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2016-2017 Regular Season: NFC East Feast And
Facing Horns O Plenty
- December 1, 2016 At 12:10 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys playing on
Thanksgiving Day was never originally meant to become what it is
today. After they quickly caught on with their national television
audience (many of whom would – in due course – come to view Dallas
on a level of godliness) . . . and for the Cowboys’ reputation as
“America’s Team,” it also helped pave the way.
Ever since that critical character-creating moment in NFL history,
Dallas’ record on Thanksgiving Day has been a quality 29-18-1 . . .
with the Cowboys (save but seven of contests) almost always in good
position to get the game won.
While football fans had grown used to no more than two Thanksgiving
Day contests – one hosted by the Detroit Lions and another hosted by
the Cowboys with each facing their opponent de jour . . . the NFL
decided (in the last couple years) to expand the game day menu to
include hors d’oeuvres, entrée, and dessert for greater fan
interests . . . and turn the national holiday into a three game
tour.
The Cowboys faced the Washington Redskins as the entrée of the day
and – as both teams were markedly transformed since game two of the
season – everyone was curious how they would play.
Which Beast Would Feast?
The Redskins may have entered the game with a comparatively
‘pedestrian’ 6-3-1 record, but they had been increasingly scoring
points in big bunches and eating opponents’ lunches.
The Cowboys – for their part – had been steadily increasing their
offensive output and audible adaptability . . . and the defense –
while (still) not a work of art – had been showing its usual
undermanned flexibility.
While Dallas would "Get Lucky (Whitehead)" on a 15-yard first play
from scrimmage, more of the usual suspects (Dak Prescott, Zeke
Elliott, Cole Beasley) would show the Redskins they have been eating
their spinach and quickly produced a 7-0 score. Cowboys Nation need
only recall last year when Dallas failed far more often than not to
give Marinelli's Men an early lead with which to play . . . but -
increasingly this season - the Cowboys seem to have their first
series way.
The Redskins had their shot but – with a failed field goal – they
could not hit the spot. Dallas set the pace, but it would not yet
qualify as a point-scoring race.
Dak and Company would go onto experience one 3-and-out (where Brice
Butler seemed to have a chance on a go route), one Dan Bailey field
goal kick (with Dez Bryant and Jason Witten joining Cole and Zeke to
help do the trick), and another touchdown (this using nice starting
field position afforded them by a Redskins field goal miss). Dallas
reached halftime with a 17-6 lead and what appeared the possibility
they might just run the Redskins out of town.
After exchanging punting pleasantries to open the third quarter, the
Redskins awoke, producing one of their own long drives with a
touchdown made to order. In an effort to pull within three, they
went to two, but Kirk Cousins pass fell incomplete, and it was not
meant to be.
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- From there, the Cowboys and Redskins would go tit-for-tat,
toe-to-toe, and goal-to-go . . . trading touchdowns and taking turns
making each other’s defensive units look like challenged clowns. To
be fair, both teams entered the contest missing a number of key
players on both sides of the ball, but the continued absence of
Morris Claiborne and Barry Church made Rod Marinelli’s coverage
orders particularly tall as Kirk Cousins finally found his game day
groove and really attacked through the air.
Promising-and-aggressive rookie cornerback, Anthony Brown, got
caught staring a bit too deeply into Cousins’ eyes . . . and allowed
DeSean Jackson to zip right past him for an easy touchdown surprise.
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” – at this point in the (fact versus
fantasy) story – would remind Cowboys Nation that all of Marinelli’s
Men shared responsibility for allowing Cousins’ second half aerial
attack to become so gory. While Dallas’ defense grounded the
Redskins’ running game, their performance against the pass was
simply not the same. The same defensive line that had found
reasonable success taking names without DeMarcus Lawrence for their
first four games – along with Randy Gregory and Rolando McClain
(going on never) – struggled to get anywhere near Cousins forever.
