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2014-2015 Regular Season: Cowboys
Corral Colts And Ready For Redskins
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- December 23,
2014
At 11:56 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “America’s Team” – always a national
television attraction – had finished off the flippant Philadelphia
flyers in fitting fashion.
Cowboys Nation had all of one fine evening to behold how Dallas
faced Philly and did not fold . . . before hearing prognosticators
begin to debate how the Cowboys might control their playoff fate.
Dallas would learn – by game time – the Washington Redskins had
taken down a softened-up Eagles team . . . moving the Cowboys one
critical step closer to achieving their playoff dream.
Dallas was preparing to face the Indianapolis Colts – who had
already claimed their second consecutive AFC South division crown.
The Colts were not the desperate San Diego Chargers – in grave
danger of missing their tournament ticket – coming to town.
The Colts were a team that had (and continue to have) every excuse
to rest weary star players . . . or potentially risk unfulfilled
postseason prayers.
Andrew Luck’s favorite airtime targets – T.Y. Hilton and Reggie
Wayne – were dinged up . . . with Hilton ruled out and Reggie
playing through a torn triceps but producing little gain.
While the Colts’ physical challenges were well-documented leading up
to this game . . . they still had Luck and enough capability across
the roster to deliver a result that was anything but tame. Jason
Garrett may have the Cowboys all-in on the “next man up” theme, but
that approach is certainly not exclusive to America’s Team.
The Dallas Cowboys and their fans were – and remain – veterans of
the NFL injury strain. Cowboys Nation have fantasized about how many
playoff berths Dallas might have realized . . . with the healthy
assistance of current (Sean Lee, Justin Durant) and former team
members (DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff) to help stoke performance
embers.
The NFL – however and with so much parody – continues to mean “Not
For Long” if you continue to miss the playoff party. The time is
here and now – for the Dallas Cowboys to stop merely knocking on the
tournament door . . . but to kick it in, and how.
Would the Cowboys prove too emotionally spent . . . from muscling an
Eagles team that could no longer afford to pay first place rent?
Would the Colts play like the Bolts, go for broke, and try to force
a Cowboys choke?
Horseshoes And Hand
Grenades
Indianapolis won the coin toss but – strangely – chose to defer
receiving the football until the second half. Successful late game
surges by the Colts may have swayed the decision of their coaching
staff.
The Colts kicked off, and the Cowboys got underway. They made it to
their own 48 before the Colts began to show that they came to play.
The Colts had the Cowboys ready to punt when they were suddenly called
for taunting. Jerrell Freeman was a mental runt . . . and his 15
yard penalty would prove haunting.
The Cowboys used a mix of the usual suspects – Tony Romo, DeMarco
Murray, and Witten – before connecting with Dez Bryant on a 4 yard
score . . . and were ready for more. The refs would object – however – due to a Murray 5 yard
illegal motion penalty. Once that issue was squared away, “The Han
Clan” allowed Terrance Williams to come out and play. Romo quickly
tagged him with a 9 yard touchdown pass . . . and what came next –
and for the rest of the game – would have the Colts completely
vexed. Dan Bailey made his extra point kick to make the touchdown
officially click . . . and the Cowboys – far from crass – were about to become the
teachers of an unexpected football 101 class.
The Colts got their first offensive shot, and the Cowboys proved too
hot. They were forced to punt, but the Colts chose a trick play
stunt . . . and their punter – Pat McAfee – blew his assignment,
delivered poor pass alignment, and ensured
another progress stunter.
The Cowboys took over and – before confused Colts fans could pull
out a four leaf clover – Romo hit Bryant on a 19 yard touchdown dart
. . . adding to what would – by day's end – become quite an offensive work of art.
The Colts gagged again – on their next possession – and they began
to resemble helpless Romans in a hungry lion’s den.
From the first to the second quarter, the Colts continued to look
out of order. The Cowboys made a smooth transition . . . with a Romo
24 yard touchdown pass to Cole Beasley to continue their scoring
mission. The Cowboys popped their offensive claws – like Wolverine –
and there was no one stop the fight or to intervene.
After Marinelli’s Men delivered another defensive stop, Romo and Co.
were – once again – ready to pop. They marched down the field – from
their own 33 – and a 1 yard Murray touchdown did that series yield.
