'Boys of destiny?
Several signs are pointing to a magical season for the Cowboys
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- Considering some of the events that have occurred this season and the Cowboys are still 12-1, it's time to kick Logic out of the room. He has no place here.
Whereas in recent seasons, the Cowboys invented painful ways to lose games, they continue to ride this wave of good fortune, good players and stupefying plays to some captivating conclusions.
Given some of the events that have occurred this season, it is simply time to embrace what can be described as luck, or just one of those once-every-decade type of years. It's a season that has instilled a championship level of confidence throughout the Cowboys that regardless of the circumstance, something good will happen. It has all the makings of a This Is Their Year-type season.
"It's about time. It's about time," linebacker Bradie James said. "We are due for a few good things. So when we get good things, for guys that have busted their tails and are working hard, it feels good. We've been scratching and crawling and come up short so many times, now we're attaining success."
This was a team that in recent seasons was the Stephen King of the NFL's most horrific finishes.
Who can forget the gag jobs in the final minutes against the Washington Redskins or Seattle Seahawks in 2005? Or the especially painful conclusions in Philadelphia, Washington and the playoff loss in Seattle last season?
"Last year, you could feel it sometimes. It's guys [thinking, 'We lost the game,'" linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "Now, if the defense doesn't play well or the offense doesn't play well, we don't care. It's all about having each other's back."
Even though the Cowboys have won nine games by double digits, they have won two by one point.
After their 28-27 victory against Detroit on Sunday, the Cowboys celebrated their second one-point win of the season. The last time they won a game by one point before this season was in 2005; the previous time was 2003.
As unlikely as their victory was against the Lions, it doesn't top their one-point win at Buffalo on Oct. 8.
"I think anytime you experience a Buffalo game, then there's not any game where there's no hope that this team can overcome," coach Wade Phillips said. "We believe we can make plays or somebody's going to do something to help win the game."
Yet to look at the entire season, why should this be a surprise? Look at some of the events that have happened to put them in this position:
Tony Romo proved that, after his out-of-body start in 2006 and disappointing finish, he is a franchise quarterback.
Greg Ellis has come back from his torn Achilles' to start playing on Oct. 8 and lead the team with 11 1/2 sacks.
After nose tackle Jason Ferguson suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener, former seventh-round pick Jay Ratliff became the starter and arguably the team's best defensive lineman.
Despite not having receiver Terry Glenn at all this season, the Cowboys' passing offense ranks third in the NFL.
Now look at the finer points:
Third-string tight end Tony Curtis recovered an onside kick with 18 seconds remaining in Buffalo to set up what would be the eventual game-winning, 53-yard field goal with no time remaining. Romo turned the ball over six times that night.
Guard Kyle Kosier recovered a Romo fumble to keep the Cowboys' game-winning drive alive against the Lions.
"I mean, it's kind of hard to put your finger on what's going on," cornerback Terence Newman said. "In Buffalo, we could have been blown out in that game. Same way [in Detroit]."
But they weren't blown out, and instead won the type of game they had no business winning. It was the type of game that in previous years would not have been won.
"It's good to have some of those games go our way for a change," Ellis said. "I've been a part of enough of them that didn't go our way in situations like that."
And the Cowboys don't really care if it's logical or not.
ONLINE: dallascowboys.com
* * *
They have won two road games in the final 18 seconds, including an improbable 25-24 win at Buffalo on the last play.
Wade Phillips is the second head coach in the Super Bowl era to start a season 12-1 in his first season with a new team.
The team has fumbled 17 times, but amazingly has lost only five. They fumbled three times against the Lions, but lost only one.
STARS ALL ALIGNED
The Cowboys have been good and lucky this season, which might mean they're destined to make it to Super Bowl XLII and perhaps win it. Why is it destiny? Try the following:
They are 12-1 for the first time in franchise history and are the best team in the NFC.
They have won six road games this season, tying for the second-most in team history and matching the most for Dallas since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule. In four of the seven previous seasons in which the Cowboys won six road games, they also won Super Bowl titles.
In his first season as a full-time starter, Tony Romo is shattering nearly all the club's passing marks. He's thrown a touchdown in a club-record 17 consecutive games, and set the single-season mark for touchdown passes with 35.
Several players are having career seasons, including veterans Terrell Owens (12th year) and linebacker Greg Ellis (10th).
They have scored on two interception returns, a fumble return and a blocked field goal return.
Cowboys' playoff situation
Have clinched at least one home playoff game.
Can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win Sunday against the Eagles and a Packers loss to the Rams.
Can clinch a first-round bye with a win or a Seahawks loss to the Panthers.
With a first-round bye, the Cowboys would play in the NFC divisional playoffs Jan. 12 or 13.
