It is. Not to sound like I'm panicking (although I am flustered) but this season does hang on this Sunday's game at Minnesota. It seems strange to me that the Cowboys season hangs in the balance and the team we have to beat is the team that obliterated us last year in the playoffs. We have to play at the same place we got stomped. Not only that, but Minnesota's season could very well hang in the balance of this game as well. I thought this would be a big game but nothing too meaningful when the schedule came out. Now, it feels like a playoff game, a win or go home. This is the biggest game Dallas will play since we played the same team in the same place in the divisional round. Minnesota looked good in the second half last night, right up until Favre had his usual head-scratching toss. This will be a hell of a game, i expect a dogfight because whoever loses has almost zero shot (historically) at making the playoffs.

I don't care if Dallas can still win the division. I don't care if we are the most talented, most undisciplined, most mistake prone, or most explosive team in the east or NFC. The only thing I care about is going to sleep Sunday night knowing Dallas is 2-3 and Minnesota is 1-4; even if we win 3-0 I'll be satisfied.

If Dallas is going to win:

1) Dallas has to start fast

in recent years we have had trouble starting fast on offense and defense. In recent games as is Jason garret's specialty we start painfully slow, against Tennessee the defensive came out flat . Minnesota has started slow this year as well but if we both do that it is anybody's game. From the flip of the coin, Dallas needs to be mentally ready because Minnesota will be. Leaders on this team have to step up and get the team ready, maybe Wade Phillips could try leading this week.

2) Have to make field goals

who would have thought that our FG game would be inconsistent and cost us games again this year?...everybody. Well, if you watched the game last night you'l know Minnesota at 1-3 has a tremendous defense, and they buckle down inside the redzone. Our boy Folk drilled 5 fg's last night and NYJ needed every single one. Buehler will have to make kicks. When he misses it seems to deflate our team, and it turns the tide of each game. If we have any chance to win this game, he has to makes kicks.

3) Secondary has to be better.

Moss will have an extra week to prep, Guarantee he will be in on most of the snaps and def. the 2 minute offense, Ball and Sense need to show up big and contain the huge plays. Harvin came alive with moss over the top and the thought of Scandrick playing him in the slot is terrifying. Jenkins needs to play better than last week and regain his form. also the nickel has to contain the check-downs and we'll see how that goes. 

4) Win the penalty battle

I cannot fathom how a team is penalized so consistently year after year, and how nothing is ever done about it. ONE GAME! ONE GAME! I would like to see 5 or less penalties. But, I don't even know if that is possible. I can tell you that Minnesota gets penalized as well, but if we lose the penalty battle big, this season could be a waste, and Jerry can look forward to watching 2 teams he doesn't own playing on his field in February.

5) Finish

I'm so sick of Dallas passing the ball all over the field, and gaining 450-500 yards of total offense and pissing away games. Maybe they can finish one, maybe they can turn those yards into points and jump out to and early lead and never look back (maybe too much to ask?) The defense has to finish, and I mean get a damn turnover and put the offense in good field position, Favre will give the defense chances, we have to finish and make the plays. 

 

I don't know how i feel about Sunday, Dallas has shown me nothing thus far that makes me believe they can do any of the above. But, I'm a fan and I can hope. I know what I see on Sundays when talent and potential flashes all over the field but i also know when I see an undisciplined team that does not know what it takes to win. I know when I see Wade pissed and frustrated, but I also know I haven't seen him do too much about it. I know all these things, but until Sunday I will know NOTHING about this Dallas team, and nothing about this season. It's all about Sunday.

Go 'Boys.

The running game:

I'm not going to bash JG for not running the ball, although his game plans the last two Sundays have been hard to stomach (13 points). But How about this:

Pick a RB. it's simple, pick a starting running back pick a lead back and pick one of the guys who you think will actually carry the team. I know we have three guys who can play, but the reality is only one of them can touch the ball each play. if we give Marion 8 and Felix 8 and Choice 3 none of them have a chance to get into a rhythm. None of them really touch the ball enough for the odds to be in their favor to make a huge play. The running game has looked atrocious. So why not pick a guy, give him the keys and watch what happens. If it doesn't work, oh well it can't get worse, and if it does maybe we have a lead back headed into the future. I personally see no upside in starting Marion Barber. I love barber. But, I truly believe he is the least talented back in our stable. If you watched the end of last year, you will remember Felix tearing it up down the stretch Felix is big enough to be a starting tailback he is 6-0 and weighs over 220 so I really don't get why people think he can't handle the rock 20+ times a game. People say "he has an injury history" So does Adrian Peterson who only weighs 217 according to NFL.com, an yet he handles a huge load offensively. 

