Lions crack Cowboys' star; win 39-31

by Dave Halprin on Dec 31, 2006 3:30 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

There's nothing to say, really. The Dallas Cowboys are a bad football team at the moment. There are no excuses, everyone is complicit. When you lose to the worst team in football at home, with the NFC East still in contention, capping off a run of losing three straight home games, you've reached the bottom. Maybe the only saving grace is that we actually go on the road for the playoff game. That's a pretty weak argument though, in reality, this team has very little chance.

This is an open thread for venting, but there are no excuses for personal attacks on other posters. Try to remain civil.

Recap

Furrey punctuated his score by firing the football into a plastic Cowboys logo behind the end zone, knocking it off the wall and putting a crack in it.

How symbolic.

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Comments

Blame Romo more than the Defense

He practically gave points to the Lions.

by BringBackQuincy on Dec 31, 2006 3:34 PM CST reply actions

Was it Romo that

fumbled the punt that led to 7 points?

by Lobo on Dec 31, 2006 3:37 PM CST up reply actions

That's something for Jerry to work on at least

Better get aluminum stars in the new stadium. Oh, that and the defense. Better start writing this down.

We all hope some people pull their heads out before Seattle and surprise everybody so let's just leave it that.

Hope is good.

by Doomsday on Dec 31, 2006 3:35 PM CST reply actions

I find it laughable

that our D gives up 39 points and yet people actually blame the QB for the loss..

If you can't see Romo has talent, then you're blind.

Period

by Lobo on Dec 31, 2006 3:36 PM CST reply actions

He does have talent

He just can't turn the ball over like he has in the last month. He has a problem that he needs to get corrected. It's a problem, and until he fixes it, he gets blame just like the rest of the team.

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by Dave Halprin on Dec 31, 2006 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

He wouldn't have to be forced into

turnover prone plays if the D played like it was an NFL defense.

Some games we can't even execute our offensive gameplan!!#+%*|#_^+%

by Lobo on Dec 31, 2006 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

we're one and done

but at least the young guys will gain some valuble playoff experience.

Although Romo had a few fumbles and an INT he played well and was the only reason the Cowboys actually had a shot of tying the game late. Without him, this game would have been really ugly and we would have finished 6-10 or 7-9 at best, eliminated from the playoffs several weeks ago. Anyone who says he's not our future franchise guy doesn't know what they're talking about.

The defense is the problem and is playing the worst I've seen a Cowboy defense play in a long time. We have no pass defense whatsoever. If anyone needs to get fired this offseason, its Zimmer.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 3:37 PM CST reply actions

only reason?

really? I thought people around him making plays was part of the reason. Maybe newmans return was a reason? How about TO? How about Witten?

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

who gets them the ball?

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 5:07 PM CST up reply actions

Please, Please, Please...

let Parcells RETIRE after the Seattle loss next week...

PLEASE!

by Dale in Atlanta on Dec 31, 2006 3:38 PM CST reply actions

Who put the Lions in position for 39 points?

Answer that question than you'll see better too.

by Doomsday on Dec 31, 2006 3:38 PM CST reply actions

Just a disappointed, depressing way to end

what we all thought, back in August, would be a promising year.

Yea, we made the playoffs. Not one of us actually thinks we will beat Seattle. Our defense has just completely falling apart.

I don't really even blame Romo for this loss. I know he fumbled deep in our territory. But he had no running game, no O-Line protection, and a defense that kept him behind most of the game. If the D could have forced just a couple more punts, could have kept the Lions off the field just a bit more....

Oh heck, what's the use. We suck. End of story. Blame whoever you want. Everyone deserves some, others deserve more.....

by Philosopher on Dec 31, 2006 3:38 PM CST reply actions

time for change

I've been a staunch supporter of Parcells for four years. I think there are many things he does exceedingly well and his record is Hall of Fame calibur. However, his results with the Cowboys are disappointing not only because we finished 9-7 again, with another December collapse, but did so with a team that profoundly underachieved given their relative luck with injuries and the overall poor quality of the conference.

