Cowboys Insider: Unsung heroes make an impact
Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has undoubtedly spent hours this week dissecting every move Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and other vital cogs in the Dallas Cowboys machine have made this season.
BUt Belichick would also be wise to warn his team about Sam Hurd, Tony Curtis, Jay Ratliff and even Pat McQuistan.
The NFL doesn’t keep statistics on so-called “hustle plays,” but if it did, the Cowboys likely would be among the league leaders.
Dallas had three big ones in the final chaotic 6:05 of their improbable 25-24 come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
It all started with Terence Newman intercepting a Trent Edwards pass and returning it 70 yards before getting hauled down by Lee Evans and fumbling at the Bills’ 25-yard line.
But before Buffalo could pounce on the loose ball, Ratliff seemingly came out of nowhere to recover it at the 17.
The play earned the defensive lineman a game ball from Wade Phillips.
“He’s a nose guard, and he ran 70-something yards all the way down the field and recovered the football,” an impressed Phillips said. “If they would have gotten the ball, they would have had at least three more plays, which would have been more than 20 seconds in the game, and we wouldn’t have gotten to that point where we could win it (on a last-play field goal).
“I know that’s one of those ifs, but plays like that are the difference in winning and losing, and he made a special one there.”
More “special ones” followed.
Trailing 24-22 after Tony Romo threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton and the 2-point conversion attempt failed, the Cowboys lined up for an onside kick with 20 seconds left. Nick Folk’s kick was a beauty, sailing high and traveling the required 10 yards.
But before the ball came down, Hurd rushed forward to push it to the Buffalo 47, where Curtis recovered. Four plays later, Folk kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired to give the Cowboys a miraculous victory.
“You saw Sam go up and hit it with great effort,” Phillips said. “And if you noticed, there were people closer to the ball than Curtis when it hit. But you see him accelerate and go get the football.”
For their efforts, Hurd and Curtis also got game balls.
“I just think those kind of things you need to point out because they make differences in ball games,” Phillips said.
That certainly was the case against in Week 3 when the 6-foot-6, 311-pound McQuistan chased down Adam Archuleta at the Dallas 46 after the Chicago safety raced 48 yards with the ball following a blocked field goal.
Phillips rewarded McQuistan with a game ball after the Cowboys’ 34-10 victory.
Give credit to Phillips for recognizing the team’s unsung heroes. Game balls are important to players, and everyone on the team -- even scrubs like McQuistant -- now know they can earn one.
“It’s not always the star players that win you games,” Phillips said. “It’s not always the guys that play every snap.”
Five reasons the Patriots will beat the Cowboys
1. The craziness that took place in Western New York took a lot out of Dallas. And playing on Monday night cost them a much-needed day of preparation.
2. Randy Moss is 6-0 against the Cowboys. In those six games, he’s caught 29 passes for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns. Do you really think Jacques Reeves and Roy Williams stand a chance one on one against him?
3. Pressuring Tom Brady is the key to a Cowboys’ victory. Unfortunately for Dallas, the Patriots have had three games where they didn’t give up a sack and have allowed only three all season. That kind of protection is a big reason why Brady is completing a ridiculous 74.1 percent of his passes.
4. Romo will be confused in his debut against Bill Belichick’s defense.
5. Phillips’ “black mark” comment to Peter King of HBO’s Inside the NFL will have the Pats seeing red. And don’t forget Terrell Owens disrespected them in Week 2 when he spoofed Spygate after he scored a touchdown against the Dolphins.
Five reasons why the Cowboys will beat the Patriots
1. Phillips and Brian Stewart have a long history against the Patriots. They know this team inside out and will devise a plan to take away a vital element of New England’s offense.
2. The game means more to the Cowboys, who want to prove they are an elite team. The Patriots achieved that status long ago and will be caught looking ahead to their trip to Indianapolis in Week 9. All week long, they’ve said this is just another game. That kind of thinking will catch up with them Sunday in the second half when the Cowboys typically shine.
3. The Patriots' linebackers are no match for tight end Jason Witten.
4. Romo will follow one of his worst games with one of his best, using his mobility to make play after play.
5. The Patriots’ best cover corner, Asante Samuel, has been great this season with three interceptions, but he’s only 5 foot 10, 185 pounds and struggles against big receivers. That means he’s no match for Owens, who burned the Pats for nine receptions and 122 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX. And don’t forget Owens is coming off two bad games and is determined to outshine Randy Moss.
Prediction: I like that this game means more to the Cowboys, but I keep remembering what former New York Jets running back Curtis Martin once said about Belichick: “He’s like the Bobby Fischer of football. When you give that guy time to plan for you and prepare for you, he’s going to dissect you. He’s going to take your whole strategy apart. And no matter what you do, he has an answer for it.” Think about it: With the Patriots facing the lowly Browns at home last week, hasn’t Belichick really had two weeks to prepare for the Cowboys? I also don’t like what has taken place on the eve of this game. I’m talking about King reporting that Phillips told him he considers spygate a “blackmark” on the Patriots’ success this decade. Belichick will make sure his team knows all about that comment. But the main reason I’m picking the Patriots to win 35-28 is this: The Cowboys secondary can’t stop Moss, especially with the Patriots’ superb offensive line protecting Brady.
