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2017-2018 Regular Season: Cowboys Weather
Self-Inflicted Silliness Against Wounded Washington With Chance To
Challenge The Chiefs
- November 3, 2017 At 6:17 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “America’s Team” traveled to America’s capitol city . . . which
– in part (and unintentionally give opposing fans a start) – bears
the initials of their name. Washington, D.C.
The Dallas Cowboys faced the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field and
– save for a handful of sloppy mistakes (encouraged by wet weather
that took no breaks) – there was little question by game’s end as to
which team would yield.
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- The Cowboys would conquer many a category, but that did not tell the
full story.
Time of possession? Check.
First downs? Check.
Third down efficiency? Check.
Rushing yards? Check.
Passing yards? Nope . . . but more pass attempts – rather than
allowing Ezekiel Elliott’s to have his ground-gaining way – would
have made almost any quarterback look like a time-wasting dope.
While Dak Prescott may have had his lowest output of the season, he
was still efficient, and to do more . . . he and Scott Linehan
happily had no reason.
Turnovers lost? Check . . . save for the very first offensive play
of the game when Zeke suffered serious butter fingers on the
Cowboys’ own 29, initially putting his team’s success on the line.
While Zeke would start off the game with a fumble . . . by game’s
end – with 150 yards and three touchdowns – he would do no worse
than an occasional stumble (forward for more as he repeatedly ran
over and through a depleted Redskins defensive core).
Turnovers caused? Check . . . with safety Byron Jones being the
ready-to-intercept recipient of a tipped Kirk Cousins pass (taking
the game-deciding score into the
end zone with grace and class).
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- Special teams? Check . . . including the Cowboys finally
fulfilling one of Cowboys Nation’s longer-lasting special teams
dreams. It has been quite a while, but a(n opponent’s) blocked field
goal will always make fans smile. “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” did a
double-take, scanning the field for the ghost of Ed “Too Tall” Jones
. . . as surely no current Cowboys’ special teamer had the field
goal-blocking stones.
Penalties? Check . . . wait – what the heck? Eight penalties for
nearly 90 yards? That kind of performance – after several games
where self-inflicted silliness was fairly dormant – was not supposed
to be in the cards.
33-19 is the score by which the Cowboys would ultimately win, but an
uncommon number of penalties and mental mistakes nearly made the
collective head of Cowboys Nation wickedly spin.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
“Marinelli’s Men” have 25 sacks through their first 7 games for the
first time since 1987 . . . when they had 34. Sacks are a sign of a
reasonably good-and-improving defensive line, and fans will gladly
take more. David Irving led the way with two, Tyrone Crawford
collected one, and DeMarcus Lawrence got in on the action before it
was all said and done.
There have been quite a few quarterback fumbles so far in the NFC
East. Kirk Cousins and Carson Wentz lead with seven, Eli Manning is
next with five, and Dak Prescott – with one – has pleasantly coughed
up the least.
While the Redskins' talented defensive end Ryan Kerrigan collected
more than one sack . . . it was perhaps only possible, because "The
Great Wall Of Dallas" took pity on Washington's walking wounded,
giving them too much slack.
Defensive end Tyrone Crawford was a busy man within Marinelli’s game
day plan. He got his paw up on the blocked Redskins punt – (gesturing) just so high to prevent the field goal try from catching
enough sky – with heady veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick
recovering, rumbling (down the sideline), and getting within five
yards of nearly scoring.
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- Tyrone Crawford also caused Cousins to fumble, and DeMarcus Lawrence
was Tank on the spot to recover that second Redskins bumble.
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- Lawrence and David Irving also made their presence felt – with
one and two sacks respectively – with the pressure they were serving
collectively.
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- While going for it on fourth down is always fraught with danger,
Jason Garrett choosing to do so early in the game – near the 50-yard
line – was gutsy-but-necessary for continuation of a solid offensive
drive, portending a contest that would turn out just fine. It was
also a brief reminder of the will-imposing capabilities . . . of
Dallas’ dynasty teams of the 90’s.
It was not all that long ago . . . when the Redskins’ defense was
giving the “Linehan Clan” significant fits with fellas’ like
(increasingly injured) cornerback-turned-safety DeAngelo Hall and
(departed) linebacker Brian Orakpo. The Tortured Cowboys Fan
naturally despises the Redskins but is always left impressed with
how they deflect that feeling through intense pride . . . on which
their injury-depleted team has desperately tried to glide.
The NFL trade deadline has come and gone . . . and it would appear
there is nothing Dallas could have spun in order to secure the one
(missing piece that could, should, or would help them get a Super
Bowl deal done). The Cowboys – like so many other teams which also
failed (or chose not) to pull the trigger before the deadline – will
be relying on their current roster (and churning from the
league-wide street fleet) to seek their latest postseason sign.
Weak Without Zeke?
Zeke – on Monday of this week – learned his preliminary injunction
pursuit was denied and his six-game suspension was immediately
exhumed . . . placing into instant peril the running game harmony
(over the last three games) Dallas had finally resumed. He was
instantly faced with being away from the game until week 15 against
the Oakland Raiders . . . to cheers of (most but not all) Cowboys
haters.
