Matt Mosley: Playoff drive still alive
GLENDALE, Ariz. – If only the Cardinals were still in the NFC East.
On Sunday, the Cowboys used a 27-10 whipping of their former division foe to help wash away the memories from what, perhaps, was the most painful loss of the Bill Parcells Era.
The victory sets up an entertaining matchup against a Colts team that may not be as formidable as its 9-0 record would suggest.
The Colts kept their hopes for a perfect season alive with a 17-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday. But more important to the Cowboys was the fact that Atlanta, Minnesota, St. Louis, New Orleans and the Giants all lost.
In this league it's never wise to bury a team too early, unless you live in a handful of NFL cities.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded like a broken man after the loss to Washington last week, but by late Sunday afternoon, he was once again driving the playoff bus.
"Yes, I do have those goals again," he said. "If we get into the playoffs, anything can happen."
The Cowboys are talking playoffs again because of quarterback Tony Romo. Bill Parcells was hoping he had a caretaker, but after three starts, it appears he has something more.
Romo was 20-of-29 for 308 yards and two touchdowns, but the stat that really caught my eye was converting five of eight third downs through the air. The Cowboys are 25 of 44 on third-down conversions in his three starts.
Before Romo took over, the offensive line avoided eye contact with reporters for fear of being recognized. On Sunday, Kyle Kosier and Marc Colombo were striking up the band.
Romo gives them more margin for error, as evidenced by a third-and-9 play late in the first half when he sidestepped a blitzing safety and connected with Patrick Crayton for 34 yards.
The only thing that concerns Parcells about Romo is his penchant for always wanting the home run. Romo plays with a flair, and that was on full display when he raced up to the line just before the end of the first half and faked like he was going to spike it before attempting a dangerous pass to Sam Hurd.
"You won't be writing about that one," said Parcells, who added that the play should've gone 99 yards the other way.
But even a control freak like Parcells knows better than to tell Romo not to improvise. He's a highly intelligent player who needs to be able to trust his instincts.
That the Cowboys think they have a fighting chance against Peyton Manning and the high-powered Colts speaks to how far Romo has come in a relatively short time.
The only major negative to come out of Sunday's game was the loss of linebacker Greg Ellis. He has a steadying influence on the defense and he was the team's second-best pressure player.
This is bad news for a team that has struggled to get to the quarterback, but it provides rookie Bobby Carpenter with the opportunity he's been waiting on.
I know it feels like this season has lasted about two years, but in a lot of ways, it doesn't really start until Sunday.
Now, please proceed to the next portion of today's column:
Things I jotted down on my 8½x8¾-inch notepad: The brand new University of Phoenix Stadium is one of most stunning structures ever named after a private online institution.
The metallic silver exterior gives the stadium great drive-up appeal.
The 17,000,000 square-foot facility appears to have landed in the middle of the desert.
The three main entrances have 30-foot numbers in front of them, presumably in case fans are suddenly stricken with severe myopia.
When we first arrived Sunday, the stadium's retractable roof was closed, but it only took 10 minutes for it to open. The retractable roof is essential in a place where it rains at least three times per year.
It also has a retractable natural grass field, which can be wheeled outside for watering.
After the game, tight end Jason Witten was more interested in talking architecture than football. He would've installed more windows in the stadium and wasn't a huge fan of the playing surface.
And since I brought it up earlier, this is the first NFL stadium to be named after an educational institution. The University of Phoenix's campuses can be found on the 14th floor of generic office buildings throughout the country. It's the only school I've ever heard of that has a parent company.
But the University of Phoenix does have at least one famous alum. The Big Aristotle himself, Shaquille O'Neal, holds his MBA from here. …
For those of you who rarely discuss your relationships with Al Michaels, dating can provide its share of pitfalls. Fortunately for Tony Romo, his recent promotion makes it easier to meet women online.
By now, it's a safe bet that you've heard rumors of something brewing between Richardson Pearce's Jessica Simpson and Romo, who in what may be the most second-guessed decision in league history, was dumped by his Florida-based girlfriend two days before becoming the starting quarterback.
I'm not sure this Simpson-Romo thing has legs, but I can confirm that he hooked up her father, Joe, with tickets to Sunday's game.
Those of us who've been in rebound relationships with famous pop stars can totally relate to what Tony's going through. …
Guard Kyle Kosier was in the middle of explaining the Cardinals' four-man defensive front to me when punter Mat McBriar walked over and said, "Look who's over there."
Lo and behold, the Great One was in the corner of the locker room chatting with Mike Vanderjagt. I left Kosier in midsentence because, well, Wayne Gretzky doesn't always show up in the post-game locker room.
After allowing him to greet Bill Parcells, I stopped by for a visit with the hockey legend, who is pals with Vanderjagt and T.O.