After yet another Colts drive went nowhere – and just when fans thought
Indianapolis could no longer care – their defense decided to play . .
. causing the Cowboys to punt for the first time all day.
Luck was given another chance (with a little under 2 minutes left
before intermission), the Colts’ offense looked ready to really
advance, and their poor play
appeared to finally be in remission. Luck drove the Colts from their
own 25 down to the Cowboys’ 22 . . . when another of Marinelli’s Men
joined the party, too. J.J. Wilcox intercepted a deep middle pass
intended for Coby Fleener, and the Dallas defense could not have
performed much cleaner.
The Cowboys led 28-0 at the half and everyone – from fans to
prognosticators – was too shocked to laugh. Were the Cowboys really
winning THIS easily . . . or were the playoff-bound Colts simply
sleepwalking through the contest so uncaringly?
More than “a few” within Cowboys Nation – who have been conditioned
to see Dallas prepped-and-ready for offseason vacation – might have been screaming
that it was time to rest the Cowboys’ best. What to do, what to do .
. . and did the refined roster depth really exist to sit any of
you-know-who?
Luck had previously proven capable of a courageous comeback and many
“around the NFL world” were still absolutely shocked – as in
disrespectful disbelief – at how handily the Colts were getting
clocked . . . without ANY Luck-powered relief.
Jason Garrett knew what to do – with critical playoff entry, a division title, and tournament seeding still at hand . . . as “almost” only
counts for horseshoes and hand grenades in “Cowboy Land”. Garrett maintained his method and was determined to rest his best
. . . only when HE believed their goals were satisfied – or no
longer achievable – would his starters be officially through.
The second half began as spectacularly as the first – with rookie
linebacker Anthony Hitchens displaying uncommon burst in picking off a Luck pass at the Colts’ 24,
which was
intended for Reggie Wayne – and Marinelli’s Men showing a thirst to
increase the pain.
The Cowboys took possession and went into wind-the-clock mode . . .
but remained vigilant having not yet achieved formal access to the
coveted postseason road. They
stalled at the Colts’ 34, but a rare Dan Bailey field goal miss was
wide right and surprisingly poor.
Bailey’s forgivable fail mattered not, as the Cowboys would soon
enough scratch that scoring itch and hit the spot . . . with Romo to
Witten for 25 yards and another touchdown caught. The score was 35
to nothing – with the Colts showing absolutely no sign of adjusting.
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- It was clear that Luck had lost his pluck and veteran backup Matt Hasselbeck
entered the game to relieve Indy's still-young buck. While the Colts braved another offensive
possession, it ended in a way that might have finally send them over the
edge and into confession. The Colts had progressed nearly 30 yards
when Hasselbeck was sacked by Orlando Scandrick – causing a fumble
to humble – and George Selvie jumped all over it to complete his
unit’s
turnover hat trick.
The Cowboys had excellent field position near the 50 – to end the
third quarter – and they had once again entered the Colts’ red zone
so nifty . . . when Joseph “The Underwear Vandal” Randle
streaked to the Colts’ 14 and coughed up the rock. Cowboys Nation
was simply too busy enjoying the show to groan at Randle for not eating more clock.
The Colts got the ball back with a predictable end. Hasselbeck and
his teammates should have just played dead . . . or pretend.
When the Cowboys began their next offensive series, there would be
no more questions and no further queries. Victory was
clearly and safely tucked away, Romo was done for the day . . . and
it was time for Brandon “Fans Were Not Pleadin’ For” Weeden to
finally come out and play.
As a brief Metroplex aside – this would normally be a moment where
Dallas Mavericks fans (for example) would beam with pride (rather
than run and hide) . . . at seeing one of their favorite, promising
bench players enter the fray with victory in hand and ready to fire
away. That player – with zero pressure to deliver – would typically
hit four or five consecutive shots, including at least one
theatrical 3 pointer . . . leaving ecstatic fans all a quiver.
Cowboys Nation still has memories so vivid – from the Arizona game –
that still make them incredibly livid. So – from the perspective of “The
Tortured Cowboys Fan” – they were forgiven if even with a 35-0 lead
and another chance to score . . . Weeden provoked within them the
need to – once again – plead, plead, and plead some more.
