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2016-2017 Regular Season:
Philly Gets Token Victory While Dallas Avoids Unnecessary Injury
- January 4, 2017 At 9:44 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” has
repeatedly pushed the mantra of maintaining momentum in order to
fend off the phantom tantrum.
“Are you INSANE? The Dallas Cowboys should tread lightly and
refrain! What – besides untimely chaos – could they possibly have to
gain?” say some fans in an incredibly paranoid – but not unfounded –
way.
“There is too much to lose! These opportunities you simply do not
abuse!” say other fans with the ease of someone not paid to choose.
“America’s Team” – with the playoffs long-since in hand – could
(always) benefit from continued momentum with yet another win on
their way in . . . resulting in a franchise single-season best 14-2,
ready to push all the way through. Dak Prescott – if left to his own
accord – could have also tied Ben Roethlisberger with the same
rookie winning record.
Any one of Dallas’ star players – in finishing the regular season
from the field rather than from the bench to which they would be
artificially forced to yield – could potentially have increased
their chances to have scored a gravy award.
Potential MVP (Most Valuable Player) for either Dak Prescott or Zeke
Elliott.
- Guaranteed OROTY (Offensive Rookie
Of The Year) for either Dak Prescott or Zeke Elliott.
- Potential DPOTY (Defensive Players
Of The Year) for Sean Lee.
- Potential OPOTY (Offensive Players
Of The Year) for Zeke Elliott.
There could have been valuable playing time for role-players so
critical . . . helping them build or maintain more of their edge in
the event of still more late-season injuries so typical.
There was another opportunity to beat a hated division rival . . .
who certainly was looking at THEIR final regular season game as
anything but trivial. The Jimmy Johnson admirer within “The Tortured
Cowboys Fan” knows an unmerciful beat down – if at all possible –
would have certainly been part of his plan.
There was an even higher season-ending total to be had for the
Cowboys’ latest of NFL rushing titles . . . valued and vital to
Cowboys Nation who have been generally spoiled by a history of
running back riches (from Calvin Hill to Tony Dorsett to Herschel
Walker to Emmitt Smith to DeMarco Murray to Zeke Elliott) whom fans
proudly view as sensational sports idols.
All but a few of these achievable goals faded when Cowboys Nation
noticed the diminished starter set that took the field . . . at the Linc for their final regular season contest against the
hated-and-unimpressive Philadelphia Eagles (who knew they needed a
start-laden attack to hold the Cowboys back). It was anyone’s bet
how many of Dallas’ big ticket boys would be asked to yield.
Marinelli’s (Undermanned) Men – even with Morris Claiborne, Sean
Lee, Justin Durant, DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Terrell
McClain, and Cedric Thornton out of the frame – would still (to the
surprise of no one) find a way to gut it out through much of the
game.
While recently returned Randy Gregory was going to continue getting
plenty of snaps to ensure his conditioning for the playoffs would
not collapse . . . situational performers – like David “Too Tall,
Jr.” Irving, Jack Crawford, Maliek Collins, Benson Mayowa, and Kyle
Wilber – would feel a lot less like part-time benchwarmers.
Out on offense – from the beginning – were Tyron Smith, Ronald
Leary, and Zeke Elliott (who was accepting but may have been far
from cheery for lack of a better chance at winning). Dak Prescott
would join his off-duty teammates on the sideline after but three
points and two series . . . and, then, the entire team began
inexplicably grinning.
It was widely reported Mark Sanchez would get significant playing
time . . . but none other than Tony Romo entered the game and –
after a deep right incompletion (as an oh-so-mild in-your-face to
booing Eagles fans unhappy to see his face) – Romo effortlessly
drove the Cowboys downfield for a bang-bang touchdown pass to
Terrance Williams, and looked like he was still in his prime. Romo
would give Dallas a 10-3 lead, plant the potential game-winning seed
for Sanchez to adopt on the very next series. One thing was for
certain . . . as Tony, the Cowboys, and Cowboys Nation (via TV
station) received pleasing confirmation of what they believed they
already knew: a wicked offensive batch Romo could still brew.
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- While the “Sanchezian Candidate” was never given a backup QB
mandate, he likely lost his offseason chance to dictate whether or
not he would have to relocate . . . after a performance that would
force an easily achievable 14th win to suffocate.
Sanchez would struggle to generate any more than three points while
tossing two interceptions. He – in (some) fairness – received little
help from Doug Free’s "veteran calm" and his untimely performance
“interventions.”
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- Dak regularly credits Sanchez for being one of the key people
involved in his daily and weekly game prep and professional growth
but – without practically ANY flashes of (his very) early career
success – Mark (following the current season) may simply have to
goeth.
While the Dallas Cowboys would go on to lose their very winnable
final game of the regular season 27-13 . . . fans will have to wait
two weeks to learn if America’s Team will explode upon the
divisional round playoff scene or put on a playoff performance so
rookie-green.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys now get the next two weeks . . . to heal up, rest
up, practice up, churn (the roster) up, and sneak wild card peeks.
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- Will America’s Team face the Detroit
Lions, the New York Giants, or the Green Bay Packers?
Will “Garrett’s Gang” – particularly “The ‘Han Clan” and
“Marinelli’s Men” – remember, above all else, that if they can
fiercely execute each play (rather than lazily pollute their “win or
go home” game day) and remain reasonably healthy, it will matter not
who may be their attackers?
The Cowboys have a January 15th, 2017 play date . . . but will they
or won’t they be great?
We shall see. We always do.
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