"Us Canadians have to stick together," said Gretzky, who was obviously referring to the kicker. Later, his wife, former model Janet Evans, forced him to pose for pictures. …
Did anyone else see right tackle Marc Colombo almost reach up and grab a short pass from Tony Romo in the first half? At 6-7, Colombo is a pretty good target. …
The Cowboys' offense spent the entire week preparing for a five-man defensive front but the Cardinals gave them a completely different look with four defensive linemen. Center Al Johnson interrupted my interview with Kosier to tell me how misguided I was in my line of questioning. …
Good to see Cardinals punter Scott Player sticking with the single-bar facemask. Player's 26-yard net average on three punts yesterday was dreadful. Meanwhile, McBriar resumed his Pro Bowl campaign by averaging 58 yards on his two punts and a net of 46. He may have been inspired by his dinner with former Cowboys kicker Billy Cundiff on Saturday. Cundiff's living in the Phoenix area while waiting for his next opportunity. …
And speaking of kickers, very interesting story in the Sunday New York Times suggesting that teams should place more emphasis on kickoff distance. I was stunned to see that Vanderjagt's average is almost 12 yards behind the league leader. You don't have to be a mathematician to know how much of a difference that makes in field position throughout the game. …
Emmitt Smith and his Dancing With the Stars partner, Cheryl Burke, were introduced to the crowd before the game. Smith and Burke have only one couple to beat before the ABC show finally ends. …
Am I the only one who thinks Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill looks like Mr. French from the groundbreaking TV show Family Affair. … Not sure how intimidating the Cardinals' rallying cry of "Protect the Nest" is. … Love the fact that Romo forgot he was supposed to hold when Vanderjagt jogged onto the field late in the first quarter. … Best homemade sign: "Coach Green needs to punch the Ask Madden button. … Saw at least two Cardinals fans wearing paper sacks over their heads. … Parcells doesn't usually sign autographs, but he did stop and pose for pictures with several fans outside the Cowboys' locker room. …
A man in a Shawne Merriman jersey lost an argument to a man in a Roger Staubach last night in the Phoenix Airport Marriott bar. The fake Roger told the fake Merriman that the Cowboys had a much tougher schedule than the Chargers. "We have to play the Giants twice," shouted fake Roger. Instead of pointing out that the Chargers play in one of the toughest divisions in football, fake Merriman hung his head in shame. Fortunately for him, the fake Jerry Porter showed up just in time to defend the AFC's honor. …
Did you know that the Chicago Cardinals were awarded the 1925 NFL title when the Pottsville Maroons violated a league policy? … Always a treat to see my friend Rodd Newhouse, who left his position with the Cardinals' scouting department to work for ESPN Scouts Inc.
On Sunday, the Cowboys used a 27-10 whipping of their former division foe to help wash away the memories from what, perhaps, was the most painful loss of the Bill Parcells Era.
The victory sets up an entertaining matchup against a Colts team that may not be as formidable as its 9-0 record would suggest.
The Colts kept their hopes for a perfect season alive with a 17-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday. But more important to the Cowboys was the fact that Atlanta, Minnesota, St. Louis, New Orleans and the Giants all lost.
In this league it's never wise to bury a team too early, unless you live in a handful of NFL cities.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded like a broken man after the loss to Washington last week, but by late Sunday afternoon, he was once again driving the playoff bus.
"Yes, I do have those goals again," he said. "If we get into the playoffs, anything can happen."
The Cowboys are talking playoffs again because of quarterback Tony Romo. Bill Parcells was hoping he had a caretaker, but after three starts, it appears he has something more.
Romo was 20-of-29 for 308 yards and two touchdowns, but the stat that really caught my eye was converting five of eight third downs through the air. The Cowboys are 25 of 44 on third-down conversions in his three starts.
Before Romo took over, the offensive line avoided eye contact with reporters for fear of being recognized. On Sunday, Kyle Kosier and Marc Colombo were striking up the band.
Romo gives them more margin for error, as evidenced by a third-and-9 play late in the first half when he sidestepped a blitzing safety and connected with Patrick Crayton for 34 yards.
The only thing that concerns Parcells about Romo is his penchant for always wanting the home run. Romo plays with a flair, and that was on full display when he raced up to the line just before the end of the first half and faked like he was going to spike it before attempting a dangerous pass to Sam Hurd.
"You won't be writing about that one," said Parcells, who added that the play should've gone 99 yards the other way.
But even a control freak like Parcells knows better than to tell Romo not to improvise. He's a highly intelligent player who needs to be able to trust his instincts.
That the Cowboys think they have a fighting chance against Peyton Manning and the high-powered Colts speaks to how far Romo has come in a relatively short time.
The only major negative to come out of Sunday's game was the loss of linebacker Greg Ellis. He has a steadying influence on the defense and he was the team's second-best pressure player.
This is bad news for a team that has struggled to get to the quarterback, but it provides rookie Bobby Carpenter with the opportunity he's been waiting on.
I know it feels like this season has lasted about two years, but in a lot of ways, it doesn't really start until Sunday.
