SN Scouts: Cowboys As Good As Advertised
Posted By Zig Fracassi 9:14 AM
So many of the preseason annuals and many of the sports talk hosts around the country seemed to be in agreement that the Dallas Cowboys would be the NFC's representative in Super Bowl XXXIII in Tampa, Fla. Obviously, there are 15 more regular season games to go, with the potential for injuries and the usual ups and downs, but Sunday's 28-10 win over the Cleveland Browns would attest, "America's Team" might indeed be good as advertised.
Choosing to get the negative aspects out of the way, the Cowboys were charged with a staggering 11 penalties, including two on 3rd downs in the series that would ultimately lead to the Browns only touchdown. Also, there has to be concern about the health of back Marion Barber, who left the game with badly bruised ribs. X-Rays were negative, but owner Jerry Jones admitted there could be cartilage damage. It wasn't immediately known how much time, if any, Barber would miss. Other than those negatives, the Cowboys certainly looked like a team that would justify its considerable hype.
The Cowboys racked up 487 yards of offense against a Browns team that clearly missed LB Antwan Peek, who's done for the season. QB Tony Romo could have had a steak dinner, then dessert, before the Browns so called pass rush would have gotten to him. Jessica's boyfriend completed 24 passes in 32 attempts for 320 yards and a score, including a 35-yard rope to Terrell Owens. Barber had 80 yards and a pair of scoring runs before departing. But never fear, Felix Jones is here. The Cowboys co-1st round pick, along with corner Mike Jenkins, came in and averaged nearly 7 yards a carry on 9 attempts and had a huge run called back by penalty. Dallas was also a staggering 8 of 11 on 3rd downs, which allow a team to keep drives alive, as well as the opposition on the field.
Defensively, sans a penalty which kept Cleveland's touchdown drive alive, corner Adam Jones performed well, keeping Braylon Edwards in check. Fellow newcomer Zach Thomas was in on 5 tackles and put some pressure on QB Derek Anderson. The ‘Boys allowed just 205 yards and 10 points to a club that averaged just over 25 points a game a year ago.
Granted, things figure to be a little tougher for the Cowboys this week. The team gets a visit from the Eagles, who's defensive coordinator Jim Johnson concocted a scheme that limited Dallas to just 6 points in the 2nd meeting between the clubs last season, after the ‘Boys hung 38 on them earlier in the year. But, should Dallas get by their longtime NFC East rivals, one could forsee them being possibly 8 and 0 before their 1st meeting with the team that knocked them out of the playoffs, the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
It may be a bit premature to put the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, but if they deliver more performances like they did against a playoff caliber team like Browns on the road, then Dallas will indeed be as good as advertised.
So many of the preseason annuals and many of the sports talk hosts around the country seemed to be in agreement that the Dallas Cowboys would be the NFC's representative in Super Bowl XXXIII in Tampa, Fla. Obviously, there are 15 more regular season games to go, with the potential for injuries and the usual ups and downs, but Sunday's 28-10 win over the Cleveland Browns would attest, "America's Team" might indeed be good as advertised.
Choosing to get the negative aspects out of the way, the Cowboys were charged with a staggering 11 penalties, including two on 3rd downs in the series that would ultimately lead to the Browns only touchdown. Also, there has to be concern about the health of back Marion Barber, who left the game with badly bruised ribs. X-Rays were negative, but owner Jerry Jones admitted there could be cartilage damage. It wasn't immediately known how much time, if any, Barber would miss. Other than those negatives, the Cowboys certainly looked like a team that would justify its considerable hype.
The Cowboys racked up 487 yards of offense against a Browns team that clearly missed LB Antwan Peek, who's done for the season. QB Tony Romo could have had a steak dinner, then dessert, before the Browns so called pass rush would have gotten to him. Jessica's boyfriend completed 24 passes in 32 attempts for 320 yards and a score, including a 35-yard rope to Terrell Owens. Barber had 80 yards and a pair of scoring runs before departing. But never fear, Felix Jones is here. The Cowboys co-1st round pick, along with corner Mike Jenkins, came in and averaged nearly 7 yards a carry on 9 attempts and had a huge run called back by penalty. Dallas was also a staggering 8 of 11 on 3rd downs, which allow a team to keep drives alive, as well as the opposition on the field.
Defensively, sans a penalty which kept Cleveland's touchdown drive alive, corner Adam Jones performed well, keeping Braylon Edwards in check. Fellow newcomer Zach Thomas was in on 5 tackles and put some pressure on QB Derek Anderson. The ‘Boys allowed just 205 yards and 10 points to a club that averaged just over 25 points a game a year ago.
Granted, things figure to be a little tougher for the Cowboys this week. The team gets a visit from the Eagles, who's defensive coordinator Jim Johnson concocted a scheme that limited Dallas to just 6 points in the 2nd meeting between the clubs last season, after the ‘Boys hung 38 on them earlier in the year. But, should Dallas get by their longtime NFC East rivals, one could forsee them being possibly 8 and 0 before their 1st meeting with the team that knocked them out of the playoffs, the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
It may be a bit premature to put the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, but if they deliver more performances like they did against a playoff caliber team like Browns on the road, then Dallas will indeed be as good as advertised.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:57 PM
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