If you think Choice is the best option and most complete. fine, thats okay too, I like choice he's a good player who has a healthy ypc ave. But I think it is time Dallas tries something new and picks a lead running back. Not that the other guys can't get touches, but pick one guy and give him around 18+ touches a game and maybe the run game can get going.

I guess it's hard to be optimistic, when you just watched your team lose two games in a row that they could have easily won. You begin thinking maybe they just aren't that good, and maybe this Dallas team just isn't good enough to compete with the elite teams in this league and win. But, they are good enough to compete and they are good enough to always be in the games. That's the most frustrating part, they are good enough to compete, but simply are missing 1 or 2 little things that push them over that edge and lead to victories.

the future seems, but dallas still controls its own destiny. with Philly beating new york, Dallas still determines whether it not it wins this division and whether or not they make the playoffs. the question the becomes can Dallas beat NO?? well... Dallas can compete with NO who barely beat Washignton and Atlanta in consecutive weeks. Dallas is a much better team than Washington and Atlanta. But, can they actually go into New Orleans, with their season on the brink, back against the wall, getting killed by the media for their December woes and actually beat the undefeated Saints?

maybe.

 

This next game will show everybody if this team has heart. if this team wants it bad enough. if they can put their heads on straight and play smart. if they are in fact a good team. a win probably puts us on the playoff path, and a loss means we need 2 wins and help. Dallas has to play desperate. A win in NO could manifest into confidence and swagger, while a loss would equal mediocrity and self-pity (probably on the part of Wade). It's never to early to think about next week. Now if I only had the NFL Network.

I know for the most part the game was extremely hard to watch. I t was almost unbearable. But, some good things did happen.

 

I know everybody is blaming RW for the loss, and he did make two huge plays that really cost us. But, he also got going a little bit and it looks like he may be able to really contribute during this last stretch. He created separation and put himself in position to make plays. Also it looked like he and Romo were on the same page for the whole game, which is the first time this year we've really seen that. Eventually he and Miles Austin will both contribute in the same game, and when that comes we'll be dangerous.

I thought Romo played pretty well despite being under pressure all game and having his running game taken away although we were either tied or down a measly 3-0. I know we were in 3rd and longs a lot, but we needed to run the ball much more, Marion has played well against the pack in his career.

 

I thought the defense played very well for a long time. They stopped the run for the most part and held the explosive packers to basically 10 points (that fumble put them against the wall). I liked what the defense did all game, but correct me if I'm wrong I think we had 5 staright 3 and outs, and any defense would get tired. I felt like they were on the field all game.

 

The thing I'm really cocerned about though, is Nick Folk. He had off-season hip surgery and hasn't been the same since he came back. I don't think its time to use beuhler but Nick's gotta start drilling kicks like he used to.

 

In all it was a rough game. And, we were completely outplayed. But, there were some decent things that happened that may improve us as a team in the near future.

everybody always talks about the overused "IT" factors. he has "it" he doesn't ect.

But, I can tell you that after 4 weeks of football, there r 2 distinct "IT's" and neither of which we have.

 

- "IT" #1 -  The ability to make a play.

Defense:

We simply cannot do it. The defense played pretty well yesterday, I'll give them that, but they didn't make the big plays that they should have. (even that 4th down wasn't a huge play to win or lose the game). Sense and Spencer (who has been terrible thus far) both should have had picks. Newman was in great position on that Marshal TD and as usual he failed to make a play. Newman never makes the play, he's one of the most overrated DB's in the league. and what happened to Demarcus WHERE? he hasn't made a big play all year. Whatever "IT" is we don't have it, and we haven't had it in years and it's frustrating.

