playoff spot. With 7 of their next 9 games being against teams with sub .500 records, this is definatly the time the Mavs need to pad their record.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Agony of Defeat...and I Mean Agony
Well, my prediction of Dallas going 3-1 in December and cruising into the playoffs impolded last night (like what will be done to Texas Stadium eventually) when Dallas lost to Baltimore 33-24. I was actually at a youth Christmas party and only got to see the final 4 minutes of the first half but since I was tivoing it, I wasn't concerned about the game being on at the party. My wife sent me a text message to call her when I was on my way home. But when I did, the news she gave me about the game sent my blood pressure into orbit. She had watched the final 45 minutes of the game (not game time...real time) and proceded to tell me of the events. I just couldn't beleive it...and still can't really. How did Dallas lose that game last night? HOW?!?!?!?!?!?
I'm not saying that Baltimore was some sop team that Dallas was going to roll over. They were 9-5, like Dallas, before the game and had the #2 ranked defense in the NFL. They are a strong, physical team that generally doen't score a lot of points and relies on it's defense to help them win games (much like Pittsburgh). I really did think though that with the way the Cowboys have been playing defense lately, that they would be able to stop the Ravens and pull out a close win in front of a juiced up crowd aching for it. And if you would have told me Dallas put 24 points on Baltimore, I would have said "Dallas wins then". But it was the Cowboys vaunted defense which were the goats of the night. I still have a hard time believing the defense is what lost the game.
The game was pretty tight most of the way through, like I thought it would be, and with about 4 mintues to go in the game, Romo threw a touchdown to TO Owens to pull within 2 points. All Dallas had to do at that point was get a stop, turn the ball back over to the offense so they could drive down for a game winning field goal. I'm sure everyone else thought that would happen too. However, on Baltimore’s first snap after Owen’s touchdown, Baltimore RB Willis McGahee broke through a line bunched up to stop the run and ran 77 yards for a touchdown which tied the longest ever by an opponent at Texas Stadium. Dallas then worked down the field and Romo hit Witten in the endzone for another score again bringing Dallas within 2 points. So now was the time for the defense to step up. Even though they just allowed a long TD run, now was the time they need to focus and get a stop. Instead, on the very first play Baltimore had, RB Le'Ron McClain busted an 82 yard TD run breaking the record McGahee had tied only mintues before. Game over...
Even though Romo wasn't great (24 of 45 for 252 yards, 2 TDs and 2 Ints for a 66.3 rating) the offense played well enough to win the game. Tashard Choice played very well, again, filling in for injured Marion Barber who only carried the ball twice the whole game. The Cowboys jumped ahead 7-0 on a 2-yard touchdown by Tashard Choice, only the fourth rushing TD allowed by the Ravens all season. Choice ran for 90 yards, among the most all season against Baltimore.
Even though the defense is what lost the game for Dallas, DeMarcus Ware played at his usual high level. Choice's score was set up by Ware getting his NFL-leading 20th sack, which also caused Baltimore’s Joe Flacco to fumble. Ware had to forced fumbles in the game and is now three sacks from breaking Michael Strahan’s single-season NFL record. It would be a small silver lining if he could get those next week in Filthadelphia.
It took me a long time to go to sleep last night. I know that is completely assinine because I have no control over the game and, as my wife is fond of saying, "it is just a game...it's supposed to fun, you are supposed to enjoy it." And I do have to agree. But last night's game was important in two ways. One, it was important for Dallas to get into the playoffs. Now, even if Dallas wins next week in Filthadelphia, they will need a few other teams to lose in order to get into the playoffs. And second, it was important because that was the last football memory anyone will have in Texas Stadium as they will start play next year in their new $1.3 billion stadium in Arlington. From the looks of it on TV, only about half the crowd remained for the ceremony that featured introductions of about 100 former players. The Cowboys finished 213-100 in regular-season and postseason games at the home they moved into in 1971. I can't imagine what the crowd would have been like if the Cowboys had finished 214-99. But the loss sucked out most of the energy for the ceremony. What an utter shame.
Another thing that galled me about the game was what some Ravens players said after the game. Willis McGahee said “we spoiled their day. It was probably the best concert ever in Irving, Texas.” What? Why do you have to be a jerk dude? I actually liked you before you opened your pie hole. Now, you can go take a flying leap for all I care. I would expect that from someone that plays for the Giants, Deadskins or Foul. But where is your animosity coming from? You couldn't just win with class could you? Jerk. Same thing for Terrell Suggs who said “I hope they enjoyed their little ceremony. I guess we were kind of like the dynamite.” Now, I wish nothing but failure on Baltimore not because they beat Dallas but because they acted like Grade A horse's rears about it.
