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2020-2021 Regular Season: Cowboys Survive
Garrett’s Return Yet A Different Loss May Really Burn With A Third
Bird Seeking Their Turn
October 16,
2020 At 9:23 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- After watching a
pack of dogs
treat AT&T Stadium like a fire hydrant one week earlier, “everyone
in the pro sports world” knew the Dallas Cowboys’ defense needed to
become surlier, and their offense needed a faster courier.
“America’s Team” was hoping that – against an age old,
equally-injury-plagued foe – they would be able to break from their
slow start theme. “Just this ONCE” – against a fellow
NFC Least DUNCE – Dallas hoped to start off fast than
wait until halftime to execute their customary scoring blast. And
yet the visiting New York Giants had a lil’ more PROCESS-minded
incentive to at least appear more inventive.
Is The Enemy Of My Enemy My Friend Or My Enemy?
Dak and Co. had the first possession, and they drove all the way to
the New York Giants' four-yard line before triggering another,
ANOTHER early-game red zone transgression. 2020 5th-round
draft pick and rookie center Tyler Biadasz launched a premature snap
and – while Dak was able to secure the sudden blur – he was tackled
for a loss, and the play turned to crap. Dak – on 3rd-and-goal from
the New York six – took the shotgun snap and hesitated a half-second
too long in throwing a back-shoulder fade into the end zone to
CeeDee Lamb (giving the defender just enough time to close the gap
and apply a trajectory-turning slap). The Cowboys would have to
settle for another of Greg Zuerlein’s kicks. 3-0 after a red zone no
show.
One could only recall the old Oscar Meyer jingle (with
a twist): "'Cause the Dallas Cowboys have their ways of screwing up
on early plays." Get the gist? But let us not digress
from the next potential mess.
"The Tortured Cowboys Fan" previously mentioned that - without
Giants' star running back Saquon Barkley (and with quarterback
Daniel Jones leading New York in rushing yards), Dallas defenders
might not face a run-stopping challenge nearly as hard. "But,
BUT" with New York's first offensive opportunity, they made
successful use of matriculation-by-committee to ensure their ground
game was not completely charred.
Scat back DeVonta Freeman (formerly of the Atlanta Falcons) began
the drive with a nearly-10-yard burst to quench their running game
thirst. Cowboys linebacker Joe Thomas did his roughing-the-passer
part by making unintentional helmet-to-helmet art. Second-year
Giant's wide receiver Darius Slayton got involved with a few catches
(including a toe-tapper via flea flicker), demonstrating how the
Cowboys' secondary remains easily-solved. As a brief aside, while
Slayton (on the day) may not have scored (due to a penalty “so
adored”), his work between the 20's had most of the Cowboys'
secondary routinely floored. Nonetheless, upon reaching
the Dallas 21, Jones would fake the handoff to running back Wayne
Gallman and flip the ball to tight end Evan Engram coming from the
right side of the Giants' o-line to the opposite direction. Engram
would make an end-around on a half-moon hustle, leaving nearest
defender Everson Griffen little chance to apply preventative muscle.
A simple, slight-of-hand scoring play that worked to
touchdown perfection. The Giants' lead of 7-3 was too
easy, and even reasonable fans were feeling uneasy.
Prescott would get the ball back and be on the attack (with under
six minutes still remaining in the first quarter). Then, events, as
first-half-usual would begin to unravel, get out order. He had
Dallas driving and was but 10 yards from midfield when he produced
an undesirable yield. Then – after a fake handoff to Ezekiel Elliott
– he looked right then left . . . and lofted his stud running back
an overthrown heft. A Zeke catch would have been quite
the high-jump invention, but it became a GIANT
interception. New York linebacker Kyler Fackrell would juke,
jive, dip, and dive his way for a 46-yard pick-six. Holy
Mackerel! The Cowboys' offense was – once again – up
to its early-game turnover tricks. It was 14-3, and
self-inflicted mistakes were prematurely allowing another
opponent to break free.
On the Cowboys' next series, the Giants brought some defensive
flurries (with a sack on Dak and an errant-yet-pressured pass to
Tony Pollard, another Cowboys back). The Giants would be held to a
field goal, but they increased the Cowboys’ hole. It was 17-3 New
York, and whatever “significant secrets” former Cowboys head coach
Jason “Frenemy” Garrett shared with the Giants’ offensive and
defensive units – up until that point in the Cowboys’ joint – had
appeared to work. All good things – of course – must come
to an end, and a tidal change was developing around
the bend.
