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- 2019-2020 Regular Season: Cowboys Overcome The Giants After Another Slow Start
And Host A Vikings Team That Could Overturn Their Cart
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November 10,
2019 At 11:32 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “America’s Team” emerged from
their bye week with the goal of starting a new winning streak. While
they were not enjoying a wealth of health, they were as close to
full strength as they had been at any point in the season. Facing a
still-struggling New York Giants team and anticipating a
two-in-a-row theme? The Dallas Cowboys had every good-and-capable
reason.
America’s Team would avoid more strife at MetLife and prevail 37-18
in the New Jersey Meadowlands, but to those fans narrowly-fixated on
the bottom line – from fair weather to fantasy footballer – they
would be none the wiser to learn Dallas had another self-inflicted
challenge on their hands.
Another sluggish offensive beginning – for the better part of the
first half – nearly kept Dallas from winning (before “Kellen’s Crew”
eventually flipped the switch for a Monday night laugh).
Dump The Cliché And Be Prepared To Play
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” has never been an enthusiast of empty
clichés and could rail against them for days and days.
“You beat the teams you are supposed to beat” . . . unless “on any
given Sunday” you overlook your opponent in the slightest and fail
to meticulously compete. Then, when you have been surprisingly
humiliated, you pull out the “It is hard to win in the NFL” card to
ensure your fans are thoroughly irritated.
Discerning members of “Cowboys Nation” – like most sports fans
around our pale blue dot – intermittently (but not unreasonably?)
seek from their favorite team better start-to-finish consistency
but, this year, that has been asking a lot.
“B-But ALL NFL teams are historically jealous of the Dallas Cowboys
and despise their long-standing, occasionally (?) unearned theme as
America’s Team! Even when the ‘Boys have been no-so-talent-blessed,
opponents almost always bring their game day best!” you predictably
(and perhaps understandably) protest.
Any fans not suffering from severe amnesia will recall how regularly
monstrous “Marinelli’s Men” were towards their 2018 opponents right
up until they faced the better-prepared, situationally-aware Los
Angeles Rams in an away-game playoff. Just when they needed
(consistently better) offensive calls and execution for a full 60
minutes, “Linehan’s Clan” never delivered the postseason payoff.
2018 – of course – was known as much for Dallas’ defensive tone as
it was for offensive opportunities consistently blown.
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- While Marinelli’s Men looked more like the complete-game “Hot Boyz”
against the 2019 Giants than they have in a while, it cannot and
should not be overlooked how long it took Kellen’s Crew to help
their defensive counterparts and (hyperventilating) fans feel
satisfied enough to display that game-winning, BLACK Cheshire
cat smile.
Sean Lee – filling in for an injured LVE – looked every bit the
veteran starting linebacker and lead tackler he still can be (save
for unpredictable injury).
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- Jaylon Smith was equally up to the tackling mission of keeping
fleet-of-foot players like Giants’ rookie QB "Danny Dimes" Jones and
star running back Saquon Barkley sufficiently out of commission.
Xavier Woods displayed more ball-hawking behavior, delivering the
still-rare-for-Dallas interception goods. Reserve safety Darian
Thompson (stepping in for an injured Jeff Heath) and cornerback
Jourdan "I Can Do This" Lewis each recovered a fumble . . . with
Lewis returning his for a last-second touchdown, leaving the Giants’
forlorn faithful to further mumble.
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- DeMarcus "Tank" Lawrence, Robert "The Mighty" Quinn in combination
with Jaylon “Predator” Smith, Michael “Worldwide” Bennett, and
Maliek “Rosey” Collins, as well as Dorance “Doleman” Armstrong also
made their swarming presence felt through the steadily-increasing
return of the Cowboys' sack attack.
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- Marinelli’s Men held New York to one touchdown and four field goals,
repeatedly preventing them from creating a bigger hole from which
Dak and Co. would have to climb with ever-decreasing available time.
The Cowboys’ bye week was not merely a(n always critical) chance for
the injured to get well . . . but for the offense to reinforce (or
reset?) their plan to more consistently and successfully break their
still-wicked, slow-start spell.
Yes, Ezekiel Elliott ran for almost 140 yards on just 23 carries yet
– against better-prepared competition this year – that result
varies.
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- Yes, Dak Prescott threw for three more touchdowns against one
(no-look) interception and an untimely fumble (not lost but an
avoidable stumble) with a QBR of 81 yet – against better-prepared
competition this year – it has been harder for him to impose his
will and get things done.
Yes, Amari Cooper and (the defensively-ignored) Blake Jarwin each
reeled in a reception of over 40 yards for a touchdown, and Michael
Gallup added a dipsy-doo circus catch for a third score yet –
against better-prepared competition this year – it has been a
challenge for them to deliver more.
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- Yes, Jason Witten, Randall Cobb (who coughed one up on the job), and
Tony Pollard were serviceable chain-movers, but – against
better-prepared competition this year – it has been tougher for them
to be successful third down converters.
Yes, Brett "Jekyll and Hyde" Maher made three but missed (for him) a
fourth, easily-achievable kick . . . leaving his team and fans still
wondering what the heck makes his inconsistent foot (and mind?)
tick.
While the Cowboys defeated New York with plenty of late-blossoming
bells and whistles, the most-competitive part of their schedule now
awaits, and many of their remaining opponents forego the fancy steak
knives for heat-seeking missiles. There is no more time for empty
clichés. America’s Team must be better-prepared than their oncoming
competitors to make earlier, game-winning plays.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Cowboys “welcome” the Minnesota Vikings to town. Kirk Cousins
may be the same quarterback (which Dallas has largely been able to
successfully attack), but his supporting cast (superior to any he
had while in Washington) seems capable of preventing their
oft-derided QB from appearing the same old clown.
A few of the reasons Cousins – as of late – has been sidestepping
(most but not all) fan hate have been star receivers Stephon Diggs
and Adam Thielen, as well as running back Dalvin Cook. Against that
running back in particular, Marinelli’s Men know they need to make
an impact on him rather vehicular, as missing tackles at the point
of attack would, indeed, make many of the Hot Boyz look like a
schnook. Will Leighton Vander Esch’s return help the Hot Boyz keep
tight end Kyle Rudolph and Cook and on a slow burn . . . or will the
Vikings – playing without an injured Thielen – be allowed to enjoy
that winnin’ feelin’?
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Kellen’s Crew knows exactly what to do, even against a Vikings
defense that is solid through and through. Will Dak and Co. break
out to a fast(er) start and do their 60-minute part, or will they
allow Minnesota to overturn their cart? Will Dak’s receivers be
capable retrievers against a Vikings’ secondary that (even without
cornerback Trae Waynes) goes to great pains to zero-in quickly with
an aim to bury? Will Zeke be able to Cook hotter than Dalvin with Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph being unavailable to
participate in any d-line stuff?
We shall see. We always do.
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