Post by MR COWBOY on Dec 14, 2009 17:56:38 GMT -7
Dallas Cowboys deal with another December dud, 20-17
JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR
The Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON – These Cowboys desperately want you to believe they've changed.
They want you to believe their raggedy record after Dec. 1 is a figment of your imagination or a media-created conspiracy.
Poppythingy.
These Cowboys are what we thought they were: a collection of faux stars who consistently find ways to lose instead of win in the season's most important month.
Once again, they proved it.
Did you really think the Cowboys were going to beat San Diego, winners of their last seven games and owners of a 15-game regular-season winning streak after Dec. 1?
C'mon people, you've got to deal in reality – not what you want reality to be.
San Diego 20, Dallas 17.
Now, that's reality.
So is the Cowboys' 3-7 record in December under Wade Phillips.
This is not about effort. The Cowboys played as hard as they could possibly play, but you don't get credit for effort in the NFL.
Jerry Jones hasn't spent more than $100 million in signing bonuses over the past few years for a bunch of guys who try hard. This is pro football, not Pop Warner.
The players get tired of the constant criticism directed at Phillips and the never-ending references to this franchise's awful record – 18-33 since 1996, not including four playoff losses – after Dec. 1.
Too bad.
They need to check the mirror and take a long, agonizing look.
It's the players, who seemingly profess their love and adulation for Phillips on a daily basis, who have failed him.
They did it in spectacular fashion against San Diego.
Trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, a 3-yard run by Marion Barber moved the ball to the San Diego 1.
On second down, linebacker Tim Dobbins stopped Barber for no gain. Dobbins did it again on third down.
On fourth down, you'll never guess what happened? Dobbins, with help from linebacker Brandon Siler, stopped Barber again.
Ridiculous.
Don't waste time blaming Jason Garrett for his play-selection. Garrett believed in his offensive line.
They failed him.
Three times from the 1 is about attitude. It's about desire. It's about heart, especially, when your offensive line averages 326 pounds.
But that doesn't compare to the fourth-quarter meltdown that ultimately cost the Cowboys the game. After an impressive 99-yard drive tied the score at 10-10, the Cowboys' defense – Phillips' pride and joy – let the team down.
See, the beauty of this team is that no unit is more responsible for the demise of this season than another. The offense, defense and special teams are each culpable.
On second-and-7 from the Dallas 48, an off-balance DeMarcus Ware sprained his neck when he jammed his head into Brandyn Dombrowski's hip. It was a scary moment, and medical personnel needed about 10 minutes to remove Ware, who suffered no paralysis, from the field.
As play resumed, several players on the Cowboys' sideline began waving white towels, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. An illegal procedure penalty on Marcus McNeill followed, moving the Chargers back 5 yards.
The crowd then responded with more noise than it had produced all day. What better way to honor Ware with a defensive stand and then a victory?
Then Philip Rivers completed a 39-yard pass to Vincent Jackson over Terence Newman. Imagine that, a receiver beat Newman for a big gain on a key play. Who woulda thunk it?
On the next play, Rivers hit Antonio Gates on a crossing route for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead with 10:56 left.
One team responded. One team didn't.
Isn't that seemingly always the case with the Cowboys this time of year? Of course, your Cowboys remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot, but it's really just a formality.
JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR
The Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON – These Cowboys desperately want you to believe they've changed.
They want you to believe their raggedy record after Dec. 1 is a figment of your imagination or a media-created conspiracy.
Poppythingy.
These Cowboys are what we thought they were: a collection of faux stars who consistently find ways to lose instead of win in the season's most important month.
Once again, they proved it.
Did you really think the Cowboys were going to beat San Diego, winners of their last seven games and owners of a 15-game regular-season winning streak after Dec. 1?
C'mon people, you've got to deal in reality – not what you want reality to be.
San Diego 20, Dallas 17.
Now, that's reality.
So is the Cowboys' 3-7 record in December under Wade Phillips.
This is not about effort. The Cowboys played as hard as they could possibly play, but you don't get credit for effort in the NFL.
Jerry Jones hasn't spent more than $100 million in signing bonuses over the past few years for a bunch of guys who try hard. This is pro football, not Pop Warner.
The players get tired of the constant criticism directed at Phillips and the never-ending references to this franchise's awful record – 18-33 since 1996, not including four playoff losses – after Dec. 1.
Too bad.
They need to check the mirror and take a long, agonizing look.
It's the players, who seemingly profess their love and adulation for Phillips on a daily basis, who have failed him.
They did it in spectacular fashion against San Diego.
Trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, a 3-yard run by Marion Barber moved the ball to the San Diego 1.
On second down, linebacker Tim Dobbins stopped Barber for no gain. Dobbins did it again on third down.
On fourth down, you'll never guess what happened? Dobbins, with help from linebacker Brandon Siler, stopped Barber again.
Ridiculous.
Don't waste time blaming Jason Garrett for his play-selection. Garrett believed in his offensive line.
They failed him.
Three times from the 1 is about attitude. It's about desire. It's about heart, especially, when your offensive line averages 326 pounds.
But that doesn't compare to the fourth-quarter meltdown that ultimately cost the Cowboys the game. After an impressive 99-yard drive tied the score at 10-10, the Cowboys' defense – Phillips' pride and joy – let the team down.
See, the beauty of this team is that no unit is more responsible for the demise of this season than another. The offense, defense and special teams are each culpable.
On second-and-7 from the Dallas 48, an off-balance DeMarcus Ware sprained his neck when he jammed his head into Brandyn Dombrowski's hip. It was a scary moment, and medical personnel needed about 10 minutes to remove Ware, who suffered no paralysis, from the field.
As play resumed, several players on the Cowboys' sideline began waving white towels, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. An illegal procedure penalty on Marcus McNeill followed, moving the Chargers back 5 yards.
The crowd then responded with more noise than it had produced all day. What better way to honor Ware with a defensive stand and then a victory?
Then Philip Rivers completed a 39-yard pass to Vincent Jackson over Terence Newman. Imagine that, a receiver beat Newman for a big gain on a key play. Who woulda thunk it?
On the next play, Rivers hit Antonio Gates on a crossing route for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead with 10:56 left.
One team responded. One team didn't.
Isn't that seemingly always the case with the Cowboys this time of year? Of course, your Cowboys remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot, but it's really just a formality.