Cowboys '09: Game 14 at New Orleans

Raise your hand if you understand pro football. I am obsessed with this sport. There is nothing I spend more time thinking about and reading about and studying than the NFL. But, I sure don't understand it. Except, I do understand one important element about my lack of understanding: You can never account for the unaccountable. Said another way: Last night is why it is not smart to gamble on "sure things".

The Cowboys pulled the unthinkable last night in New Orleans with their performance that surely was one of the best games of football any of them had ever played. Once in a while, with all of the chips down, they find what they were looking for, and it so happened to be with the entire football world watching (provided they had the NFL Network) on this Saturday night in December (of all months).

On one hand, you have to be very pleased for these guys who spend a lot of time answering why they are not up to the challenge of winning important games such as these. On the other hand, you wonder how this is going to feel if they lose to Washington next week. But, that can wait for 8 days. This was a thing of beauty.

The offense made all the sense in the world. And it made all the sense in the world because the offensive line held up its end of the bargin, because Jason Garrett seemed to pull the puppet strings with great precision, and because your QB was the perfect maestro of the proceedings.

Tony Romo has not been the focal point of too many of these "Morning After" columns for a few reasons, but I think this may be the perfect day to spend a moment or two on the leader of this offense. Nobody is more scrutinized nationally than Tony Romo - whether it is appropriate or not never seems to matter. He had painted a large target on his chest long ago, and has been declared dead quite a few times by the experts.

All along, he has just chipped away at the mountain before him, and I dare say his QB work this season may be his finest year yet. Nobody is willing to admit that he isn't the problem, it seems, but to play the Giants-Chargers-Saints trio in succession in December, and emerge on the other side without one single giveaway (fumble or interception), 6 TD's, and a QB Rating of 109.7 is remarkable. They have lost 2 of those 3 games, so there is still that thread of blame that can be taken back to the QB because that is how we discuss this game. But, in December, Romo has been nearly flawless with absurd pressure and scrutiny aimed at his head. Put it another way: By George, I think he's got it.

And here is the good news: It is still a secret. Romo, it would seem, can still sneak up on the league because some have spent so long claiming he is the problem that they will not concede that point until he has a trophy in his hand. And we all know that is a long trip from here. But, in a 2009 where he had to prove he wasn't the problem, I think most fair observers would realize that the Cowboys have a useful Quarterback - maybe not a perfect one, but one who is very good.

Beyond Romo, there are so many others with their fingerprints on this unlikely win. As Junior Miller said last night, this may be Wade's signature defensive win. I argued that the Green Bay win in 2007 qualifies as well, but in fairness to Craig, that Green Bay team was not the juggarnaut the Saints are, and were not held to 3 points through 3 Quarters on their home field. The defense played very well, holding the Saints to just 1 3rd Down conversion - which occured in the final minute of the game. The Saints set the industry standard on 3rd Down conversions, but on this one night, they could not move the chains on the money down.

And then there is everyone's quiet hero, DeMarcus Ware. There are a number of reasons to look at his performance last night and marvel. One, of course, is that we feared for his physical well-being on Sunday evening at Cowboys Stadium when they are unscrewing his facemask from his helmet and strapping him onto a stretcher. Late in the day yesterday, there were still many reports circulating that he would not be able to play at all. Then, for him to play as well as he did - with a sack and fumble to end the final Saints' drive of the 1st half, and then another sack and fumble to end the final Saints' drive of the game - was the stuff of legends. The Cowboys could have very well crumbled under the pressure in that 4th Quarter - but #94 would not be denied. Joined by #93, Anthony Spencer, the Cowboys pass rush finally made sense for a night. It was like Ware and Ellis used to be. A speed LB who can not be blocked for long on each flank. Was it just a 1-night mirage?

The Cowboys' best players were their best players. They stepped up an emerged with a team victory that could certainly take this team to a new level. But, because of how this league and this team works, we are all wondering if we should read too much meaning into this game. Did the QB break through? Did the coach? Did the team? It all depends on where they go next.

But, for one night, they played like they could win a Super Bowl. I just don't understand the NFL sometimes.

Other observations from the night that ended the New Orleans quest for perfection:

* I suppose I should not allow this Nick Folk elephant in the room go on any longer before we address it. Look, I am all for trying to let a guy break out of his slump before we knee jerk and go to "Kickers-R-Us" for another one, but it is time. There is too much riding on everything this team does to allow one guy to get his head screwed back on. He is a kicker. He must make kicks. To miss that 24-yard Field Goal in that situation is an absolute fireable offense. He nearly cost you the football game - which in turn would have cost many men their jobs. I am sure he is a nice guy, and I hope his career can continue somewhere else, but like a group of athletes in our lifetime, it appears his head is not allowing his foot to do its job. That footage the NFL Network presented showing his pregame warm-ups was quite revealing. And then, on cue, he missed what amounts to an extra point. The Cowboys must get a kicker before Washington. And they are darn lucky that their refusal to address this issue sooner did not cost them another game.

* Mr Austin, your contract is ready. What a stud. 1100 Yards and counting. Was Terrell better than this? And, evidently, the Cowboys' offense also took note as we did Friday that the deep ball is but a faded memory. Brilliant double move off play action on the first drive of the game resulted in a 49-yard bomb to signal the attack. A thing of beauty.

* Does anyone know why the Cowboys would call timeout after Patrick Crayton's big 25-yard catch at the end of the 1st Quarter? I was thoroughly confused as the Saints were given time to review every replay possible during that timeout and decide if they should use a review on that 3rd and 8. Luckily, it held up, but I found that most curious. Let's not act like last night was not without brain freezes, as that decision, the 12-men in the huddle, the play where Barber forgot he was supposed to get the ball, the Flozell facemask, and a few others that we would all be pointing to if the Cowboys did not close the deal. But, they did, so they are but details in a notebook.

* Speaking of the review impacting the game, I was interested in what effect the review of the Spencer hit on Brees with :18 to go in the game had on the next play. If you recall, the Cowboys were rushing Brees on that final drive for 11 consecutive plays. Since they were in the no-huddle, you could make the case that the longer the drive goes on, the more depleted the energy becomes for the pass rushers. But, when they were reviewing the question of whether Brees' arm was going forward, DeMarcus and friends are catching their breath on the sideline. On the very next play, Ware beats Jermon Bushrod round the corner again and seals the game. It might have all happened the exact same way without the break, but my theory is that it helped Ware.

