-
-
-
2014-2015 Regular Season: Narrowly Escaping
From New York And Aiming To Turn Eagles Into Turkeys
-
- November 26,
2014
At 11:43 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
-
A division game – regardless of
record and seemingly specific to the NFC East (with the Dallas
Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington
Redskins) – can oftentimes be a completely illogical beast.
The only other similar NFL division is the AFC West – where the hate
between teams (Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders,
and San Diego Chargers) is just as great – but where the contests
are not nearly as competitive and far from the best.
“America’s Team” – of course – is a slightly different horse that
runs a different course (established by a self-sustaining and
unstoppable international marketing force).
When the Dallas Cowboys enjoy ANY success, the entire world is
guaranteed to hear about it from myopic fans who are first to
proudly confess.
When the Dallas Cowboys suffer through losses so gory, the entire
world is guaranteed to hear about it from news outlets ready to bump
a far more important story.
America’s Team – even in abject failure – is treated and viewed as
the “Apple” of the NFL’s eye (enough to infuriate better performing
teams (at a given time) and make others just shrug and cry).
Jerry Jones – the master of marketing machinations – makes sure
everyone knows he is the “Steve Jobs” of that Apple, even though he
regularly takes heat for his post-Jimmy-Johnson efforts more closely
resembling scrapple.
The Dallas Cowboys organization has repeatedly been valued as the
top or one of the top five sports franchises in the world for quite
a few years now – regardless of their on-field results. This fact
makes Cowboys Nation beam with extremely obnoxious,
highly-publicized pride and leaves non-fans punch drunk, worn down,
and saying “HOLY COW!” Cowboys Nation usually pushes it
further by responding with “AND HOW!”
When you add in the not-so-recent five Super Bowl wins and Lombardi
trophies – with the long history of division titles and playoff
victories to match – opponents and their fans are or become
absolutely desperate to detach (from the maddening itch they simply
cannot scratch).
While the Cowboys players regularly reap the immediate benefits of
such a star-studded existence, they also get to shoulder the
unrealistic expectations of fans with little-to-no protective
resistance. “That is why they get paid the big bucks,” and that is
why a poor performance leaves them – in postgame interviews –
feeling like sitting ducks.
It is from this delightful description "The Tortured Cowboys Fan"
can confidently segue forward into the Cowboys latest NFC East game
day.
Escape From New York
The Cowboys had beaten the New York Giants three consecutive times
heading into their latest matchup, and the Giants – no matter their
numerous performance challenges – were determined to do ANYTHING
and EVERYTHING to shut Cowboys Nation up.
Yes – for the first time in quite a while, Cowboys fans were the
ones controlling the trash talk dial. Jason Garrett – so far this
year – has his players believing fewer words and more action is best
for maximum satisfaction.
While the Cowboys were all-in on less talk, they began their latest
MetLife Stadium game seemingly locked into a sleep walk. Marinelli’s
Men were sustaining aerial dents from “Eli (Manning) and the Jersey
Gents,” and “The Han Clan” seemed a little too relaxed. The Cowboys
were down 21-10 heading towards intermission and – on hustle alone –
appeared to be getting waxed.
Marinelli’s Men have enough of a challenge continuing to play above
their skill level (without a few of their top performers to keep
sharp their leading bevel). They cannot continue to spend an entire
first half – sustaining scar after aerial scar – adjusting to and
absorbing the poor performances of one Brandon Carr. Though hustle
he may on every single play, Carr has increasingly been mussed, with
receivers increasingly and routinely leaving him in the dust.
Sterling Moore – Carr’s second-year peer – tries his best, but he,
too, only seems to encourage receivers to snore, roll their eyes,
and say: “Meh. Give it a rest!"
It is not lost on The Tortured Cowboys Fan that some
man-to-man-centric players are simply not wired for a zone defensive
secondary scheme. Carr played better – but not great – for Rob Ryan.
And for Rod Marinelli, the embattled Carr has struggled to pick up
steam. Suggesting differently would be straight up lyin’.
The Giants’ Odell Beckham, Jr. owned the Cowboys’ cornerbacks and –
if not for a hard hit that sent him to the locker room for a couple
series – he would have continued his merciless catching attack. He
had one particular “(three) fingertip catch” against – wait for it –
Brandon Carr that was simply incredible, with great control and
Matrix-style body roll. While amazing, it was neither David Tyree’s
“helmet catching” nor Santonio Holmes’ “end zone edging” (both of
which directly contributed to Super Bowl winning). Beckham’s play
was "merely" a FAB GRAB of an ugly toss for a bad team in a
week 12 loss.
 -
Beckham’s only bad moment – as a brief
aside – was when he allowed his flag-drawing antics and refereeing
semantics to collide. He was knocked out of bounds by Barry Church,
but the hit was far from the kind that would have left him in a
lurch. Beckham could not help himself and – before he gently bailed
onto the sideline shelf – he flailed. The ref proved deaf, his
attempt to draw a penalty failed, and Beckham became an early
adopter of the nickname “FLOPPER”. The NBA’s Vlade Divac is probably
saying “See? SEE?! It is not just ME!” But he would be one to talk.
Nonetheless, if Beckham had not spent his pregame warm-ups making
similar catches with ease – one after the other – his game time
effort would have been an even more impressive tease. Beckham is
just getting started and – should his slot body hold up – he is
expected to go far. The Cowboys – hopefully and by that time – will
have made the decision to abandon Brandon.
The Giants’ defenders – heading into this game – were (and are
still) learning all about the Cowboys’ personnel struggles of the
past three seasons: to field warm bodies, to keep those warm bodies
healthy, to cultivate minds or make already-capable minds more
capable, and to deliver better game day execution. The Giants
brought plenty of unbridled heart (which – for them against the
Cowboys – has always been the easy part), and believed they had the
right solution. The Cowboys finally awoke from their lingering
London lag – in the second half – as the Giants slowly began to
flag. After such a fast start, it was such a drag.
“Fred(erick) Flintstone And The Blockheads” shook off the cobwebs in
the second act after giving up a number of QB pressures and more
than one sack. They pass protected for Romo like a well-trained
security detail without fail, and they really began to plow the road
for DeMarco Murray to – once again – help him lay down the running
attack smack.
 -
The Cowboys have played several mediocre
defensive backfields this year yet Dez Bryant has consistently
struggled against those “defensive whack-fields” for reasons not
entirely clear. Opponents are ALWAYS expected to roll coverage his
way and jam him at the line, but “Dez is a Beast” – as everyone says
– and expected to unquestionably dine. He should be regularly
chucking defenders aside – like one Michael Irvin used to do – and
gobbling up passes like PEZ, through and through. He finally got it
together – after a slow start – catching more than a few and scoring
two in pretty good weather.
 -
 -
Cole Beasley – the short, swift, slot
shot who collected big yardage on two quick catches – also scored
rather easily. Even Jason “Staying Into Block” Witten was allowed to
“go out and play” with four catches and his own touchdown on the
day.
 -
Terrence Williams managed one catch
before suffering an injury dispatch. While he sustained a dislocated
pinky, through his second year he has shown good durability.
Tony Romo continued his increasingly sound play, especially with the
protection he had all day. While things (eventually) went according
to plan, it was still a bit disturbing to see Romo shuffling around
the pocket like a delicate old man. It is his spine – which the
medical staff says he will be fine – and Cowboys Nation can only
hope they ain’t lyin’.
Though for a half it was less than great, the Cowboys won the game
31-28. It was their fourth consecutive win against the G-Men, yet
fans can trust the Giants will be fixated on preventing another
“Escape From New York” from ever happening again.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Thanksgiving Day is nearly here, and it is a symbolic opportunity
for all Americans to show appreciation for all they hold dear: from
family and friends to some items so material . . . to other things
unexplainable or possibly ethereal.
While Cowboys Nation should be thankful for their team finally (re)discovering
a winning theme, they remain rightfully suspicious of this year’s
incarnation, which may (still) find a way to ruin their postseason
dream.
The Philadelphia Eagles – just one year ago – had DeSean Jackson,
the diminutive receiver who made (and still makes) so many opponents
look so slow. He of the long ball – and (still) plenty of “catch me
if you can” gall – has essentially been replaced with Darren Sproles
(a highly productive “micro-back” who is just as capable of
exploiting defensive coverage holes). He achieves his success by
receiving the ball “out in space” where he typically and viciously
picks up the pace. He also plies his craft on the occasional
kickoff, where special teamers sometimes can only helplessly watch
as he takes off.
The Dallas Cowboys – just one year ago – shut down the Eagles’ same
high-octane offense while narrowly losing an exciting, “for
all-the-marbles” season-ender (without Tony Romo and with even fewer
quality players already lost to the inescapable injury blender).
 -
A much better and healthier Dallas team
would ensure improved results, it would seem. Anything less –
barring more untimely injuries or horrible coaching philosophies –
would simply make no sense and dull the gleam.
The Eagles are the next team in line who would feel just fine if the
Cowboys were to suddenly jump off a cliff. There would be nary a
whimper, hardly a sniff.
The “City Of Brotherly Hate” is undoubtedly ready for their
Thanksgiving date (with the usual piss and vinegar and intentions so
sinister).
The Eagles – for once – have to play with their backup QB. Mark
Sanchez – a former first-round bust and supposed dunce, you see?
Nick Foles was lost to a broken collarbone, and the Eagles needed
someone else to guide them into the end zone.
Sanchez has been playing well – save for one rotten day against
Green Bay – though still bitter, battered, and bruised Jets fans are
remain hopeful he fails in his second chance and simply cannot
answer the bell).
Will the new-and-improved Dallas Cowboys have enough to stall out
the Eagles’ fast-break stuff?
Will the Cowboys waste another first half with unimaginable fluff –
only to come back too late with not nearly enough – and have to
endure from the Eagles some serious game-winning guff?
Will Cowboys Nation be treated to a fine-feathered meal, or will
they be made to taste Philly brand shoe heel?
Will the Cowboys take the lead in the NFC East, or will Philadelphia
be enjoying a Thanksgiving feast?
We shall see. We always do.
|