Offense:

maybe Felix has "it" he's always hurt and it's too early to tell and maybe Marion does too, and nobody else. It all starts with Romo (who I've always been a huge fan of). He lacks the "IT" which allow good QB's to control the game. His turnovers r dreadful and what's worse is that recently they haven't just been mental they've been mental mistakes and physical inadequacies. His body language last game was lethargic and pathetic. Don't HS coaches preach body language all 4 years? it's almost as if he has given up and then at the end he says well maybe I'll really focus and try to do something with a minute left. The problem is he always falls short. A friend of mine said it best "I like Romo I'm not a Dallas fan, I do like him though, but I just feel like he always blows it" And the worst part is, is that I am a Dallas fan and I do like Romo and Romo does ALWAYS BLOW IT. You know who I miss? I miss the Tony Romo who beat the packers in Dallas in a huge NFC game in '07, what happened to that guy? why do I feel like Romo has aged 6 years but not gotten better? but, hey it can't all be his fault so let's talk about somebody else. Whether we want to admit it or not, the offense misses "The Player" very badly. "The player" was always there drawing double coverage and opening it up for the other mediocre receivers (not including J--Wit). team chemistry is useless when you have no recievers that can get open being covered 1 on 1. RW isn't a deep threat and has trouble moving his 6-3 frame and getting open. Crayton isn't a deep threat and has had trouble creating seperation, Austin is fast and has done nothing in his career to prove he could be a real player this year, and thus far has been an afterthought. Hurd is what he is a #4 or #5 wideout, and that leaves us with Witten who is great and is getting tougher looks from the defense b/c the other guys r awful. None of our receivers can make plays consistently, which in turn hurts romo and then they stack the box and it hurts our run game. The offense needs help and won't get it this year. Wade and JG have 2 options really. Hope the run game dominates and ball control is good, and we win tough grind out games, or take the handcuffs of Romo and live or die by his smarts or lack thereof. Either way, we need plays,they r there to be made, but will someone make "IT"?

 

And short and sweet IT #2 - Mentality

I love Brooking's play and his whole attitude thus far. That kind of stuff is so contagious, look at Dawkins in Den, and Ray in baltimore, their attitudes set the tone for their teams and they play good,hard, smart, and tough football. Who else on Dallas can say they always play good, hard, smart, and tough football? Not Romo, not Flo, not anbody in the secondary ever, not spencer, not spears, where's D-ware been (see Anthony spencer)?not Martellus, not crayton, williams or hurdaustin (they r now one player who underachieved expectations) Who can anybody look to on this team to play good, smart, hard, and tough football? if u can, please show me. please. and next time flo jumps early somebody smack him in his head and act like you want to hold him accountable. and at least pretend to care.I wish somebody could show some killer instinct and some backbone. But they can't. It all starts with the coach who I fully supported getting this year to change things around, and so far it's looked like the same old gutless Dallas Cowboy team. Forget the X and O's it comes down to desire and execution. We lack both, and that starts with Wade. How about instead of saying after a loss " well yea this one's tough it's always tough when you lose, we had some opportunities it just didn't happen we'll go to work tomorrow" how about saying " we sucked today, we were pathetic, we're underachieving we played like ***, We're going to turn this around, this is unacceptable and it won't be tolerated, whatever we have to do we'll do it, we won't play like this again ever".....try that mentality maybe it can work. But Wade can't and neither can JG, and it's sad b/c it starts with them and trickles down to the rest of the team. I haven't given up on this team, but I've given up on their mentality; it cannot and will not ever win them games. I'm done.

 

Today I had an argument with a friend of mine who is a huge Eagles fan. He asked me my HONEST opinion as to how the NFC East records will look when the regular season is over, and it got me to thinking. My first instinct was to say Dallas will win with a record of such and such, but he asked me to be honest. So, I told him I would look at the schedules for each team and give him my opinion after I checked them out. obviously injuries throw everything off, so this is my perspective, barring major injuries and being completely unbiased. I'm not going to get crazy with explaining my choices just short and sweet.

 

 

Dallas:

 

We have a  good team this year, one that can compete with anybody, but I would not say it's an elite team until I see it on the field. I thought first about division games as those are the most important (though every game count yea). I was trying to think which road and home games we will win / lose. I finally decided that having a 3-3 record in the division was a very likely outcome. b/c of that I'll leave those games on the schedule untouched. the rest.....

 

2009 DALLAS COWBOYS SCHEDULE

9/13, @Tampa Bay, 1 pm             W - we are a more talented team than TB. Their offense is stagnant, ours should be able to put a  few points up, and that should be good enough.

9/20, NEW YORK GIANTS, 8:20 pm tickets

9/28 (Mon), CAROLINA, 8:30 pm       W - carolina is a good team, but it's Monday night at the new stadium, Romo usually performs well on MNF

10/4, @Denver, 4:15 pm   &   10/11, @Kansas City,  1 W, 1 L. -      I group these two games together, because they're both away games against worse teams. However, If we were going to come out and lay and egg, it may just happen during one of these game. We go 1-1

10/18, BYE

10/25, ATLANTA, 4:15 pm    W - This will be a tough game, but Atlanta is much better at home than on the road. I think we take this one. (pardon the font change)

11/1, SEATTLE, 1 pm               W - If we had to travel out west it may have been a tougher game, but they travel we're at home 1 game off a bye, I think we win, may be closer than expected though.