COWBOYS VS. EAGLES, 3:15 P.M. SUNDAY, KDFW/CH. 4
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- Considering some of the events that have occurred this season and the Cowboys are still 12-1, it's time to kick Logic out of the room. He has no place here.
Whereas in recent seasons, the Cowboys invented painful ways to lose games, they continue to ride this wave of good fortune, good players and stupefying plays to some captivating conclusions.
Given some of the events that have occurred this season, it is simply time to embrace what can be described as luck, or just one of those once-every-decade type of years. It's a season that has instilled a championship level of confidence throughout the Cowboys that regardless of the circumstance, something good will happen. It has all the makings of a This Is Their Year-type season.
"It's about time. It's about time," linebacker Bradie James said. "We are due for a few good things. So when we get good things, for guys that have busted their tails and are working hard, it feels good. We've been scratching and crawling and come up short so many times, now we're attaining success."
This was a team that in recent seasons was the Stephen King of the NFL's most horrific finishes.
Who can forget the gag jobs in the final minutes against the Washington Redskins or Seattle Seahawks in 2005? Or the especially painful conclusions in Philadelphia, Washington and the playoff loss in Seattle last season?
"Last year, you could feel it sometimes. It's guys [thinking, 'We lost the game,'" linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "Now, if the defense doesn't play well or the offense doesn't play well, we don't care. It's all about having each other's back."
Even though the Cowboys have won nine games by double digits, they have won two by one point.
After their 28-27 victory against Detroit on Sunday, the Cowboys celebrated their second one-point win of the season. The last time they won a game by one point before this season was in 2005; the previous time was 2003.
As unlikely as their victory was against the Lions, it doesn't top their one-point win at Buffalo on Oct. 8.
"I think anytime you experience a Buffalo game, then there's not any game where there's no hope that this team can overcome," coach Wade Phillips said. "We believe we can make plays or somebody's going to do something to help win the game."
Yet to look at the entire season, why should this be a surprise? Look at some of the events that have happened to put them in this position:
Tony Romo proved that, after his out-of-body start in 2006 and disappointing finish, he is a franchise quarterback.
Greg Ellis has come back from his torn Achilles' to start playing on Oct. 8 and lead the team with 11 1/2 sacks.
After nose tackle Jason Ferguson suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener, former seventh-round pick Jay Ratliff became the starter and arguably the team's best defensive lineman.
Despite not having receiver Terry Glenn at all this season, the Cowboys' passing offense ranks third in the NFL.
Now look at the finer points:
Third-string tight end Tony Curtis recovered an onside kick with 18 seconds remaining in Buffalo to set up what would be the eventual game-winning, 53-yard field goal with no time remaining. Romo turned the ball over six times that night.
Guard Kyle Kosier recovered a Romo fumble to keep the Cowboys' game-winning drive alive against the Lions.
"I mean, it's kind of hard to put your finger on what's going on," cornerback Terence Newman said. "In Buffalo, we could have been blown out in that game. Same way [in Detroit]."
But they weren't blown out, and instead won the type of game they had no business winning. It was the type of game that in previous years would not have been won.
"It's good to have some of those games go our way for a change," Ellis said. "I've been a part of enough of them that didn't go our way in situations like that."
And the Cowboys don't really care if it's logical or not.
ONLINE: dallascowboys.com
* * *
They have won two road games in the final 18 seconds, including an improbable 25-24 win at Buffalo on the last play.
Wade Phillips is the second head coach in the Super Bowl era to start a season 12-1 in his first season with a new team.
The team has fumbled 17 times, but amazingly has lost only five. They fumbled three times against the Lions, but lost only one.
STARS ALL ALIGNED
The Cowboys have been good and lucky this season, which might mean they're destined to make it to Super Bowl XLII and perhaps win it. Why is it destiny? Try the following:
They are 12-1 for the first time in franchise history and are the best team in the NFC.
They have won six road games this season, tying for the second-most in team history and matching the most for Dallas since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule. In four of the seven previous seasons in which the Cowboys won six road games, they also won Super Bowl titles.
In his first season as a full-time starter, Tony Romo is shattering nearly all the club's passing marks. He's thrown a touchdown in a club-record 17 consecutive games, and set the single-season mark for touchdown passes with 35.
Several players are having career seasons, including veterans Terrell Owens (12th year) and linebacker Greg Ellis (10th).
They have scored on two interception returns, a fumble return and a blocked field goal return.
Cowboys' playoff situation
Have clinched at least one home playoff game.
Can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win Sunday against the Eagles and a Packers loss to the Rams.
Can clinch a first-round bye with a win or a Seahawks loss to the Panthers.
With a first-round bye, the Cowboys would play in the NFC divisional playoffs Jan. 12 or 13.
COWBOYS VS. EAGLES, 3:15 P.M. SUNDAY, KDFW/CH. 4
posted by The Gryphon at 7:43 AM
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