Category: Cowboys (Page 25 of 53)

My practice has been that if I can’t say something ugly about the Cowboys, I don’t say anything at all. Hence the silence here since my pre-season game-by-game analysis and forecasts, including my 6-10 prediction for the Cowboys’ record. Just a few hours away now from the unquestioned pivotal game of the Cowboys year, I feel compelled to throw out a couple of opinions. As with Job’s loquacious friend, Eliphaz, I cannot keep from speaking.

First, let’s acknowledge that it is very difficult to get wins in the NFL. Just ask the Saints, the Texans, the 49’ers, etc., It’s tough to get wins in this league. They don’t come easy. And the Cowboys this year have racked up a bunch of wins. With five games to play, they’ve already accomplished more Ws than in any of the last three complete seasons. So, you can’t deny that the team is much improved in many crucial areas. I hate to admit it; but I can’t ignore it. This team, this year, is vastly improved over previous seasons. The offensive line really is the envy of the league. They really do have a running game. (Let’s face it: Romo looks better this year because it’s hard to intercept a handoff!) While the defense has major deficiencies, they are a pack of ferocious head-hunters who fly around the ball and swarm to the action like the great Dallas defenders of the mid-90s. There doesn’t seem to be a selfish player on the team; at least, the overall team-first attitudes are keeping the problem egos in check. And the Cowboys this year are really fun to watch. They’re entertaining. They enjoy playing together. They’re all blocking downfield on every play. They’re having fun. And it translates through the screens into our living rooms. If you’re not careful, you could be caught up into thinking this group actually has a chance to do something grand.

(OK, this is where I take a final stab at writing this group off just like the Cowboys teams from the past 17 seasons.)

I believe they’re going to get beat today. As much as Chip Kelly’s offense is celebrated for its frantic pace and scoreboard-bursting numbers, the Eagles really do run the ball very well with LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles. And, as we’ve already seen, if the Cowboys lose the time of possession battle, they lose. If the Dallas D is on the field for too long, they’re exposed. With the exception of Scandrick and McClain, who’s having a career season, the Cowboys defenders are only marginal players who are being led by a coordinator who’s coaching way, way, way over the talent he has on the field. And they have absolutely no depth. Over the past four games, the Cowboys defense is ranking in the bottom three in the league in 3rd down stops, yards per play, red zone scores, and several other key categories. Other teams are beginning to discover the weakness: if you run the ball on Dallas, you win. And the Eagles run the ball very well.

So, let’s assume they lose today. The Cowboys are now 8-4, in second place in the division, behind in the tie-breaker with the Eagles, with four games to go. Three of those last four games are on the road. They have to turn around to play the Eagles again in two weeks, this time in Philly. And if they lose that game, the only way Dallas qualifies for the post-season is as a Wild Card. Maybe they squeak in at 9-7. The only guarantee is if they go 10-6.

How do you see the last four games playing out?

at Chicago – I don’t know; what’s the weather going to be like?

at Philly – How does Dallas win this one?

vs Colts – It’s a home game but can the Cowboys D stop Luck and the Colts?

at Washington – for the past three seasons in a row, Dallas has needed to beat a divisional opponent in the last game of the season to qualify for the playoffs; in all three years, they’ve lost that game and stayed at home for the postseason. Would you bet on them in the exact same scenario this year?

Bottom line: if the Cowboys lose today, they have to win two of their last four games to guarantee a playoff spot. And that will not be easy. If they win today…

Regardless, I’ll admit again, this Cowboys team is vastly improved and much more fun to watch play. Whether they win or lose today, the game will be close, the atmosphere will be electric, and it will be a blast to watch. But, I think they lose today. And I think the loss today starts the familiar December slide into playoff oblivion.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Allan

The Dallas Cowboys are 136-136 since the end of the 1996 season. That was a long time ago, pardner. Since then, the Cowboys have had more players named Roy Williams than playoff wins. Since the Cowboys last played in a conference championship game, Derek Jeter was named AL Rookie of the Year. The Cowboys’ mathematically perfect 17-year run of mediocrity is not the most terrible news on the eve of the 2014 campaign. Tony Romo’s spinal column is being held together with duct tape and twisty ties. And his backup is Brandon Weeden. Last year’s third worst defense in NFL history is now without DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher. The team’s best defensive player is out for the first four games with a drug suspension. And Jerry Jones having his picture taken with a couple of strippers is only 4th or 5th in a list of the terrible decisions he’s made since last year’s 8-8 finish. Should the Cowboys complete this season at 8-8, they will become the first team in NFL history to go .500 in four consecutive seasons. If the Cowboys go 8-8 this season, they should give Jason Garrett the Coach of the Year award.

