Post by prossman on Dec 23, 2008 20:58:01 GMT -7
DC.COM: Philips: Livin' On The Edge; Cowboys Have Been In Playoff Mode For Weeks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Livin' On The Edge
Cowboys Have Been In Playoff Mode For Weeks
Rob Philips
December 23, 2008 6:15 PM
IRVING, Texas - In October, they earned a critical head-to-head tiebreaker over playoff hopeful Tampa Bay without quarterback Tony Romo.
In Romo's return from a fractured pinkie finger, they essentially resuscitated their postseason hopes with a Nov. 16 win at Washington.
Two weeks ago, they took control of their own destiny with a victory over the world champion Giants.
At the time, all three games were considered as 'must-win' as it gets. Now comes an official one-game season Sunday in Philadelphia.
Win, and the Cowboys become an NFC wild-card team. Lose, and a challenging season ends on a disappointing note.
"I think this one is different in that this is it," head coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday. "I think our guys are focused in and ready to go. I think they'll be ready."
The Cowboys have no reason to ponder past opportunities gone astray. Certainly not the franchise's last eight losses in regular-season finales. Not even last Saturday's 33-24 defeat on a pair of back-breaking Ravens touchdown runs.
All that matters is beating the Eagles to earn the NFC's sixth seed, or the fifth seed if Atlanta (10-5) also loses to St. Louis on Sunday.
"Obviously the expectations are different around different teams maybe at the beginning of the year," Romo said. "But I know that this team has been left for dead more than a few times this season at different moments. And we feel very strongly in our capability, if we can get a win (Sunday), to continue to get a few of them. We'll see."
Phillips' team seemingly has been in playoff mode since that Week 8 game against Tampa Bay. Think back: The Cowboys were 4-3, reeling from an embarrassing 20-point loss to the hapless Rams with Romo still sidelined and a date with the Giants up next.
Their 13-9 victory over the Buccaneers kept them above .500. It marked a turning point in the defense's season (opponents have averaged only 271.5 yards since). And although wide receiver Roy Williams has yet to make the type of impact he had hoped when he arrived in a trade from Detroit, his second-quarter touchdown catch against Tampa Bay might have been the team's most significant score of the season. By losing that game, the equally 9-6 Buccaneers can't threaten the Cowboys' playoff chances anymore.
Two games later, the Cowboys were treading water again at 5-4, on the road facing a Washington team looking for a division sweep. Romo, despite some rust in his return, was both efficient (19-of-27 for 198 yards, no turnovers) and clutch, hitting rookie tight end Martellus Bennett for what turned out to be the game-winning 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps the team's biggest back-against-the-wall feat yet came Dec. 14 against the Giants.
Rather than accept another conference loss with two games left, the Cowboys quieted week-long talk about locker room tension by beating the NFC East champs, 20-8.
Their ensuing loss to Baltimore stalled some of that momentum. But with some help around the league, the Cowboys are back in a proactive position.
"Sometimes you take a road trip with your family, and the roads are closed off, so you've got to take an alternate route," Bennett said. "Whatever it takes to get there, that's what we need to do."
Phillips is right - Sunday's game is different. There are no second chances this time.
Call it living dangerously, but his team has already faced pivotal moments in its season and succeeded. Moments that can battle-harden teams this late in the year.
"I think you see it in almost all our games, thinking all the way back to Arizona," Phillips said, referring to the Week 6 overtime loss to the Cardinals during which Romo was injured. "We scored late in the game and (showed) urgency late in the game.
"When it looks like they might be out of it, they're not. They keep fighting."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Livin' On The Edge
Cowboys Have Been In Playoff Mode For Weeks
Rob Philips
December 23, 2008 6:15 PM
IRVING, Texas - In October, they earned a critical head-to-head tiebreaker over playoff hopeful Tampa Bay without quarterback Tony Romo.
In Romo's return from a fractured pinkie finger, they essentially resuscitated their postseason hopes with a Nov. 16 win at Washington.
Two weeks ago, they took control of their own destiny with a victory over the world champion Giants.
At the time, all three games were considered as 'must-win' as it gets. Now comes an official one-game season Sunday in Philadelphia.
Win, and the Cowboys become an NFC wild-card team. Lose, and a challenging season ends on a disappointing note.
"I think this one is different in that this is it," head coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday. "I think our guys are focused in and ready to go. I think they'll be ready."
The Cowboys have no reason to ponder past opportunities gone astray. Certainly not the franchise's last eight losses in regular-season finales. Not even last Saturday's 33-24 defeat on a pair of back-breaking Ravens touchdown runs.
All that matters is beating the Eagles to earn the NFC's sixth seed, or the fifth seed if Atlanta (10-5) also loses to St. Louis on Sunday.
"Obviously the expectations are different around different teams maybe at the beginning of the year," Romo said. "But I know that this team has been left for dead more than a few times this season at different moments. And we feel very strongly in our capability, if we can get a win (Sunday), to continue to get a few of them. We'll see."
Phillips' team seemingly has been in playoff mode since that Week 8 game against Tampa Bay. Think back: The Cowboys were 4-3, reeling from an embarrassing 20-point loss to the hapless Rams with Romo still sidelined and a date with the Giants up next.
Their 13-9 victory over the Buccaneers kept them above .500. It marked a turning point in the defense's season (opponents have averaged only 271.5 yards since). And although wide receiver Roy Williams has yet to make the type of impact he had hoped when he arrived in a trade from Detroit, his second-quarter touchdown catch against Tampa Bay might have been the team's most significant score of the season. By losing that game, the equally 9-6 Buccaneers can't threaten the Cowboys' playoff chances anymore.
Two games later, the Cowboys were treading water again at 5-4, on the road facing a Washington team looking for a division sweep. Romo, despite some rust in his return, was both efficient (19-of-27 for 198 yards, no turnovers) and clutch, hitting rookie tight end Martellus Bennett for what turned out to be the game-winning 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps the team's biggest back-against-the-wall feat yet came Dec. 14 against the Giants.
Rather than accept another conference loss with two games left, the Cowboys quieted week-long talk about locker room tension by beating the NFC East champs, 20-8.
Their ensuing loss to Baltimore stalled some of that momentum. But with some help around the league, the Cowboys are back in a proactive position.
"Sometimes you take a road trip with your family, and the roads are closed off, so you've got to take an alternate route," Bennett said. "Whatever it takes to get there, that's what we need to do."
Phillips is right - Sunday's game is different. There are no second chances this time.
Call it living dangerously, but his team has already faced pivotal moments in its season and succeeded. Moments that can battle-harden teams this late in the year.
"I think you see it in almost all our games, thinking all the way back to Arizona," Phillips said, referring to the Week 6 overtime loss to the Cardinals during which Romo was injured. "We scored late in the game and (showed) urgency late in the game.
"When it looks like they might be out of it, they're not. They keep fighting."