The Dallas Cowboys and Monday Night Football (lately)
by Brandon Worley on Sep 12, 2008 8:30 AM CDT
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PrintBefore I get into the Cowboys and MNF, let me get some things off my chest about why I don't like watching football on Monday nights anymore.
It almost goes without saying that the current MNF broadcast is a big joke. Remember when Monday nights used to be the premiere game of the week? Luckily I have DVR and I can just sync up the Cowboys' radio broadcast with the television feed.
And I don't like waiting. I have to sit through an entire week of talk and conjecture leading up to the game only to get to the weekend and the game still doesn't happen. I have to watch two days worth of football with no Cowboys, only to have to get up and go back to work before the game gets played. I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about, those Monday's just seem to drag by a bit slower than normal. I sit there at my desk and all I can think about is the game that still won't start for 4 hours after I get home. Gah, I hate the East coast. So all I do is wait, wait and wait some more for a game that lately has turned into a game the Cowboys just don't play that well in.
I went back and looked at games the Cowboys played on Mondays. I only went back to 2005, because frankly this team is vastly different than it was just 3 years ago. Peerless Price was the Cowboys' leading receiver in a game against Philadelphia on MNF in 2005; need I say more? Since 2005, the Cowboys are 2-3 on Mondays (I'm including the Christmas Day game against the Eagles in 2006). Not as bad as I thought it would be, but not as good as it looks either.
In 2005, the Cowboys lost 14-13 against Washington at home thanks to a 4th quarter meltdown.They then pulled the opposite move against Philadelphia, winning 21-20 when Roy Williams returned an interception for a touchdown with three minutes left in the game. The Cowboys were anemic on offense in both games, but thankfully Williams was able to make a play on a horrible pass by McNabb to win against the Eagles.
In 2006, the Cowboys played one game on MNF and one game on a Monday afternoon, on Christmas Day. The first, against the Giants, is a game that pretty much changed the direction of the Cowboys' franchise. The Cowboys were 3-2 heading into the game, yet had been on an up and down ride so far. Drew Bledsoe was inconsistent and it seemed the team was missing a spark. Bill Parcells puts inTony Romo after halftime, and the rest is history. Granted the Cowboys lost 36-22 and Romo threw three interceptions, but Romo became the man after that. Romo would lead the Cowboys to a record of 6-2 in their next eight games keeping division title hopes alive. Then that debacle on Christmas day happened (23-7), where Jeff Garcia did whatever he wanted all game long.
Last year, the Cowboys had just one game on Monday Night, and you could quite easily say it was Romo's worst and best game all rolled into one. We all know the story: five interceptions, a last minute touchdown and onside kick, the 106 yard field goal. A great game yes, but the Cowboys (Tony Romo) should have played much better than that.
That leads us to this Monday's matchup against the Eagles. Just one week into the 2008 season, the Cowboys and Eagles are the hottest teams in the league. If ever there was a more hyped, higher pressure week two game than this, I can't remember it. While Eagles/Cowboys games always get a lot of attention and have a lot smack talked leading up to the game, I can't help but wonder if the game wouldn't be as big if it weren't on Monday Night Football. ESPN is pretty good at sly self promotion, "The biggest game this week is between two NFC East powerhouses, the Eagles and the Cowboys. Which by the way, will be on ESPN Monday Night."
So looking back on the Cowboys' recent Monday Night experiences I am a bit wary, especially considering we are playing the Eagles. You can break things down however you want to but in the end it doesn't matter; no one can tell what the outcome of a Cowboys and Eagles game will be. Everytime these teams play the records are thrown out the window. Last year the Cowboys were walking into a hostile environment against an Eagles team that was improving each week. The Cowboys destroyed them 38-17. Then the Cowboys get embarrassed at home a few weeks later. So who knows what will happen Monday Night?
This much I do know: If the Cowboys play to their maximum potential they should handle the Eagles easily. The Cowboys just have too many offensive weapons for the Eagles to overcome. At the same time the defense has got to contain McNabb and lately they've done a pretty darn good job of it. Last year the Cowboys held him to a QB rating of just 71.1. If they can continue the trend Dallas should be able to pull out a win.
I just wish we didn't have to play on Monday Night.
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Imagine How the Eagles Feel
They’ve lost seven of their last eight prime time games against Dallas, including last year’s meltdown at home; the horrifying Roy Williams interception game; and the outrageous botched 19-yard field goal attempt that cost them the game back in 1997. Their only prime time victory during that stretch was the 49-21 blowout with Terrell Owens in 2004.