While Romo – for the umpteenth game this season – may not have
reached the 300 yard mark, he was being so accurate, he could have
thrown his four touchdown passes in the dark. He could have remained
in the game, potentially thrown for all sorts of fame, and improved
the chances of adding "2014 NFL MVP" to his name. The Cowboys –
nonetheless – were finally and wisely ready to do what was necessary
to avoid any surprise adversity.
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- Weeden entered the game and managed the first couple plays with
class . . . as he was not being asked to pass. Then – on third down
and without warning – he dropped back and let it fly . . . deep
downfield to that Terrance Williams guy. It was a 43 yard touchdown
rope . . . and – suddenly – there was renewed hope that Brandon was
no longer a quarterbacking dope.
Cowboys Nation was – by that time – thoroughly enjoying the holiday season for every
possible reason.
The score had ballooned to an unimaginable 42-0 . . . and it was
time for Marinelli’s Men to play the shut out hero. Rod exalted his
defense to stop the Colts . . . and ensure they spent the rest of
the fourth quarter looking like dippy-doo Dolts.
Hasselbeck may have been the backup . . . but he was a crafty
veteran, not a piece of dreck. He drove the Colts from their own 22
down to the Cowboys’ 23 – determined to go for it rather than kick a field goal . . . after failing to get ‘er done on
down number three. Hasselbeck went back to pass and let it fly –
giving Reggie Wayne an end zone try – but he was picked off by
Brandon “Bad Cams” Carr at the Dallas 1.
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- AT&T Stadium exploded and
everyone seemed to be bouncing off the wall. The Colts were thought
to be done . . . but Carr was – GASP – nailed for a pass
interference call. This was not the first time Carr had been a late
game putz and – over a potentially lost shut out – Marinelli was
"speaking in tongues" up and down the sideline . . . clearly going nuts.
Hasselbeck connected with Zurlon Tipton on the very next play . . .
for their only score of the day.
The Cowboys would get the ball one final time to perform a
clock-eating pantomime.
Hasselbeck would receive one last chance to continue his playing
time dance. He drove the Colts from his own 22 down to the Cowboys
12 using a bunch of dink and dunk. He targeted good old Hakeem Nicks
in the end zone . . . but he would find no new Cowboys defender to
punk.
The Dallas Cowboys had corralled the Colts 42-7. America's Team had
regained entry to “Tournament Town”, they had recaptured the NFC
East division crown, and Cowboys Nation was in absolute heaven.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Depending upon your thinking – the Cowboys still have something to
play for in the final game of the regular season . . . or Dallas
needs to do everything possible to prevent their list of healthy starters
from shrinking.
The Cowboys are traveling to “The District” to face the Washington
Redskins . . . who may more resemble an NFL practice squad with
their own game day roster being so injury-riddled and talent thin.
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- Dallas – however – knows full well
what the Redskins did to Philly. If the Cowboys want to potentially
gain better playoff seeding (with a little help from other teams),
they will go against “conventional wisdom”, play all available
starters, and avoid looking silly . . . for giving away an important
postseason bye week opportunity. The 2014 Cowboys still have room
for improvement and earning a bye week to do so is more than enough
inducement.
Will Dallas continue to maintain their method and go all-in against
the Skins for the win?
Will Jim Haslett’s defensive crew repeat their game one success in
game two . . . by making Romo panic and Dez press? What will his
scrappy scalpers try to do?
Will Jermey Parnell – in Doug Free’s potential absence – continue to
gel . . . with “Fred And The Blockheads” and really ring the Redskins’
bell?
Will Tony Romo be prominently showcased (until potential victory has
been secured and) to improve the chance that – on the proper player
head – the NFL MVP crown will eventually have been placed?
Will DeMarco Murray have a “hand” in the running game – and be
allowed to earn 29+ more yards to best Emmitt Smith’s single-season
rushing fame . . . or will his game day participation be repealed in
favor of continuing to be healed? That would – indeed – be pretty lame.
Will Rolando McClain be too focused on arsonist intervention on his
Alabama mansion – or will he redirect his attention towards stopping
RGIII from experiencing ANY kind of confidence expansion?
Will the Dallas Cowboys end the day with a better postseason hand to
play?
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- We shall see. We always do.
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