If, Dallas wins next week (and that's a big IF) and IF they somehow get into the playoff (which at this point I think is minimal at best), I think it will be one last mulligan from the sports gods. If that is the case, the defense better play their absolute best. They owe that to the offense, for once, and the fans who were at the game last night. But at this point, I don't think that will happen. Training camp seems so long ago but at that time this team was thought of as not only a Super Bowl participant but a probable winner as well. This loss is a tough one to swallow, that's for sure.
I'm not saying that Baltimore was some sop team that Dallas was going to roll over. They were 9-5, like Dallas, before the game and had the #2 ranked defense in the NFL. They are a strong, physical team that generally doen't score a lot of points and relies on it's defense to help them win games (much like Pittsburgh). I really did think though that with the way the Cowboys have been playing defense lately, that they would be able to stop the Ravens and pull out a close win in front of a juiced up crowd aching for it. And if you would have told me Dallas put 24 points on Baltimore, I would have said "Dallas wins then". But it was the Cowboys vaunted defense which were the goats of the night. I still have a hard time believing the defense is what lost the game.
The game was pretty tight most of the way through, like I thought it would be, and with about 4 mintues to go in the game, Romo threw a touchdown to TO Owens to pull within 2 points. All Dallas had to do at that point was get a stop, turn the ball back over to the offense so they could drive down for a game winning field goal. I'm sure everyone else thought that would happen too. However, on Baltimore’s first snap after Owen’s touchdown, Baltimore RB Willis McGahee broke through a line bunched up to stop the run and ran 77 yards for a touchdown which tied the longest ever by an opponent at Texas Stadium. Dallas then worked down the field and Romo hit Witten in the endzone for another score again bringing Dallas within 2 points. So now was the time for the defense to step up. Even though they just allowed a long TD run, now was the time they need to focus and get a stop. Instead, on the very first play Baltimore had, RB Le'Ron McClain busted an 82 yard TD run breaking the record McGahee had tied only mintues before. Game over...
Even though Romo wasn't great (24 of 45 for 252 yards, 2 TDs and 2 Ints for a 66.3 rating) the offense played well enough to win the game. Tashard Choice played very well, again, filling in for injured Marion Barber who only carried the ball twice the whole game. The Cowboys jumped ahead 7-0 on a 2-yard touchdown by Tashard Choice, only the fourth rushing TD allowed by the Ravens all season. Choice ran for 90 yards, among the most all season against Baltimore.
Even though the defense is what lost the game for Dallas, DeMarcus Ware played at his usual high level. Choice's score was set up by Ware getting his NFL-leading 20th sack, which also caused Baltimore’s Joe Flacco to fumble. Ware had to forced fumbles in the game and is now three sacks from breaking Michael Strahan’s single-season NFL record. It would be a small silver lining if he could get those next week in Filthadelphia.
It took me a long time to go to sleep last night. I know that is completely assinine because I have no control over the game and, as my wife is fond of saying, "it is just a game...it's supposed to fun, you are supposed to enjoy it." And I do have to agree. But last night's game was important in two ways. One, it was important for Dallas to get into the playoffs. Now, even if Dallas wins next week in Filthadelphia, they will need a few other teams to lose in order to get into the playoffs. And second, it was important because that was the last football memory anyone will have in Texas Stadium as they will start play next year in their new $1.3 billion stadium in Arlington. From the looks of it on TV, only about half the crowd remained for the ceremony that featured introductions of about 100 former players. The Cowboys finished 213-100 in regular-season and postseason games at the home they moved into in 1971. I can't imagine what the crowd would have been like if the Cowboys had finished 214-99. But the loss sucked out most of the energy for the ceremony. What an utter shame.
Another thing that galled me about the game was what some Ravens players said after the game. Willis McGahee said “we spoiled their day. It was probably the best concert ever in Irving, Texas.” What? Why do you have to be a jerk dude? I actually liked you before you opened your pie hole. Now, you can go take a flying leap for all I care. I would expect that from someone that plays for the Giants, Deadskins or Foul. But where is your animosity coming from? You couldn't just win with class could you? Jerk. Same thing for Terrell Suggs who said “I hope they enjoyed their little ceremony. I guess we were kind of like the dynamite.” Now, I wish nothing but failure on Baltimore not because they beat Dallas but because they acted like Grade A horse's rears about it.
If, Dallas wins next week (and that's a big IF) and IF they somehow get into the playoff (which at this point I think is minimal at best), I think it will be one last mulligan from the sports gods. If that is the case, the defense better play their absolute best. They owe that to the offense, for once, and the fans who were at the game last night. But at this point, I don't think that will happen. Training camp seems so long ago but at that time this team was thought of as not only a Super Bowl participant but a probable winner as well. This loss is a tough one to swallow, that's for sure.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Final Game at Texas Stadium
Well, I don't have much time so this isn't going to be a long post. I will write another post tomorrow or later this week reflecting on Texas Stadium and that it's time is almost over.
