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2017-2018 Regular Season:
Raiders Fail To Give Themselves A Hand Against Star-Spangled
Invaders In Oakland . . . And Preparing To Battle Seattle
- December 21, 2017 At 11:03 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Heading into the Oakland Coliseum, “America’s Team” was facing
the same season-dominating issues ad nauseam.
Can the Dallas Cowboys continue to survive . . . tenuous playoff
spot elimination without Ezekiel Elliott to help keep them alive?
Can Dak Prescott yet show . . . he is capable of delivering more of
the (minimum) passing game accuracy and QB production the Cowboys
need – regardless of which running back leads their running attack –
to help them get where they want to go?
Can rookie-reliant “Marinelli’s Men” continue to reasonably strive .
. . against the loss of each (additional) injured defender so
critically needed for Dallas’ defensive scheme to properly thrive?
Is THIS the week the Cowboys finally reach their peak . . . with one
of their remaining regular season opponents officially making their
playoff chances 100% bleak?
While realistic responses to these questions – even for the
greatest, most myopic of true believers – points towards multiple
rejections . . . the Cowboys’ current scenario is why their roster
of professional football players get paid the big bucks. They – like
the walking wounded from all other teams – are expected to lay it
all on the line for an opportunity to return to the postseason . . .
rather than shrinking from a potentially marvelous moment like a
bunch of flimsy-feathered clucks.
Nonetheless, with both teams having slim playoff shots to lose . . .
it seemed – at first glance – that focused determination (rather
than sometimes erratic desperation) would prevent abuse of this
chance.
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” was quite taken – with certain details of
this latest contest – like most of Cowboys Nation . . . so this
edition fulfills the need to go deeper into the play-by-play weeds.
Finish Or Relinquish
"The Great Wall Of Dallas" started the game off strong, creating
huge holes and providing good pass protection on the first series.
The Cowboys had quickly reached the Raiders' 35 . . . when an
avoidable Prescott miscue killed the drive. Dak overthrew Dez Bryant
for an Oakland interception (which - over 14 games - was but their
third such intervention) . . . encouraging Prescott to seek
next-drive redemption.
The Cowboys' next series saw the little-used rookie wide receiver
Noah Brown . . . get a little dump pass love in Oaktown. The next
play involved a fake end-around to Ryan “Not Just A Special Teams
Spritzer” Switzer . . . with Prescott quickly turning the other
direction for a handoff to Alfred "A-Train" Morris, who bolted up
the middle for a 13-yard gain (with no Raiders really hittin’)
following a nice seal block by Jason Witten.
While that promising series would stall, Dan Bailey would soon after
head the call, hitting a 45-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a
3-0 lead . . . long before the game became uncomfortably exciting
with the Raiders starting to draw a late game bead.
Cowboys Nation - with less than two minutes remaining in the first
quarter - saw Prescott throw a long 31-yard wobbler to
decreasingly-used (albeit pass-protection-focused and oft-injured)
veteran tight end James Hanna, who was tackled at the Raiders’ 21.
Rod Smith would finish the drive with a one-yard touchdown run just
past the second quarter gun.
Prescott - with a little over three minutes remaining in the first
half - in trying to extend another series nearly made another
interception gaffe. He has the arm strength to go deep . . . but he
underthrew Cole Beasley with a level of accuracy that continues to
occasionally fall asleep.
The Raiders - within the final minute of the second quarter -
managed to jumpstart their offense and reach the Cowboys' 11-yard
line . . . only to blow a touchdown pass on the next play (that an
offensive pass interference call would force them to decline). They
would narrowly miss a last-second field goal, and the teams would
enter intermission still separated by 10 points . . . leaving the
locals underwhelmed in "The Black Hole."
The Raiders would begin the second half with some special teams
canon fire . . . but a holding penalty (one of MANY) would turn
Cordarrelle Patterson (with his 100-yard touchdown return) into a
liar. Still, it foreshadowed a productive series for Oakland in
which Marinelli's Men would allow both Carr and Lynch to sprint for
32 yards and 19 yards respectively, as part of a nearly seven-minute
drive that ended with a Carr fade pass to Michael Crabtree for a
touchdown.
It is absolutely worth noting how promising rookie cornerback
Chidobe Awuzie fought Crabtree for position every step of the way on
that fade pass. It was the same kind of fight the Cowboys are seeing
for each of their rookie secondary defenders . . . which will
continue to ensure they receive more playing time than the "Watch
And Chase" bunch they are progressively replacing (in Anthony Brown,
Byron Jones, and the still-injured Orlando Scandrick).
On the Cowboys' very next series, Prescott dropped back and - as he
attempted to pass - former Seattle Seahawk linebacker Bruce Irvin
swiped at his elbow, causing his pass to flutter safely into the
hands of Raiders' cornerback Sean Smith. If Cole Beasley - the
originally-intended target - had not touched him while he was down .
. . Smith would have returned it for a touchdown.
While the Raiders got a turnover, Marinelli's Men forced them to
settle for another imperfect field goal to tie the game at 10-10.
