Cowboys get their victory before the bye week, beat Vikings 24-14
by Dave Halprin on Oct 21, 2007 6:42 PM CDT
in News
30 comments
It wasn’t a rousing victory, it wasn’t stylish or artful, and it wasn’t a dominating statement. But the Dallas Cowboys got exactly what they needed Sunday at Texas Stadium, just a plain old victory over the Minnesota Vikings, 24-14. Going into the bye week the Cowboys are now 6-1 and still lead the NFC East. In the first half the Cowboys dominated every statistical category except for turnovers and the score. Tony Romo’s fumble prevented a sure FG opportunity and a Patrick Crayton fumble was returned for a TD on another promising drive. To top off the frustrating first half, Nick Folk actually missed a kick. Thanks to the returned fumble for a TD and a powerful first drive where the Vikings were able to run on the Cowboys, Minnesota went into halftime with a 14-7 lead. The Cowboys were only able to muster one TD on a pass to Terrell Owens.
In the second half, thanks to a stiff defense that almost got a safety, the Dallas offense was able to get good field position on a punt and a penalty. Marion Barber provided some tough running around the goal line after a great catch by T.O. and cashed it in for a TD. The Cowboys then turned a Minnesota FG attempt into a TD after Chris Canty crashed the middle and blocked the kick and Pat Watkins recovered the ball and ran it in for a TD. Once Minnesota got behind, they couldn’t mount a credible passing attack and the Cowboys defense did a good job of holding the Vikings’ run game in check.
It may not have been the dominating blowout we all were hoping for going into the bye week, but it was a solid victory of an NFC opponent. The Cowboys have plenty to feel good about in going 6-1 so far this season, and they also have just enough problems to not get complacent. With Anthony Henry making progress and the addition of Tank Johnson after the Philadelphia game, Dallas will get a boost on defense. They’ll need it, as they take on their divisional foes for three consecutive weeks after the bye.
0 recs |
30 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Next three games
With Philly's loss today, it looks like the Cowboys are really only going to be tested by NY and WAS. I think their first game after the bye is going to be a good tune-up for Romo and the passing attack. We're going to need it against Manning.
by oneinsider on Oct 21, 2007 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yup we are going to
have to play better
by Arkcowboys on Oct 21, 2007 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A lucky win but every team thems
gald I am 6'6" tall aka Hatcher - and glad the ball bounced right up to Watkins to run downfield with out being touched - an those runs MB III had at the end of the game will turn into points when we get D mac in there he would have left them those tacklers standing there - not that I don't like what MBIII did -
but we lucked out that game
and everyone thought we had a easy game coming
by Arkcowboys on Oct 21, 2007 6:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not lucky
I think we completely outplayed them, it was unlucky the game was as close as it was. We dominated the game in every phase other then the scoreboard, and just hurt ourselves a couple times. We need to eliminate the mistakes, but overall it was not a lucky win, we beat them well.
by sduncan24 on Oct 21, 2007 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your man crush
is getting worse and more annoying.
The boys seem to give me a heart attack every week and it's becoming difficult to watch at times. I'm glad we came away with the win on this one.
by sublimezg on Oct 21, 2007 7:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I second all of those points.
Seriously Ark, are you capable of posting without mentioning McFadden every other post? Why don't you hold off until after the season. Its cool to discuss possibilities for the future of the team, but you've already beaten it into the ground.
by groves on Oct 21, 2007 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nope gotta keep poounding into some
people head - otherwise they are not smart enuf to figure it out
by Arkcowboys on Oct 21, 2007 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Time of Possession
was telling in the 4th quarter as their defense could not stop the run, much like the NE game for Dallas. Dallas had 36min 35 sec of ball while Minnesota had but 23 minutes and 25 sec of ball. Until that last drive by the Cowboys both Barber and Jones were averaging 3 yards per carry. Of course Barber shattered that by carrying the team to the other end on that drive, finishing with 5 yards per carry. I am delighted that we could get 100 yards rushing on them.
Tavaris had a 44.2 passer rating (he only completed 6 passes) while Romo had 104.8 with perhaps his best game accuracy wise at 31 of 39. For a much maligned pass defense and granted not the best opposition this game showed we can cover at least a bad passing team pretty well. I did wonder if Brad Johnson would come in and show the Vikings what they were missing!
The defense gave up 7 points. The offense shot themselves in the foot several times but still could have scored again at game's end if they had needed to.
Concerned with injuries to Romo and Adams. Does anyone have more info?
by lee3022 on Oct 21, 2007 7:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Romo and Adams
Should both be fine. Romo's getting evaluated by team doctors, but if the injury was significant he wouldn't have been out there.
Adams isn't seriously hurt as far as I can tell, I haven't heard comment on his injury.
And people, don't write off Philly just yet. We made that mistake last year, and look how things panned out.
by Or Moyal on Oct 21, 2007 7:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the update
Adams apparently came out injured on the last offensive play I think.
I agree - every division game is a nightmare. None are ever easy every year.
by lee3022 on Oct 21, 2007 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Philly is not the same team as last year
They let Garcia go. He played them back into contention. If Westbrook goes out, they are finished.
Even so, I fear the Gints much more than the Iggles.
If The Skins had any offense they'd be dangerous too.
by APerfectStar on Oct 22, 2007 2:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A win's a win - I'll take it.