I think the Cowboys will go 6-10 this season. Here’s how I see it playing out:

Sep. 7 v. San Francisco – Dallas has won two straight openers; but not this year. Scott Linehan, the Cowboys third different offensive coordinator in the past three years, calls DeMarco Murray’s number on 13 of their first 15 offensive plays. The Cowboys are 11-0 when Murray gets 20 or more carries. Oops. Make that 11-1. Murray nets only one run for a first down while Frank Gore runs for 125 yards and 2 TDs for the 49ers. Linebacker Sean Lee, watching from home and disgusted by the performance of the Dallas defense, gets up to change the channel and breaks his leg in three places. All the Dallas scoring comes from four Dan Bailey field goals. Dallas loses 35-12.

Sep. 14 @ Tennessee – Tony Romo throws for 299 yards, 161 of them to Dez Bryant, against the overmatched Titans secondary and the Cowboys win in a shootout, 41-38. Morris Claiborne gets burned for two touchdowns for the second week in a row and explains to reporters afterward, “Hey, at least I’m not doing steroids!” It looks like when Stephen Jones physically restrained his dad from drafting Johnny Manziel back in April will be the best defensive play made by any Cowboy all year. Romo says his back is just fine.

Sep. 21 @ St. Louis – In an awkward moment captured by FOX cameras, Rams coach Jeff Fisher embraced Cowboys practice squad player Michael Sam during pre-game warm-ups and whispered something into his ear. St. Louis defensive coordinator Gregg Williams places bounties on Tony Romo and Jason Witten. But the Cowboys win anyway, 33-28. Both of Dallas’ wins have come against two teams with a combined record of 0-6, but Jerry Wayne tells reporters he’s starting to feel things turning their way.

Sep. 28 v. New Orleans – Drew Brees brings the Cowboys back to reality by throwing for a record 516 yards and five TDs in a 53-10 rout on Sunday Night Football. Jimmy Graham has his way against the Cowboys defense, scoring on a reception, a run, a flea-flicker pass, and a drop-kick field goal on third down. Sean Lee, watching from the sidelines on crutches, trips over a headphone cord and tears his MCL. After the game, Rolando McClain retires. Again. He says he’s not in good enough shape to chase all those receivers down from behind. An optimistic Jason Garrett says, “We’re continuing to get better in certain areas each week. And our goal is to keep getting better in other areas each week.” Not even Tony Dungy on the post-game show has anything good to say about Dallas.

Oct. 5 v. Houston – Orlando Scandrick’s return to the Cowboys secondary can’t prevent the team’s second consecutive defeat, 27-13. The worst news, though, is the loss of quarterback Tony Romo. J. J. Watt and rookie Jadaveon Clowny make a Romo sandwich on a vicious sack in the second quarter, breaking Romo’s collarbone and Jerry Wayne’s heart. Backup Brandon Weeden came into the game — that’s like being in a sinking ship and discovering that the emergency life raft is a styrofoam Toot n Totem ice chest — and went 2-19 with two interceptions. Babe Laufenburg actually started warming up in the broadcast booth. Coach Jason Garrett says they’ll simplify the playbook for next week’s game at Seattle.

Oct. 12 @ Seattle – The Super Bowl champions demolish Dallas 38-17 and it wasn’t even that close. Brandon Weeden missed the first set of downs when he lost his way coming out of the visitors locker room. Dez Bryant stormed off the field with still more than four minutes to play. Cole Beasley took a selfie with Richard Sherman after the game. On the way home, Troy Aikman tells Joe Buck he’d rather do some of the divisional baseball playoff series than another Cowboys game this year. Jerry Wayne considers calling Quincy Carter.