I hope he resigns immediately following the Seahawks game. I don't care about the lack of available coaching talent. This is a team with a core of talent and I would like to see another coaching staff try to use it more effectively.

by AmosM on Dec 31, 2006 3:39 PM CST reply actions

there will be changes made by Jones

no doubt that will happen.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 3:41 PM CST reply actions

wow...

all i can say...

by Tuna Helper on Dec 31, 2006 3:42 PM CST reply actions

this is the way of the nfl

there isn't much difference between the bottom teams to the top teams...

Dallas matches up well with Seattle...we will beat them

We're in the dance, everyone is 0-0...

We're still a dangerous team if they can get out of the funk, especially on D.

by Lobo on Dec 31, 2006 3:43 PM CST reply actions

Did our defense actually go to a 4-3 during

the game?

Wharter

by Wharter on Dec 31, 2006 3:48 PM CST reply actions

Yeah they did, bit it looked like they

didn't use it as much later in the game. I'll know more after the film review.

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by Dave Halprin on Dec 31, 2006 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

pass rush

Grizz, during your review can you check if any defensive linemen tried to block a pass at any time during the game? or any game this season for that matter.

by dirtycallahan on Dec 31, 2006 6:35 PM CST up reply actions

Oh

and my biggest F goes to the coaching staff. In a weak conference, with a virtually injury free team, and a load of talent of both sides of the ball, we lose 3 of the last 4 in big ways. That is unacceptable.

by Philosopher on Dec 31, 2006 4:06 PM CST reply actions

Thanks, Grizz.

Whether this Cowboy's team goes any further this year, you've made the season a lot more enjoyable with your blog site!

Wharter

by Wharter on Dec 31, 2006 4:06 PM CST reply actions

Ditto

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

Chins up

We can beat Seattle. We have to execute better -- earlier and more consistantly. But Seattle's not as good as they were last season and surprise they're 9-7 as well, in a much less competitive division.

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 4:35 PM CST reply actions

Why are people blaming Romo?

Do the reporters actually watch the game?

No QB's are successful when they are in a must throw situation, with no running game, constantly playing from behind.

Shouldnt 31 be enough against the Lions?

Did he struggle today? Absolutely.

BUT THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND OFFENSIVE LINE ARE THE PROBLEM.

Somehow we have forgotten that the offensive line sucks..... They got beaten all day today.

by HSO on Dec 31, 2006 4:38 PM CST reply actions

amen

finally someone knows what they are talking about.

by Lobo on Dec 31, 2006 4:55 PM CST up reply actions

exactly

there aren't too many qb's who could have performed well under those circumstances.

everyone on this blog thinks Romo played bad, but he still had a qb rating of 109.5 under those circumstances. Does he need to protect the ball better? Absolutely, but you can't teach the specials skills the kid brings to the table.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 5:01 PM CST up reply actions

He did play bad

But he also played great. It was a weird game, he had the game on his shoulders and he played well enough to win and poor enough to loose...just weird.

The real problem with our team is early execution, in my eyes. When we start off with two 3 and outs and give up three drives for scores, we're gonna have problems winning.

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 7:14 PM CST up reply actions

yes! -- best of times and worst of times

thanks for articulating what I was feeling all game -- that our offense seemed to play both well, and terribly.

Bad Romo is creating a lot of pass-rush pressure by himself. He seems to have a tendency to drop back, then take a step toward the main target (left or right) before there is pressure-- near the DE rushing lane. He's supposed to move to an open space as the pocket develops, and he can do this very well.

Good Romo dropped straight back, and waited before sliding (or didn't slide step), he had lots more time, and made more accurate throws.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the good part of our Defense :( Despite having one of the biggest defenses, feels like we always get pushed back and run over nowadays-- the first hits rarely seem to be takedowns. Was Greg Ellis really crucial player? Or is there something else going on?

by mlibbey on Dec 31, 2006 8:07 PM CST up reply actions

His only mistake...