Minnesota's a pretty tough team, we shouldn't let their 2-4 record fool us.
What a good time to have a bye week, for the division stretch immediately afterward is going to be downright brutal. Even though the Eagles are reeling, even they will still give us a battle.
by Nelson on Oct 21, 2007 7:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Did anyone see if Spears played?
No tackles by Spears during the game. Hatcher had 2, Canty had 3 and Ratliff had 3 so what happened to our stong side DE?
by lee3022 on Oct 21, 2007 7:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I saw him in on one play
otherwise, I didn't notice him.
by Dave Halprin on Oct 21, 2007 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Tank moves in NT..
is Ratliff staying in NT rotation, or should he move to DE rotation? We need to do something with Spears, he just isn't bringing it.
Maybe release Spears and keep Remi Ayodele and move Ratliff back to DE. At least I saw Ayodele get in a tackle, I didn't even notice Spears.
Thoughts?
by DaveTroll on Oct 21, 2007 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Ratliff stays the starter
at NT and Tank is his backup. Remi is the odd man out. Spears can have a bad day and not be cut. He has not been that bad. Ratliff is our interior pass rush specialist. I do not think Tank is an upgrade.
by lee3022 on Oct 21, 2007 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tank
is a little bigger than Ratliff, able to hold up the blockers, and I don't think Jerry brought him in as a back up. Statistically, Tank is better:
Tackles Solo Assist Sacks Safety
63 50 13 9.0 1
Ratliff:
Tackles Solo Assist Sacks Safety
34 23 11 6.5 0
Both been in 3 years, granted Tank probably played more games, Ratliff has been doing great this year but will need that rotation coming in.
I just think between Ratliff, R. Ayodele, and Spears, that Spears is more expendable than the others. Move Ratliff back to his normal position at DE.
by DaveTroll on Oct 21, 2007 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Spears is the weakest DE
But he's still a solid backup, at the very least, and I don't see him going anywhere until his contract is up.
Remi Ayodele is nothing special, he'd be cut tomorrow if they needed his spot.
by APerfectStar on Oct 22, 2007 3:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. He gets no pressure on a QB
by Cowboys81 on Oct 22, 2007 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
cutting Spears would be stupid
by Terry on Oct 22, 2007 7:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
another
no show by Spears and another reason why Hatcher should be starting.
by Cowboys81 on Oct 21, 2007 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well the eagles
get minnesota next week and that is not a gimme W by philly by any stretch of the imagination. Minny has a tough D and a great running game and I see them at least hitting 8-8 this year. The giants scare me now, we are going to have some serious division battles after our bye.
by Billito on Oct 21, 2007 7:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The Giants
are our strongest competition in division. Washington has trouble finishing teams off. They got lucky this week, they almost let Arizona come back and beat them!
Giants defense is becoming a beast now. Their offense can shoot it out with us too! Tank better be coming with a head full of steam and help get more pressure!
by DaveTroll on Oct 21, 2007 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know it is unwise to doubt the eagles
but they seem to me a team in disarray. They had the bears beat and couldn't stop them and I'll be shocked if they beat the vikes next week. I'm sure they will play us tough but they don't look good right now. If we could stop robbing ourselves of 14+ points a game, we'll be dominating.
by Billito on Oct 21, 2007 7:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
At least we'll have a couple of weeks to clean
our act and heal.
We'll need all of that to beat the Giants in Rutherford.
by Wharter on Oct 21, 2007 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
the win
Granted the turnovers technically make this a "sloppy" win, but the run defense was quite impressive. they did give up a couple of big runs, but were fairly consistent overall.
But minnesota really is terrible. I don't see how they are going to score at all against philly unless they rely exclusively on turnovers. Tavaris Jackson was just flat out bad.
Also, TO had his best game. The WR screen finally worked and he held on to a couple of difficult catches.
by ab03 on Oct 21, 2007 8:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
the second half we put a stop to that Adrian Peterson nonsense.
I never doubted we'd win this game, if we could only hold onto the ball. A momentary panic attack set in when they went to commercial with Romo limping off the field, but MB3 eventually made it all better.
Anyone else annoyed with the Giants? They seem to do this every year - they win enough games to be pests in our division, but they always fall flat on their face in the playoffs.
by Pete on Oct 21, 2007 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The upside of an ugly win...
Is that we head into the bye week with much to work on, as grizz says "just enough problems to not get complacent."
A quick evaluation shows that the Boys are for real: Our passing game was consistently gaining 7 - 10 yard chunks, I like the patience Romo showed. Our running game was surprisingly strong vs and excellent D line. Our Defense looked GREAT, with many 3-and-outs. They didn't score after the opening drive! And special teams looked solid. That was NOT an illegal block by Davis.
Boy does it feel GREAT going into the Bye 6-1. I like getting the bye right before this next 3-game stretch. I might be going to the Eagles game, I WILL be going to the Giants game, and who knows, I may even try to get to DC to make it three in a row.
This is the best Cowboys season since '95.
by DalaiLuke on Oct 21, 2007 9:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not
an ugly win. We dominated on Offense and Defense. We shot ourselves in the foot in the first half. This game should've been a blow out by the half.
by Cowboys81 on Oct 21, 2007 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
