Home Updates History Blogs Portfolio FAQ Contact Terms Of Use
 
2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017
2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2024  2025  2026  2027
2028  2029  2030  2031  2032  2033  2034  2035  2036  2037
 
 
 
2016-2017 Regular Season: Philly Gets Token Victory While Dallas Avoids Unnecessary Injury
 
January 4, 2017 At 9:44 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
 
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” has repeatedly pushed the mantra of maintaining momentum in order to fend off the phantom tantrum.

“Are you INSANE? The Dallas Cowboys should tread lightly and refrain! What – besides untimely chaos – could they possibly have to gain?” say some fans in an incredibly paranoid – but not unfounded – way.

“There is too much to lose! These opportunities you simply do not abuse!” say other fans with the ease of someone not paid to choose.

“America’s Team” – with the playoffs long-since in hand – could (always) benefit from continued momentum with yet another win on their way in . . . resulting in a franchise single-season best 14-2, ready to push all the way through. Dak Prescott – if left to his own accord – could have also tied Ben Roethlisberger with the same rookie winning record.

Any one of Dallas’ star players – in finishing the regular season from the field rather than from the bench to which they would be artificially forced to yield – could potentially have increased their chances to have scored a gravy award.

Potential MVP (Most Valuable Player) for either Dak Prescott or Zeke Elliott.
 
Guaranteed OROTY (Offensive Rookie Of The Year) for either Dak Prescott or Zeke Elliott.
 
Potential DPOTY (Defensive Players Of The Year) for Sean Lee.
 
Potential OPOTY (Offensive Players Of The Year) for Zeke Elliott.

There could have been valuable playing time for role-players so critical . . . helping them build or maintain more of their edge in the event of still more late-season injuries so typical.

There was another opportunity to beat a hated division rival . . . who certainly was looking at THEIR final regular season game as anything but trivial. The Jimmy Johnson admirer within “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” knows an unmerciful beat down – if at all possible – would have certainly been part of his plan.

There was an even higher season-ending total to be had for the Cowboys’ latest of NFL rushing titles . . . valued and vital to Cowboys Nation who have been generally spoiled by a history of running back riches (from Calvin Hill to Tony Dorsett to Herschel Walker to Emmitt Smith to DeMarco Murray to Zeke Elliott) whom fans proudly view as sensational sports idols.

All but a few of these achievable goals faded when Cowboys Nation noticed the diminished starter set that took the field . . . at the Linc for their final regular season contest against the hated-and-unimpressive Philadelphia Eagles (who knew they needed a start-laden attack to hold the Cowboys back). It was anyone’s bet how many of Dallas’ big ticket boys would be asked to yield.

Marinelli’s (Undermanned) Men – even with Morris Claiborne, Sean Lee, Justin Durant, DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Terrell McClain, and Cedric Thornton out of the frame – would still (to the surprise of no one) find a way to gut it out through much of the game.

While recently returned Randy Gregory was going to continue getting plenty of snaps to ensure his conditioning for the playoffs would not collapse . . . situational performers – like David “Too Tall, Jr.” Irving, Jack Crawford, Maliek Collins, Benson Mayowa, and Kyle Wilber – would feel a lot less like part-time benchwarmers.

Out on offense – from the beginning – were Tyron Smith, Ronald Leary, and Zeke Elliott (who was accepting but may have been far from cheery for lack of a better chance at winning). Dak Prescott would join his off-duty teammates on the sideline after but three points and two series . . . and, then, the entire team began inexplicably grinning.

It was widely reported Mark Sanchez would get significant playing time . . . but none other than Tony Romo entered the game and – after a deep right incompletion (as an oh-so-mild in-your-face to booing Eagles fans unhappy to see his face) – Romo effortlessly drove the Cowboys downfield for a bang-bang touchdown pass to Terrance Williams, and looked like he was still in his prime. Romo would give Dallas a 10-3 lead, plant the potential game-winning seed for Sanchez to adopt on the very next series. One thing was for certain . . . as Tony, the Cowboys, and Cowboys Nation (via TV station) received pleasing confirmation of what they believed they already knew: a wicked offensive batch Romo could still brew.

 
 
 
While the “Sanchezian Candidate” was never given a backup QB mandate, he likely lost his offseason chance to dictate whether or not he would have to relocate . . . after a performance that would force an easily achievable 14th win to suffocate.

Sanchez would struggle to generate any more than three points while tossing two interceptions. He – in (some) fairness – received little help from Doug Free’s "veteran calm" and his untimely performance “interventions.”

 
 
 
Dak regularly credits Sanchez for being one of the key people involved in his daily and weekly game prep and professional growth but – without practically ANY flashes of (his very) early career success – Mark (following the current season) may simply have to goeth.

While the Dallas Cowboys would go on to lose their very winnable final game of the regular season 27-13 . . . fans will have to wait two weeks to learn if America’s Team will explode upon the divisional round playoff scene or put on a playoff performance so rookie-green.

Will They Or Won’t They?

The Dallas Cowboys now get the next two weeks . . . to heal up, rest up, practice up, churn (the roster) up, and sneak wild card peeks.

 
 
Will America’s Team face the Detroit Lions, the New York Giants, or the Green Bay Packers?

Will “Garrett’s Gang” – particularly “The ‘Han Clan” and “Marinelli’s Men” – remember, above all else, that if they can fiercely execute each play (rather than lazily pollute their “win or go home” game day) and remain reasonably healthy, it will matter not who may be their attackers?

The Cowboys have a January 15th, 2017 play date . . . but will they or won’t they be great?

We shall see. We always do.