For the game tonight however, I think Dallas needs to follow the same formula that they played with the past two games. The defense needs to continue to play balls to the wall, lights out and the offense needs to make plays when they are there but not force anything and commit turnovers. Baltimore, just like Pittsburgh, thrives off turnovers and, if given the chance, can take an interception back for a touchdown. Baltimore (9-5) has the league’s second-ranked total defense (257.5 yards per game) and third-ranked scoring defense (15.2 ppg) so I think it's going to be another hard hitting, relatively low scoring game. And even though Dallas has several players on the injured list this week, Baltimore has several key defensive players that are banged up too. Hopefully Dallas can take advantage of that.
Baltimore needs this game as badly as Dallas so they are going to roll in and give it their best shot. They are 9-5 and like Dallas, if Baltimore wins out it will be guaranteed one of its conference’s two wild card spots. However, they benefit from playing in the same division as Cincinnati and Cleveland, so there is 4 of their 9 wins right there. The Raven's offense is ranked 21st in the league and their passing offense is ranking 28th so they don't have terribly much that scares me offensively. I think Dallas' defense can hold Baltimore down enough while the Cowboy's offense can do just enough to win. I also think that a big defensive play/turnover or play on special teams could be the difference in the game. Plus, I really don't think the football gods would deny the Cowboys a win in their final game at Texas Stadium.
My prediction: Dallas 17, Baltimore 13
For the game tonight however, I think Dallas needs to follow the same formula that they played with the past two games. The defense needs to continue to play balls to the wall, lights out and the offense needs to make plays when they are there but not force anything and commit turnovers. Baltimore, just like Pittsburgh, thrives off turnovers and, if given the chance, can take an interception back for a touchdown. Baltimore (9-5) has the league’s second-ranked total defense (257.5 yards per game) and third-ranked scoring defense (15.2 ppg) so I think it's going to be another hard hitting, relatively low scoring game. And even though Dallas has several players on the injured list this week, Baltimore has several key defensive players that are banged up too. Hopefully Dallas can take advantage of that.
Baltimore needs this game as badly as Dallas so they are going to roll in and give it their best shot. They are 9-5 and like Dallas, if Baltimore wins out it will be guaranteed one of its conference’s two wild card spots. However, they benefit from playing in the same division as Cincinnati and Cleveland, so there is 4 of their 9 wins right there. The Raven's offense is ranked 21st in the league and their passing offense is ranking 28th so they don't have terribly much that scares me offensively. I think Dallas' defense can hold Baltimore down enough while the Cowboy's offense can do just enough to win. I also think that a big defensive play/turnover or play on special teams could be the difference in the game. Plus, I really don't think the football gods would deny the Cowboys a win in their final game at Texas Stadium.
My prediction: Dallas 17, Baltimore 13
Monday, December 15, 2008
Dominating Defense
I've gotta say that I'm more than a little impressed with the way the Cowboys have been playing defense lately. In fact, since the Tampa game in late October, the Dallas defense really has only had one questionable game and that was when they played the Giants in New York. I was impressed last week when, in a hostile environment against probably the best team in the AFC in bitterly cold weather, Dallas' defense dominated the majority of the game vs. the Steelers. But Sunday night against the Giants, the Cowboys' defense put on a show that was just ridiculously good. DeMarcus Ware sacked Eli Manning on New York’s first snap and the pressure never stopped. Ware finished with three sacks, upping his NFL-leading total to 19. It was the Dallas' third straight game with at least five sacks and Ware is only 3 1/2 sacks short of Michael Strahan's season record of 22 1/2. Not only was 8 sacks impressive but it was extremely impressive who it was against. In two games against Dallas this season, Manning was sacked 12 times; he’s been sacked only 11 times in the other 12 games combined. Not only was Eli on his back a lot of the game, he was not particularly effective when he did avoid getting sacked going 18-of-35 for 191 yards and 2 interceptions for a QB rating of 43.9.
Not only did the Cowboys do a good job harassing Manning but they limited the Giants offense to only 218 total yards (72 rushing; 146 passing). The Giants offense averages 348 yards per game and leads the NFL in rushing offense at 148 yards per game. So by shutting down NY's rushing attack, they put the game in Eli's hands and could afford to pin their ears back and rush him more effectively because play action was not as effective.
True, the Giants were playing without 2 of their top 3 offensive weapons as Brandon Jacobs was out with an injured knee and Plaxico Burress is suspended the remainder of the year. When I heard that Jacobs was out on Friday, I was a little more sure the Cowboys were in a good position. Not overconfident mind you, but just a little more sure. Jacobs is one of the spark plugs in the Giants' offense. The other two guys (Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw) are good clean up players that compliment Jacobs well but Jacobs is THE key to the Giants offense. He is the bruising RB that is hard to stop when he gets a head of steam...kinda reminds me of Jerome Bettis when he was playing.
