Colts provide opportunity for Cowboys to make statement
by Frank Luksa
Soon we shall learn whether the Cowboys' season turned a corner in Arizona or merely ran into another cul-de-sac. Proof arrives Sunday when unbeaten Indianapolis visits Texas Stadium. Thus looms a so-named Statement Game by which the Cowboys can define themselves as better than average or an ongoing tease. Beat a winner for the first time and it will stamp them as a genuine playoff contender. Lose and it's another example of false advertising that had them ranked among preseason Super Bowl contenders.
So far, it hasn't happened. By that I mean the 5-4 Cowboys haven't beaten anyone of distinction.
None of their victims has a winning record, own a combined 13-31 record and one among them (3-6 Washington) has even whipped the Cowboys. A 27-10 walkover in Arizona on Sunday continued a trend of knocking over tin cans.
I don't mean to discredit any victory. But I would discount it confirmation of a season-turning event. Collapsing a one-win Cardinals team headed toward its eighth consecutive loss, and led by rookie quarterback Matt Leinart making his fifth NFL start, should have been an easy takedown. If the Cowboys deserve compliment, it would be in draining suspense from the outcome.
Let's be honest. Arizona is its usual shambles. Denny Green is coaching his way out the door. He fired his offensive coordinator less than a month ago after blowing a game against Chicago. Leinart is at the kindergarten stage of his pro career. The defense is nothing special and overexposed. Plus the Cardinals haven't fielded a stable offensive line since Dan Dierdorf played right tackle in St. Louis 30 years ago. Which is why once-great running backs like Emmitt Smith and Edgerrin James vanish in the desert.
Hence the byproduct of pressure on Leinart produced interceptions by safety Patrick Watkins and linebacker Akin Ayodele. The Cowboys made 14-point use of those turnovers.
Even against a troubled foe, there were nags embedded in the Cowboys' game that mean trouble against better opposition. Too many mistakes repeat. Eight more penalties surfaced, bringing the season total to an unhealthy 68 for 679 yards. On a per-game average, the Cowboys have lost 65 yards, and in some cases a flag costs points via another mindless foul.
Dumb gets you beat as often as slow, which brings us to Patrick Crayton. He soiled an otherwise excellent outing with flagrant, unnecessary offensive pass interference to negate Tony Romo's 10-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd. The Cowboys instead cashed a consolation field goal for a 13-3 halftime lead. Crayton starred before and after his error. Subbing for sore-kneed Terry Glenn, he caught five passes for a team-high 104 yards that included a 30-yard TD from Romo.
Terrell Owens came next on the receiving chart with a five-for-96 show. His 51-yard TD from Romo involved a double highlight. First, he didn't drop the pass. Then he didn't posture in the end zone. Both results were a relief to the eye.
As for Romo … well, ain't he somethin'.
I counted at least four plays Romo salvaged with nimble footwork – three completions and one scramble – that would have buried the stationary Drew Bledsoe. All converted third downs into a fresh series. Think of what that meant. Romo's elusiveness extended four possessions instead of calling out Mat McBriar to punt.
He was also at the center of an exceptional 64 percent third-down conversion rate (nine of 14), threw 13 passes for first downs and thanks to nice protection, was neither trapped nor intercepted.
All hopes rest with Romo, a Cowboy since 2003 who until last month had never thrown a regular-season pass in the NFL. Some insiders say those hopes include Bill Parcells optimistic enough over the future with Romo to coach next season.
Until then, Parcells' immediate duty is to game plan the 9-0 Colts. The Cowboys face a magnum upgrade from Leinart to Peyton Manning, the NFL's elite passer. Manning has thrown 18 TD passes against a meager three interceptions. Two factors favor Manning trumping the Cowboys: a season-ending Achilles' injury to outside linebacker Greg Ellis, the team's best defender, and a trend of big-play passing leaks that continued with 38- and 43-yard gainers by the Cardinals.
Like Buffalo, which pushed Indy before losing 17-16 on Sunday, Parcells will design a keepaway strategy for Manning. Grind away on the ground. Move the chains with low-risk passes. About the only way to beat Manning is force him to watch from the sideline.
With the NFC East-leading (6-3) New York Giants crippled by enough by injuries to begin fading, the Indy result assumes greater impact. The result should prove whether the Cowboys have turned a corner or are just circling to chase their tail.