Friday arrives – with an NFLPA-pushed request of the 2nd U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals towards another injunction deal – and
Cowboys Nation is starting to believe the Cowboys’ star running back
really may have nine lives.
The suspension – once again – is temporarily on hold . . . with an
expedited NFLPA appeal to be heard by a three-judge panel (who will
determine if Zeke’s playing days – past Sunday – will proceed
uninterrupted or if his legal avenues will permanently get rolled).
While Zeke’s continued ability to play is critical to the Cowboys’
success, with each game he remains on the field . . . it means
another late season opportunity a (reinstated) suspension would
potentially force him and Dallas to yield. The NFL’s original,
official suspension notice . . . included language specific to
“regular season games,” which CBA-ignorant fans (of which there are
understandably millions) believed would ultimately doom Zeke’s
suspension tomb. The following CBA language made that hope turn out
to be bogus.
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- Elliott’s innocence (or guilt) – as maddening as that
“no-charges-filed” issue remains – is not at the center of a legal
battle over which his reputation has suffered serious (and
irreparable?) stains. The focus is on whether or not the NFL has the
power under the current CBA to hand down such a punishment . . . by
so questionably following procedural steps to everyone’s
astonishment.
While Zeke gets to play for another game . . . Jason Garrett loses a
golden (yet understandably feared) opportunity to help the Dallas
Cowboys drop a label so (infuriatingly) lame. “The Cowboys are weak
without Zeke.”
The Tortured Cowboys Fan does not want the Cowboys to mimic the New
England Patriots – to the point of losing their identity – but
demonstrating flexible play-calling for a fully-functional 46-man
roster . . . always helps dismiss the label of “playoff-contending
imposter.”
While Zeke (rightfully) receives all the attention, behind him lurks
a capable cadre of ground gainers . . . who were nearly called upon
to provide running game reinvention. Alfred "A-Train" Morris, Darren
"Run DMC" McFadden, Rod "Bruising Brother Of Jaylon" Smith, and
Keith "Not Moose But Got Juice" Smith . . . should be up to the task
of proving “weak without Zeke” is a myth.
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- The Cowboys have historically (even before the salary cap era)
been a feast or famine team . . . enjoying tremendous success with a
relative handful of star players and – whenever losing just one of
those talents – falling out of balance and losing serious steam. The
Tortured Cowboys Fan simply wants America’s Team – after years of
all or nothing – to finally and regularly demonstrate that beyond
their starting 22 . . . their other game day 24 represent (just a
bit) more than Thanksgiving Day stuffing.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys return home to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the
first of a potentially grueling list . . . of remaining opponents
the Cowboys cannot afford in any way to dismiss.
The Denver Broncos the Chiefs thumped.
The Dallas Cowboys the Broncos dumped.
Dallas must – in this case – adopt the perspective of “the enemy of
my enemy is my enemy” . . . because playing the Chiefs like a friend
will undoubtedly spell the Cowboys’ end.
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- Alex Smith has largely been a different, significantly-improved
QB this season (with the specter of their promising rookie – Patrick
Mahomes – a teasin’) . . . but lesser defenses than Marinelli’s Men
have given Dallas a potential blueprint and determined reason.
Chief among the challenges presented by Kansas City’s Smith-led
offense is their excellent rookie running back Kareem Hunt . . .
thus far has practically ensured Kansas City getting to avoid more
than one punt.
Tight end Travis Kelce has also been terrorizing almost all
defensive comers . . . leaving linebackers, safeties, and
cornerbacks suffering major bummers.
Any failure to prevent the success of wide receiver and kick
returner Tyreek Hill . . . could also result – for Dallas’ defense –
in another bitter pill. Will the Cowboys’ defense and special teams
be able to box him and keep him sitting still?
More important than any obstacle facing Marinelli’s Men . . . will
Linehan’s Clan – against a questionable-but-capable KC defense – be
able to maintain their recently rediscovered offensive Zen?
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- Will Dez Bryant – in his (new?) role as high-priced possession
receiver – continue to do the "little things" to keep Cowboys Nation
as a collective believer? Will the blossoming Brice Butler and
Terrance Williams continue to (reasonably) stretch the defense . . .
while Dez focuses on shorter-yardage, YAC (Yards After Catch) dents?
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- Will Zeke continue to go "mind over matter" with his latest
legal distraction . . . and further help the Cowboys' offense gain
greater and greater traction?
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- Will Cole Beasley – in returning from concussion protocol – be
participating more than measly . . . or will Ryan Switzer
(struggling in the return game) be playing more slot ball?
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- Will Mike Nugent – injured Dan Bailey's stand-in kicker –
continue his no-drama performance from last week and earn another
"good job" sticker?
Will the Cowboys enjoy some satisfying home cooking . . . or will
they allow Kansas City to apply their own winning brand of
barbecuing?
Will Dallas perform in a way that gives (former Cowboys star QB and
current) CBS color commentator Tony Romo only nice things to say?
We shall see. We always do.
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