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2009-2010 Postseason: Postgame -
Birds Beaten Thrice With Cowboys
Preparing For Viking Snow And Ice
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- January 14,
2010
At 1:45 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
Contents Under Pressure
The Cowboys may have won the NFC East division crown last week by
demolishing the Philadelphia Eagles, but they were sure to crack
under such enormous expectations to win their first playoff game in
over 12 years.
The Cowboys surely must have expended all their energy just to win
the last game of the regular season – leaving nothing for their
playoff game.
The Cowboys surely did not have nearly enough nerve to beat the
hated Eagles for the third time in the same season.
The Cowboys surely were reduced to a defective can of cooking spray
– succumbing to the incredible pressure that had psychologically
beaten them down time and time again . . . year after painful year.
Cowboys’ haters were hoping – even praying – that Dallas would
suffer another timely implosion.
Anyone who watched the nationally-televised NFC Wild Card Round
playoff game between the Cowboys and the Eagles – last Saturday
evening – will tell their children and their children’s children of
anything but another first round playoff collapse by America’s Team.
Dallas exploded with such concussive force that – by game’s end –
the Eagles more resembled barbequed chickens than vengeful birds of
prey.
The Eagles – rather than their fans – turned out to be the ones
praying . . . for the game to end at halftime.
The Boys broke out the broom and swept the Eagles right out of
Cowboys Stadium with a resounding 34-14 victory that was bigger than
the score indicated.
Bravo To The Defense
Wade Phillips – for the second straight week – drew up another
dazzling defensive game plan, allowing Dallas defenders to deftly
dominate like Doomsday defenses from back in the day.
Everyone – even the Cowboys – were expecting the Eagles’ offense to
really show its talons from start to finish, but it became apparent
from the start that – against Wade’s boys – the Eagles were finished
before they got started.
The Cowboys – like experienced marksmen – shot down every Eagles
attempt to fly high, go deep, and score big.
The Eagles enjoyed only two successful scoring opportunities as a
result of a slip and slide moment in the second quarter – and the
temporary relaxation of the Cowboys’ defense to start the fourth
quarter.
The Cowboys’ Mike Jenkins would have easily prevented the Eagles’
Jeremy Maclin from turning Michael Vick’s short Wild Cat pass into a
76 yard touchdown catch – if not for a slick surface in the left
flat.
The birds briefly enjoyed a banana peel bonanza, and their second
score was buoyed by a boneheaded breach of behavior by Cowboys’
safety Ken Hamlin – but more on that later.
The Cowboys – in general – continued their aggressive flight
patterns for the second straight week, conquering all manner of
offensive efforts from a fine-feathered foe that was expected to get
after it with grid iron go routes and grind away with a Wild Cat
ground game.
The Bradie Bunch and Brooking's Boys delivered four more sacks – "oneth
by Bradie James, oneth by Anthony Spencer, and twoeth by DeMarcus Ware"
– with the rest of the defense pitching in to hit Eagles’ QB Donavon McNabb nine
times.
The Cowboys defense generated three fumble recoveries – "oneth by
Bradie James and twoeth by Bobby Carpenter," who continues to embrace
his increased playing time and responsibilities like a mature but
hungry veteran.
Mike Jenkins grabbed the only interception of the game for either
side, but he could not help himself – losing an ill-timed lateral to
the other team. Cute can get you killed in a close contest – and
Jenkins will think better of such handoff hijinks for the
foreseeable future.
Two of the more amazing accomplishments for the Cowboys’ defense
were, first, the fact that 36 of 38 total tackles were solo –
meaning individual players were actually wrapping up with proper
technique – and, second, Jay Ratliff was involved in not one of
them.
The Cowboys’ defense went two hugely important games in a row with
two equally important players – in Keith Brooking and Jay Ratliff –
not having to really get their hands dirty, which is a compliment to
capable players within a confident unit.
If fans think the Cowboys’ defense is playing well now, imagine how
well they will play if Brooking and Ratliff decide to force their
involvement against their next formidable opponent, the Minnesota
Vikings.
Bravo To The Offense
Jason Garrett – for the second straight week – drew up another
outstanding offensive game plan, allowing the Dallas offense to
outmaneuver Eagles defenders through another rope-a-dope mix of
passing and running plays.
Everyone – even the Cowboys – were expecting the Eagles’ defense to
really swoop down with blitz after aggressive blitz from start to
finish, but it became apparent from the start that – against the
Cowboys’ offense – the Eagles were going to be swept before their
defense began swooping.
The Cowboys stoned nearly every Eagles attempt to pick, sack, strip,
and stop.
The Cowboys – once again – won all of the battles that counted.
The Cowboys won the time of possession battle.
The Cowboys won the first down battle.