Was that he didn't throw the ball on fourth down. You MUST throw the ball into the endzone on fourth and goal. The run was too risky. Even if its a pick, he gave the team a chance.

Windy City Gridiron the place for REAL football talk

by Chad @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

Special Teams

appeared to be bloody awful as well. Giving up two big punt returns in the first quarter to start Detroit on Dallas' 36 and 20 give the defense almost no chance.

It is evident that we are no longer a running team (lack of run blocking?) and this accounts for a negative time of possession net. When we cannot run the ball we cannot rest the defense.

Looking at the gamebook (game not shown here) there are a few positives to take away from this game:

Tony Romo again dealt with pressure of coming from behind and did it well. I am not sure about why the fumbles.
The receivers also had strong game and we showed an explosive offense in spots.
Miles Austin continues to put up good kick-off returns.
We are the only team in the NFC with a winning record (3-1) against the AFC. It does give some hope.

Also Seattle may be worse than us with the worst strength of victory of any playoff team.

by lee3022 on Dec 31, 2006 9:32 PM CST up reply actions

Our playoff game

will be on Saturday.

Probably Saturday night.

by Lobo on Dec 31, 2006 4:56 PM CST reply actions

correct

Sat Jan 6 at 8:00 pm on NBC.

[http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9900470]

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 5:08 PM CST up reply actions

9-7??

Can anyone else remember a 9-7 season by another team in football, marred by more hype and horror? Ups and Downs? Controversies and changes?

We went 9-7 last year, but this year feels like a huge disappointment.

I would have been happy with a division title, and one playoff win.

Throw me a freaking bone cowboys.

by HSO on Dec 31, 2006 5:38 PM CST reply actions

Re: Romo

I agree with Terry and HSO. Romo definitely needs to do a better job protecting the football, but all things considered, he played well today. If the defense had merely been average, we win.

Finishing 9-7, and limping into the playoffs, is a huge disappointment given where we stood after beating the Giants a month ago. On the other hand, let's not forget what we're coming out of this season with: a young QB we can build around, plus a pretty good combination of up and coming players and solid vets. And, we DO have a playoff game next week.

That's not to suggest we don't have some glaring weaknesses: we're in desperate need of another pressure player, we need to strengthen our offensive line, we need a solid FS, and we probably need to bring in a young, speedy receiver to groom - regardless of whether or not T.O. returns next year.

-Mark

by MarkP on Dec 31, 2006 5:47 PM CST reply actions

Was at the game

Did Newman look as bad on TV as he did at the stadium? Minus the punt return, it looked like he was to blame for a lot of the defensive breakdowns.

by magnus on Dec 31, 2006 5:52 PM CST reply actions

he looked pretty bad

when he got burned by Williams for the TD. One of the worse wr's in the game completely turned him around. IMO, that play cost us the game.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 7:16 PM CST up reply actions

For someone who called out

his teammates T-New did not back it up. His man burned him per the gamebook and his penalty nullified Roy William' Interception TD and that alone might have been the turning point. He needs to admit he failed and renew his determination.

by lee3022 on Dec 31, 2006 9:35 PM CST up reply actions

C'mon

Say what you will about his coverage, but that was a BS penalty on Roy's pick.

Also, whatever happened to the Halo rule? On the muffed punt, a Lions defender was in TNew's face and that was why he misjudged the last bit of the drop.

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 10:59 PM CST up reply actions

Chin up bros!!!!

As of now, it is a clean slate. There are 12 teams that start from scratch AND KEEP ON PLAYING. We are one of them. It's doesn't matter how we got there at this point, what matters is WE ARE HERE!!! All 12 teams face the same obstacle...win, you go on, lose, you go home.

