Ellis' injury dampens mood
by Tom Orsborn
sports writer for the San Antonio Express-News.
GLENDALE, Ariz. - The only down in the desert today was the season-ending Achilles' injury outside linebacker Greg Ellis suffered in the fourth quarter.
"When you lose a player, your team captain and a guy that's one of your pressure players, you worry about it," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said after watching his team stomp the Cardinals 27-10. "But that's football and that's why you have to have other guys step up."
The injury is a blow to a defense that relies on its bookend linebackers, Ellis and DeMarcus Ware to pressure the quarterback. The two have combined for 9.5 sacks, with Ware recording his team-high fifth today.
Report card
Run offense: Julius Jones managed just 45 yards, but Marion Barber bulled his way to 65 on 14 attempts for a robust 4.6 average. Grade: C
Pass offense: The offensive line didn't allow a sack for the second time this season. Tony Romo was outstanding, completing 20 of 29 for 308 yards and two TDs. Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd did a great job filling in for the injured Terry Glenn, and Terrell Owens overcame an early drop to finish with 96 yards and one TD on five catches. Grade: A
Run defense: Led by linebacker Bradie James (team-high nine tackles), the defense held Edgerrin James to 68 yards on 15 carries. Grade: B plus.
Pass defense: Matt Leinart was sacked only once, but Ellis and Ware chased him pretty much all day. He completed 20 of 38 and threw two interceptions, includiing one recorded by Pat Watkins, who had a strong outing after being inactive the last two games. Grade: B plus.
Special teams: Mat McBriar bounced back from a week outing in Washington to average 58 yards on two punts. Mike Vanderjagt connected from 28 and 38 yards. Grade: B
Coaching: Parcells had his team ready after last week's heart-wrenching 22-19 loss at Washington. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer deserves praise for having Brading James shadow Edgerrin James, who caught only two passes for 11 yards. The Cowboys entered the game worried more about Edgerrin James catching outlet passes from Leinart. Grade: A
Overall: Led by the spirited Romo, the Cowboys bounced back with a convincing victory that should give them some momentum next week against the mighty Colts. Grade: B plus.
Notes from the Cowboys media relations department
Romo threw for 308 yards today, his first career 300-yard passing game and the first by a Dallas quarterback since Drew Bledsoe threw for 332 agastin Kansas City on Dec. 11, 2005.
Romo has thrown for more than 250 yards in three consecutive games, the first Cowboys quarterback to accomplish that feat since Troy Aikman threw for over 250 yards in the first four games of the 1993 season.
Romo has also posted a quarterback rating of 100.0-or-more in two consecutive games. The first Dallas quarterback to do that since Vinny Testaverde in Weeks Six and Seven of the 2004 season.
In three career starts Romo has completed 68-of-101 passes (67.3 percent) for 862 yards, five touchdowns and one interception for a three-game quarterback rating of 106.1.
For the season Romo is second in the NFL with a 101.2 quarterback rating, just behind next week's opponent, Peyton Manning of the Colts at 104.5.
The Cowboys offensive line did not allow a sack in today's game, the second time this season they have shut out an opponent.
Patrick Crayton recorded a career-high 104 receiving yards today. His first career 100-yard receiving game.
Terrell Owens recorded his seventh receiving touchdown of the season today. He is currently tied for the NFL lead with his seven touchdown receptions.
Marion Barber recorded his seventh rushing touchdown of the season, the most by a Dallas back since Julius Jones had seven in 2004. He is currently tied for fourth in the NFL with seven rushing touchdowns.
The 308 passing yards was the second best total of the season for Dallas.
The Cowboys' 434 total yards was a season-high.
The Cowboys converted 9-of-14 third downs (64.3%). Their best showing since converting 64.7 (11-of-17) third downs against San Francisco on Dec. 30, 2001.
sports writer for the San Antonio Express-News.
GLENDALE, Ariz. - The only down in the desert today was the season-ending Achilles' injury outside linebacker Greg Ellis suffered in the fourth quarter.
"When you lose a player, your team captain and a guy that's one of your pressure players, you worry about it," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said after watching his team stomp the Cardinals 27-10. "But that's football and that's why you have to have other guys step up."
The injury is a blow to a defense that relies on its bookend linebackers, Ellis and DeMarcus Ware to pressure the quarterback. The two have combined for 9.5 sacks, with Ware recording his team-high fifth today.
Report card
Run offense: Julius Jones managed just 45 yards, but Marion Barber bulled his way to 65 on 14 attempts for a robust 4.6 average. Grade: C
Pass offense: The offensive line didn't allow a sack for the second time this season. Tony Romo was outstanding, completing 20 of 29 for 308 yards and two TDs. Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd did a great job filling in for the injured Terry Glenn, and Terrell Owens overcame an early drop to finish with 96 yards and one TD on five catches. Grade: A
Run defense: Led by linebacker Bradie James (team-high nine tackles), the defense held Edgerrin James to 68 yards on 15 carries. Grade: B plus.
Pass defense: Matt Leinart was sacked only once, but Ellis and Ware chased him pretty much all day. He completed 20 of 38 and threw two interceptions, includiing one recorded by Pat Watkins, who had a strong outing after being inactive the last two games. Grade: B plus.
Special teams: Mat McBriar bounced back from a week outing in Washington to average 58 yards on two punts. Mike Vanderjagt connected from 28 and 38 yards. Grade: B
Coaching: Parcells had his team ready after last week's heart-wrenching 22-19 loss at Washington. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer deserves praise for having Brading James shadow Edgerrin James, who caught only two passes for 11 yards. The Cowboys entered the game worried more about Edgerrin James catching outlet passes from Leinart. Grade: A
Overall: Led by the spirited Romo, the Cowboys bounced back with a convincing victory that should give them some momentum next week against the mighty Colts. Grade: B plus.
Notes from the Cowboys media relations department
Romo threw for 308 yards today, his first career 300-yard passing game and the first by a Dallas quarterback since Drew Bledsoe threw for 332 agastin Kansas City on Dec. 11, 2005.
Romo has thrown for more than 250 yards in three consecutive games, the first Cowboys quarterback to accomplish that feat since Troy Aikman threw for over 250 yards in the first four games of the 1993 season.
Romo has also posted a quarterback rating of 100.0-or-more in two consecutive games. The first Dallas quarterback to do that since Vinny Testaverde in Weeks Six and Seven of the 2004 season.
In three career starts Romo has completed 68-of-101 passes (67.3 percent) for 862 yards, five touchdowns and one interception for a three-game quarterback rating of 106.1.
For the season Romo is second in the NFL with a 101.2 quarterback rating, just behind next week's opponent, Peyton Manning of the Colts at 104.5.
The Cowboys offensive line did not allow a sack in today's game, the second time this season they have shut out an opponent.
Patrick Crayton recorded a career-high 104 receiving yards today. His first career 100-yard receiving game.
Terrell Owens recorded his seventh receiving touchdown of the season today. He is currently tied for the NFL lead with his seven touchdown receptions.
Marion Barber recorded his seventh rushing touchdown of the season, the most by a Dallas back since Julius Jones had seven in 2004. He is currently tied for fourth in the NFL with seven rushing touchdowns.
The 308 passing yards was the second best total of the season for Dallas.
The Cowboys' 434 total yards was a season-high.
The Cowboys converted 9-of-14 third downs (64.3%). Their best showing since converting 64.7 (11-of-17) third downs against San Francisco on Dec. 30, 2001.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:56 PM
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