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2014-2015 Regular Season: The
Texas Two Step
And Heading West To Face The Best
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- October 12,
2014
At 10:39 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “America’s Team” was fresh off their
surprising, fan-delighting victory over the New Orleans Saints . . .
doing a convincing job of making the Saints look like the Aints.
The Dallas Cowboys – from past, still-raw experience – knew (and
still know) better than to look past one opponent and towards
another who may be emitting more accomplished radiance.
The equally 3-1 Houston Texans arrived at AT&T Stadium eager to
achieve better than survival against their upstate rival.
To Jason Garrett’s one-game-at-a-time theme the far more
historically accomplished Cowboys needed very much needed to adhere
. . . lest their promising start to the season take a sudden and
unwanted veer.
At stake was a continuation of the Cowboys’ winning streak, first
place in the NFC East, a potential half-game lead, and bragging
rights towards another of the Governor’s sterling silver Cups.
Dallas would have been happy to fulfill the first three choices and
leave the Texas Token as a shiny chew toy for their opposing Houston
pups.
Would the Cowboys really be caught looking ahead and fall into the
trap . . . or would the Texans bring an attention-getting head slap?
High Noon
The Texans – like the Cowboys – were missing a few critical pieces
on game day.
They no longer had Matt “Sharp Turned Shaky” Schaub to ruin their
chances. They (instead) had the well-intentioned but fatal
journeyman Ryan “Ivy League” Fitzpatrick – with which there has been
little intrigue and – at which their fans could deliver angry
glances.
They were missing the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft – linebacker
Jadeveon Clowney – who was recovering from arthroscopic knee
surgery.
The Cowboys – over the past few years – had established a large
enough list of walking wounded to become completely disillusioned.
They lost Sean Lee for the year at the start of training camp,
DeVonte Holloman – permanently – towards the end of preseason, and
lost “DeMarcus” not once but twice . . . when Ware left for the
Denver Broncos and when Lawrence broke his foot and was put on
temporary injured reserve ice.
The Cowboys recently lost Morris “One To Done” Claiborne for the
season and – for at least the next week or two – they were planning
to be without Big Bad Bruce Carter. Remaining Dallas defenders were
going to have to play that much harder and smarter.
After comparing booboos during the coin toss, it was finally high
noon . . . and everyone – from fans to prognosticators – was
expecting the Texans to swoon. The Texans were getting by with
average offense and admirable defense. Against the Cowboys’
effective offense and better-than-average defense . . . a Texans
victory made little sense.
It took less than a quarter for Houston to put that theory out of
order.
While he would have another 100+ yard game before the day was done,
DeMarco Murray . . . for the fourth time in five contests – fumbled
the ball early within an opponent’s 20 yard line on another
potential scoring run. His early game fumblitis has become downright
eerie. While the Cowboys were having success moving the ball, they
simply could not finish drives at all.
The Cowboys managed a Dan Bailey field goal right before the half,
but they were definitely questioning their precision at
intermission.
Any hope – by Cowboys Nation – for offensive fireworks to start the
second act . . . were stunted by Houston’s stubborn defensive tact.
The Texans finally got on the board with a touchdown from Arian
Foster – the leader of their own ruthless rushing hoard.
Dallas experienced an offensive awakening – minutes later – when
Romo pulled a doggone Houdini with a supreme spin on ginormous J.J.
Watt . . . who was closing in. Romo gathered himself, saw Terrance
Williams with a step heading on his defender, and Romo threw up a
Favreian bone into the end zone. Williams held on for the Cowboys’
first touchdown of the day on a magical play.
Romo would – in due course – toss another touchdown to Dez Bryant .
. . his thoroughbred receiving horse.
And just when Cowboys Nation hoped their team could engage cruise
control . . . the Texans tightened the saddle, kicked a field goal,
watched Arian Foster go for plenty of yards and finish with a
scoring stroll.
Ryan Fitzpatrick – to be clear – tried his Ivy League best to play
his role. Fitzy has guts and a huge beard but – even with Andre
Johnson at his disposal – he could do little more than look Grizzly
Adams weird.
The game had become a true Texas Two Step – going from a regulation
slugfest to an overtime victory quest . . . where Romo was under
siege once more before tossing it up for Dez Bryant to make an
incredible 37-yard catch . . . in lieu of another Dan Bailey
game-winning field goal score.
While Romo would go on to throw one interception in the fourth
quarter, it was his only bad decision of the game, and it is
arguable that he did not see Houston safety Kendrick Lewis leap up
out of nowhere. It certainly did not seem like more of the same
turnovers so lame. And – even with another successful rushing day by
DeMarco – Romo sped right past his freshly-applied bus driver label
. . . showing – with 324 yards on 28 of 41 passing – he was still
plenty able.
Cowboys won the game 20-17 with scoring opportunities unexpectedly
lean . . . but Dallas was able to do just enough to keep its humble
winning streak nice and clean.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys head to the noisy nest in the Great Northwest to
play the best.
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- Cowboys Nation (in hindsight) can
thank the Houston faithful . . . for overloading AT&T Stadium and
giving the Cowboys a test-run earful.
The last time the Cowboys faced the Seattle Seahawks – in Seattle –
Sean Lee was looking out the ear hole of his helmet . . . while the
rest of the team was performing like a collective wet blanket.
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- If the Cowboys have any hope of
competing with the Seahawks – let alone beating them – it is beyond
critical that Garrett’s Gang, the Han Clan, and Marinelli’s Men
avoid the mistakes . . . upon which the Seahawks regularly feed and
receive big breaks.
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- If the Cowboys can avoid the desire
to give . . . they will enhance their chances to live.
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- If the Cowboys can remain dedicated
to their plan – and turn drives into results – they may just be the
(other) team (besides the San Diego Chargers) that can.
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- Rolando McClain may be able to play
through aches and pains, but Big Bad Bruce Carter has been ruled out
. . . unable to make sufficient healing gains.
Will Marinelli's Men be able to use their defensive line depth and
rotation . . . to keep Russell Wilson from enjoying read-option
elation? Would the Cowboys' corners presume to be able to play as
big as Seattle's Legion of Boom?
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- Will the Cowboys be able to play
their now-well-rounded game . . . without making "last year's"
mistakes (which would be such a shame)?
The Seahawks are a known, championship quantity. Will the Cowboys
bring enough of their good stuff to counter with game-winning
quality?
We shall see. We always do.
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