Week 5: Cowboys 25, Bills 24 (5-0)

To suggest that last night was amazing is like saying the Grand Canyon is neat. The fact is that you may live for another 7 decades and not see a night quite as crazy as that. The Cowboys got away with murder last night, and you happily take your win, hop on the plane, and get out of Dodge.

Meanwhile, the young star QB had his most embarrassing night ever. Tony Romo is lauded on this page repeatedly, but I hope you remembered what I have said periodically over the last several months: You live by the gunslinger, you die by the gunslinger. No gunslinger will ever live who will doesn’t have the occasional downside. What separates the gunslingers who have staying power from those who don’t is simple: Just don’t let it happen very often, and when it does happen, do you still have the cajones to keep slinging it around the yard?

Romo is learning what he is made of. I don’t care how much confidence you have in yourself, you only can truly find out what you have inside when you turn the ball over 6 times and they rush you back on the field to risk a 7th. It was ugly. It was maddening. It was frustrating. And it was a win.

The following our random notes and thoughts from the most improbable night I can recall:

• Nick Folk is money, apparently. Never heard of the guy when they picked him. Liked what I saw in training camp, but nothing can duplicate his circumstances last night when he had to kick a 53 yarder as time ran out. And he came through wonderfully. Also, let’s not forget a perfectly executed onside kick. He gets a game ball.

• Terrell Owens can pull off a lot of looks. That goofy rally cap look he was throwing down was not one of them. But, I then I saw Jay-Z with the same look at Yankee Stadium. And he looked goofy, too.

• What is Buffalo doing? Why would they try that 54 yarder at the end of the first half which gave the Cowboys a chance to get to 17-10. Why would they throw the ball when they are up 8 and already in FG range on the play that Terrence Newman intercepted? I realize they were throwing caution to the wind with fake punts and reverses on 3rd and 1, but at some point, you might want to stop giving the Cowboys opportunities. Dick Jauron is not a good football coach from what I have seen from his 2 stops.

• Every week we talk about how Tony Romo adds a couple million to his next contract. Perhaps last night isn’t in that category. I would imagine his agent will not call Jerry this morning.

• Is Roy Williams smart? If so, how does he not grasp the horse collar rule? If not, how did he get to be a perennial pro-bowler? I am perplexed on this one. Marshawn Lynch is lucky Roy didn’t snap his leg on that play. And somehow, the ref only saw the face-mask.

• The Buffalo Bills have some great throw-backs. I don’t know if this makes me an old man, but I find myself wishing these teams would wear their throwbacks all of the time. Except Philadelphia. It must be the hockey fan in me, who loves the Original 6 uniforms, and how they pretty much never change those classic looks. But the present day Bills, Chargers, Patriots, Broncos and others do not touch the brilliance that their uniforms once had.

• The Bills introduced us to the “Creep” defense. The Creep appears to mean that none of the defenders have their hands on the ground. I think I like it. It would surely confuse a QB even more with questions of who is coming and who is not. I wonder if this will spread around the NFL.

• Those Bills defensive backs were all anonymous. And they fought their butts off. McGee and Greer fought Owens and Crayton with all of the might they had. That break up of the 2-point conversion took plenty of strength, and given that they were only playing because the starters are hurt, the Bills couldn’t have asked any more of them.

• I am pretty sure the Kick and Punt coverage teams need Keith Davis on the field. Another game, another special team touchdown against.

• Not terribly familiar with the Bills, but they appear to have a great punter, Brian Moorman. The only thing I know about him is that Sean Taylor destroyed him at the pro bowl (youtube it), but I was impressed with his game last night.

• Ralph Wilson appears to be old. I don't think he could keep up with Jerry in a celebrating contest.

• During the game, the Stars had commercials running for their new ad campaign. Razor and Morrow both were featured on commercials that got you all fired up for Stars hockey. They were pretty sweet ads. Then, at the end, they promoted the upcoming game you have got to see: “October 5, Stars- Bruins”. Eh, that was a few days ago, guys.

• Patrick Crayton appears to be a very capable #2 receiver. I think he has seized this opportunity very well.

• On the play after the Roy facemask, with 9:25 left in the 4th Q, Dwayne Wright had a 3 yard gain. He was forced out by Terrence Newman after he gained the first down he so desired. Then, in Darren Hambrick fashion, Newman flexed in his face. Uh, Terrence, he got the first down, buddy. Simmer.

• P1 Matt had a great stat. Marcus Spears, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, and Sam Hurd, all had 1 solo tackle last night. Miles Austin had 2. Nice game, Spears.

• Jason Witten was great again last night. But, the Bills were sitting on him all night, too. Everybody now knows Romo’s security blanket is 82. So, they sit behind him and wait to jump the throw. Romo is going to have to exercise much more caution in the future.

• Eddie Lebaron, Eddie Lebaron again, Steve Pueller, Danny White, Troy Aikman and now Tony Romo all share the interceptions in a game record with 5. I would imagine only Romo did it in a win, but I have not checked that yet.

• Trent Edwards or JP Losman. Hmmm. Not sure I am too fired up either way. But, boy, the MNF football crew sure loved Edwards. I have never seen a FG drive so celebrated. 21 of the 24 Bills points were not scored by the offense.

• I think Anthony Spencer gets better every game. In fact, I think the defense all deserves credit for standing their ground last night as often as they did. It would have been easy to turn on your QB. They hung in there.

• Most of the Bills interceptions were lousy reads and or throws from Romo. But, that Chris Kelsay tip and interception in the endzone was a great play. Let’s give some credit where credit is due. He timed his jump and then caught the tip before it landed. That should have broken the Cowboys back.

• Well, it was ugly. But, it was a win. There is no doubt the Cowboys had begun to believe their press and look ahead to New England. But they somehow got away with it. Harry Houdini would be proud. Now, can they slay the dragon on Sunday? I challenge you to not look ahead for a day. Savor this most incredible night.