* I would never question the offensive genius of Sean Payton, but David Thomas gets 10 targets? He wasn't bad, but I think I have to adjust my gameplan when I find out my starter (Jeremy Shockey) can't play. The goal was obviously to isolate the Cowboys LBs in space (Carpenter, Brooking, James) and he was willing to work his back-up TE all night to do so. If I am the Cowboys, I am comfortable with Thomas trying to beat me.

* Every week, Garrett rolls out a new wrinkle. I really enjoy trying to predict what it might be, but this week, it was the mutiple looks with Kevin Ogletree. His 2catches were helpful, but I really think they were trying to spring him for a deep TD early in the 3rd Quarter and Romo just didn't have enough time to hit him so he checked down to Austin (who dropped the pass). Even Sam Hurd made a rare appearance late.

* We had to like the way the ball was run in New Orleans, too. They really set the tone and were physical throughout. Marion ran over Darren Sharper in short yardage, showing us that he is not the guy we saw at the goal-line against the Chargers. Felix showed bursts as well in certain situations and always looks like he is about to break one. I thought Bigg Davis played one of his better games of the recent stretch.

* Flozell looks very old. I think Left Tackle better be looked at very closely this offseason. And no, I don't think Leonard Davis is the answer, nor Doug Free.

* If there has been one guy who has certainly showed his quality as this season has gone along, it would be Mike Jenkins. But, if there have been 2 guys, we should add Anthony Spencer. I needed him to bust out, and while it might have taken him until nearly Thanksgiving, I now see his ability each week. He is not just "some guy" opposite DeMarcus. He looks to be very imposing, and difficult to deal with. That sequence where he had a sack disallowed by a Scandrick penalty, only to get one on the very next play was lovely. Of course, sacks are easier to get when you are not blocked.

* 2 potential plays of the game happened on 3rd downs in the 4th Quarter for the offense: #1, 3/4 at the 46, Romo puts one right on Roy Williams in stride which would keep the drive alive - but he drops it. #2, 3/7 at the 23, Romo again finds Austin in the face of a blitz and Austin sprints for 32 more and seemed to seal the game (thanks, Folk). But, overall, the telling stat for the Cowboys offense seems to be 3rd Downs. In Philly and in New Orleans, Romo and the offense made those plays. Against the Giants and Chargers, not so much. Must make the plays in the money scenarios.

* Today,my friend, Doug, notes, the Cowboys world must cheer for the Steelers, 49ers, and Redskins? Strange bedfellows for sure.

So, tell me, was this the aberration? Or is this the start of a 3 game winning streak heading into the playoffs with a division crown on their head and a home playoff game on tap? I wish I had an idea one way or the other. The good news is this thing is still now very much alive. The bad news is that the 2008 Cowboys won their 14th game against a top NFC foe, only to hit the wall in a ball of flames in games #15 and #16.

Is 2009 different? Only the final 2 weeks will tell us.

Cowboys '09: Game 13 vs San Diego

I am officially out of excuses. And optimism. And positive spins.

For those of you that look to me to offer you some "half-full" mentality, I might be letting you down this week. I just can't believe that they spit the bit again. I blame myself for thinking this season was different. I blame myself for trusting this organization to get it right at the moment of truth.

I mean, at some point, if you keep picking the coyote to catch the road runner and you are wrong repeatedly, do we blame the coyote or those picking him despite the ever mounting pile of evidence that says the road runner will always get away?

On Sunday at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, the Chargers avoided any and all aspects of the "ambush theory" and did what good teams do in the month of December, waited out a reasonable performance from the inferior home team and then made all of the plays in the 4th Quarter to seal their 10th victory of the season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys followed their familiar December path, where the crucial moments of the game are all wrong, and despite doing a few things well, they leave with their 5th defeat and the sinking feeling that defeat #6 is merely 5 days away.

The Cowboys offense left at least 10 points on the field - and when you lose by 3, that is an enourmous number. The Cowboys defense surrendered scoring drives in the first half of 84 and 64 yards. Then in the 4th Quarter when it absolutely needed a stop, they allowed 2 stake-in-the-heart possessions of 75 yards and 73 yards. In "win" time, Dallas could not get a drive going, and the Chargers could; marching right down the field with 11:23 Time of Possession in the 4th Quarter alone.

The fact that really shows in a game like this is that you can see the fragile mentality of the Cowboys organization. I was asked last night if the Cowboys are "soft" and I think that is a difficult conclusion to draw when a team wins many physical battles over the course of a game and a season. But, do they possess the composure and the mental strength to weather a storm and emerge on the other side? Or, when adversity arrives on the door-step, do the Cowboys collectively collapse under the pressure? I think the evidence answers that question. They appear to be "mentally soft". You can wait them out. At some point, they will crack under the pressure. They will miss a Field Goal. They will let Vincent Jackson get behind them on 3rd and Long. They will give up a 15 play drive when they absolutely must get the ball back for the offense.

So, who do we blame? I suppose today will be one of those days on the radio where nobody will be free from the ridicule. And who should be safe? If the object of the game around here is to quiet the ghosts of past failures at the moment of truth, then these 2 losses in the last 2 weeks don't exactly accomplish that mission.

As difficult as it is to admit, the Cowboys franchise is merely following its same path that it has worn since its last Super Bowl victory in 1995. A path that often includes a hierarchy of relatively powerless men answering to an owner that promised us he would be involved in everything to "socks and jocks". He is keeping his word, and his results are there for all to see in the record books - nearly 5,000 days since the last playoff wins.

It would surely be easier to handle this team if they would not demonstrate their reasonable quality so often. They are not a bad team and they are not devoid of talent. They play hard and have many quality individuals. But in the end, they end up with what appears to be shockingly similar results. And, of course, what makes me angry is that I only get these moments of clarity after I realize how silly a win prediction on Friday truly was. Again, don't blame the coyote for being the coyote. Blame yourself for believing this episode he will actually catch the roadrunner.

Now, some random observations from the game that showed us 2009 will most likely not end differently:

* The best news to emerge last night from this loss was the report that DeMarcus Ware is out of the hospital and resting at his house. Ware, who was carted off the field with 11:28 to go in the 4th Quarter, appeared to suffer a severe neck injury during a pass rush sequence. At that point in the game, the score was 10-10, and the Chargers were going to face a Ware-less defense for a 3rd and 12, from the SD 47 yards line. Could the Cowboys hang in there without their best defender? Well, 2 plays, and 53 yards later, Antonio Gates is celebrating an easy Touchdown. My first thought is to acknowledge that losing Ware demonstrates his immense value to this team, and we should not be shocked that the results after he left were not positive. My second thought is that, once again, this shows the mental fragility of the team, that losing one guy can make the defense collapse like a house of cards when it needed someone to step up and make a play in Ware's absence. Ware appears to be suffering from a sprained neck, so his return in the next few weeks appears to be a real possibility.

