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2012-2013 Regular Season: Soiled
By Saints And Readying For Redskins
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- December 27, 2012
At 11:50 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys showed real guts
in going toe to toe with their old and equally desperate Pittsburgh
foe. Dallas defeated the Steelers in dramatic overtime fashion but –
with two more games to go – there was no time to celebrate and
cash-in.
The Cowboys were playing host to the New Orleans Saints who – in
dominating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the previous week – looked
nothing like the early-season Aints that made so many of their fan
base faint.
The Saints players at the core of “Bounty Gate” had just seen their
suspensions vacated – on a convenient “just following orders”
technicality – and they felt vindicated by this long-hoped-for
eventuality. New Orleans was madder than hell, uninterested in
throwing in the towel on their lost season . . . unwilling to ring
the bell on their second-to-last round for any reason.
The Saints – if given the opportunity – were ready to unleash their
fury and run up the score. “America’s Team” needed to dig down
deeper, block out the pain of their broken bodies, will themselves
to another win, and turn the worm once more.
Playing Keep Away
While the Cowboys and Saints have had their struggles, both teams
showed up dressed to the nines – with Tony Romo and Drew Brees that
is . . . and their offenses seemed primed for plenty of pop and
fizz.
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- Garrett’s Gang knew what they had to do against the men of Drew.
They had to employ a clever offensive mix of DeMarco Murray running
and Romo’s (of late) potent passing . . . keeping Brees off the
field and leave the Saints’ 31st-ranked defense gasping.
Drew Brees – and his own high-powered Saints offense – was playing
for keeps on game day. Ryan’s Roughnecks may have been woefully
undermanned, but they had only to deliver the minimum on what they
had planned. A few defensive stops to force a few Saints drops –
matched with Romo’s revival and Murray (yessirree) . . . and the
Cowboys could really make some hay.
Romo did his part with a four touchdown, 400+ yard work of art. Dez
Bryant’s (now) famous fractured finger was compliant enough for him
to enjoy the greatest game of his young career – delivering almost
10 catches for 250+ yards and two touchdowns . . . and playing with
no fear. Dwayne Harris and Miles Austin each managed a timely
touchdown sighting . . . and Jason Witten was did his trustworthy
best to fill in the rest.
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- Their inability, however, to finish a couple early and mid-game
drives – combined with Murray fumble inside his own five – failed to
keep the Cowboys’ running game alive. And for all the great
production by Dez and Romo, their failed overtime 3rd down
conversion was destroyed by another unnecessary mental diversion.
Ryan’s Roughnecks made just enough mistakes to show they did not –
on that day – have what it took to get themselves off the 3rd down
hook. This was no more evident than on a halted 3rd down play where
the Cowboys had the Saints staring at a punt . . . only to see
Anthony Spencer jump offside like a mental runt.
Ryan’s squad – once again – played very hurt and extremely hard, but
their issues were compounded . . . with ZERO sacks and no real 3rd
down answer at safety for
Jimmy Graham – the Saints’ talented tight end by whom they spent all day
hounded.
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- Danny McCray was – for obvious reasons – officially benched, but his
various replacements played like they were just two steps above
McCray’s basement. Dallas defenders were being ditched over the
middle and down the seam – eventually leading to the end of their
overtime comeback dream . . . with a 34-31 win going to dat dere New
Orleans team.
The Cowboys had the right idea and the right plan (to each remaining
healthy man) but – as tends to be the Cowboys’ case – their
execution was not completely in the right place. Dallas may have
failed at playing keep away, but the mistakes were and are theirs to
easily correct to full effect this coming Sunday.
Will They Or Won’t They?
America’s Team went from nearly spoiling de Aints to being soiled by
the Saints. The Cowboys still control their own destiny, and they
appear to be on their way to making a little history.
The Cowboys can either be the team – regardless of their intense
physical depletion – that choked away two straight division title
games . . . or they can rise up, kick ass, and take names.
The Cowboys – for half of the Thanksgiving Day game – had their
clocks cleaned by the Washington Redskins. Putting forth half the
effort – and failing to finish – has typically been one of the
Cowboys’ greatest game day sins.
While the Cowboys came roaring back in that game and nearly achieved
a native knockout, the loss remarkably reset America’s Team with an
ability to shed their familiar late season failings . . . and simply
block them out. Even the traditional contractual incentives towards making the Pro
Bowl – in comparison to playoff participation – to the Cowboys . . .
appears downright droll.
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- Both teams are "a bit" more banged up
than a month ago. Neither team has any choice – with what is on the
line – but to be as ready as possible to give it a go . . . and see
who comes out fine.
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- Will Dez Bryant continue to deliver
catches, yards, and points like a certain jolly old gift giver? Will
Tony Romo continue to direct a December to remember?
Will Jason Witten continue to make defenders - over the middle and
down the seam - look like they are playing with mittens . . . while
extending his record-setting reception stream?
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- Will Miles Austin continue being a
single quarter catch hoarder . . . or will he cross his
psychological threshold with a complete game performance so timely
and bold?
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- Will Kevin Ogletree even be allowed
to participate on this supremely important game day . . . and – if
his number must be called – will he have the nerve to step up and
make a play?
Will DeMarco Murray – and his run-blockers – come into the game
hungry and surly . . . to put any ground game worry to bed in a
hurray? While he came up lame before the first game . . . will
Murray do nothing less than make everyone impressed during the
second (and far more important) contest?
Will damaged DeMarcus Ware have to play as a one-armed sack bandit .
. . or will Anthony Spencer continue to care as an improved sack
dispenser, because his teammates need it?
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- Will Rob Ryan find a way to get his
Frankenstein safety monster to play with a single, focused mind . .
. and keep his Roughnecks out of a perpetual pass-coverage bind?
Will the Cowboys really come ALL THIS WAY – for the second straight
season – and lose the NFC East crown for no exceptional reason?
Will the Cowboys really have run themselves ragged to get to this
point . . . only to be run out of the FedEx Field joint?
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- Will the Cowboys lament their
never-ending injury situation . . . or will they play their best
with their available talent and instill some REAL PRIDE in Cowboys
Nation?
Will the Cowboys really allow their solid late season efforts to go
to waste . . . or will they play with haste and come away from our nation’s capital with
a satisfying playoff taste?
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- Will the Cowboys show up ready to
battle the Redskins for the win . . . or will Dallas come up
mentally thin?
Will the Cowboys avoid the simple mistakes that always seem to take
away otherwise well-earned major breaks?
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- Will the Cowboys win it and get in it? Will they bring the NFC East
crown back to their proud Texas town?
We shall see. We always do.
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