Another cold December for Dallas Cowboys
by Tim Cowlishaw
IRVING – When it comes to December, the Cowboys of 2007 look way too much like the Cowboys of 2006.
This was supposed to be the year the Cowboys didn't crater in the season's final month. Wade Phillips' softer training camp and low-key approach was supposed to make that happen.
It's not working.
Only through the generosity and ineptitude of the Detroit Lions did the Cowboys escape defeat last week. They weren't so lucky against an eight-loss Eagles team Sunday, losing 10-6 and now possibly needing to win out on the road to assure themselves of home-field advantage in the NFC.
"Maybe it was good for us," said Terrell Owens, irrelevant for the second Sunday in a row. "It's a gut check. We've got to go out now and win the next two on the road."
Tony Romo, who undoubtedly will learn this week he is headed to a second Pro Bowl, was bad Sunday. Unbelievably bad based on the legendary status he has gained so quickly.
It probably had more to do with the right thumb that was heavily bandaged after the game than it did that Jessica Simpson was on hand to watch her hero.
Romo was 13-for-36 with three interceptions. The Cowboys' offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 26-3 loss to Cincinnati in 2004.
"We still have a chance to do what we want to do," Romo said. "If we win the Super Bowl, then this was a good loss. If we go out in the first round, it was a bad loss. It all depends on what happens."
Romo could not explain his inaccuracy but if he injured his thumb in the middle of the game, as he said, then it wasn't all about the thumb. He started off 0-for-6. By the middle of the second quarter, he was 2-for-12.
Last week it was a leaky defense that couldn't stop the Lions' running game. This week it was an offense that couldn't get out of its own way.
When you hit December playing like this, it doesn't matter what your record is. You can get beat.
"A lot of times the team that ends up winning it all is a team that goes into the playoffs on a high note," Romo said.
That team is not the Cowboys.
Last year's team lost three of its last four regular-season games to blow the NFC East and land in a wild- card spot. Then they lost to Seattle, and that was the end for Bill Parcells.
This team gave up on the run too early Sunday and relied too heavily on a passing attack that was never sharp.
The Cowboys managed to clinch a first-round bye Sunday only because the Seattle Seahawks lost in Carolina, where the Cowboys must play Saturday night.
"That was our next goal, [but] we didn't expect to make it that way," Phillips said.
The Cowboys have lost twice in Texas Stadium this season, so we know two things about the team they will play here in the playoffs the weekend of Jan. 13.
One is that that team will know Dallas is beatable here.
The other is that that team will come here with some confidence after winning a first-round game the previous week while the Cowboys are off.
"Better [to lose] now than in the playoffs," linebacker Greg Ellis said. "But there's a fine line there. You have to be careful because you want to have confidence going into the playoffs."
These Cowboys say they remain confident. Nobody really expects Romo to have a game like this again.
There is a real possibility that this team will recover from this defeat and win in Carolina and Washington. That would secure the best record in team history and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
That would make Sunday's loss forgettable.
Any other conclusion in these last two games, and this loss will be memorable and meaningful.
IRVING – When it comes to December, the Cowboys of 2007 look way too much like the Cowboys of 2006.
This was supposed to be the year the Cowboys didn't crater in the season's final month. Wade Phillips' softer training camp and low-key approach was supposed to make that happen.
It's not working.
Only through the generosity and ineptitude of the Detroit Lions did the Cowboys escape defeat last week. They weren't so lucky against an eight-loss Eagles team Sunday, losing 10-6 and now possibly needing to win out on the road to assure themselves of home-field advantage in the NFC.
"Maybe it was good for us," said Terrell Owens, irrelevant for the second Sunday in a row. "It's a gut check. We've got to go out now and win the next two on the road."
Tony Romo, who undoubtedly will learn this week he is headed to a second Pro Bowl, was bad Sunday. Unbelievably bad based on the legendary status he has gained so quickly.
It probably had more to do with the right thumb that was heavily bandaged after the game than it did that Jessica Simpson was on hand to watch her hero.
Romo was 13-for-36 with three interceptions. The Cowboys' offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 26-3 loss to Cincinnati in 2004.
"We still have a chance to do what we want to do," Romo said. "If we win the Super Bowl, then this was a good loss. If we go out in the first round, it was a bad loss. It all depends on what happens."
Romo could not explain his inaccuracy but if he injured his thumb in the middle of the game, as he said, then it wasn't all about the thumb. He started off 0-for-6. By the middle of the second quarter, he was 2-for-12.
Last week it was a leaky defense that couldn't stop the Lions' running game. This week it was an offense that couldn't get out of its own way.
When you hit December playing like this, it doesn't matter what your record is. You can get beat.
"A lot of times the team that ends up winning it all is a team that goes into the playoffs on a high note," Romo said.
That team is not the Cowboys.
Last year's team lost three of its last four regular-season games to blow the NFC East and land in a wild- card spot. Then they lost to Seattle, and that was the end for Bill Parcells.
This team gave up on the run too early Sunday and relied too heavily on a passing attack that was never sharp.
The Cowboys managed to clinch a first-round bye Sunday only because the Seattle Seahawks lost in Carolina, where the Cowboys must play Saturday night.
"That was our next goal, [but] we didn't expect to make it that way," Phillips said.
The Cowboys have lost twice in Texas Stadium this season, so we know two things about the team they will play here in the playoffs the weekend of Jan. 13.
One is that that team will know Dallas is beatable here.
The other is that that team will come here with some confidence after winning a first-round game the previous week while the Cowboys are off.
"Better [to lose] now than in the playoffs," linebacker Greg Ellis said. "But there's a fine line there. You have to be careful because you want to have confidence going into the playoffs."
These Cowboys say they remain confident. Nobody really expects Romo to have a game like this again.
There is a real possibility that this team will recover from this defeat and win in Carolina and Washington. That would secure the best record in team history and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
That would make Sunday's loss forgettable.
Any other conclusion in these last two games, and this loss will be memorable and meaningful.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:57 PM
<< Home