* The Cowboys almost took the game over in the 2nd Quarter, with a phenomenal drive that was primarily that "power run" set domination. Felix Jones for 12, 12, 5. Barber for 8 and 5. Choice for 5 and 6. Jones for 7, Barber for 3 - down to the 1 yard line. The entire length of the field without a single pass completion. It was a thing of beauty- Physical strength and demoralizing results for the Chargers defense. And, then the game turned. 2nd and goal: nothing. 3rd and goal: nothing. 4th and goal: Less than nothing. When they had 3 cracks from the 1 with the season hanging in the balance, the Cowboys could not get the 36 inches necessary. What happened? Well, we could carefully analyze every block to see who got it done, and who didn't, but I will save some of that for Football 301. But, if I may offer a cheap 2nd guess, it would be three-fold about that 4th down call. First, if I have one run with my whole season on the line, do I run to the right behind the new guy, Doug Free? Or do I take it to the left, like I did on the goal-line in Philadelphia? Second, on the 1 yard line, when 11 defenders are on the line, can I afford to wait for the development of the pulling Kyle Kosier? Brandon Siler sure didn't wait. He shot the gap, beat Kosier to the point of attack, and blew up the play. And Third, don't I have Barber at Tailback, with Deon Anderson's thunder blocks in front of him, rather than trying to get cute and have Felix deep and Barber up front? Would the Chargers really believe that for the first time in his career, you would trust Felix Jones in a short yardage situation? Or, did the Chargers know, like we all did, that Jones was a decoy, and Barber was getting the rock again. Regardless, the game changed right then and there, and we will have all off-season to debate if any of those 3 issues have merit, or if we are all just second-guessing the result - that Barber was stopped at the 1-yard line; and the season might have been stopped, too.

* Nick Folk.

* I know that my vote is not the deciding vote in the Jerry Jones approval rating test, but I cannot tell you how nuts he makes me sometimes. From the role that his head coaches must take, to the assumption that he needs more Felix, to the idiocy of the bits in his new stadium, to the roof being closed when it is 68 degrees outside - the hits just keep coming. So, let me get this straight: It is arguably the biggest game of the year. One in which the crowd needs to make a difference and help will the Cowboys to victory. A game that is so crucial that many will lose their jobs over it if the result doesn't go the right direction. And with that all in mind, he thought it would be a great time to hand out 70,000+ 3D glasses to his fans, which effectively distracts his own audience from doing their job in the game? What is the point? What are we doing? Is the whole point of this new stadium to bring further glory to Jerry by proving we can herd well-meaning Cowboys fans onto a party platform 50-deep? Is it to show the silliness of the world's largest television - while ignoring the reality that it actually keeps your own fans from wanting to watch what is going on down on the field below? You cannot make this stupidity up! Why not issue XBoxs and cellphones to everyone attending so that they pay even less attention to the game? I can feel my blood pressure raise as I type this, so let me end this rant by admitting this stadium and I are never going to be on good terms, I don't believe.

* The Cowboys are 1-6 at home in December in their last 7 games. Amazing.

* The pass rush was ineffective again. I will readily admit that Philip Rivers was hit on several occasions as he delivered the ball, but the hits never seemed to affect the flight of the ball. He stood tall, took a hit, and moved the chains again. I was very impressed with his performance for much of the day.

* As for Romo, the numbers of efficiency were there all day. But much like the Cowboys, numbers are nice, but football comes down to scenarios and key moments in a game. During those scenarios and key moments, the offense has to cash in. And for whatever reason, they were 1-8 on 3rd down conversions. Not converting on 3rd down ends drives and turns TD opportunities into Field Goals (or missed Field Goals). A QB Rating of 111.7 was surely impressive, but unlike last week, you would have to admit he was the 2nd best QB on the field. Rivers had a lower QB rating (89.6) but converted several 3rd and long throws that kept his team rolling down the field, while going right after Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins. The corners for the Cowboys seem good enough usually, but clearly not anything that scares Rivers.

* I was asked by a few emailers to reprint my "end of another season" paragraph from last year's Baltimore game that I received so many compliments on. I hesitate to do so, because there are 3 games to go. The Cowboys can still save their skin (there I go, believing in the coyote, again). Regardless, your wish is my command:

As I was leaving a frigid Texas Stadium after the game, I was walking right behind a Dad and his boy. The boy must have been 7 or 8 years old and was crying about the result. Some people might roll their eyes, but I knew how the boy felt. When you are young, and you love a sports team, you believe the games and the seasons will all have the happy endings of the Disney movies that you watch. Guess what, son, if you are going to pledge allegiance to a team as it appears you have with the Dallas Cowboys, I want to welcome you to the fellowship of the die-hards. Understand, that once you do, you are not allowed out of this commitment, and you should also understand that most seasons are going to end in tears. A favorite team is the only thing a male human feels the same about when he is 5 and when he is 45 and when he is 75. You will change your mind on everything else. Girls, money, hobbies. But, you will always still feel the adrenaline rush of a win, and the gutting sadness of a horrible loss. I didn’t say anything to the boy, as his Dad was handling it (and he might not have welcomed my advice) but I felt for him. Welcome to sports, young man. Someday, you may live to see a championship or five, but most years will end with your guts spilling onto the floor. - December 21, 2008

Fellowship of the Die-hards or Fellowship of the Miserable? It is a fine line between the two.

3 games to go. Anyone believe in the coyote?

Cowboys '09: Game 12 at New York Giants

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Stats are for losers"?

On occasion, this phrase will be used by professional athletes in a locker-room (either winning or losing) after some media guy waves a stat-sheet in his face and wants a full explanation on how you could win/lose with these types of numbers that would suggest the opposite result should have happened.

And, I suppose, today would be a good day to remember that phrase. The Cowboys went to New Jersey Sunday with a game plan for success. And they executed a fairly reasonable amount of it. Yet, in the end, they leave with a loss. Let's look at all of the metrics besides the only metric that matters (Scoreboard):

- The Cowboys won the turnover margin (+1)

- The Cowboys dominated total yards (424-337)

- The Cowboys easily owned Time of Possession: (38:50 - 21:10)

- The Cowboys had the best QB on the Field: Romo had a QB rating of 112, Eli's was 89, and only 61 if you subtract the throw to Brandon Jacobs.