From Sloppy And Slow To Get Up And Go?
The Cowboys’ offense – with over 13 minutes remaining in the second
quarter – would transform into a points hoarder. Right on
cue, the “late-arriving” scorers knew what to do. The Cowboys’
running game (with Zeke and Pollard firmly in frame) delivered a
nice dose and – with Cedrick Wilson receiving a few key throws –
restarted the Cowboys’ scoring flame. It was 17-10 but – with the
ever-present first half curse capable of getting worse – there was
no guarantee Dallas would score again.
The Cowboys' cause was suddenly freed from pause when (with just
over five minutes remaining in the second quarter on 1st-and-10 from
the Giants' own 37) the one-and-only DeMarcus
"Tank" Lawrence strip-sacked Daniel Jones as if sent
from heaven. Cornerback Anthony Brown scooped up
the EXTREMELY RARE defensive-delivered fumble and into
the end zone he would happily rumble. It was suddenly 17-all, but
more diabolical dominoes were soon to fall.
- After being forced to punt by an energized Dallas defense – with but a
little time remaining in the first half – the Giants opted for some
fourth down "fun" to get the last-minute laugh. New York was fixin'
to indulge in some “trickeration” with punter Riley Dixon (who took
the snap and fired downfield to that seemingly perpetual pain in the
Cowboys' ass, err, Evan Engram for what EVERYONE believed
was a sneaky touchdown yield). The Cowboys – as had become their
2020 reputation – were mentally on vacation. And yet,
AND YET, Dallas was saved by an illegal shift,
giving Cowboys Nation the last laugh with Giants fiery rookie head
coach Joe Judge looked so miffed.
-
- The
irony – if only noticed by The Tortured Cowboys Fan – is that the
penalty was on “Number 75” . . . and a hysterical reminder
of Phil Pozderac (one of THE worst, former
Cowboys’ offensive linemen alive). His own mental blunders tore two
all-but-certain game-winning drives completely asunder (in New York
against the Giants in 1986 due to nervous ticks even the great Tom
Landry could never fix).
- Giants (in any event) were forced to settle for a field goal but –
with 46 seconds and points still to be gained – on a roll Dak and
Co. remained. It was the Dak-to-CeeDee-Lamb show as time wound down
(including a fantastic catch that survived a nasty hit that would
make any fine-empowered league commissioner frown). It was THEN
that Dallas "jumped the shark" and went for the trickeration crown.
Dak (with 23 seconds left on 1st-and-10 from the Giants' 11) took
the snap, handed off to Zeke heading left, who flipped it to Cedrick
Wilson who was heading right. By the time the Giants realized
Prescott had quietly escaped from his pocket, Wilson fired a shot
that hit Prescott (who was in the front corner of the end zone for
what would eventually become seven). Watching the Dallas Cowboys
"creatively" deploy a version of "The Philly Special"
was something in which Cowboys Nation should revel. The score was
24-20 at halftime but – as previously indicated – something
far less sublime would soon be initiated.
- The Giants would have the ball on offense to begin the third quarter
and – with about 10 minutes remaining on 3rd-and-6 from the Dallas
31 – Daniel Jones would unload to a streaking Darius Slayton for a
touchdown to reset the scoring order. "But, BUT" a
Giants penalty took away another one. It was a blatant
pick that did the trick. That was a 14-point swing that
coulda', shoulda', and woulda' but ultimately meant
not a thing. After a “12 men on the field penalty” by a special
teams mental runt nixed a New York punt, the Giants settled for yet
another field goal to get within one, but something else was about
to occur that was going to be no fun.
Reality Bender And Season Ender
Dak and Co. were – once again – heading downfield for another
touchdown yield (with Zeke, Tony Pollard, and CeeDee Lamb on such a
collaborative tear) when, suddenly, the worst possible occurrence
happened out of thin air. On 1st-and-10 from the Giants 27 (less
than seven minutes remaining), Dak received the shotgun snap and
took off on a designed run. He would alter course, head towards the
left sideline, and be forced to engage but one, smaller New York
defender. While eyeing the first-down marker, the scene got
darker, and during the tackle, he would traumatically-twist
and fracture his ankle. It was no mere bender.
EVERYBODY – from participants on the field to those on the
sideline to players, coaches, and prognosticators watching from all
around the league – collectively gasped and prayed for a fine
human being and overachieving, true-believing player who (not
once but TWICE) bet on himself to ensure he would
eventually and properly be paid. Dak fought back tears and
incredible, unmedicated fatigue, acknowledging all who
approached as he was carefully-placed on a cart. He gave a defiant
wave to the crowd as from the field he did depart.