San Antonio Express-News
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has undoubtedly spent hours this week dissecting every move Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and other vital cogs in the Dallas Cowboys machine have made this season.
BUt Belichick would also be wise to warn his team about Sam Hurd, Tony Curtis, Jay Ratliff and even Pat McQuistan.
The NFL doesn’t keep statistics on so-called “hustle plays,” but if it did, the Cowboys likely would be among the league leaders.
Dallas had three big ones in the final chaotic 6:05 of their improbable 25-24 come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
It all started with Terence Newman intercepting a Trent Edwards pass and returning it 70 yards before getting hauled down by Lee Evans and fumbling at the Bills’ 25-yard line.
But before Buffalo could pounce on the loose ball, Ratliff seemingly came out of nowhere to recover it at the 17.
The play earned the defensive lineman a game ball from Wade Phillips.
“He’s a nose guard, and he ran 70-something yards all the way down the field and recovered the football,” an impressed Phillips said. “If they would have gotten the ball, they would have had at least three more plays, which would have been more than 20 seconds in the game, and we wouldn’t have gotten to that point where we could win it (on a last-play field goal).
“I know that’s one of those ifs, but plays like that are the difference in winning and losing, and he made a special one there.”
More “special ones” followed.
Trailing 24-22 after Tony Romo threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton and the 2-point conversion attempt failed, the Cowboys lined up for an onside kick with 20 seconds left. Nick Folk’s kick was a beauty, sailing high and traveling the required 10 yards.
But before the ball came down, Hurd rushed forward to push it to the Buffalo 47, where Curtis recovered. Four plays later, Folk kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired to give the Cowboys a miraculous victory.
“You saw Sam go up and hit it with great effort,” Phillips said. “And if you noticed, there were people closer to the ball than Curtis when it hit. But you see him accelerate and go get the football.”
For their efforts, Hurd and Curtis also got game balls.
“I just think those kind of things you need to point out because they make differences in ball games,” Phillips said.
That certainly was the case against in Week 3 when the 6-foot-6, 311-pound McQuistan chased down Adam Archuleta at the Dallas 46 after the Chicago safety raced 48 yards with the ball following a blocked field goal.
Phillips rewarded McQuistan with a game ball after the Cowboys’ 34-10 victory.
Give credit to Phillips for recognizing the team’s unsung heroes. Game balls are important to players, and everyone on the team -- even scrubs like McQuistant -- now know they can earn one.
“It’s not always the star players that win you games,” Phillips said. “It’s not always the guys that play every snap.”
Five reasons the Patriots will beat the Cowboys
1. The craziness that took place in Western New York took a lot out of Dallas. And playing on Monday night cost them a much-needed day of preparation.
2. Randy Moss is 6-0 against the Cowboys. In those six games, he’s caught 29 passes for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns. Do you really think Jacques Reeves and Roy Williams stand a chance one on one against him?
3. Pressuring Tom Brady is the key to a Cowboys’ victory. Unfortunately for Dallas, the Patriots have had three games where they didn’t give up a sack and have allowed only three all season. That kind of protection is a big reason why Brady is completing a ridiculous 74.1 percent of his passes.
4. Romo will be confused in his debut against Bill Belichick’s defense.
5. Phillips’ “black mark” comment to Peter King of HBO’s Inside the NFL will have the Pats seeing red. And don’t forget Terrell Owens disrespected them in Week 2 when he spoofed Spygate after he scored a touchdown against the Dolphins.
Five reasons why the Cowboys will beat the Patriots
1. Phillips and Brian Stewart have a long history against the Patriots. They know this team inside out and will devise a plan to take away a vital element of New England’s offense.
2. The game means more to the Cowboys, who want to prove they are an elite team. The Patriots achieved that status long ago and will be caught looking ahead to their trip to Indianapolis in Week 9. All week long, they’ve said this is just another game. That kind of thinking will catch up with them Sunday in the second half when the Cowboys typically shine.
3. The Patriots' linebackers are no match for tight end Jason Witten.
4. Romo will follow one of his worst games with one of his best, using his mobility to make play after play.
5. The Patriots’ best cover corner, Asante Samuel, has been great this season with three interceptions, but he’s only 5 foot 10, 185 pounds and struggles against big receivers. That means he’s no match for Owens, who burned the Pats for nine receptions and 122 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX. And don’t forget Owens is coming off two bad games and is determined to outshine Randy Moss.
Prediction: I like that this game means more to the Cowboys, but I keep remembering what former New York Jets running back Curtis Martin once said about Belichick: “He’s like the Bobby Fischer of football. When you give that guy time to plan for you and prepare for you, he’s going to dissect you. He’s going to take your whole strategy apart. And no matter what you do, he has an answer for it.” Think about it: With the Patriots facing the lowly Browns at home last week, hasn’t Belichick really had two weeks to prepare for the Cowboys? I also don’t like what has taken place on the eve of this game. I’m talking about King reporting that Phillips told him he considers spygate a “blackmark” on the Patriots’ success this decade. Belichick will make sure his team knows all about that comment. But the main reason I’m picking the Patriots to win 35-28 is this: The Cowboys secondary can’t stop Moss, especially with the Patriots’ superb offensive line protecting Brady.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:26 PM
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