Cowboys strong enough to overcame early errors
By Scott Garbarini, Sports Network -- The Sports Network
Published: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Dallas Cowboys may not have had their sharpest performance of the season in this past Sunday's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, but it was good enough to continue the franchise's best start since its glory days of more than a decade ago.
The Cowboys dug themselves into a first-half hole with two early turnovers on Sunday, but a stout showing on defense and a momentum-changing play on special teams propelled the current NFC front-runners to a workmanlike 24-14 home decision over the Vikings. With the triumph, Dallas became the conference's first six-win team this season and enabled the game to maintain a one-game lead over the hard-charging New York Giants for first place in the NFC East standings.
At 6-1, the Cowboys have produced their best beginning to a campaign since 1995, when the team ripped off eight victories over the first nine games en route to its last Super Bowl title. However, it was a win that turned out to be tougher than it probably should have been.
Dallas outgained the offensively-challenged Vikings by a whopping 250-76 margin in total yards during the first half, yet remarkably went into the break trailing by a 14-7 score because of a pair of costly miscues and a missed 50-yard field goal try by rookie kicker Nick Folk.
The first turnover, a fumble by Tony Romo after the banged-up quarterback was sacked by Minnesota's Kenechi Udeze, ended a second-quarter drive in which the Cowboys had driven to their opponent's four-yard line with the score knotted at 7-7. Dallas managed to avoid potential disaster, however, when a holding penalty by the Vikings negated defensive tackle Kevin Williams' 84-yard touchdown return on the play.
The Cowboys couldn't avoid such a pratfall on their next offensive series. Wide receiver Patrick Crayton fumbled at the Minnesota 40-yard line after making a short catch, with the Vikings' Ben Leber recovering and lateraling the ball to cornerback Cedric Griffin, who raced into the end zone to give the visitors a shocking 14-7 advantage.
"Obviously we made some mistakes in the first half that really hurt us," said Dallas head coach Wade Phillips.
Griffin's score would be the final points generated by the Vikings on the afternoon, however. The Dallas defense forced a three-and-out on Minnesota's second possession of the third quarter to set up a game-tying touchdown drive, and the Cowboys went ahead to stay just minutes later when defensive end Chris Canty blocked a Ryan Longwell field goal attempt and safety Patrick Watkins returned the rejection 68 yards for a 21-14 Dallas lead.
Minnesota mustered just three first downs the rest of the way and were held to a mere 196 total yards by the Cowboys, including a paltry 65 net yards through the air.
"It was a hard-fought game, we knew it would be," said Phillips. "But our guys, if there's any doubt what kind of heart they have or what kind of character they have, we saw it again. Any time we fall behind, they seem to keep their poise and keep doing what they're doing."
BLOCK PARTY
Watkins' tide-turning touchdown was the first blocked field goal return for a score by the Cowboys since September 25, 1983, when Ron Fellows took back a kick blocked by legendary defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones against New Orleans. Phillips personally witnessed that touchdown as the Saints' defensive coordinator, while his father, Bum, was New Orleans' head coach at the time.
It was also the first career touchdown for Watkins, who has been relegated to mainly a special-teams role this season after starting nine games at free safety as a rookie in 2006.
"It felt good because I haven't had my hands on the ball," said Watkins of the play. "I figured I may never get another chance like that, so I had to take full advantage."
ON TARGET
Tight end Jason Witten caught a career-high 10 passes for 86 yards in Sunday's victory and now ranks second among all NFC receivers with 42 receptions on the year. The three-time Pro Bowl selection also tops the conference's tight end contingent with 540 receiving yards and is on pace for the first 1,000-yard season of his five-year career.
BACK TO THE RANCH
Dallas' upcoming bye week comes at a pretty good time, especially for Romo, who strained his right hamstring while attempting to make a tackle on Griffin's touchdown return late in the first half. The confident quarterback did not miss any time, but was clearly limited by the injury. After completing 28-of-32 passes for 231 yards over the first two quarters, Romo went just 3- of-7 for 46 yards in the second half.
The only other significant injury suffered by the Cowboys during Sunday's game was a calf contusion to reserve linebacker Justin Rogers, which could sideline the rookie for a few weeks.
In other team injury news, Phillips is hopeful that starting cornerback Anthony Henry, who sat out his third consecutive contest with a high ankle sprain, will be able to go when the Cowboys return to action at Philadelphia on November 4. Regular fullback Oliver Hoyte, out since Week 2 with a neck sprain, also could be available for that game.
Following the bye, Dallas begins a crucial stretch of three straight games against fellow NFC East opponents, two of which will take place on the road. The Cowboys will visit Philadelphia in Week 9 before traveling to the Meadowlands for a showdown with the red-hot Giants. That will be followed by a November 18 matchup with the rival Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium.