Funny thing is, if we go and beat Seattle next week, then these past few weeks don't even matter. At this point, it doesn't matter if you are 12-4 or 9-7, you lose you're gone.

Let's look at the positive, because quite frankly, I am tired of the negativity. WE ARE STILL PLAYING.

Romo bounced back from his worst showing and played well, save a few mistakes. He throws an interception and then takes the team 99 yards in about a minute on his next drive. In that drive, he loses the ball, picks it up and picks up a critical first down, then nails a 56 yard strike to TO who didn't even bobble the ball. Again, all this immediately after an interception. What does this show? Nothing rattles this guy. You can not teach that!
Carpenter is playing better. Although he missed a sack, he was covering pretty good and put quite a bit of pressure on.
Say what you want, but BP knows how to handle adversity. He is a masterful manipulator and he will get this team ready for Saturday.
We can handle Seattle, they have not been playing any better than us this year, and we actually play stronger on the road.
A win on Saturday will catapult this team, no question about it.

Something else to think about. I would be willing to bet that BP held back several things today. Why show all your aces before the playoffs, when you are in anyway? True, a win could have put us at top of the NFC (we did not know about Philly at that time), but chances of them losing with the title on the line was remote anyway. It would be a gamble to take that strategy if it were the case, but I would bet my next paycheck that we will see a lot of things next week that we have not seen all year. BP may be old, but he still knows how to coach this game.

Oh, for the record, a few weeks ago everbody was talking "BP is a candidate for coach of the year", now so many of you are saying he should be gone. Funny thing is, Romo get's in on that last play, and he and BP are the saviours again. BP says it best "everybody perceives you based on your last performance".

Cowboy fan since I was conceived!

by airtyme on Dec 31, 2006 6:57 PM CST reply actions

I agree with you on everything except...

...that second to last paragraph. I think if he was holding back, the starters would have been out in the third quarter and Romo would not have been dicing for the goal line as time expired.

But I think we have as good a chance as anyone in the second season (aka the tournament).

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 7:24 PM CST up reply actions

Romo on the Road

Check out the results of games below (with Tony Romo as the starter), and tell me what sticks out to you (after thorough analysis):

10/29 @ Carolina W 35-14
11/5 @ Washington L 22-19
11/12 @ Arizona W 27-10
11/19 Indianapolis W 21-14
11/23 Tampa Bay W 38-10
12/3 @ NY Giants W 23-20
12/10 New Orleans L 42-17
12/16 @ Atlanta W 38-28
12/25 Philadelphia L 23-7
12/31 Detroit L 39-31

If you haven't got it by now, I'll give you the answer... at home we're merely 2-3 with Romo as the starting signal caller (with the last three losses coming in consecutive home games... other than the Tampa Bay and Indy wins @ Irving, Romo hasn't played as well at home -- although today was a lot better sans the turnovers).

But on the road -- again, with Tony at the helm --we're a glowing 4-1 (but in my opinion, we should be 5-0 because we gave that Redskins road game away... but TR performed brilliantly on that particular Sunday in Washington).

Tony Romo has played a lot better on the road this season than he has at home, so would it really be that bad if we had to play most of our playoff games on the road?

Even as a wild card, I know one thing... Tony needs to take better care of the ball and our Defense has to go back to playing like we were back against the Giants (on the road) and against Tampa and Indy (at home) for us to go far into the playoffs.

And let me add one more thing, although I wanted us to be a division winner and go all the way to grabbing that 6th SB Title... I'll take 2006 over 2005 any day.

Our future still looks a lot brighter than it did last season, and if we can acquire some additional pass-rushing talent on defense, some depth on the O-line, and maybe a young, explosive, well-mannered WR in the off season, 2007 could bring even greater things.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" - Ric Flair

by kcbrett5 on Dec 31, 2006 9:58 PM CST up reply actions

Really?

Say what you want, but BP knows how to handle adversity. He is a masterful manipulator and he will get this team ready for Saturday.