- The Cowboys won 1st Downs (27-15), 3rd Downs (9 conversions to 4), and total plays (80-49).

And, yet, here we are again. Losing a key December game in which a lot of things went very well.

"These are the times that try Cowboys fans' souls"

So, how do you lose a game like that? How do you find yourself answering all of the same questions when you know that was a game that was asking to be won?

In every game there are about 130 plays. When we add them all up together, we find the big numbers that look neat on a stat sheet. But, when we separate them and pick out the few that would be called pivotal, we realize that some key battles were lost along the way that lead to the loss of the war.

* Holding a 10-7 lead, and almost assured of taking that lead into the locker-room, the Cowboys go searching for more. When Tony Romo hits Marion Barber for an easy first down into Giants territory, it appears they are on their way to regaining control of the game and adding to this lead. Then, Barber has the ball taken from him at just the wrong time. Mathias Kiwanuka is not even trying to get the ball, but as he tries to tackle MB3, the ball comes loose, and Osi Umenyiora takes it and runs. This, of course, sets up a 28-yard TD drive, and the Giants have a 14-10 halftime lead, after trailing 10-0 at the 2-minute warning.

* Exactly 19 seconds after taking the lead, 17-14, the Cowboys give it right back on a 74-yard Touchdown reception to Brandon Jacobs (of all people). Jacobs out-ran the entire Cowboys LB corps, and gathered in only his 2nd career reception of more than 40 yards. Yes, the other one was a 43-yarder against the Cowboys in 2006. If ever there was a play that changed a game in the blink of an eye, it had to have been this - a play so simple in its design and yet so lethal in its result. Who knew that Anthony Spencer couldn't run down Jacobs with a 1-yard head start?

* Down 24-17, the Cowboys are forced to punt following a crucial intentional grounding penalty on Romo. Mat McBriar, who has had a fabulous season as the punter (let's not talk about McBriar as the holder), perhaps out-kicks the coverage. Then as Domenik Hixon breaks somewhere between 2-4 tackles, the Cowboys see their chance of holding on to the NFC East lead slip through their special teams. It was the first punt return for a TD allowed since 2007, when Dante Hall turned the trick for the Rams. Game Over.

3 plays that made the other 126 plays look pretty unimportant in comparison. And thus, the Cowboys drop their 4th game of the season, giving up all ground to Philadelphia and the Giants. And, now, the collar tightens as December rolls on.

Other Notes and Observations from a decidedly predicatable day at Giants Stadium:

* I think it goes without saying that Romo was exactly what he needs to be to quiet the critics and to rise another level amongst the QBs in the NFL. His passes were precise and he stood tall in the face of the pass rush. Romo seemed to control the game wonderfully for most of the day, hooking up with both receivers and his big tight end down the middle for great success. 3 TDs, 0 INTs, and crucial 3rd Down conversions time after time. Obviously, the miss to Roy Williams with 4 minutes to go might have helped pull a miracle down 14, and was a huge moment. The grounding play killed the drive prior to that, too. But, if he is going to drop back 50 times, all you ask is that he makes several big plays and stays out of trouble. He did both, and I think you are trying too hard if you want to blame the Cowboys' QB on this one (Tony Dungy).

* Nick Folk has become a problem. 4-10 from 40-49 yards is brutal, and the miss yesterday was very large. The Cowboys could have cut the lead to 21-20 with the majority of the 4th Quarter yet to play (10:38), and he duck-hooks a 42-yarder with fabulous side spin. Only the Philadelphia game features a day in the last 6 games where Folk did NOT miss a FG. Do you think this team can afford to give away points for any reason in tight road games in December? 16-24 in 2009 pretty much erases all of his credibility from 2007 and 2008, and now I am wondering if the Cowboys can afford to ride this slump out.

* Keith Brooking looks tired. Coming off 10 days rest, I was hoping that he could have plugged things up better. He has been a wonderful addition to this team, so I hope he has gas left in his tank.

* Here is the reality of play-calling: You can call anything you want and if your OL is going to get whipped at the line of scrimmage by a DL that seems to want the game far more, then it doesn't matter what you call. the interior of the OL offered very little along the lines of movement last night, and it seemed the Giants were dead-set on limiting the running game at all costs. We can debate how much that made Romo's job easier through the air, but it was clear that the Giants were committed to making sure the Boys did not run for 250 again. I would say this simply proves the theory of "Just because it worked last time against these guys, doesn't mean it will work next time". I would like to give you are report on which running back was more effective against the Giants, but the fact is the OL was beaten so badly that none of them had a true chance to get anywhere, even against the vaunted "22".

* Arm tackles don't work well in December.

* Martellus Bennett is going to have to decide if he wants to be a great pass catching tight end or not. We already know he is a fine blocking tight end, but those guys generally make league minimum for much of their career - and they have John Phillips serving that role, too. He has not demonstrated that Romo can trust him this season - with another drive-killing drop. And if you don't get the trust of your offense, they stop going to you. I think the same can be said for Felix Jones, although he has the benefit of his owner demanding that he get the ball. Earn your stripes, young men. Then, Romo will throw the ball to you at every turn, like he does that Witten guy.

* Pass Rush versus Giants: 2008 = 12 sacks in 2 games. 2009 = 1 sack in 2 games. I would say this was a point of emphasis for the Giants OL, and it would appear they figured it out. The only sack for the Cowboys was 2:33 left in the game yesterday, and the Giants up 14 points. Basically, the Cowboys did not get to Eli Manning this season at all.

* David Buehler had 17 touchbacks in the first 7 games, and has just 3 in the last 5 games. His kickoffs yesterday were sometimes lucky to get the 10 yard line. I will happily admit that outdoor kicks in December are no picnic at Giants Stadium, but if the idea is to give him a roster spot because of his special ability to kick it deep, then....

* Stop me if I write this every week category: Jay Ratliff is awesome - that strip and recovery was marvelous. I cannot believe we once had a debate between Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. Flozell Adams confuses me sometimes. And Roy Williams with another 2 Touchdowns! (Just making sure you were paying attention)

Well, here we are again. Adversity and December. Here come the red hot Chargers in a week's time, and the questions will be asked. No unit can escape blame today as the offense was beaten physically, the defense surely did not cover Steve Smith or tackle well, and the special teams missed FGs and surrendered a huge punt return TD. Spread the blame, and get back to work.

8-4.