Soon we shall learn whether the Cowboys' season turned a corner in Arizona or merely ran into another cul-de-sac. Proof arrives Sunday when unbeaten Indianapolis visits Texas Stadium. Thus looms a so-named Statement Game by which the Cowboys can define themselves as better than average or an ongoing tease. Beat a winner for the first time and it will stamp them as a genuine playoff contender. Lose and it's another example of false advertising that had them ranked among preseason Super Bowl contenders.
So far, it hasn't happened. By that I mean the 5-4 Cowboys haven't beaten anyone of distinction.
None of their victims has a winning record, own a combined 13-31 record and one among them (3-6 Washington) has even whipped the Cowboys. A 27-10 walkover in Arizona on Sunday continued a trend of knocking over tin cans.
I don't mean to discredit any victory. But I would discount it confirmation of a season-turning event. Collapsing a one-win Cardinals team headed toward its eighth consecutive loss, and led by rookie quarterback Matt Leinart making his fifth NFL start, should have been an easy takedown. If the Cowboys deserve compliment, it would be in draining suspense from the outcome.
Let's be honest. Arizona is its usual shambles. Denny Green is coaching his way out the door. He fired his offensive coordinator less than a month ago after blowing a game against Chicago. Leinart is at the kindergarten stage of his pro career. The defense is nothing special and overexposed. Plus the Cardinals haven't fielded a stable offensive line since Dan Dierdorf played right tackle in St. Louis 30 years ago. Which is why once-great running backs like Emmitt Smith and Edgerrin James vanish in the desert.
Hence the byproduct of pressure on Leinart produced interceptions by safety Patrick Watkins and linebacker Akin Ayodele. The Cowboys made 14-point use of those turnovers.
Even against a troubled foe, there were nags embedded in the Cowboys' game that mean trouble against better opposition. Too many mistakes repeat. Eight more penalties surfaced, bringing the season total to an unhealthy 68 for 679 yards. On a per-game average, the Cowboys have lost 65 yards, and in some cases a flag costs points via another mindless foul.
Dumb gets you beat as often as slow, which brings us to Patrick Crayton. He soiled an otherwise excellent outing with flagrant, unnecessary offensive pass interference to negate Tony Romo's 10-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd. The Cowboys instead cashed a consolation field goal for a 13-3 halftime lead. Crayton starred before and after his error. Subbing for sore-kneed Terry Glenn, he caught five passes for a team-high 104 yards that included a 30-yard TD from Romo.
Terrell Owens came next on the receiving chart with a five-for-96 show. His 51-yard TD from Romo involved a double highlight. First, he didn't drop the pass. Then he didn't posture in the end zone. Both results were a relief to the eye.
As for Romo … well, ain't he somethin'.
I counted at least four plays Romo salvaged with nimble footwork – three completions and one scramble – that would have buried the stationary Drew Bledsoe. All converted third downs into a fresh series. Think of what that meant. Romo's elusiveness extended four possessions instead of calling out Mat McBriar to punt.
He was also at the center of an exceptional 64 percent third-down conversion rate (nine of 14), threw 13 passes for first downs and thanks to nice protection, was neither trapped nor intercepted.
All hopes rest with Romo, a Cowboy since 2003 who until last month had never thrown a regular-season pass in the NFL. Some insiders say those hopes include Bill Parcells optimistic enough over the future with Romo to coach next season.
Until then, Parcells' immediate duty is to game plan the 9-0 Colts. The Cowboys face a magnum upgrade from Leinart to Peyton Manning, the NFL's elite passer. Manning has thrown 18 TD passes against a meager three interceptions. Two factors favor Manning trumping the Cowboys: a season-ending Achilles' injury to outside linebacker Greg Ellis, the team's best defender, and a trend of big-play passing leaks that continued with 38- and 43-yard gainers by the Cardinals.
Like Buffalo, which pushed Indy before losing 17-16 on Sunday, Parcells will design a keepaway strategy for Manning. Grind away on the ground. Move the chains with low-risk passes. About the only way to beat Manning is force him to watch from the sideline.
With the NFC East-leading (6-3) New York Giants crippled by enough by injuries to begin fading, the Indy result assumes greater impact. The result should prove whether the Cowboys have turned a corner or are just circling to chase their tail.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:51 PM
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