11/8, @Philadelphia, 8:20 pm

11/15, @Green Bay, 4:15 pm    L - we won last year in GB. the way were playing at this part of the season will dictate this one. It's not going to be freezing yet, but it will be cold and GB will be much improved. I think their defense holds us at the end we fall but it's close

11/22, WASHINGTON, 1 pm

11/26 (Thu), OAKLAND, 4:15 pm      W- they r just plain bad. hopefully our team has a better mindset than me however.

12/6, @New York Giants, 4:15 pm

12/13, SAN DIEGO, 4:15 pm      L - San Diego is so inconsistent it's hard to tell, but they play well at the end of the year, and usually make their push right around now. We lose in a low scoring affair

12/19 (Sat), @New Orleans, 8:20 pm     W - it may be me but I always though NO was overrated. They beat us a few years back though. But, I think our defense plays well and we win this on on Saturday night

12/27, @Washington, 8:20 pm
1/3, PHILADELPHIA, 1 pm

 

 

Dallas record - 10-6

 

 

 

Philadelphia:

 

no cute intro, they r always good. they usually start slow and end fast. They should be an improved team with desean aging a year, maclin being a threat and Westbrook healthy (given he is to start the year). They did lose dawkins though, so there D may lose a step, but they will still be a force. Philly plays tough against division foes. I think we split, I do think they win 3/4 though against NYG and WASH  so there division record is 4-2 I'll leave those games untouched.


2009 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SCHEDULE

 

9/13, @Carolina, 1 pm    L - they usually start slow and it's carolina's home opener

9/20, NEW ORLEANS, 1 pm W  - their home opener & LF is a tough place to play.

9/27, KANSAS CITY, 1 pm   W -  more talented KC's offense struggles

10/4, BYE

10/11, TAMPA BAY, 1 pm    W -  They're better, defensive battle, but Westbrook wills them to win

10/18, @Oakland, 4:05 pm   W

 

10/26 (Mon), @Washington, 8:30 pm
11/1, NEW YORK GIANTS, 4:15 pm

11/8, DALLAS, 8:20 pm

11/15, @San Diego, 4:15 pm   L - Close game, making the west coast trips shows, SD wins.

11/22, @Chicago, 8:20 pm      W - Chicago still has no rec, and defensively aren't what they used to be.

11/29, WASHINGTON, 1 pm

12/6, @Atlanta, 1 pm            L - ATL plays well at home, eagles drop this one.

12/13, @New York Giants, 8:20 pm

12/20, SAN FRANCISCO, 1 pm   W

12/27, DENVER, 1 pm                W

1/3, @Dallas, 1 pm

 

 

 

 

 

Philly record - 11-5

 

 

 

 

 

New York:

 

Nobody talks about it, but they lost a lot. The big one being plaxico. they really struggled without him. They lose ward and some coaches and everybody seems not to notice. I did. I think they will be good, they get Osi back, but I think they take a step back this year. I still think they split 3-3 in the division though.

 

 

 

 

 

2009 NEW YORK GIANTS SCHEDULE

9/13, WASHINGTON, 4:15 pm
9/20, @Dallas, 8:20 pm

9/27, @Tampa Bay, 1 pm  W -  Tampa may pull off 1 win vs the NFC East but it won't be against NY

10/4, @Kansas City, 1 pm   L - cheifs surprise people at home.

10/11, OAKLAND, 1 pm      W - at home Oak is bad.

10/18, @New Orleans, 1 pm    L -maybe shockey has a big game?? They have enough O to win but does NO have the D??

10/25, ARIZONA, 8:20 pm        W - I think they beat the defending NFC champs at home

11/1, @Philadelphia, 4:15 pm

11/8, SAN DIEGO, 4:15 pm     W - They beat SD at home, the east coast trip takes its toll.

11/15, BYE

11/22, ATLANTA, 1 pm           L-  Atl wins behind a strong performance by Michael turner.

