OOPS! The worst case scenario for the Cowboys is in full effect as Dallas fell to the Giants 31-24 at the Meadowlands Sunday evening. Along with that, the Eagles won Sunday, which puts them in a tie for first in the NFC East with the Cowboys with the Giants a game behind and holding the tie-breaker with the Cowboys. There are several area to look at in this loss and the ground game is one of them, as the “Monster” finished with 23 carries for 45 yards and 6 receptions for 20 yards. I think its safe to say you’re not gonna win many games averaging less than 2 yards a carry.

Marion Barber got the start and had easily his worst game of the season. He finished the game with 15 carries for 36 yards and 3 catches for 7 yards. Barber was also front and center in one of the biggest plays of the game, fumbling the ball after a reception with just over a minute left on the Cowboys’ 28 yard line. The Giants would score to take a 14-10 lead and momentum into halftime.

Felix Jones didn’t fare much better than Barber, totaling 6 carries for 6 yards and 3 carries for 13 yards. He also had 3 kickoff returns for 66 yards. Felix wasn’t given many chances to run in the game and when he did he was more often than not swallowed up in the backfield by several Giants defenders. He looked a little tentative whenever he did have the ball in space so I don’t know if the injury is still bugging him or if the cold weather got to him.

Tashard Choice didn’t see much action, and for once this season, it may not have mattered if he did as the Giants did an excellent job of bottling up the Cowboys’ rushing attack. Tashard was in for a couple of “Razorback” plays, totaling 3 yards on 2 carries. Choice nearly fell victim to a costly fumble as he appeared to put the ball on the ground inside the Giants’ 5 yard line, but the call was reversed on replay and the Cowboys were able to get a touchdown on the next play.

With the exception of three big plays, the Cowboys didn’t play a horrible game. I would like to have seen them at least match the Giants as far as intensity goes, especially in the second half. The Cowboys will need to cut down on the big plays this week as the red-hot San Diego Super Chargers come to the Death Star Sunday. The Chargers have won 7 in a row and quietly took the lead in the AFC West a couple of weeks ago. If the Cowboys want to prevent a true December swoon (again) they need to win this game because I don’t have much confidence in this team winning a Saturday night game in the Superdome.

GO COWBOYS!!!

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