Now, please proceed to the next portion of today's column:
Things I jotted down on my 8½x8¾-inch notepad: The brand new University of Phoenix Stadium is one of most stunning structures ever named after a private online institution.
The metallic silver exterior gives the stadium great drive-up appeal.
The 17,000,000 square-foot facility appears to have landed in the middle of the desert.
The three main entrances have 30-foot numbers in front of them, presumably in case fans are suddenly stricken with severe myopia.
When we first arrived Sunday, the stadium's retractable roof was closed, but it only took 10 minutes for it to open. The retractable roof is essential in a place where it rains at least three times per year.
It also has a retractable natural grass field, which can be wheeled outside for watering.
After the game, tight end Jason Witten was more interested in talking architecture than football. He would've installed more windows in the stadium and wasn't a huge fan of the playing surface.
And since I brought it up earlier, this is the first NFL stadium to be named after an educational institution. The University of Phoenix's campuses can be found on the 14th floor of generic office buildings throughout the country. It's the only school I've ever heard of that has a parent company.
But the University of Phoenix does have at least one famous alum. The Big Aristotle himself, Shaquille O'Neal, holds his MBA from here. …
For those of you who rarely discuss your relationships with Al Michaels, dating can provide its share of pitfalls. Fortunately for Tony Romo, his recent promotion makes it easier to meet women online.
By now, it's a safe bet that you've heard rumors of something brewing between Richardson Pearce's Jessica Simpson and Romo, who in what may be the most second-guessed decision in league history, was dumped by his Florida-based girlfriend two days before becoming the starting quarterback.
I'm not sure this Simpson-Romo thing has legs, but I can confirm that he hooked up her father, Joe, with tickets to Sunday's game.
Those of us who've been in rebound relationships with famous pop stars can totally relate to what Tony's going through. …
Guard Kyle Kosier was in the middle of explaining the Cardinals' four-man defensive front to me when punter Mat McBriar walked over and said, "Look who's over there."
Lo and behold, the Great One was in the corner of the locker room chatting with Mike Vanderjagt. I left Kosier in midsentence because, well, Wayne Gretzky doesn't always show up in the post-game locker room.
After allowing him to greet Bill Parcells, I stopped by for a visit with the hockey legend, who is pals with Vanderjagt and T.O.
"Us Canadians have to stick together," said Gretzky, who was obviously referring to the kicker. Later, his wife, former model Janet Evans, forced him to pose for pictures. …
Did anyone else see right tackle Marc Colombo almost reach up and grab a short pass from Tony Romo in the first half? At 6-7, Colombo is a pretty good target. …
The Cowboys' offense spent the entire week preparing for a five-man defensive front but the Cardinals gave them a completely different look with four defensive linemen. Center Al Johnson interrupted my interview with Kosier to tell me how misguided I was in my line of questioning. …
Good to see Cardinals punter Scott Player sticking with the single-bar facemask. Player's 26-yard net average on three punts yesterday was dreadful. Meanwhile, McBriar resumed his Pro Bowl campaign by averaging 58 yards on his two punts and a net of 46. He may have been inspired by his dinner with former Cowboys kicker Billy Cundiff on Saturday. Cundiff's living in the Phoenix area while waiting for his next opportunity. …
And speaking of kickers, very interesting story in the Sunday New York Times suggesting that teams should place more emphasis on kickoff distance. I was stunned to see that Vanderjagt's average is almost 12 yards behind the league leader. You don't have to be a mathematician to know how much of a difference that makes in field position throughout the game. …
Emmitt Smith and his Dancing With the Stars partner, Cheryl Burke, were introduced to the crowd before the game. Smith and Burke have only one couple to beat before the ABC show finally ends. …
Am I the only one who thinks Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill looks like Mr. French from the groundbreaking TV show Family Affair. … Not sure how intimidating the Cardinals' rallying cry of "Protect the Nest" is. … Love the fact that Romo forgot he was supposed to hold when Vanderjagt jogged onto the field late in the first quarter. … Best homemade sign: "Coach Green needs to punch the Ask Madden button. … Saw at least two Cardinals fans wearing paper sacks over their heads. … Parcells doesn't usually sign autographs, but he did stop and pose for pictures with several fans outside the Cowboys' locker room. …
A man in a Shawne Merriman jersey lost an argument to a man in a Roger Staubach last night in the Phoenix Airport Marriott bar. The fake Roger told the fake Merriman that the Cowboys had a much tougher schedule than the Chargers. "We have to play the Giants twice," shouted fake Roger. Instead of pointing out that the Chargers play in one of the toughest divisions in football, fake Merriman hung his head in shame. Fortunately for him, the fake Jerry Porter showed up just in time to defend the AFC's honor. …
Did you know that the Chicago Cardinals were awarded the 1925 NFL title when the Pottsville Maroons violated a league policy? … Always a treat to see my friend Rodd Newhouse, who left his position with the Cardinals' scouting department to work for ESPN Scouts Inc.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:39 PM
<< Home