Oct. 19 v. Giants – The Cowboys’ losing streak hits four in a division loss at home to New York. Eli Manning, who looks like the junior high kid who still has to use the safety round tip scissors in class, throws for three touchdowns.

Oct. 27 v. Washington – In a secret agreement brokered by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Jerry Wayne brings Michael Sam off the practice squad and makes him a defensive starter four days before the nationally televised Sunday night game on ESPN. Goodell hopes the publicity surrounding the first openly gay NFL player will distract the media from the worldwide protests against the politically incorrect name of Daniel Snyder’s team. What he doesn’t realize is that it’s not the name “Redskins” that is offensive; it’s the team itself, the Redskins, that are offensive. They’re terrible. Washington turns the ball over four times and the Cowboys end their losing skid 24-10.

 Nov. 2 v. Arizona – Larry Fitzgerald catches eleven passes for 201 yards and three scores as the Cardinals hand Dallas its sixth loss this season 34-24. Brandon Weeden was only allowed by the Cowboys coaches to hand the ball off to Murray and throw safe balls in the flat to Witten. It’s rumored that Romo will be able to return following the bye week. Jerry Wayne is googling Vinny Testaverde.

Nov. 11 v. Jacksonville in London – In an effort to globalize American football, the NFL flies the Cowboys and the Jaguars across the pond to stage a real regular season game in England. Too bad they didn’t send over two real regular NFL teams. This is bad football. And boring. The mostly Cowboys partisan crowd starts the wave during a lull early in the second quarter and keeps it going throughout the Spice Girls halftime show. Doug Free scores the game’s only touchdown on a tackle eligible fumble-rooskie. Dallas enters the bye week with a win 13-6.

Nov. 14 – The biggest news of the bye week is that Tony Romo appears to be fully recovered from his week five injury and is ready to quarterback the Cowboys down the stretch. That’s good because Drew Henson wasn’t returning Jerry Wayne’s calls. At 4-6, Dallas is still alive in the playoff race, only a game back of the Eagles and Giants in the dismal NFC East. In other news, t’s discovered that while in London the week before, Jerry Wayne spent almost one-and-a-half million dollars wining and dining NFL referees on a party yacht. The league declines to investigate. They figure even with crooked refs, the Cowboys can’t win.

Nov. 23 @ Giants – It’s hard to believe that Tom Coughlin is still the Giants’ coach. Tony Romo looks solid in his return, throwing for three scores in a relatively easy 35-21 victory on Sunday Night Football. Jason Witten becomes the Cowboys all-time leading receiver with his third grab in the third quarter. And after the game, Jerry Wayne announces that Rolando McClain has rejoined the team. Asked by reporters why he would bring back a guy who has been arrested multiple times and retired multiple times, Jerry replied, “I just really like his story.”

Nov. 27 v. Philadelphia – Eagles coach Chip Kelly never let up, running his no-huddle offense up and down the field and all over the Cowboys, ruining Thanksgiving Day in Dallas 42-27. At one point late in the first half, Jason Garrett intentionally spilled a plate of nachos onto the field near the hash marks at the 40-yard line to force an official time out. Who needs DeSean Jackson? Nick Foles completed an NFL record 19 one-yard passes to Darren Sproles in the blowout win.

Dec. 4 @ Chicago – In a rare scheduling quirk that has the Cowboys playing on consecutive Thursdays, Jay Cutler and the Bears beat the Cowboys 41-38. Cutler becomes the third quarterback this season to pass for more than 400 yards against the Cowboys defense. Jason Garrett reminds reporters that Dan Bailey made all five of his extra point attempts. Jerry Wayne contacts Nick Saban and tries to set up a lunch.