The Cowboys won the third down efficiency battle.
The Cowboys won the passing efficiency battle.
The Cowboys won the rushing efficiency battle.
The Cowboys won the rushing yardage battle.
The Cowboys won the red zone efficiency battle.
The Cowboys won the turnover battle.
While Tony Romo outperformed Donovan McNabb in passing efficiency,
passing yardage, and average yardage per pass, the Cowboys actually
lost the passing yardage battle to the combined yardage of McNabb
and Michael Vick – where Mike Jenkins juked himself right out of his
jock and Maclin made the most of the Eagles’ only monster scoring
moment.
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- The Cowboys received another round
of solid performances out of Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Patrick
Crayton, 3rd string tight end John Phillips, Kevin Ogletree, and Roy
"I'm Not Dead Yet" Williams.
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- Yes, the Roy Williams - of the big
contract and little results - delivered several big catches. While
the yardage was not Austin-like, Roy's greatly appreciated efforts
helped move the chains and kept the Eagles' defense ever-paranoid of
the Cowboys' sometimes spread offense.
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- Now, if only Martellus Bennett can
display more proof of life - just like Roy - I can stop talking
about his imminent ouster, John Phillips, but I digress . . .
Marion Barber attempted to re-team with Felix Jones for another
steady, strong, and speedy rushing performance, but – after three
carries and four painful yards – Barber and his knee booboo gave way
to Jones’s fleet feet and a potent performance of 148 yards on 16
carries, with a blazing 73 yard touchdown.
Tashard Choice did his part with a little over 40 rushing yards and
one touchdown – before leaving the game with what appeared to be a
mild concussion . . . another one.
Bravo To The Special Teams
Joe DeCamillis – for the second straight week – drew up another
stifling game plan, allowing the Dallas special teams unit to
strangle Eagles kick returners to the turf, preventing them from
tip-toeing through tacklers on the way to timely touchdowns.
Everyone – even the Cowboys – were expecting the Eagles’ special
teams to give talented but diminutive DeSean "Big Sting" Jackson a big jump
start, but it became apparent from the start that – outside of Maclin’s 21 yard return – the Eagles’ were going to be more stagnant
and stumped than special.
The Cowboys return game provided good yardage and zero mistakes from
Patrick Crayton, Felix Jones, and Kevin Ogletree. Crayton came close
to claiming a touchdown, too
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- Shaun Suisham had a good game -
making all of his kicks with a long of 48 - and Mat McBriar did
extremely well against his Australian counterpart, Eagles punter Sav Rocca.
The Cowboys continue to covet competent, confident, clutch kicking
in conquering their competitors. The Cowboys' kickers just need to
keep it coming.
Bravo To Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones – for the umpteenth straight week of the Cowboys’ season
– has remained patient with his team, his coaching staff, and any renewed
financial commitments he may be considering.
Jerry – depending upon your perspective – should keep everyone
guessing as to what he is going to do about contract extensions for
the coaching staff until the season has officially concluded.
The Cowboys’ coaching staff has only earned the right to coach for
another week.
Wade to Jason – and all coaches in-between – should not be
encouraged to think they have new money in the bag until every last
ounce of blood has been squeezed from this post season.
Jerry should continue to keep his coaching contract cards as close
to his vest as possible until America’s Team has fulfilled its
maximum playoff potential, rather than reaching the bare post season
minimum.
Persistent Penalties
Cowboys’ penalties have become plentiful and persistent – with the
potential possibility of growing on trees.
Professional proven players are producing a pronounced number of
penalties.
Fans want very badly to believe the errors are a simple extension of
nerves with so much playoff success at stake for the Cowboys.
Excitement is certainly understandable – but so much anxiety that it
produces 112 yards on 14 penalties?
When your team collects penalty yardage beyond the century mark, it
no longer matters that you amassed four fewer penalty yards than
your opponent. But - 14 penalties? Did the Oakland Raiders sneak
into the playoffs dressed as America’s Team? Are the real Cowboys
bound, gagged, and hidden in the visitor locker room of Oakland
Coliseum?
There is irony in these errors in that the usual suspect – Flozell
Adams – has been penalty free for much of the last few games. Does
the rest of the team have an excuse for being so penalty prone at
the most important part of the season? No excuse – and there is
never an excuse for so many mistakes.
While the penalties do not seem to have an effect on Jason Witten’s
still-excellent pass catching abilities, he knows better, he can do
better, and he must do better.
Ken Hamlin did not have to head butt Jeremy Maclin. He could have
simply walked away, and he knows he should have done so. While the
penalties do not seem to have an effect on Hamlin’s improving
ability to hit and wrap up opposing receivers – he knows better, he
can do better, and he must do better.