Who has resolve?

Picking the Playoffs

Last year, 12 teams made the NFL Playoffs. In the AFC, it was the Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Patriots, Jets, and Bengals. In the NFC, the Cowboys, Eagles, Packers, Cardinals, Vikings, and Saints.

So, now, we have to begin sorting through who we shall select to go in 2010. I have some ideas, but I am actually going to continue to examine things for another week or two before I try to get it right this year. Sidenote: In 2009, I did about as well as I have ever done when I wrote this about 1 year ago:

This year I predicted that the Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, Saints, Seahawks, and Falcons would make the NFC Playoffs, and the Patriots, Colts, Bengals, Steelers, Chargers, and Titans would make the AFC Playoffs. I had the Saints-Chargers in the Super Bowl, with the Saints winning it all.

Not bad, right? Anyway, we must look at history before we make our selections. What is the most important trend to keep in mind?

The Trend is this - Since 1991, when the NFL Expanded its playoffs to 12 teams, each year has averaged 5.8 new teams each year. To say it slightly differently, only 6 teams make it back to the playoffs the next year - and the other 6 teams are brand new.

Obviously, this flies in the face of most of our predictions. Because we look at each season and assume those who made it to last year's tournament will no doubt have good years - and those who failed in 2008 are doomed to fail in 2009.

It just isn't true. In the chart below, I will show you each year, and list the new teams who made the playoffs that year, but weren't in the playoffs the year before. The teams in the 1991 playoffs (the 1st year - so they were all new) were Dal, Atl, NO, Chi, Wash, and Det in the NFC; KC, Oak, Hou, NYJ, Den, and Buf in the AFC:

Year	# New	New Teams making Playoffs
1992	6	Min, SF, Phi, Mia, Pit, KC
1993	5	Det, GB, NYG, Oak, Den
1994	5	Chi, Mia, Clev, NE, SD
1995	4	Phi, Atl, Ind, Buf
1996	5	Min, Car, Jac, Den, NE
1997	5	NYG, Det, TB, KC, Mia
1998	5	Arz, Dal, Atl, NYJ, Buf
1999	7	Det, TB, StL, Was, Sea, Ten, Ind
2000	6	Phi, NYG, NO, Den, Bal, Oak
2001	6	SF, GB, Chi, Pit, NE, NYJ
2002	5	NYG, Atl, Ten, Cle, Ind
2003	8	Stl, Car, Dal, Sea, NE, KC, Bal, Den
2004	5	Min, Atl, SD, Pit, NYJ
2005	7	Was, Car, TB, NYG, Chi, Cin, Jac
2006	7	Phi. Dal, NO, SD, Bal, NYJ, KC
2007	6	Was, TB, GB, Pit, Ten, Jac
2008	7	Phi, Atl, Car, Min, Arz, Mia, Bal
2009	6	Dal, GB, NO, Cin, NE, NYJ

Table Tutorial

Cowboys '09: Game 11 vs Oakland

Unlike Sunday, this was an absolute fine case of "Taking Care of Business". Instead of using all 60 minutes of the clock to secure a victory, the Cowboys seemed to put their Thanksgiving opponents to the sword well before halftime. The Raiders seemed to cooperate, but let's give the Cowboys full credit for accomplishing their top 2 goals.

1) - Figure out how to turn 2-2 into 8-3 by the day after Thanksgiving. This would put you in a great spot entering a very formidable December schedule. As they say, "make hay while the sun shines", and they did. Full marks to the Cowboys for getting through October and November with a record that can certainly be used to allow a small amount of wiggle room in the final 5 games.

2) - Enter December with a little momentum from the offense. Again, it was just the Raiders, but to get 10 explosives (plays of 20+) and nearly 500 yards of offense was a spectacular show of force, and now they can rest for 10 days knowing what they are capable of. The alternative would have been to head to New York to play the Giants with the complete lack of momentum from the Green Bay and Washington games and try to fight through that doubt in the back of your mind against a desperate Giants team. I have to believe the assurance that Miles Austin, Jason Witten, and Felix Jones are all prepared to make a game-breaking play puts them in a confident spot for December 6.

The offense is the big story from Thursday, and the big story inside the big story is the fact that Miles Austin did it again. When you have 7 catches for 145 yards and it is only your 3rd best performance of the year, you know you have an elite Wide Receiver. We have been around this discussion plenty this year, but let's all admit that contracts, fantasy football draft position, jersey sales, and national reputation do not a star player make. The only thing that makes you a star player in this league is making plays again and again and again. Despite the first 4 games where he was a complete after-thought in this offense, Austin now is almost assured a 1,000 yard season (he needs 176 more yards in 5 games) and has proven that he can get open and make a play. To think that this guy was only a "prospect" 60 days ago is a tough thing to wrap your arms around. He has taken the job and run with it, and I don't think it would be too soon to find a way to pay that man to insure his future his secure as a Dallas Cowboy.

And then there is that running game. Balance is a nice thing, right? Obviously, you would like to play the Raiders every week, but let's remember their defense is not really that bad. The Cowboys ran for 195 yards on 25 carries - a staggering 7.8 yards per carry. Again, not to get too demonstrative here, but I really feel that anyone that doesn't think the Cowboys are a "power running team" is ignoring a building mountain of evidence. It is truly staggering how devastating a run team they are, and equally staggering to me that they have only not had success on the ground in 2 games - 1 in which they never really tried to run it (Green Bay) and 1 in which they had only 1 healthy RB (Choice in Denver). When the Cowboys run the ball from a power posture (multiple TEs and/or a FB) there has been almost nobody who has stopped it. It was their 8th game of running for over 100 yards, and their 4th game of running for more than 150. They can run the football right at you, and you cannot stop it - a very valuable trick in December if you can remember it, Jason.

8-3 required no real slips along the way after losing 2 of the first 4. But, the Cowboys did a nice job of taking care of their business and then were given the added bonus of the 5-0 Giants turning into the 6-5 Giants. They enter December in the driver's seat in the NFC East and now they can cast history aside and get after the true meat of this meal.

Other notes and observations from a Thanksgiving game that will not become an "instant classic" but was truly effective:

* Anthony Spencer had his first 2 sacks of the season! I have been watching this guy very carefully over the last month to make sure he is pulling his weight despite his 0 sack total through 10 games. I must tell you that I feel that he is flying around the ball and causing problems. I think Anthony Spencer has played very well in many departments of his game, and for this reason, I have had no problem with his performance beyond the pass rushing results. Even there, Spencer has had as many hits on the QB as anyone, but still 0 sacks. Yesterday, he had 2, and almost had 2 more, so perhaps he is starting to take off and get some results. His 1st sack of the season was exactly the way we saw him getting 8 or 9 sacks this season in our preseason projections - 94 flushes the QB right into 93's arms. It shouldn't take 11 games for this to happen.