Published: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Dallas Cowboys may not have had their sharpest performance of the season in this past Sunday's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, but it was good enough to continue the franchise's best start since its glory days of more than a decade ago.
The Cowboys dug themselves into a first-half hole with two early turnovers on Sunday, but a stout showing on defense and a momentum-changing play on special teams propelled the current NFC front-runners to a workmanlike 24-14 home decision over the Vikings. With the triumph, Dallas became the conference's first six-win team this season and enabled the game to maintain a one-game lead over the hard-charging New York Giants for first place in the NFC East standings.
At 6-1, the Cowboys have produced their best beginning to a campaign since 1995, when the team ripped off eight victories over the first nine games en route to its last Super Bowl title. However, it was a win that turned out to be tougher than it probably should have been.
Dallas outgained the offensively-challenged Vikings by a whopping 250-76 margin in total yards during the first half, yet remarkably went into the break trailing by a 14-7 score because of a pair of costly miscues and a missed 50-yard field goal try by rookie kicker Nick Folk.
The first turnover, a fumble by Tony Romo after the banged-up quarterback was sacked by Minnesota's Kenechi Udeze, ended a second-quarter drive in which the Cowboys had driven to their opponent's four-yard line with the score knotted at 7-7. Dallas managed to avoid potential disaster, however, when a holding penalty by the Vikings negated defensive tackle Kevin Williams' 84-yard touchdown return on the play.
The Cowboys couldn't avoid such a pratfall on their next offensive series. Wide receiver Patrick Crayton fumbled at the Minnesota 40-yard line after making a short catch, with the Vikings' Ben Leber recovering and lateraling the ball to cornerback Cedric Griffin, who raced into the end zone to give the visitors a shocking 14-7 advantage.
"Obviously we made some mistakes in the first half that really hurt us," said Dallas head coach Wade Phillips.
Griffin's score would be the final points generated by the Vikings on the afternoon, however. The Dallas defense forced a three-and-out on Minnesota's second possession of the third quarter to set up a game-tying touchdown drive, and the Cowboys went ahead to stay just minutes later when defensive end Chris Canty blocked a Ryan Longwell field goal attempt and safety Patrick Watkins returned the rejection 68 yards for a 21-14 Dallas lead.
Minnesota mustered just three first downs the rest of the way and were held to a mere 196 total yards by the Cowboys, including a paltry 65 net yards through the air.
"It was a hard-fought game, we knew it would be," said Phillips. "But our guys, if there's any doubt what kind of heart they have or what kind of character they have, we saw it again. Any time we fall behind, they seem to keep their poise and keep doing what they're doing."
BLOCK PARTY
Watkins' tide-turning touchdown was the first blocked field goal return for a score by the Cowboys since September 25, 1983, when Ron Fellows took back a kick blocked by legendary defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones against New Orleans. Phillips personally witnessed that touchdown as the Saints' defensive coordinator, while his father, Bum, was New Orleans' head coach at the time.
It was also the first career touchdown for Watkins, who has been relegated to mainly a special-teams role this season after starting nine games at free safety as a rookie in 2006.
"It felt good because I haven't had my hands on the ball," said Watkins of the play. "I figured I may never get another chance like that, so I had to take full advantage."
ON TARGET
Tight end Jason Witten caught a career-high 10 passes for 86 yards in Sunday's victory and now ranks second among all NFC receivers with 42 receptions on the year. The three-time Pro Bowl selection also tops the conference's tight end contingent with 540 receiving yards and is on pace for the first 1,000-yard season of his five-year career.
BACK TO THE RANCH
Dallas' upcoming bye week comes at a pretty good time, especially for Romo, who strained his right hamstring while attempting to make a tackle on Griffin's touchdown return late in the first half. The confident quarterback did not miss any time, but was clearly limited by the injury. After completing 28-of-32 passes for 231 yards over the first two quarters, Romo went just 3- of-7 for 46 yards in the second half.
The only other significant injury suffered by the Cowboys during Sunday's game was a calf contusion to reserve linebacker Justin Rogers, which could sideline the rookie for a few weeks.
In other team injury news, Phillips is hopeful that starting cornerback Anthony Henry, who sat out his third consecutive contest with a high ankle sprain, will be able to go when the Cowboys return to action at Philadelphia on November 4. Regular fullback Oliver Hoyte, out since Week 2 with a neck sprain, also could be available for that game.
Following the bye, Dallas begins a crucial stretch of three straight games against fellow NFC East opponents, two of which will take place on the road. The Cowboys will visit Philadelphia in Week 9 before traveling to the Meadowlands for a showdown with the red-hot Giants. That will be followed by a November 18 matchup with the rival Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:55 AM
<< Home