While it didn't produce eye popping numbers, the offense did what they needed to do to win the game. Despite taking a beating of his own, Romo was 20-of-30 for 244 yards and two touchdowns for a 113.8 QB rating. Oh and he did not have a turnover in the game which is a big plus. However, the offensive star actually was Choice for the 2nd week in a row. He had 91 yards on only nine carries, and he was the leading receiver with 52 yards on four catches. His 38-yard touchdown run sealed the game for Dallas. The Giants aren't too shabby on defense either as they are #4 in the league at stopping the run.
You can make the comparison that this season's Cowboys team is like last season's Giants team...and vice versa. Last year, Dallas started out 12-1 and looked like a lock to go to the Super Bowl. However, they went 2-2 in the month of December (and didn't play especially well in their 2 wins) and they lost 3 of their final 5 games including their playoff game loss to the Giants. This year, the Cowboys started out hot but had a rough patch in the middle of the year (losing 3 of 4 games) but have turned it around primarily because of the way their defense has played.
Last year, the Giants were a solid team but really elevated their level of play in December, primarily because the defense starting playing more aggressive and putting more pressure on opposing QBs (just as Dallas has done in the past 5 games) which took them all the way to the Super Bowl and helped them defeat the seemingly invincible New England Patriots. This year, the Giants started out white hot going 11-1 but have since lost their last 2 games. And with 2 games to go against Carolina and Minnesota, it is conceivable the Giants go 0-4 in December and limp into the playoffs, just a Dallas did last year.
***Note: I'm NOT saying Dallas will go to the Super Bowl here...just making a comparison between the similarities of two teams and how they each started and finished the last two seasons.
I'm just encouraged by the way Dallas is now playing on defense because the old adage is correct...offense wins you games, defense wins you championships. If Dallas is to get to the Super Bowl, their current defensive effort is going to have to continue.
Not only did the Cowboys do a good job harassing Manning but they limited the Giants offense to only 218 total yards (72 rushing; 146 passing). The Giants offense averages 348 yards per game and leads the NFL in rushing offense at 148 yards per game. So by shutting down NY's rushing attack, they put the game in Eli's hands and could afford to pin their ears back and rush him more effectively because play action was not as effective.
True, the Giants were playing without 2 of their top 3 offensive weapons as Brandon Jacobs was out with an injured knee and Plaxico Burress is suspended the remainder of the year. When I heard that Jacobs was out on Friday, I was a little more sure the Cowboys were in a good position. Not overconfident mind you, but just a little more sure. Jacobs is one of the spark plugs in the Giants' offense. The other two guys (Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw) are good clean up players that compliment Jacobs well but Jacobs is THE key to the Giants offense. He is the bruising RB that is hard to stop when he gets a head of steam...kinda reminds me of Jerome Bettis when he was playing.
While it didn't produce eye popping numbers, the offense did what they needed to do to win the game. Despite taking a beating of his own, Romo was 20-of-30 for 244 yards and two touchdowns for a 113.8 QB rating. Oh and he did not have a turnover in the game which is a big plus. However, the offensive star actually was Choice for the 2nd week in a row. He had 91 yards on only nine carries, and he was the leading receiver with 52 yards on four catches. His 38-yard touchdown run sealed the game for Dallas. The Giants aren't too shabby on defense either as they are #4 in the league at stopping the run.
You can make the comparison that this season's Cowboys team is like last season's Giants team...and vice versa. Last year, Dallas started out 12-1 and looked like a lock to go to the Super Bowl. However, they went 2-2 in the month of December (and didn't play especially well in their 2 wins) and they lost 3 of their final 5 games including their playoff game loss to the Giants. This year, the Cowboys started out hot but had a rough patch in the middle of the year (losing 3 of 4 games) but have turned it around primarily because of the way their defense has played.
Last year, the Giants were a solid team but really elevated their level of play in December, primarily because the defense starting playing more aggressive and putting more pressure on opposing QBs (just as Dallas has done in the past 5 games) which took them all the way to the Super Bowl and helped them defeat the seemingly invincible New England Patriots. This year, the Giants started out white hot going 11-1 but have since lost their last 2 games. And with 2 games to go against Carolina and Minnesota, it is conceivable the Giants go 0-4 in December and limp into the playoffs, just a Dallas did last year.
***Note: I'm NOT saying Dallas will go to the Super Bowl here...just making a comparison between the similarities of two teams and how they each started and finished the last two seasons.
I'm just encouraged by the way Dallas is now playing on defense because the old adage is correct...offense wins you games, defense wins you championships. If Dallas is to get to the Super Bowl, their current defensive effort is going to have to continue.
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