* The Roof was open. Amazing. I know I should not take any credit for it, but for some reason, I felt satisfied with the change.

* In the 1st Quarter, the Raiders started the game with quite a few big running plays; Fargas +21, Fargas +12. McFadden +12. In the first 6 carries, they had gashed the Cowboys for 58 yards. The, on 2nd and 6 from the 46 on their 3rd drive, the Cowboys rolled out the 3-5 package. I cannot tell you how many times they ran it, but it was clear that once they saw the Raiders were running with success, they rolled out Ware-Brooking-Carpenter-James-Spencer all at the same time to snuff that threat out - while only playing 3 DBs. Raiders running backs were 15 for 36 yards the rest of the game.

* Sebastian Janikowski did not step on the field until the 2nd half kickoff. Not sure it pays to have an elite kicker if you are the Raiders.

* When did it become ok to field punts inside your 10 yard line? Did I miss the memo or did both teams violate one of the most basic edicts of special teams multiple times?

* I like the Cowboys deciding to use a little play action, including the Red Zone touchdown to Roy Williams. One critique: When using the play action fake, make sure the RB runs in the same direction as the fake handoff. A fake to nobody is not nearly as convincing to the defense.

* If I were to predict one of Norm's "5 plays that affected the game that you might not remember" for today, I would say the safe money bet for #1 would be the mark of the Miles Austin catch on 3rd and 11 early in the 2nd Quarter. It was the Cowboys 4th drive and they enjoyed just a 3-0 lead. It was 3rd and 11 from their own 10 yard line, and Austin made the catch and then had to twist and fight for the final few yards. I thought he was short, but he got the favorable spot and made the 1st down by a link of the chain. 2 plays later, there was a 27 yard catch to Austin, and 1 play after that Felix Jones broke a 46 yard touchdown run. 10-0 Cowboys, and the Cowboys had taken off offensively. If that was a 3-and-out, the offensive frustration could continue and the boo birds might make an appearance.

* Keith Brooking, Jay Ratliff, and DeMarcus Ware all need trips to the Pro Bowl. I am confident that Ratliff and Ware will both be there, but will Brooking? That needs to happen.

* What offers less insight than putting a microphone on a coach and the entire audio segment features him yelling "nice run! nice block!". Pointless at best.

* I don't want to get into Roy Williams again, but 2 catches for 15 yards does not change his role in the offense in my mind as we head to December. One thing I was very happy to see from the Cowboys offense was finding Jason Witten down the seam. It used to be a wonderful staple of this offense, when Witten finds a LB mismatch, and the Cowboys gain an easy 37 yards. Apparently, the Raiders are not going to let the rest of the league's philosophy of covering Witten with a safety affect them. I liked it, though.

Rest now for the banged up Cowboys. 5 Games to go, with the most oppressive element of this stretch is attempting to tune out the questions and conversations about Cowboys historical failures in December. Keith Brooking reminded the media that those teams have nothing to do with this team. I agree with his premise, but that won't keep the stories from being written. Prepare for the stretch.

Bacsik: The Rangers have NO options left

This is new to the casual Rangers fan but we are getting close to making sure your options are available for your playoff roster. A player MUST be on the Major League roster before Sept. 1 or that player will not be available for the playoffs. I don’t want this to be confusing because baseball rules can become very confusing.

A team’s playoff roster is 25 guys. Usually 4 starting pitchers (the 4th starter might be your long man and not start a game), 7 relievers, and 14 position players. If you are on the MLB DL on Aug. 31 you are eligible to be on the playoff roster. That means guys like Kinsler, Guzman, Holland, and Treanor are all eligible to be on the playoff roster. But, let’s say Trainer is ready to come back on August 20. The Rangers will either keep Treanor on the DL until the rosters expand on September 1 or they will activate Treanor and DL Teagarden. The reason being, you don’t want to option Teagarden down because if you recall him on Sept. 1 he is not eligible for the playoff roster. Make sense?

Lets take an example: If for some reason the Rangers lose both catchers on Sept. 25th and neither can play the rest of the way the Rangers can petition MLB to let them have a catcher on their playoff roster that wasn’t on the team on August 31 because the team can’t win a playoff series without a catcher. Almost every time MLB will allow the team an exception to the rule.

But what if a pitcher like Tanner Sheppers comes up on September 3rd and pitches in 10 games and gives up no runs and dominates every hitter he faces? In almost every case the Rangers wouldn’t be able to have Sheppers on the active playoff roster. Even if a guy like Feliz gets hurt, MLB will tell the Rangers that you have Holland, Nippert, and your fifth starter that can be on your roster. Pitchers that come up on September 1 will rarely become eligible for a playoff roster.

Another question Rangers fans might have is, what if a guy like Adam Dunn clears waivers and the Rangers trade for him on Sept. 2 because Vladdy gets hurt? Adam Dunn would not be eligible for the playoffs no matter what. Even though he was an active Major Leaguer on August 31st he wasn’t on the Rangers active roster on August 31st.

On September 1st the active rosters will go from 25 to 40. Most teams in a playoff race will expand their roster from 32 to 34 guys. Just try to remember who came off the DL and who came up from the minors. If Chris Davis is recalled in September he is not eligible to be on the playoff roster. Pedro Strop was just called up. If the Rangers believe he could be option for the playoffs they will DL him instead of optioning him down to OKC. Last note: you can change your 25 man roster from series to series but not game to game. Lets hope all Ranger fans will know these rules as the years go by. Go Rangers!

EPL Mailbag 2

Here is this week's EPL Mailbag. I am on vacation, but since boredom has arrived with the post-lunch weather, I thought I might knock out a bit of stuff for you today:

First, with the games starting Saturday, I better tell you where the games are and when they are:

Here is the link you should bookmark for all of your EPL viewing: http://www.epltalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule.

It is what I use, and I anticipate this is what you will find serves your purposes. Here is Round 1 of the 2010-11 EPL season.