The Dallas Cowboys and their fans – for the rest of a thus-far
rotten year – had to stunningly say goodbye to their team
leader and such a normally-sturdy guy, to be clear. And as it was
Dak that fate did injure, completing the game and the rest of the
season was suddenly, inconceivably up to their backup
ginger.
Andy Dalton – to EVERYONE’S honest surprise – stepped
right in to imperfectly, reasonably, and quickly gel with Dak’s guys
(when a near-interception and a fumbled snap might have mentally cut
others in his emergency position down to size). While Jaylon Smith
and the Dallas defense did their best (of the year?)
to apply game-winning dents, Dalton efficiently steered the
emotional, adrenalin-imbibed Cowboys the rest of the way. It
took a second rushing touchdown by Zeke and two more Zuerlein field
goals (with one being a last-second nail-biter) to
ultimately conclude play. Though America’s Team defeated the New
York Giants 37-34, the “victory” left the organization and Cowboys
Nation anxiously wondering what other unimaginable
obstacles a tumultuous 2020 may still have in-store.
Misery Loves Injury
While Dak Prescott has joined 10 (?) or become the 10th (?) starter
to involuntarily deserve time on injured reserve, he apparently made
it through emergency surgery to avoid a staph infection to
everyone’s predilection. The injury and the style of tackle
that made Dak’s ankle crackle should ironically look very familiar
to discerning fans (all of whom – with fair warning – surely would
have altered their TV-watching plans). None other than one-time
Dallas wide receiver Allen Hurns endured the same gruesome
injury through a similar tackle during the Cowboys’ 2018
postseason home game against Seattle. He practically went through
the same immediate surgery and he conveyed the same confidence to
fight and win the oncoming 4-6-month recovery battle.
"I think he's one of the best teammates I've ever had.
So, when you see a guy like that go down, it hurts. And just seeing
how nasty that was, it hurts a lot. But you keep [Allen Hurns] in
your mind the whole game." – Dak Prescott (with no crystal ball
to tell him that an eventual injury fate would befall him quite the
same).
"Obviously [the injury is] not a good situation for Allen. It's a
serious injury that he has. Allen's in good hands. He's going to
come back. HE'S GOING TO PLAY A LOT OF FOOTBALL FOR US IN
THE FUTURE." – GM Jerry (making a nice gesture but knowing he
still had – and certainly used – the option of moving on from Hurns
like a piece of unwanted furniture).
Fast forward by almost two years, and most (but not all) members of
Cowboys Nation know to NEVER say never with
far-from-guaranteed recovery weather. Andy Dalton could
inconceivably outperform every Vegas bettor (ridiculously
rerouting GM Jerry’s next QB contract extension letter). The Cowboys
– following further, unrecoverable attrition – could also find
themselves in unbelievably-high 2021 NFL Draft position for an
extremely unlikely (?) Clemson University acquisition.
YES, Yes, yes, The Tortured Cowboys Fan – in the
forced absence of mental stagnation – maintains a sometimes
reasonable, sometimes hysterical imagination.
Nonetheless, though the Dallas defense showed signs of life after
five games of strife, Nolan’s distressed defenders
remain so embattled that any further bad news could not possibly
make them rattled. Check that, as – to this beleaguered unit –
fate continues to go rat-ta-tat-tat. A torn ACL in the
right knee of second-year defensive tackle Trysten Hill is the
latest bitter pill (among an incredible number of
injuries that have continued to spill). Then, again, Cowboys head
coach Mike McCarthy would remind everyone "just like in 2011, we
will stay the course. From this character-building misery there
will be no divorce." Dallas is left with Dontari Poe,
Antwaun Woods, and 2020 third-round pick Neville Gallimore. The
Cowboys’ roster depth – again, like so many other teams
suffering painful themes – is sad-sack beaten and extremely sore.
Good Quote Or Garbage Bloat?
"We've known for a long time that you can have a great player at
this spot, but then not have him at periods of time during his
career. We had it with Aikman. We had it with Romo. You don't always
have them. SO, YOU'VE GOT TO RELY ON OTHER PARTS OF YOUR
TEAM. That's why we [do not] go into a contract negotiation with
the idea that it stands alone. It has to be a part of your tools
which you have, which is your salary cap to put a team on the field
and try to figure out the best way to win. And really THAT'S
the underlying issue here.” – “former” spendthrift GM Jerry on
10-13-2020 (conveniently about the money while perhaps
unintentionally acknowledging a filthy hand in a few 2019
contracts, the recipients of which have contributed
to the challenges the Dallas Cowboys have faced this year).