One of the highlights of the game - and a rare Cowboys special teams
moment - involved an exhilarating fake punt by Chris Jones on fourth
and 11 from the Cowboys’ own 24. He reached the Cowboys' 48-yard
line on a 24-yard gain. It was no doubt a gutsy call and great risk
. . . that – if unsuccessful – would have been met by livid fans
with far more than a “Tsk, tsk.” That play seemed to energize
Dallas, as they followed with a powerful intermediate catch-and-run
by Dez Bryant and a keeper by Prescott, both for sizeable first down
yardage.
With the score still tied at 10-10 and with just over two minutes
left in the third quarter, from the Raiders' 44-yard line, Prescott
from the shotgun threw an eight-yard come-backer to Dez, who would round
(with maximum torque) out of his pattern and heads up the left
sideline for 11 more YAC (Yards After Catch) until being forced out
of bounds. THIS type of play – in which Dez almost always imposes
his beastly way – remains a (but not the) key to keeping Dez
productive and standing tall . . . for as long as the Cowboys’
vertical passing game continues to come up small.
With less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, on the same
drive, Prescott had great pass protection but - with no one open -
he ran it into the end zone himself just five yards outside the
left hash mark. The Cowboys were up 17-10 – with no one on defense
good enough to spy and fly – were left barely copin’.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, the Cowboys lined
up to go for it on fourth down . . . hoping to turn back Oakland’s
late game momentum and make the ball park go dark in Oaktown. Dak -
at first glance - appeared to have not quite made it . . . yet the
top-down replay showed he quickly stretched the ball further to
solve it.
Dak – in shotgun on the next play with no other tricks from the
Raiders' 46 – goes deep to Dez who . . . drum roll please – CAUGHT
IT just fine at the Raiders' six-yard line! No, it was not the
DEEPEST and most PERFECT of strikes, but it was true . . . and –
unlike last week against the New York Giants where Dak’s last long
shot hit Dez right in the perfect open-hands spot – Dez,
thankfully, remembered “after all this time” what to do. Yes, it
slightly bounced off the chest of a turned-around Dez before his
vice grips helped change Dallas’ deep ball station. Yes, Dak
under threw Dez, but it was an absolutely welcome sight by Cowboys
Nation.
The Cowboys tried to run it in - while eating up as much remaining
game clock as possible - but the Raiders' defense suddenly proved
inhospitable. Dan Bailey was called in to fill the scoring hole with
another reliable field goal. The Cowboys led 20-17, but (precious)
time would tell if the difference was too lean.
The Raiders were given just over 90 seconds with which to even the
score or win the game outright by doing more. Anthony Brown - with
just over a minute remaining and right on cue - was in position at
the Raiders’ own 43 to make a(n interception) play . . . but his
cornerback hands just could not find a receiver’s way.
Derek Carr then went deep down field to Michael Crabtree and -
rather than continue to look back at the ball-in-flight - feisty
rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis unintentionally granted Oakland an
unearned opportunity to extend the fight. Lewis - even for a
first-year guy - knew he could have avoided impeding Crabtree with a
more opponent-wary eye.
Then - Jeff Heath, the ultimate weapon - on successive plays
prevented Carr from saving the Raiders’ day. Carr floated a pass
over the middle of the end zone to Crabtree who - under almost any
circumstances - would have easily outmaneuvered a defender like
Heath . . . but Jeff deflected the pass before Crabtree could be
fitted for the winning touchdown wreath. On the very next play,
tight coverage (and all-night-pressure from DeMarcus Lawrence)
forced Carr out of the pocket . . . like an eyeball from its socket.
Carr chose to scramble towards the right front corner of the end
zone . . . but Heath hit him just hard enough to knock the ball from
Carr's outstretched hand (so that it was fumbled over the goal line
and out of the end zone). The fate-sealing play resulted in a
touchback and the Raiders’ game-winning chance was blown.
The Dallas Cowboys knew they were in a win-out-or-go-home situation.
They knew they had to finish or relinquish . . . any designs they
had on preventing an earlier-than-desired vacation.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
Jeff Heath will never be John Lynch perfect . . . but he has
increasingly shown Rod Marinelli and Cowboys Nation that he is no
longer a naturally-occurring defensive defect.
Punter Chris Jones has complete latitude to run a fake punt if he
recognizes the right conditions . . . and – on a fourth and 11 – he
saw the appropriate situation, especially with the Cowboys offense
suffering some performance attrition. And if it had gone wrong? It
is little mystery that “someone” would have been invited to answer
the blame game gong.
NFL game day head official Gene Steratore is a(n intensely) familiar
name among Cowboys Nation . . . as he – along with a rotten replay
reversal of a certain 2014 playoff catch – was in (large) part
responsible for helping the Green Bay Packers send the Dallas
Cowboys on an incredibly premature vacation. A victory over the
Raiders – under current playoff participation possibilities – was
considered just as critical . . . and Steratore would – once again –
be the controversial officiating vehicle. Dak’s late game fourth
down quarterback sneak was too close to call and required a further
peek . . . with a visual aid that was cue card sleek. Steratore – in
doing his very best Richard Dawson Family Feud “Survey Says”
impersonation – confirmed the first down using a folded index card
to confirm there was no daylight between the yardage marker and the
tip of the football . . . which only mildly made up for his 2014
call. The Cowboys’ fate – in this game – would forever be linked to
“Origami Gate.”