Saturday, August 14: EDIT: ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN! ADJUST ACCORDINGLY!
7:45am: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com
10am: Aston Villa v West Ham United, Fox Soccer Channel
10am: Blackburn v Everton, Fox Soccer Plus (and FoxSoccer.tv)
10am: Wigan v Blackpool, FoxSoccer.tv
10am: Sunderland v Birmingham City, FoxSoccer.tv
10am: Bolton v Fulham, FoxSoccer.tv
10am: Wolves v Stoke, FoxSoccer.tv
12:30pm: Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion, Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday, August 15:
11am: Liverpool v Arsenal, Fox Soccer Channel

Monday, August 16:
3pm: Manchester United v Newcastle, ESPN2

You may call it opening weekend, but they call it Round 1. Why? Because they know that there are 38 matches in an EPL season.

20 teams in the EPL. So, you play the other 19 clubs, 1 home and 1 away. Which equals 38 matches.

3 points for a win. 1 point for a draw. 0 points for a loss.

Maximum total of possible points: 114

Most points in a premier league season: 95, Chelsea '04-05

Last year's champion: 86, Chelsea.

Most points ever for a team that did not win the premiership: 85, Chelsea '08, Man Utd '10

Points expected to be needed to avoid relegation: The last 3 years, the 17th place team (the highest team not to be relegated has finished with 35, 35, and 36 points). 40 is where we usually agree the "safe zone" starts for teams that don't want to be relegated.

Cool?

---------------------------------


Dear EPL Mailbag,

Could you give me a feeling on who is the most popular player over there? Who is there version of Lebron? With Beckham and Ronaldo no longer in the Premier League, who are the players that are the most famous?

Thanks,

Doug


Doug, here is what i found recently, from a story that showed the most sold jerseys in the last year :

Top 10 selling named shirts

1. 'Torres 9' (Liverpool)
2. 'Gerrard 8' (Liverpool)
3. 'Rooney 10' (Manchester United)
4. 'Fabregas 4' (Arsenal)
5. 'Arshavin 23' (Arsenal)
6. 'Lampard 8' (Chelsea)
7. 'Drogba 11' (Chelsea)
8. 'Owen 7' (Manchester United)
9. 'Carragher 23' (Liverpool)
10. 'Tevez 32' (Manchester City)

It seems odd that Liverpool goes #1 and #2 and that Chelsea has no player in the Top 5, but there you go. John Terry has seen a major drop in popularity since scandal has invaded his life. Ah the price of love.

---------------------------


Bob -

I played soccer as a youngster but gave it up in high school for other sports. (Most of the guys that played soccer in my high school were stoners and not guys that I wanted to hang around with anyway...so there's that.) Anyway, I love the World Cup and watched avidly this year. The Americans' run was inspiring, and I am excited to follow the USMNT in the coming months/years. Also, for the first time I am committed to carrying over my World Cup excitement to the EPL and, like many others, I have been trying for weeks to decide which team to support.

A few questions:
Do you think supporting a team because it has American players (re: Fulham) is valid?
How do the Brits feel about Amercians adopting their teams?
Are the various ELP teams taking steps to woo American fans?
Do you think Landon will end up back in England either on loan or as a transfer and, if so, where?

By the way, I'm leaning toward following Everton, but could be easily swayed.

- Scott



OK. First, "Do you think supporting a team because it has American players (re: Fulham) is valid?"

Sure. I don't see any problem with that at all. As an American, there are no real Geographical rules that can be followed. So from there, guys like me would look down upon you if you sign up for Manchester United and Chelsea and cite bandwagon and front-running bylaws, but otherwise, there are no real laws in place that would keep you from selecting a team honorably.

And if Clint Dempsey plays for Fulham and you love his work (I do) then why not? There is one issue to sort, though.

What if, in 3 seasons, Dempsey leaves for Newcastle. Will you follow him? Or will you then be Fulham for life? I think rooting for a team requires you not to jump from team to team because of one player's employ, but I suppose that is for you to decide.

Next, "How do the Brits feel about Amercians adopting their teams?" - probably amused, or indifferent. How interested are you when you hear people from Europe are Cowboys fans?

Then, "Are the various ELP teams taking steps to woo American fans?" - Yes. They are touring here constantly. They are making their tv rights available. They are making merchandise available. It is happening.

Finally, "Do you think Landon will end up back in England either on loan or as a transfer and, if so, where?" I desperately hope so. It needs to happen. Trouble is, nobody is spending money in England this year. Nobody. And to get Landon, they have to spend. So, stay tuned.

---------------------------------


Bob, Good idea!..

I've watched WC's in the past but watched 2010 closer (because of HD) and enjoyed it alot.

Question.. I have DirecTV. What channels show the games?

Suggestion.. You should pick one or two "matches to watch" per week that will be televised and give a brief rundown of each (along with TV info)..

Thanks!

Wess


Directv: 209, 619, 621 are the 3 channels with EPL matches. 209 is ESPN2, 619 is Fox Soccer, and 621 is Fox Soccer Plus. Fox Soccer Plus will cost you some money, but they are ALL in HD now! I think I have mentioned that 10 times now.



Does Newcastle have any hope? Top ten chance? Will they even stay up this time? At least it will be nice to watch games in St. James' Park again, if only for one season.

Mario


Newcastle is one of those teams (Chicago Bears, New York Knicks, Boston Bruins, St Louis Cardinals) that has a huge fan base, and although they would not be confused for the best team in the sport, it is clear to me that we would miss them if they vanished.

Well in English Football, that happens. Newcastle had a lousy year 2 seasons ago, and were relegated. I need to spend an entire mailbag on relegation sometime down the road, but basically it means you get kicked out of the league because of a bad season. You get sent to "AAA" and must win your way back to the big leagues. Newcastle is back, and Mario is right, if only to see St James Park again, it is good to have them back.

Will they be any good? I don't think so. But, I am hoping they shock me. But their squad is very weak by EPL standards.

-------------------------------

Intern Will found this list of the top salaries in Europe. Keep in mind the numbers are in Euros. A Dollar is about 78% of a Euro. 6.5m dollars is about 5m Euros. Also, the money is from last season.

Futebol Finance, a Portuguese marketing agency, has released a list of the top 50 footballer salaries for this season. The guy at the top is obvious, but the rest of the list is pretty interesting. Do keep in mind, though, that the wages shown are just for this season and this season alone. Also, try not to laugh when you spot Robinho's name above Drogba or Torres. Here's the full list via The Mirror...