"I don't have any [concerns about Prescott's ability to recover from
this]. I really don't have any. I don't at all. I got as much as God
lets us get, and the nature of what [the surgical team might
have] found when they did the surgery. We've had similar injuries.
You do this long enough and we've seen them. We've had similar
injuries before, and this is one of those that you can mend and come
back and be as good as gold." – GM Jerry (saying what he must to
ensure fans are sold while knowing ANY organic or artificial
detour from Prescott’s full-and-complete recovery could lead
to bold discovery). Organic as in Dak suffering a setback.
Artificial as in Dalton magically not defaultin’.
“Andy Dalton is a player that can get the job done in
the NFL. He's a starting quarterback, and I'm being trite when I say
this. And I think he's a starting quarterback on any various
successful winning teams." – GM Jerry (insisting the addition of the
former Bengal makes the remainder of the season not so scary
with questionable sincerity).
"Dak definitely is special. But we have a lot of pieces in this
offense, and Andy has played at a high level in this league. So, I
think we should still be one of the best offenses in the league.” –
Ezekiel Elliott on 10-15-2020 (trying his best to forecast offensive
results reasonably sunny).
"If we don’t reach where we want to go ultimately . . . to win a
championship, it will not be because of Andy Dalton.
It will not be because of our play at quarterback. He’s capable of
stepping in and playing at that level." – GM Jerry to 105.3 FM The
Fan on 10-16-2020 (using the Cowboys’ quarterback calamity to
perhaps shield Jason Garrett’s successor from further upheaval
without triggering too much comedy).
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Time will soon tell if the Dallas Cowboys will, in fact, rally
around Andy Dalton and play good football . . . or continue their
corrosive consistency well into the fall.
Will They Or Won’t They?
With respect to the horrible, end-to-end impact of the COVID-19
pandemic so endemic, “leading the division” is not at all
what it proudly used to mean, especially when competing records
(Dallas Cowboys at 2-3, Philadelphia Eagles at 1-4-1, the New York
Giants at 1-5, and “That Washington Team” at 1-5) look so
miserably unclean.
While the NFC East – like so many forgettable Jekyll and Hyde
seasons – has become the NFC Least, it will take but one or two
performance malfeasants for the Eagles, Giants, or Washington to
become the, um, “beast” of the East (knowing – at the current
“competitive” rate – that it may not be until year’s end
before any of the teams within this horrid division will have
truly ceased).
Nonetheless, the third of three NFL birds is set to
land at AT&T Stadium at a time when fans (only some but increasingly
more) are reaching for a double dose Valium (for the possibility of
remaining-season gore).
The Arizona Cardinals’ second-year star quarterback Kyler Murray is
faster, shiftier, and may eventually prove more routinely-accurate
than the similarly-sized-and-skilled Michael Vick. It goes without
saying – and yet it must be said – that if the Dallas defense can
(familiarly) do nothing to combat a player so sick with his
flick and feet so quick, their chances of winning will be
put to bed.
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The brutally-ironic comparison should be lost on no one that – as
was the case with “That Announcer Guy” – the presence of a
struggling defense and Dak Prescott’s “unplanned absence”
more-than-potentially translates into a return of that 2015
nonsense. Discerning fans will not, CANNOT ignore
that Dallas’ elusive second victory of the year came against the
near-equally-battered and talent-tattered New York Giants to be
perfectly clear.
Will the (opportunistic?) Red Rifle demonstrate a
reasonably-productive eyeful or – even with “better” coaches and
superior weapons – will the former Cincinnati Bengal be unable to
CONTINUE TO change his stripes when the next challenge
threatens? Will Dalton be able to “unfairly” withstand the
impossible task
that has become an even more unavoidable ask . . . or will he leave
the Cowboys bleedin’ like fellow ginger Brandon Weeden
(due to a number of factors in the face of ever-present detractors)?
Will the return of middle linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (from
short-term injured reserve) help Nolan’s nightmare better mesh
(and halt the blown-assignment swerve)? With 11 regular season games
still remaining (and in the absence of a Prescott-led offense to
keep fan faith from completely draining) will the
embattled defensive
unit even be able to develop the necessary character or
the nerve?
We shall see. We Always do.
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