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2012-2013 Regular Season: Solving The
Steelers & Spoiling The Saints
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- December 22, 2012
At 11:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys endured
early-season performance gripes, side-stepped mid-season internal
snipes, restocked the late-season roster with serviceable body
types, and forced and up-and-coming Bengals team to change its
stripes.
“America’s Team” had a rare chance to win three in a row towards the
midpoint of December . . . for what must have seemed like the
forever since Cowboys Nation could remember.
Cowboys fans – all but the most myopic – were still shell-shocked at
the year-end success. It was unbelievable that their team was – for
the second season in a row – in complete control of their own
destiny . . . where winning out would give them a division crown and
a playoff GO.
The Cowboys were facing an old Super Bowl nemesis in the Pittsburgh
Steelers . . . and their leaders – Ben Roethlisberger and Troy
Polamalu – were the most dangerous of free-wheelers. While they,
too, were playing with significant battle damage, they also needed a
victory in a bad way and had time for nothing more than a bandage.
The Cowboys managed to gift wrap victories to the Steelers in 2004
where the Dallas defense could not prevent a final Pittsburgh score
. . . and in 2008 where Tony Romo finished not that great.
If the Cowboys were going to continue to control their postseason
fate, they would have to solve the riddle of steel . . . and to turn
losing to the Steelers into an old trait.
The Riddle Of Steel
Tony Romo had been contemplating the riddle of steel on the Tree of
Woe since 2008 – when he wasted a wonderful performance from former
third string running back Tashard “The People’s” Choice . . . by
hand-delivering three turnovers to ensure it was game over and
allowing Steelers fans to rejoice.
The 2012-2013 Dallas Cowboys, however, have proven defiant and gruff
towards their typical December downswing . . . no matter their
obstacles, playing mentally tough and doing their thing.
Playing against the Steelers was far from easy, but Romo and his
teammates – with bent Josh Brent tastelessly in attendance and their
season on the line – functioned at a level well above queasy . . .
and did just fine.
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- Pittsburgh’s defense was on full alert and ready for a fight, but
Romo kept his cool, delivered the goods, and did not bite. Romo –
from one end – had to out duel Big Ben . . . and he did just enough
– with almost 350 yards, 2 touchdowns, and ZERO turnovers – to earn
a near perfect ten.
Miles, Dez, and Witten did their catching and scoring part . . .
assisting Romo with his work of art. DeMarco Murray helped solve the
riddle of steel from the left, right, and up the middle with another
touchdown and a fluid gush of rush.
Rob Ryan’s Roughnecks – once again and from the other end – had
their undermanned work cut out for them. While they allowed speedy
Mike Wallace to scare fearful fans, Cowboys defenders had other
plans – amassing four sacks, one fumble, and one overtime Carr
interception . . . as they polished off a real gem.
While Garrett’s Gang put it all together to finally solve the riddle
of steel, they have two more opponents to best before they can
reclaim that vaguely familiar playoff feel.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Cowboys would love to recapture even a touch of their former
playoff participation so fabled . . . and they will have to beat the
one team just as determined to wipe away a part of their history
that left them badly labeled.
The New Orleans Saints come to town with a major frown . . . and
looking to extract revenge on all NFL representatives with every
vengeful touchdown.
While The Tortured Cowboys Fan agrees with the findings of former
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue – that Saints coaches and their
players remain guilty of encouraging and administering
career-affecting harm so disturbing – this is nothing new.
Player suspensions have since been officially lifted . . . and the
Saints – against all odds – are hell bent on reminding everyone
their touchdown-scoring talent is extremely gifted.
The Saints bring to bear – in Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Darren
Sproles, Marques Colston, Mark Ingram, Lance Moore, Pierre Thomas,
and Chris Ivory – more than enough offensive fire power to provide a
major scare. Ryan’s Roughnecks must embrace and conquer this potent
challenge or face returning to another December of disappointment
and despair.
A key to facing down New Orleans’ fierce forces will involve equal
parts pressure and triangulation . . . or Ryan’s Roughnecks will be
suffering from strangulation. Brees and Co. – without pressure from DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer – will pick apart any defender who
fails to take the right angle . . . and expose them as a chaser.
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- Chasing Darren Sproles on swing
passes and in the slot will be bad enough . . . like running on hot
coals. While Morris "Claymore" Claiborne needs to continue keeping
his talented hands in check, Danny “The Chaser” McCray repeatedly
leaves fans shouting "WHAT THE HECK?!" McCray is either going to unfairly make
his teammates pay – chasing Jimmy Graham down the seam all the way –
or he is actually going to help out the Roughnecks . . . properly
triangulating on more than one play.
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- Ryan’s Roughnecks had some success batting down Big Ben’s passes,
but they should be encouraged to continue with Brees being so much shorter.
The Cowboys’ pressure might slow the
Saints to the speed of molasses . . . and keeping their paws up should
absolutely be a repeat order.
If Ryan’s punchy patchwork defense does not exactly do the trick,
Garrett’s Gang can try a thing or two on offense to keep their time
of possession nice and thick. Romo and Co. can – as usual – attempt
to pair DeMarco Murray with Dez, Miles, and Witten against the
31st-ranked Saints defense. It only makes sense.
Will Dallas misinterpret the New York Giants' success against the
Saints as the very same way their own defense will be able to play
on game day . . . or will Ryan's Roughnecks be focused in every way
on every play in order to really have a successful say?
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- Will Dallas be able to continue on
their unnatural December roll – keeping close to their vest humble
dreams of a certain Bowl . . . or will they finally allow the late
season pressure to take its toll?
Will the Cowboys spoil the not-so-innocent Saints . . . or will
Dallas allow New Orleans to illustrate a different postseason
picture with their playoff-derailing paints?
Will the Dallas Cowboys keep avoiding the bait . . . and make every
reasonable effort to continue controlling their playoff fate?
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- Will America's Team continue to give
their all on game day . . . in honor of those lost who should still
be with us today?
We shall see. We always do.
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