The Cowboys have remarkably managed to outplay their mistakes over
the past few games, but if they encounter a team that is uncommonly
suited to taking advantage of mental errors, then, the Cowboys will
be in trouble.
The teams the Cowboys will be facing as they go deeper in the
playoffs – with every new game they manage to win – will be harder
and harder to defeat whenever sloppy play is added to the mix.
The penalties must stop growing on trees, reliable star players must
stop making abnormal or unnatural mental errors, and the rest of the
players must follow their lead.
Do Not Misinterpret This
Win
If Cowboys fans have learned one thing in particular about their
hard-charging Dallas Cowboys since mid-December, it is that their
talented team is not talented enough to under prepare.
The Cowboys – as I have repeated at nauseum – beat the Eagles in
back to back games, because they respected what an angry and
cornered division rival could and would attempt to do to them in a
“win or go home” rematch.
The Cowboys cannot and should not misinterpret what kind of effort
will be necessary to win any further playoff games against tougher
opponents than the Eagles.
More Of The Same Or Else
The Cowboys must take the same approach with every single team they
face in their ongoing playoff mission - or else - and the Minnesota
Vikings are the next big challenge.
The Cowboys cannot assume that they are facing the same ole’ Brett
Favre on Sunday afternoon in the Metrodome. It is arguable that
Favre has greater offensive weapons on his team than he ever had
during his most successful years with the Green Bay Packers.
The Cowboys cannot assume that problems in the Vikings’ offensive
and defensive lines – exposed by the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina
Panthers during the regular season – can be exploited again by their
own personnel.
The Cowboys cannot and should not misinterpret their chances against
a very potent Vikings’ aerial attack – and against a tough-as-nails
running back who is overdue for a break out game.
The Cowboys cannot and should not underestimate what the Vikings may
bring to bear.
The Cowboys must make every reasonable effort – just like last week
and the week before – to prepare for all that is the Vikings . . .
rather than some.
Voices around the NFL have suggested the Cowboys present a big
defensive mismatch for Favre and his offensive teammates.
This mismatch may be real, and it may be in the Cowboys’ favor, but
it will only be favorable if the Cowboys utilize the right schemes
and timely rotations that keep their deep defensive unit fresh
throughout the game.
The Cowboys’ defenders will have to make sure a potential strangle
hold on the Vikings’ ground game does not turn into Adrian Peterson
eating up quick chunks of passing yardage – out in the flat –
against overmatched linebackers.
Other NFL teams will explain that you never want to allow Peterson
to build up a head of steam from any area of the field. The Cowboys
cannot afford to overlook his backfield mate – Chester Taylor –
either. He is plenty capable and elusive in his own right.
If the Cowboys defenders can force the Vikings to become as
one-dimensional as the Eagles – getting aggressive and solid
pressure on Favre and mercilessly jamming all of his receiving
weapons – then, the Cowboys will have as good a chance as any team
to beat the Vikings.
While the Cowboys may have the advantage on defense, the Cowboys’
offense will have to contend with a generally stingy Vikings defense
as well. Tony Romo will have to keep an eye on Jared Allen and his
buddies as often as Brett Favre will have to keep an eye on DeMarcus
Ware and the rest of the Bradie Bunch.
It will be very nice if the Cowboys can put the Vikings on ice – but
it is not a given – and it will not be easy. Favre has no interest
in repeating personal playoff performances of the past two years,
and the Cowboys – once again – have to be ready for anything.
Past Performances Do Not
Indicate Future Results
Will the Cowboys make the mistake of assuming they are facing the
Packers’ beatable Favre rather than the Vikings’ better Favre?
Will the Cowboys assume Adrian Peterson will not try anything and
everything to get his hands on the ball – and his bulldozing legs
down the field?
Will the Cowboys play another rope-a-dope mix on offense?
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- Will Marion Barber be able to beat
back his "Battle at Wounded Knee" in order to help his team maintain
a running theme?
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- Will Roy be ready to run his routes
right for Romo - and the rest of his receiving regulars - in his arms race against a frenetic Favre?
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- Will Martellus be man enough to make
even a minor difference on offense - or will he continue his playing
time free fall in the face of the fantastic third string sensation
John Phillips?
Will the Cowboys' defense be a dangerous, determined, and dominant
dynamo - succeeding with an aggressive ball-hawking, sack producing,
turnover creating scheme?
Will the Cowboys play a finely-tuned special teams scheme to prevent
Percy Harvin from pouncing on any positive return yards?
Will the Cowboys part ways with their persistent penalties?
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- Will the Cowboys silence the
snow-dwelling sonic sirens of the Metrodome?
Will the Cowboys vanquish the Vikings? They can – but will they?
We shall see. We always do.
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