If he couldn't get this team ready to play the Eagles at home on Christmas Eve to win the NFC East, and if he couldn't get them ready to play a 2-13 team in order to finish the season with a win, why do you think he will do any better job getting them ready to go on the road and play Seattle?

by Philosopher on Dec 31, 2006 7:05 PM CST reply actions

well...

dallas ain't the only team to choke under playoff implications...cincy lost in OT...denver lost at home to the niners....

by Tuna Helper on Dec 31, 2006 7:06 PM CST reply actions

actually

the Cowboys match up really well against Seattle defensively. Look at the game last season when we held Alexander in check and held them to 10 points during regulation.

They just need to forget about the month of December and pretend its September and we're 0-0. Like I said, whether we win or not, it will be valuble experience for the young guys to play in a playoff atmosphere Saturday.

Losing Eliis really hurt us, more than most people realize. D Ware will be awesome, but Ellis was our best defensive player. Any team that loses their best defensive player will struggle.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2006 7:23 PM CST reply actions

Hmm

this articles (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9900476) is filled with some ranting and raving, but the key point I took was that Seattle will be without 3 of their 4 best cornerbacks. Kelly Herndon broke his ankle, and his backup evidentally might have a bad knee injury. That could be good news for our offense, but who knows with our lines play as of late.

by Tristan on Dec 31, 2006 9:24 PM CST reply actions

Seattle and Chicago

is a better route than Philly or New York and New Orleans. Chicago pulled Grossman in the 2nd half down 23-0 tonight. Think that will leave a mark?

by lee3022 on Dec 31, 2006 9:40 PM CST reply actions

i'm jealous of the hope in this conversation

by AmosM on Dec 31, 2006 9:43 PM CST reply actions

You and me both

I don't know from where this hope derives. But that is the nature of hope I guess, it springs forth even when there is no reason for its existence.

Seattle will spread out our D with 3 and 4 wideouts and dink and dunk and then run all over us. It will be brutal. It will be awful. I will need lots of booze to make it through. They are going to kill us.

But hey, we can't all be negative. Some optimism has to exist....

by Philosopher on Dec 31, 2006 9:55 PM CST up reply actions

it's hard to see

I told a friend that I might not watch the playoff game and I've seen every playoff game for thirty years. Today's game was so physically painful that it was hard to describe. In terms of humiliation, it ranks with the loss to the Texans at the beginning of the season several years ago. It wasn't as heartbreaking as the '81 confernece championship, but it's more discouraging. You have to question every position on the field. It's like that scene in Apollo 13 when the Mission Control Director asks his staff, "What do we have on the spaceship that's GOOD?"

by AmosM on Dec 31, 2006 10:02 PM CST up reply actions

lol

you only quoted Apollo 13 because you couldnt think of an appropriate line from Patton!

by jsdoty on Dec 31, 2006 10:08 PM CST up reply actions

oh yes I can

"Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost and never will lose a war, because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans."

This is what Jerry will explain to the Tuna approximately 7.5 days from now.

by AmosM on Dec 31, 2006 10:14 PM CST reply actions

or this one

"You want to know why this outfit got the hell kicked out of it?

A blind man could see it in a minute. They don't look like soldiers. They don't act like soldiers. Why should they fight like soldiers?"

by AmosM on Dec 31, 2006 10:20 PM CST up reply actions

Why not hope?

Tell me what do you get from being a sourpuss about all this?

The Cowboys are in the playoffs. Starting Saturday all they have to do is score more than the opposing team and they win. If they do that four times they're champs.

Do I think that a likely scenario? Not really.

I'd rather be hopeful, than hopeless.

I got a couple of quotes:

"I hate sand. It get's everywhere." & "It's all Obi-Wan's fault. He's jealous. He's holding me back."

Sounds like some fans.

Poke

by Poke @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 31, 2006 11:08 PM CST reply actions