After seeing Justin Durant and J.J. Wilcox exit with the game with
hamstring and thigh injuries, respectively . . . the Cowboys’ had to
further stretch their coverage-capable linebacker core of Sean Lee,
Damien Wilson, and Anthony Hitchens. Against a (now) heavily leaking
defense, Redskins’ receivers (like Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis)
were just itchin’ to score some more. And if you cannot pressure the
quarterback – for any team pursuing its dream – your equally
undermanned secondary is going to be under frequent attack. The
concept of “Next Man Up” DOES, in fact, have its limitations . . .
when you are forced to rely heavily on at least one young pup (no
matter how much he – to this point – has manned up) while multiple
of your starters are on crippling injury vacations.
Nonetheless, the game-winning result appeared to be coming down to
the wire . . . with the national television audience on their feet
wondering which team would end up higher. Which NFC East beast would
finally feast?
The Redskins – after absorbing two missed field goals and two failed
onside kicks – could never draw any closer than five and failed to
keep their game-winning desire alive. Marinelli’s Men – as beaten up
as they were – settled into a timely purr and delivered on key late
game plays instead of succumbing to a walking wounded nose dive. Dak
and crew would gain two more first downs to get in their final licks
. . . and from the clock the final two minutes they would drain.
While the Cowboys’ turkey day record against the visiting Washington
Redskins improved to 8-1 with their 31-26 victory, Dallas also ran
their 2016 regular season record to 10-1, continuing to make
franchise history.
While Kirk Cousins piled up huge yardage, his red zone efficiency
(2-5) was pure garbage. Though the numbers were comparably much
lower for Dak – due to the productivity of one Zeke the freak – he
made plays when it counted and had a much better set of red zone
numbers (4-4) to stack.
No Slug To Plug
Not to be lost in the shuffle . . . was the Redskins’ own inability
to slow the Cowboys’ offensive attack and the latest version of the
Josh Norman / Dez Bryant kerfuffle.
While The Tortured Cowboys Fan has often lamented the disappearance
of the historical hatred between so many a pro sports rival, modern
day sports are all about promoting one’s brand towards success and
survival. There seems to no longer be any places – in one of the
most emotional of sports – to players to really, truly get in each
other’s faces. There are only products – rather than more ham-fisted
slugs – to “plug.”
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- Besides – even without the fighting and backbiting – 35.1 million
viewers were tuned into the Cowboys / Redskins game, making it the
most-watched regular season contest for any television network since
the 1995 Thanksgiving Day game between the 9-2 Cowboys and 10-1
Kansas City Chiefs, which drew 35.7 million viewers. Fans will
remember that game, where it was Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin . . .
who toe-tapped in the back of the end zone on a dime. What a great
time!
And – then – all of a sudden . . . the clock was turned back as if
the network was televising “The Dirty Dozen!” A sizeable emotional
dose – courtesy of Mr. Norman – was injected into the collective
bloodstream of a comparatively sedate national television audience .
. . forcing some viewers to recall the Deion Sanders / Andre Rison
scuffle (when playing for the San Francisco 49ers / Atlanta Falcons
– only without the left-handed haymakers designed to leave serious
dents).
Dez and Josh were ready to mosh but went no further than
nose-to-nose, trading paint, with neither claiming the other was a
saint. Dez – in a show of continued, increasing maturity – kept
(most of) his composure in demonstrating supreme civility. Norman –
on his usual mission to get in the star receiver’s mind – was so
surprised Dez was able to respond in kind . . . that he literally
threw in the towel as the two continued in a postgame howl.
Dez – to be clear – did not absolutely have his way with Josh on
that day . . . but – when he absolutely had to deliver against
Norman (the ingenious debater and trash-talking sportsman) – he made
play after play.
As much as the NFL has taken an increasing number of publicly steps
to control their brand, an occasional dustup between representatives
of long-time rivals does not seem to force the NFL’s disciplinary
hand. One or more a viewership hiccup may have convinced the NFL to
put up and shut up.
Admiration With Reservation
Even with their freshly-minted record of 10 wins and 1 loss, there
still remain legions of enemy combatants (Cowboys haters and unsold
prognosticators) who continue to profess admiration for what the
Cowboys have thus far achieved but with reservation . . . that one
or more Dallas players will take a familiar mental vacation.
