Cowboys simply find a way to win
BY JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
IRVING, Texas — Although they occasionally drive you crazy because of their flaws, these Dallas Cowboys are a special bunch for one reason: They continually find ways to win.
An onside kick recovery against the Buffalo Bills and subsequent field goal on the final play. A blocked field goal return for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. Four touchdowns from Terrell Owens against the Washington Redskins.
An interception return touchdown by Terence Newman against the New York Jets. Four touchdown passes by Tony Romo against the Green Bay Packers.
The list could go on and on and on.
Understand, the Cowboys used to find new and exciting ways to lose several games a year as recently as last season. And, no, it didn’t matter that Bill Parcells was their coach.
That’s not a knock on Parcells, simply a fact.
You remember the debacle against Washington last year, when the Cowboys somehow attempted a game-winning field goal on the final play of a tie game and it turned into a gutwrenching loss.
How about the loss at Seattle in 2005, when Drew Bledsoe threw one of the worst interceptions in NFL history as Dallas allowed 10 points in the final 40 seconds to blow a seven-point lead ? And we really don’t even need to talk about the botched snap against the Seahawks in the playoffs last season.
Now, though, luck is on the Cowboys’ side.
The Cowboys are 12-1 because their young talent stockpiled over the past five seasons has matured. These days — like all good teams — they find ways to win instead of lose. More important, Dallas can beat you multiple ways.
Most weeks, the offense is good enough to get the job done without much help.
On the weeks it isn’t, the defense can do the job like it did in victories this season over Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota and even Green Bay, when it made Brett Favre look every bit of his 38 years. What’s been impressive is the big role special teams have played in victories over Chicago, Buffalo and Minnesota.
None of this is happenstance.
During the past few years, the Cowboys have systematically filled their roster with playmakers. They’re simply reaping the benefits from that approach.
Actually, it’s a simple philosophy they’re following. Draft or sign players who were playmakers in college, and odds are, if they can play at the NFL level, they will be playmakers at pro football’s highest level.
Terence Newman. Roy Williams. DeMarcus Ware. Jason Witten. Terrell Owens. Greg Ellis. Each was signed or drafted to be a differencemaker in close games.
Others such as Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Chris Canty, Bradie James, Jay Ratliff and Patrick Crayton have developed into playmakers.
See, this roster is loaded with players who can change the complexion of a game on a single play.
Against the Detroit Lions, were you really surprised when Ware harassed Jon Kitna on the game’s most important third down and forced an incompletion ? Were you really surprised when Romo led a flawless fourth-quarter drive in the last two minutes ? Or when Witten caught the game-winning touchdown with 18 seconds left ?
“When a team plays as well as Detroit did,” Jerry Jones said, “you’re supposed to lose.” Except that these Cowboys have been making big plays with the game on the line all season.
It’s the reason they’re 6-0 on the road and have nine come-from-behind victories.
They never, ever panic.
Don’t forget, they rallied from a 14-3 deficit to take a 24-21 lead over the New England Patriots before succumbing, 48-27. If not for Kyle Kosier’s holding penalty, which negated a fourth-and-1 conversion in the fourth quarter, the game might not have been decided until the final minute.
At the time, the Cowboys trailed 31-24.
“This is the first team I’ve been a part of that plays all the way to the end in every game,” said Flozell Adams, a man of few words. “We continue to persevere and hammer away until we win.” Perhaps that’s why you didn’t hear any players apologizing for their 28-27 win over Detroit.
In the past, they know the Cowboys would’ve lost that game. No doubt.
Times have changed.
IRVING, Texas — Although they occasionally drive you crazy because of their flaws, these Dallas Cowboys are a special bunch for one reason: They continually find ways to win.
An onside kick recovery against the Buffalo Bills and subsequent field goal on the final play. A blocked field goal return for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. Four touchdowns from Terrell Owens against the Washington Redskins.
An interception return touchdown by Terence Newman against the New York Jets. Four touchdown passes by Tony Romo against the Green Bay Packers.
The list could go on and on and on.
Understand, the Cowboys used to find new and exciting ways to lose several games a year as recently as last season. And, no, it didn’t matter that Bill Parcells was their coach.
That’s not a knock on Parcells, simply a fact.
You remember the debacle against Washington last year, when the Cowboys somehow attempted a game-winning field goal on the final play of a tie game and it turned into a gutwrenching loss.
How about the loss at Seattle in 2005, when Drew Bledsoe threw one of the worst interceptions in NFL history as Dallas allowed 10 points in the final 40 seconds to blow a seven-point lead ? And we really don’t even need to talk about the botched snap against the Seahawks in the playoffs last season.
Now, though, luck is on the Cowboys’ side.
The Cowboys are 12-1 because their young talent stockpiled over the past five seasons has matured. These days — like all good teams — they find ways to win instead of lose. More important, Dallas can beat you multiple ways.
Most weeks, the offense is good enough to get the job done without much help.
On the weeks it isn’t, the defense can do the job like it did in victories this season over Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota and even Green Bay, when it made Brett Favre look every bit of his 38 years. What’s been impressive is the big role special teams have played in victories over Chicago, Buffalo and Minnesota.
None of this is happenstance.
During the past few years, the Cowboys have systematically filled their roster with playmakers. They’re simply reaping the benefits from that approach.
Actually, it’s a simple philosophy they’re following. Draft or sign players who were playmakers in college, and odds are, if they can play at the NFL level, they will be playmakers at pro football’s highest level.
Terence Newman. Roy Williams. DeMarcus Ware. Jason Witten. Terrell Owens. Greg Ellis. Each was signed or drafted to be a differencemaker in close games.
Others such as Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Chris Canty, Bradie James, Jay Ratliff and Patrick Crayton have developed into playmakers.
See, this roster is loaded with players who can change the complexion of a game on a single play.
Against the Detroit Lions, were you really surprised when Ware harassed Jon Kitna on the game’s most important third down and forced an incompletion ? Were you really surprised when Romo led a flawless fourth-quarter drive in the last two minutes ? Or when Witten caught the game-winning touchdown with 18 seconds left ?
“When a team plays as well as Detroit did,” Jerry Jones said, “you’re supposed to lose.” Except that these Cowboys have been making big plays with the game on the line all season.
It’s the reason they’re 6-0 on the road and have nine come-from-behind victories.
They never, ever panic.
Don’t forget, they rallied from a 14-3 deficit to take a 24-21 lead over the New England Patriots before succumbing, 48-27. If not for Kyle Kosier’s holding penalty, which negated a fourth-and-1 conversion in the fourth quarter, the game might not have been decided until the final minute.
At the time, the Cowboys trailed 31-24.
“This is the first team I’ve been a part of that plays all the way to the end in every game,” said Flozell Adams, a man of few words. “We continue to persevere and hammer away until we win.” Perhaps that’s why you didn’t hear any players apologizing for their 28-27 win over Detroit.
In the past, they know the Cowboys would’ve lost that game. No doubt.
Times have changed.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:47 AM
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