11/26 (Thu), @Denver, 8:20 pm     W - they get to Orton / Simms and take this one

12/6, DALLAS, 4:15 pm
12/13, PHILADELPHIA, 8:20 pm
12/21 (Mon), @Washington, 8:30 pm

12/27, CAROLINA, 1 pm     L - Carolina is a good road team, it's close but Carolina avenges that tough OT loss to NY

1/3, @Minnesota, 1 pm      W - beat minnesota at the last second to finish the year

 

 

NYG record  9-7

 

 

 

 

 

 

WASH : They always seem to think this year is when it changes. they got big Albert, and Deangelo Hall (at the midpoint of last year). Campbell had the best year of his career last year, but he doesn't throw many TD passes. The defensive always seems to be decent and the offense horribly inconsistent, but they play Dallas, Philly, and NY tough. The entire key is Clinton Portis, he makes them go, He had almost 1500 yards rushing and 9 TD's last year, they always seem to stick around the division race and challenge late for a playoff spot. I think the rest of the NFC East is better though, so in the division I'm giving them a 2-4 record. Again, I'll leave those games untouched.

 

 

 

2009 WASHINGTON REDSKINS SCHEDULE

 

 

9/13, @New York Giants, 4:15 pm

9/20, ST. LOUIS, 1 pm     W - St Louis embarassed them last year at home, won't happen again.

9/27, @Detroit, 1 pm       W - Detroit has a hard time winning ball games.

10/4, TAMPA BAY, 1 pm    L - Tampa seems to always give the redskins a good game, their Defense holds campbell and they win this in Wash.

10/11, @Carolina, 1 pm    L - Carolina at home is a tough game to win. Albert should help contain Williams, but even that might not be enough.

10/18, KANSAS CITY, 1 pm    W -  Home against a worse team coming of 2 losses, they win this one.

10/26 (Mon), PHILADELPHIA, 8:30 pm
11/1, BYE

11/8, @Atlanta, 1 pm      W - Atlanta is much better at home then the road. it's close but, Washington pulls it out thanks to Portis

11/15, DENVER, 1 pm    W - at home hey should win this going away but it might be closer than it should be.

11/22, @Dallas, 1 pm
11/29, @Philadelphia, 1 pm

12/6, NEW ORLEANS, 1 pm   L- NO gets up early and controlls the game, Wash falls at home

12/13, @Oakland, 4:05 pm      W - the trip out west shows, but they still win an ugly one in Oakland.

12/21 (Mon), NEW YORK GIANTS, 8:30 pm
12/27, DALLAS, 8:20 pm

1/3, @San Diego, 4:15 pm    W - Washington always seems to win when it will at lelast give them a shot at the playoffs, they do the same here, and beat SD even though its their 2nd west coast trip in 4 weeks.

 

Wash record 9-7

 

 

 

 

 

Again, this was just my opinion trying to be unbiased. What do you think? how will the records look when it's all said and done being completely honest????

Up until this past season Torry Holt has been one of the most consistet recievers in the league. He had a streak of 8 straight 1180+ yd seasons. This year his team was an awful 2-14 (1 of those coming against us of course). But for a player on a team as bad as that, he still managed 64 catches and 800 yards. I know Jerry talked about getting the younger recievers involved more, but I think at 32 years of age, Torry Holt can still be an impact player in this league. I think the receiving squad needs depth, if Roy Williams goes down, our starting recievers are Crayton and Austin/Hurd? is anybody comfortable with that? I'm certainly not.

I think he could immediatley step in and give Romo the most consistent pair of hands on the team and a guy who can move the chains very well. He also brings a vetran prescence to the locker room and gives the offense assurance in case Roy or Witten or another reciever goes down.

Torry Holt will turn 33 this season and if he could do that wearing a Dallas uniform it would be fantastic.

I know this isn't a college football site or anything like that, but I'm sure there are a lot of Texas and even TT fans who post on this site, I was just wondering if anybody had any thoughts on what going on right now in the Big 12. As you know, Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahahoma all finished the Big 12 south with identical records. Texas tech beat Texas on a last second play at home, Texas beat Oklahoma by 10 at a neutral site, and Oklahoma beat TT by 44 at home. To settle this, the highest ranked BCS team (Oklahoma) will play for the BIG 12 title and a shot at the Nat'l Title as well.

 

I just saw that during the season Texas played 4 straight games against Oklahoma (ranked #1), Missouri (ranked #11), Ok. State (ranked #6), texas tech (ranked #7) and they would have won if not for a wild catch n run by Crabtree.

considering this schedule and the fact that they BEAT OU at a neutral site, how in the world is Texas not playing for the BIG 12 title?