This is it people… it is officially time to be in “panic mode!” Who would have thought that less than a month after winning half the games in a regular season and appearing to be in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys would be in grave danger of missing the playoffs? Did I say “grave danger?” As Col. Jessup said in one of my favorites, “A Few Good Men”… is there any other kind?
The Cowboys have lost back-to-back games by an average of 5pts… FIVE POINTS. The fact of the matter is that the Dallas Cowboys outplayed the New York Giants, period. The fact of the matter is that the Dallas Cowboys had multiple opportunities to put the game against the Chargers in their control, period. However, the most important fact to take away from the last few weeks is this: the Dallas Cowboys lost those two games because they could not, I repeat COULD NOT make the “big play.”
Think about the most important plays in those last two games that resulted in losses for the Cowboys: Brandon Jacobs’ +50yd TD, and the Goal-Line stand by the Chargers. The ability of the opposing team to make the big play, coupled with the inability of Dallas to make the big play have put them at a disadvantage, which has added to their trend of December woes.
The Cowboys are in a real crisis now, considering the opponent that they are about to come face-to-face with: the undefeated New Orleans Saints. The Saints have yet to lose a game and for most of the season they have been able to dispose of teams with ease. However, the last few weeks have seen the Saints nearly give up the run at 16-0 to both the Redskins and the Falcons. The Saints were able to pull out victories, but nonetheless these close wins reveal that they are not invincible. Dallas will have to figure out a way to expose whatever vulnerability Washington and Atlanta were able to exploit.
The current predicament for the Dallas Cowboys is a familiar one, so I don’t think anyone should be surprised. I posed a question in my blog last week that I thought mattered most: Is there a sense of urgency? I believe there is, but with DeMarcus Ware now suffering a lingering neck injury, there is serious doubt about what exactly will unfold on the defensive side of the ball.
Ware wants to play, according to an ESPN report, but Dallas might be wise to get him healthy for the next two games, which are divisional and are of a slightly greater importance in terms of making the playoffs. I will by no means write off the Cowboys, but things are getting dicey at this point in time, and we have seen this December movie before… it hasn’t had a cheerful ending in a very long time… but maybe this year will be different.
GO COWBOYS!!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“You want the truth? You can't handle the truth” that the Cowboys really aren't as good as we thought they were. Seriously, I don't expect any urgency. Brees should be able to throw against our secondary at will.
What do you wanna discuss now? My favorite color?
I gotta agree with @cardzrool. Dallas isn't good enough. Maybe it's just the head coach making the players soft. Whatever the case, I expect a 12 point loss this week.
The Saints DO have weaknesses, but the Cowboys are NOT the team qualified to exploit them.
“You want the truth? You can't handle the truth” that the Cowboys really aren't as good as we thought they were. Seriously, I don't expect any urgency. Brees should be able to throw against our secondary at will.
What do you wanna discuss now? My favorite color?
I gotta agree with @cardzrool. Dallas isn't good enough. Maybe it's just the head coach making the players soft. Whatever the case, I expect a 12 point loss this week.
The Saints DO have weaknesses, but the Cowboys are NOT the team qualified to exploit them.