Futebol Finance's 50 highest paid players in world football
1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £11.3million)
2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona, £10.4million)
3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona, £9.1million)
4 Samuel Eto'o (Internazionale, £9.1million)
5 Kaka (Real Madrid, £8.7million)
6 Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, £7.4million)
7 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, £7.4million)
8 Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, £7million)
9 John Terry (Chelsea, £6.5million)
10 Frank Lampard (Chelsea, £6.5million)

11 Thierry Henry (Barcelona, £6.5million)
12 Xavi (Barcelona, £6.5million)
13 Ronaldinho (AC Milan, £6.5million)
14 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, £6.5million)
15 Daniel Alves (Barcelona, £6.1million)
16 Michael Ballack (Chelsea, £5.6million)
17 Raul (Real Madrid, £5.6million)
18 Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United, £5.6million)
19 Kolo Toure (Manchester City, £5.6million)
20 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, £5.2million)

21 Robinho (Manchester City, £5.2million)
22 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, £5.2million)
23 Victor Valdez (Barcelona, £5.2million)
24 Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla, £5.2million)
25 Deco (Chelsea, £5.2million)
26 Didier Drogba (Chelsea, £4.8million)
27 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, £4.8million)
28 Francesco Totti (Roma, £4.8million)
29 Luca Toni (Roma, £4.8million)
30 David Villa (Valencia, £4.8million)

31 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
32 Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, £4.8million)
33 Ashley Cole (Chelsea, £4.8million)
34 Fernando Torres (Liverpool, £4.8million)
35 Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £4.8million)
36 Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, £4.8million)
37 Charles Puyol (Barcelona, £4.3million)
38 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, £4.3million)
39 Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, £4.3million)
40 Andreas Pirlo (AC Milan, £4.3million)

41 Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
42 Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, £4.3million)
43 David Beckham (AC Milan, £4.3million)
44 Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, £4.3million)
45 Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid, £4.3million)
46 Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United £4.1million)
47 Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal, £4.1million)
48 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea, £4.1million)
49 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United, £4.1million)
50 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, £4.1million)

That is all for this week.

Huge match Sunday with Arsenal visiting Liverpool. Enjoy your football. This journey is only beginning.

Kids These Days: Elvis Andrus Edition

There is no question the closer I get to 40 years old, the further I fall out of touch with the kids. It was bound to happen.

I don't get flat-billed baseball hats cranked to the side.

I don't get sea-shell necklaces.

I don't get vampire movies.

And no, I don't get what Elvis Andrus is doing.



Elvis was on our show a few months ago (EDIT: Actually, June 22) and as I sat next to him, I noticed he was doing something odd with his hair. It was all about some crazy yellow color that he put in there, and then you could see that he was letting it grow out. So, I snapped a picture for Twitter purposes.



But, recently, Elvis has rolled out a new hairdo, and P1 Justin sent me pictures from last night's game showing what Elvis is doing:



I think the evidence is indisputable. He has fake braids. He has hair extensions. He got his hair did. It is like he wants to be Ronnie Belliard without the time investment.

Who does this? Who gets hair extensions? I mean, what man does this? After watching "Good Hair", I realize 90% of African-American women do it, but dudes?

Has it come to this? Am I the old man here?

Cowboys '09: Game 10 vs Washington

Winning Ugly.

There are 16 games in the NFL most weekends, and 16 teams get beat each of those weekends. The object of the game is to avoid being one of those 16, and, of course, if you can do that often enough, when your 16 weekends of trying to avoid being one of those 16 losers is over, then you get to play game #17.

The Cowboys, despite playing one of their ugliest games of the season for much of the day, grabbed a crucial win on their way to playing game #17 this season, with a 7-6 win over their rival, the Washington Redskins.

Know this: A loss would have deeply wounded this team's ability to make the 2009 NFL Playoffs and hopefully to win the NFC East Division. Nobody wants to hear this the morning that the team played well below expectations, but the number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 priority was not to "look good" or "score 30", but rather to get a win and get to 7-3. Once that is accomplished, we can discuss how sharp they looked or the opposite.

I think something can be said about the 2009 Cowboys team that we may not have said about the 2008 version: They have the ability to figure out how to scratch out a win in bad circumstances. The game at Kansas City and yesterday's game against Washington prove that there are times when like the starting pitcher that doesn't have his "good stuff", and in those times you still have to win that game somehow. Ask Philadelphia about their trip to Oakland and Green Bay about their trip to Tampa Bay to discuss their experience with this phenomenon and whether those experiences would be less painful if they still had an ugly win to show for it.

They did that. They did figure out how to find a Win in there somewhere. They beat an injury-depleted team that suffered even more injuries as the game went on. Like I said, a loss to the Redskins would have been catastrophic to the Cowboys hopes in 2009, but there wasn't a loss yesterday. The win is worth just as much as the win in Philadelphia 2 weeks ago. March on.

Cowboys '09: Game 9 at Green Bay

Ambush. Ambush, indeed.

Despite preparing for what they knew was going to be quite a challenge, the Dallas Cowboys found that it is sometimes difficult to finish running the sword through a team that had lofty expectations and has been kicked like a dog for 2 straight weeks. The Green Bay Packers likely will eventually be finished off soon in their quest for the NFC Playoffs, but it won't happen yet, as evidenced by their 17-7 win over the Cowboys at Lambeau Field.

This Cowboys' offense, which at times has looked as dangerous as any offense in football, failed to make even the slightest mark on the field Sunday, and allowed drive after drive to end without ever really flexing its muscle. And, of course, on those rare occasions where they actually did get out of their own way, the Packers' desperate defense would rise up and make a play and end the threat.

We talked about the importance of patience for the offense and the OC when I laid out the Friday Game Plan :

"Patience - So, now that we all know the Packers are a wounded animal with plenty of game breaking talent on both sides of the ball, we must understand that the only recipe to handle them is patience, precision, and composure. The Cowboys showed tons of that in Philadelphia, but that doesn't carry over. They must withstand the initial burst of energy from the crowd, and weather the storm. Usually, this means high percentage passes and pounding the rock between the tackles. I believe if the Cowboys turn the ball over less than 2 times, they win this game. But, it is vital on the road (and there are plenty of stiff road tests ahead) to play a clean offensive game. That starts with a patient Tony Romo and Jason Garrett.

This team did not do that at all. The Cowboys went back to their road ways that suggest they cannot handle failing on offense. This happens time and time again in road wars: @ Pittsburgh, @ Denver, @ Green Bay; When they cannot get in the end zone early, as the game goes on, they start to get more and more impatient. They start to pass in running situations. They start to go "shotgun" and sling it around - which only invites more blitzing and more chaos from the defense. They do not stick to their game-plan of what they do well: Power Football.