Dec. 14 @ Philadelphia – This game was originally set for prime time Sunday Night Football on NBC. But the league’s flex schedule moved it to the Lifetime Channel in order to show Buffalo versus Tampa Bay. Even on ten days rest, Dallas didn’t look ready in this one. Philly won it easily 27-13. Jerry Wayne gives Jason Garrett a confusing vote of confidence after the game. “I see progress every week with Jason,” says the owner. “I know what we’re doing at head coach. And until we stop doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep doing it with Jason.” When a reporter asks Garrett about his teams’ notorious December swoons, the coach says, “There’s still a lot of football to be played. We’re just trying to get better every week.”

Dec. 21 v. Indianapolis – Andrew Luck throws for 428 yards and the  Colts wrap up home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a 45-24 pasting of the Cowboys. At 5-10, the Cowboys are officially eliminated from postseason contention. Jerry Wayne places a phone call to Bobby Petrino and tells the Louisville coach they’re fine with office romances at Valley Ranch.

Dec. 28 @ Washington – An awkward moment before the season finale when Jason Garrett and his wife step into a stadium elevator and find Jerry Wayne on his way upstairs with Jon Gruden. Robert Griffin III plays in a full body cast, but it’s not enough to inspire his teammates to avoid the season sweep at the hands of the Cowboys. In a balanced attack, Demarco Murray runs for 127 yards and a touchdown while Tony Romo throws for 260 yards and two scores in the 28-17 victory. The Cowboys defense gives up nearly 500 yards to the team now referred to as the Washington First Americans and finish the year last in the league in every major statistical category. After the game, Sean Lee, recovering from third-degree burns suffered during a holiday cooking accident while deep-frying a turkey, declared himself ready to go in 2015. Jerry Wayne expresses great disappointment and even some surprise at the 6-10 finish. He tells reporters that Garrett and everyone on the staff and the team will be evaluated before the spring scouting combines. Rolando McClain announces his retirement. Stephen Jones begins looking at a list of promising draft-eligible offensive linemen. Tony Romo declares that going 6-10 is not the worst thing that will ever happen to him, while he and Jason Witten hop on a plane to the Virgin Islands.

You read it here first.

Peace,

Allan

Where were you 25 years ago today? When you first heard the news of the great tragedy, where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? On that Black Friday, February 25, 1989, when Jerry Wayne bought the Cowboys and fired Tom Landry, where were you and what were you doing? I was a senior broadcasting major at Oklahoma Christian College, in my last semester, sitting in my apartment after lunch, getting ready for a 2:00 class. A roommate and great friend of mine, Mike Osburn, was the first to deliver the news. He told me: Tom Landry has been fired. And I didn’t believe him. Mike had heard about it while passing through the student center after lunch. Somebody had heard it on the radio. And I didn’t believe him. We didn’t have cable on the TV in our on-campus apartment. Besides, even if we did, ESPN was brand new and showing Australian Rules Football seemingly around the clock. There were no sports radio stations in Oklahoma City. No internet. So I called my mom, long distance, on a land-line phone, to confirm the information. She told me that KRLD was reporting the same news and that a press conference was happening at around 5:00.

Ah, yes. “Socks and jocks.” Oklahoma City television didn’t run that press conference live like they did on both radio and TV in Dallas. I only saw the highlights at 6:00 and 10:00. Tex Schramm sitting in a folding chair in a back corner of the stage. The introduction of Jimmy Johnson. The bumbling and stumbling explanations of the botched firing of the only coach the Cowboys had ever had.

To help you reflect on your own feelings and emotions relating to that horrible day, I’ve included a couple of links here to some pretty good reading material. First, Tim Cowlishaw, the excellent Dallas Morning News columnist, has written a piece about Jerry Wayne’s recent apology for firing Landry. Cowlishaw makes the point that Jones has apologized for the wrong thing. He should apologize to Cowboys fans for his performance as the team’s general manager. But, alas, that apology, the only one that would count, is never going to come. Cowlishaw’s column is here.

John Henry has written an interesting time-line piece for the Star-Telegram that highlights all the highs and lows of Jerry’s ownership of the Cowboys. It’s lengthy, but it provides lots of reminders of just what a mess this franchise has become with Jones at the top. You can find it here.

To commemorate the occasion, why don’t you make a couple of really horrible decisions today at work, and then film a commercial for Papa John’s Pizza.

Peace,

Allan