Post by prossman on Dec 21, 2008 11:30:24 GMT -7
Offense Sputters Yet Another Time
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Jordan Hofeditz - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 21, 2008 2:52 AM Change Font Size A A A A
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IRVING, Texas - For three quarters the Cowboys offense couldn't figure out the Baltimore defense, and by the time it did it wasn't enough, allowing the Ravens to escape with a 33-24 victory in the final regular season game at Texas Stadium.
Through 45 minutes, Dallas had 141 total offensive yards and just seven points. In the fourth quarter alone, the Cowboys had 186 total yards on offense and scored 17 points.
"It took us a good three quarters before we were able to get into kind of what we felt like was really going to be good," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said.
The question is what was the cause: Romo's back, the offense not getting into a rhythm or the Ravens defense?
"It is what it is," Romo said about his back. "And you play through a little bit of something and it really isn't a big deal. I think that when you step on the field, you don't have any excuses."
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips wasn't willing to blame his quarterback's back either.
"I don't know about Tony," Phillips said. "He was sore. It seemed like he got into his rhythm later on in the game. They've got a good defense. They gave him some problems early. I thought we adjusted and kept fighting to do some good things later on in the game."
In the first half Romo completed eight of 17 passes for 59 yards, four of those receptions going to running back Tashard Choice. Romo was also sacked once and threw two interceptions, leading to a passer rating of just 16.2, as low as low can go.
The Ravens' defense has not been kind to any quarterbacks this season. The No. 2 passing defense in the NFL gives up an average of 183.2 yards a game and a passer rating of 61.1.
"Eventually, we kind of got to figure out what they were doing," Romo said. "Just in the blocking scheme, I think. We had a little bit of trouble recognizing who was a linebacker, who was a down lineman."
Romo finished the game completing 24 of 45 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and a 66.2 passer rating. Of his two touchdowns, one went to tight end Jason Witten and the other to receiver Terrell Owens.
But to Owens this is a problem bigger than just one game or Baltimore's defense, it is something that has been a problem the entire season.
"I think it's the offense as a whole," Owens said. "We're not in sync. We're making a lot of mental mistakes, a couple delay of games, that's communication. We had some offsides, things like that. Things that have pretty much been our Achilles' heel all year."
The good news for the Cowboys is that after not getting much offensive production through three quarters they found that rhythm in the fourth quarter. A rhythm that got them back in the game, and almost got them a win.
"I really think it shows the will and competitiveness of this team and what we're made of," Witten said. "And to keep fighting like we did, my hat's off to Tony and the offensive line and the receivers to keep playing like they did. It's just disappointing we didn't do it earlier."
Whether there are problems or not, the Cowboys will need to solve them before next week in Philadelphia if they want to have a shot at making the playoffs this year. Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS
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Jordan Hofeditz - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 21, 2008 2:52 AM Change Font Size A A A A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IRVING, Texas - For three quarters the Cowboys offense couldn't figure out the Baltimore defense, and by the time it did it wasn't enough, allowing the Ravens to escape with a 33-24 victory in the final regular season game at Texas Stadium.
Through 45 minutes, Dallas had 141 total offensive yards and just seven points. In the fourth quarter alone, the Cowboys had 186 total yards on offense and scored 17 points.
"It took us a good three quarters before we were able to get into kind of what we felt like was really going to be good," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said.
The question is what was the cause: Romo's back, the offense not getting into a rhythm or the Ravens defense?
"It is what it is," Romo said about his back. "And you play through a little bit of something and it really isn't a big deal. I think that when you step on the field, you don't have any excuses."
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips wasn't willing to blame his quarterback's back either.
"I don't know about Tony," Phillips said. "He was sore. It seemed like he got into his rhythm later on in the game. They've got a good defense. They gave him some problems early. I thought we adjusted and kept fighting to do some good things later on in the game."
In the first half Romo completed eight of 17 passes for 59 yards, four of those receptions going to running back Tashard Choice. Romo was also sacked once and threw two interceptions, leading to a passer rating of just 16.2, as low as low can go.
The Ravens' defense has not been kind to any quarterbacks this season. The No. 2 passing defense in the NFL gives up an average of 183.2 yards a game and a passer rating of 61.1.
"Eventually, we kind of got to figure out what they were doing," Romo said. "Just in the blocking scheme, I think. We had a little bit of trouble recognizing who was a linebacker, who was a down lineman."
Romo finished the game completing 24 of 45 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and a 66.2 passer rating. Of his two touchdowns, one went to tight end Jason Witten and the other to receiver Terrell Owens.
But to Owens this is a problem bigger than just one game or Baltimore's defense, it is something that has been a problem the entire season.
"I think it's the offense as a whole," Owens said. "We're not in sync. We're making a lot of mental mistakes, a couple delay of games, that's communication. We had some offsides, things like that. Things that have pretty much been our Achilles' heel all year."
The good news for the Cowboys is that after not getting much offensive production through three quarters they found that rhythm in the fourth quarter. A rhythm that got them back in the game, and almost got them a win.
"I really think it shows the will and competitiveness of this team and what we're made of," Witten said. "And to keep fighting like we did, my hat's off to Tony and the offensive line and the receivers to keep playing like they did. It's just disappointing we didn't do it earlier."
Whether there are problems or not, the Cowboys will need to solve them before next week in Philadelphia if they want to have a shot at making the playoffs this year. Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS