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2014-2015 Regular Season: Cowboys
Rule Rush Street
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- December 5,
2014
At 12:10 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “America’s Team” and their fans had
hoped to enjoy some Philadelphia fricassee on Thanksgiving Day, but
the Eagles were the only team ready to play.
Fans and prognosticators – many but not all – had hoped the Cowboys
were finally past the corrosive “Cowpoke Choke” . . . only to see
Garrett’s Gang fall because their opponent was more willing to go
for broke.
The Dallas Cowboys – as a reward for allowing themselves to be
mercilessly gored – had to 10 days to go cold turkey (sandwiches) .
. . before heading to the Windy City – like the 13th Warrior –to
face the Chicago Bears and avenge another past horror.
The Chicago Bears and their fans were understandably hopeful the
Cowboys would – once again – succumb to the bitter cold bite of the
Monsters of the Midway on NFL Network Thursday.
While the Bears were suffering through their very own version of
“Cowboys Chaos” – QB catastrophes, numerous injuries, and defensive
disasters . . . Chicago has consistently proven – over the past few
years – to be the Cowboys’ masters.
Would the Cowboys follow up turkey day torture by talon with another
grizzly end . . . or would Dallas man up, contend, and start a new
winning trend?
The Cold Got Old
Cowboys Nation was hoping for a December to remember – which ideally
began with forgetting a Dallas Thanksgiving turkey . . . that tasted
like dirt-rubbed beef jerky.
The last time the Cowboys faced the Bears in the Windy City . . .
the weather scared them stiff, and the result was pretty icky. This
time around, the weather was much better when the cleats touched the
ground.
Oh the weather was not so frightful
To prevent conditions more delightful
And since it was not cold enough to snow
Execute and make that play! Goal to go!
After both teams spent much of the first quarter stalling drives and
looking out of order . . . the Cowboys began the scoring with a
1-yard end zone plunge by DeMarco Murray – the rushing yardage
sponge.
The Bears followed up with one of their own – with a Cutler strike
to Martellus “Much Better” Bennett in the middle of the Marinelli
zone . . . making fans groan while he reached the end zone.
Dallas came back – with another deliberate,
drive-the-length-of-the-field attack – as Tony Romo found Cole
Beasely rather easily.
The second half began with Dallas enjoying even more success with
their plan. Coal Beasley struck again and then Gavin Escobar did not
have to go too far . . . followed by Joseph “The Underwear Vandal”
Randle with a fast scramble. The Cowboys quickly found themselves up
35-7 heading into the fourth quarter and – for player and fan alike
– it felt like heaven.
Marinelli’s Men – particularly the secondary – got cocky and sloppy
. . . allowing the Bears to wake up, score three of their own, and
make what was going to be a comfortable fourth quarter lead a little
rocky.
Dallas added two Dan Bailey kicks, tightened the defense up, and got
in a few more licks before the game clock reached its final ticks.
The Cowboys showed no signs of stopping
And Dallas defenders found receivers for popping
The Bears hopes were turned way down low
Bears glass chin, Cowboys win, way to go!
Murray would finish with nearly 180 more rushing yards, almost 50
more receiving . . . and with another opposing defense very much
believing. The Cowboys were – once again – marching to Murray’s beat
. . . and – on this day – they would rule Chicago’s Rush Street.
Romo would continue his low yardage, high efficiency onslaught –
hitting on 21 of 26 for just over 200 yards and three touchdowns . .
. while continuing to work within the system and give all he’s got.
Dallas survived a fourth quarter wave . . . of desperate claws and
emerged victorious from the Bears’ Soldier Field cave. The cold
finally got old, and the Cowboys – so mentally prepared – were
determined to compete and be bold.
Dallas, however, must continue to learn . . . the lesson of “Play
60” if a successful return to the postseason is something they are
to earn.
Will They Or Won’t They?
While Dallas left Chicago smelling like a fresh floral bouquet, they
need to be better against the team they are preparing to play.
America’s Team left AT&T Stadium – on Thanksgiving – having put on
an extremely poor display against the Philadelphia Eagles that day.
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- The Cowboys may have beaten the
Bears – to a man – with a quality game plan, but they still head to
the Linc having not yet removed their robust Thanksgiving stink.
Dallas defeated Seattle earlier this season . . . and Seattle’s
defeat of Philly was awfully pleasin’.
Will Dallas take defensive lessons learned from a less-potent
Seahawks team . . . to beat the feathers off of Philly and build up
their postseason steam?
Will the Cowboys stick to their season-long balanced design – that
runs the clock, scores some points, protects their defense . . . and
– more often than not – leaves Dallas looking just fine?
Will the Cowboys collectively and individually do their jobs . . .
to avoid – once again – resembling Philly cheese steak globs?
We shall see. We always do.
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