On one of the Raiders' three first half series that ended in punts,
Marshawn Lynch took a swing pass from Derek Carr down the right
sideline for six yards before trucking . . . rookie cornerback
Awuzie Chidobe (another brother from Oakland who had zero intention
of ducking). After missing so much time with nagging injuries . . .
the promising young talent has no interest in performance perjuries.
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Chidobe's statement surely was not (?) loosely referencing transverse-fractured
veteran cornerback Orlando “Business Decision” Scandrick . . . as he
may – one day – also have to make his own business decision(s) in
order to (ideally) remain available to turn a far more critical,
future tackling trick. Orlando used to be THE most aggressive
defender (especially in the slot) on the Cowboys’ roster – when he
was younger like Awuzie . . . but – like any other defender in the
league – as long as Chidobe maintains proper tackling technique and
(magically) avoids career-crushing collisions that are out of his
control, he could, indeed, continue to have his way.
Following a Dan Bailey kickoff, the Raiders’ Cordarrelle Patterson –
for a second time but without a penalty flag – sliced and diced his
way through the Cowboys' special teams all the way up to Oakland's
49-yard line . . . before being tackled from behind by Awuzie, who
also caused Patterson to fumble out of bounds. Chidobe HUSTLES,
tries to make the most of his long-overdue opportunities, and – in
the future – should do just fine.
Anthony “Bad Angle” Brown – more often than not this year – has been
stuck in a reverse gear, misinterpreting Marinelli’s definition of
triangulation . . . along with a mental interruption on the
occasional interception. One might argue that so many pass
interference flags in his rookie year – followed by still more this
year – would naturally make the former sixth round draft pick live
in penalty fear . . . or perhaps the feeling is the former
starter-turned-backup has already reached his ceiling. After coming
on strong as a rookie, Brown has clearly consumed the sophomore
slump cookie. Now he has at least / at most another offseason to
give the ever-churning Cowboys a hopeful, depth-providing reason.
Marinelli’s Men pulled the age-old, dreaded, inexplicable “Tackle
Forward” . . . as the Raiders were heading towards the end zone on
one of their touchdowns. It is a childhood-learned,
adulthood-continued activity which no fan adores. “Situational
awareness” is never just about a timely sense of urgency and the
right play calls . . . but also how a player chooses to execute to
ensure an opponent properly falls. Besides trying to sidestep
critical injury, there is no better reason for a defender to keep
his head up and eyes open with a stiffened spine . . . than when
piling on an opposing ball carrier so close to the goal line.
Defenders – even in the heat of battle – must be facing the right
direction when making that key tackle.
Brice (The) Butler would have done it if his foot could have
reasonably survived it, but he may be shelved the remainder of the
regular season . . . and Dak having to continue making do without a
viable deep threat is none too pleasin'.
Tyron Smith and Anthony Hitchens both came away with knee injuries.
They are – incredibly – still considered next-game possibilities . .
. even with their recent histories. While Dallas has leaned on a
somewhat serviceable Byron Bell, their next opponent – with Tyron
potentially unwell – could give Byron hell. The possible absence of
Hitchens – with Justin Durant still concussed – might overexpose
Jaylon Smith to a dangeRUSS mobile QB over which many
defenses have fussed. DeMarcus Lawrence – the Cowboys 2017 sack
leader – has returned to practice though he – once again – is
dealing with familiar, career-long back pain. The head of David
Irving must really be mussed for him – like Durant – to still be in the protocol of
the concussed.
While Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin were all
selected to their latest Pro Bowls with DeMarcus Lawrence being
picked for his first . . . those nominations are "merely" contract
incentive consolation prizes compared to the Cowboys' desire to
quench their postseason thirst.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys return to AT&T Stadium for some timely
home-cooking . . . and – with two more must-win contests and the
need for other teams to prop up Dallas' playoff dreams – the Cowboys
know better than to get caught looking (at postseason airfare and
hotel stay they would like to be booking).
America’s Team is on a timely three-game win streak, and they have
the chance – with the long-anticipated return of Zeke – to show they
are really on fleek.
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- They will be facing what is expected to be a
significantly-undermanned yet infuriated Seattle Seahawks squad . .
. which – in a humiliating 42-7 loss to the upstart Los Angeles Rams
– looked incredibly flawed.
Will a freshly-chiseled Ezekiel Elliott bring a punishingly familiar
running game . . . or will Alfred “A-Train” Morris and Rod “More
Than Jaylon’s Brother” Smith have to remain ready if Zeke somehow
seems just not the same?
Will the Cowboys survive another game in this latest season of NFL
attrition . . . or will their next performance – without key
participants – expose an unsavory admission?
Will the Dallas Cowboys continue their imperfect fight for another
potential shot at ending their playoff plight . . . or will a Great
Northwest flock of banged-up birds force the Cowboys to call it a
night?
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- Are the Cowboys ready for their battle with the equally
playoff-focused Seattle?
We shall see. We always do.
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