ESPN First Take’s Stephen A. Smith – the “impassioned” debater and
resident Cowboys Nation hater – has been fond of saying either Tony
Romo or “the Dallas Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen.”
Others were quick to point out that – had the Redskins not missed
two field goals – they would have won at Jerry World and Cowboys
Nation’s toes would have become irreparably curled. No immediate
counterpoint, of course, was forthcoming . . . about the Cowboys
easily being able to plow the Redskins right into their own end zone
on their last series, formally slamming the door with one thunderous
final score. Acknowledging that would have been unbecoming.
And yet – as with the failed / incomplete results of years past –
America’s Team has earned their non-believers, and current lack of
(complete) respect. Until the post-1995 Dallas Cowboys actually
finish their regular season as NFC East Champions, until they
actually win more than one playoff game in the same postseason to
reach (and – GASP – even host) the NFC Championship Game, until they
actually beat down the door to reach another Super Bowl dance floor,
and until they give another opponent the slip to actually win their
sixth NFL Championship . . . the holdouts they will be unable to
deflect.
While admiration with reservation is currently par for the course
(or a decades-old theme for Dallas deniers on their high horse),
real fans would rather the Cowboys not be hitched to any other
horse. Every victory in which Dallas can compete and finds a way to
earn . . . will make haters’ stomachs churn.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Dallas heads to the Minnesota Vikings’ brand new venue U.S. Bank
Stadium in Minneapolis for their second consecutive Thursday night
contest . . . and seeking another Cowboys’ victory in which to
invest.
The Cowboys – as with every single opponent on their schedule this
season . . . cannot afford to overlook or underestimate a struggling
Vikings team. While the myopics among us might insist because they
are ignorantly blissed, Dallas has no qualified reason.
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- Dak Prescott, Zeke Elliott, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Terrance
Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, and “The Great Wall Of Dallas”
got a whole heck of a lot but – even more so than ever before – they
must make each offensive series count, get the points to mount, and
control the time of possession . . . to protect a Dallas defense
going through some physical regression.
Both teams are becoming seriously beaten up and eaten up by the
injury bug with which all NFL teams continue to be inexplicably snug.
If Sam Badford gets ANY time to go through his passing progressions,
he could transform back into early-season Sam Bradford, and that is
something Marinelli’s (Undermanned) Men simply cannot afford, for
(potential) problems myriad. Period.
DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence and his (seemingly) deficient defensive
line mates must reawaken and make some seriously disruptive,
sack-supplying bacon. Byron Jones and Dallas’ dinged-up secondary .
. . must perform beyond their (current) means to ensure the Vikings’
receivers view them as an obstacle so primary. While Barry Church
may, indeed, attempt to play with some form of cast on his formerly
fractured forearm . . . Jones, Orlando Scandrick, Brandon Carr, and
Anthony Brown should be prepared as if they will be without BOTH
Barry’s and J.J. Wilcox’s hard-hitting charm.
As a brief aside, The Tortured Cowboys Fan has always had a soft
spot for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer – a former 13-year defensive
assistant and coordinator with Dallas and fiery fellow who puts up
with no part of his team resembling jello. As people and fans around
the NFL learned – last night – Zim underwent emergency eye surgery
and will not be riding his sideline saddle for this battle. I wish
him well and anyone paying attention should expect his emotional
“Horns O Plenty” to (attempt to) give Dallas hell.
Will Marinelli’s Men be all-hands-on-deck . . . to avoid being
handled by a Vikings’ offensive attack (minus its starting center
and running back) that has looked like dreck?
Will Dak and Company keep on rolling . . . against a stingy Vikings’
defense that specializes in some physical grid iron trolling?
And if America’s Team should win . . . will either the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers or Washington Redskins experience a (bonus) weekend loss
or tie to ensure the Cowboys will have officially made it back in
(to the big dance with super postseason chance)?
We shall see. We always do.
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