Most Eagles fans I know absolutely hate playing Dallas under the lights. It’s all a matter of perspective.
I agree with
Brandon about the wait, I hate Monday night for all of the above reasons, but it is not as bad as a bye week. Kinda: interesting point, I had not even thought about how the iggles had performed in their last primetime performances. Every pundit had me thinking about how dallas looked, this is the first time that I have heard anything about how the iggles have done. I just think that the media wants to have a game they can hype the hell out of every week; so this game is an obvious choice; every week it is what game can week cover to make it look like a playoff game.
How About Since 2004
When we started to rebuild in earnest? I think the record isn’t 13-5 or 3-1 any more.
It’s actually 3-3.
But all that is irrelevant. The point is the Eagles have a sorry record on prime time against Dallas going back over a decade. Maybe you can pretend that reality doesn’t exist; but having several friends who are Eagles fans, they absolutely understand that history and dread it.
Andy Reid is a great coach, even if I think he's actually also Mike Holmgren
but it’s more than the Reid era. I personally think as good as Andy is, the most valuable coach is Jim “Don’t Call Me Jimmy” Johnson. You look at Cowboys’ losses and it’s almsot always a defensive game plan that did it (10-6 for example).
At this point the two best teams in the NFC appear to be Dallas and Philly. This should be a heck of a game.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
I Think a Great Coach
Has at least one Super Bowl ring in his possession. All Reid has is excuses and bitter fans. Unlike us!
Huh?
Our head coach doesnt have a ring either. In fact, he doesn’t even have a single playoff win to his credit. So might wanna back off that rant.
I have a wild idea. Let’s toss out the history. History doesn’t mean that much in this context. Instead, why dont we just wait until Monday and see what happens.
Both sides can throw out meaningless stats and trends. All that crap wont matter come Monday night.
You Think I Was Ranting?
Funny.
So, if history doesn’t matter, why is there such a strong trend? Coincidence, I suppose?
Monday's Suck
I’m totally with you on Monday nights. Before the NFL Ticket and cable, etc. This was the premier slot…..boy have things changed.
My favorite slot is the late afternoon game on Sunday, followed in order by Sunday evening, Sunday early afternoon and bringing up the rear, Monday night.
It was one thing when I was in college or a young guy without a wife, kids and house. It didn’t matter when the Cowboys played – I was drinking beer and whooping it up. Now my weekday nights are pretty much spoken for, and inserting the Cowboys into the work week routine causes issues. I also wish the games would start an hour or even two hours earlier. By halftime, it’s past this old man’s normal bedtime!
by Cowboy Louie on Sep 12, 2008 10:00 AM CDT reply actions
I like monday night football
i hate that it starts so late here on the East Coast.
When i was in college in Colorado one year Monday Night football started at 8 or 830 eastern time (some experiment with ratings and such) so that was 6 or 630 Colorado time. I was able to watch the game and still have some of my night left to do what ever it was i needed to to, study, drink MORE, etc…. as the game was over by 10 or so.
I could really enjoy a game starting at ‘happy hour’ time right after work and it being over in time to get to bed at a reasonable hour.
This is the first step.
Tony Romo’s big knock is that he either can’t win or doesn’t play well in the big games such as the playoffs, against division opponents, and against New England. If this team has turned the corner, this is the time to show it. Romo needs to be as sharp as a razor out there with his decisions and throws, and the defense needs to keep Westbrook and company in check. Marion Barber has to have a huge game in blitz pickup, and I think either Tony Curtis or Martellus Bennett are going to have to play and play well.
by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 12, 2008 10:13 AM CDT reply actions
I agree
And I know you are rehashing conventional “wisdom,” but last year Romo won 4 of 6 regular season division games, and the two the team lost did not matter a lot to us at the time. The jury isn’t out for me as to whether he can win these types of games – he torched Philly in prime-time last year in their house. Get back to me in December, however. I know the guy CAN do it, but that’s where the questioning gets more legit.
True
He has played bad in some big games. However, Andy Reid for whatever reason game plans extremely well on MNF and against the Cowboys when the Eagles play them in Dallas. We could have a shitty team but for some reason andy could take the Lions and give dallas a run for the money this game.
I would say the key to this game is Witten. Witten can torch any lb in the league and he could beat our safeties too. I think the Eagles are going to focus on a)pass rush b)stopping witten c) stopping d) try and make the boys beat the birds with everyone else.
This will be a fun game to watch.
Funny
To hear an Eagles fan bad mouth an opposing quarterback. Perhaps you’ve forgotten McNabb’s stat line in the 2002 Championship Game against Tampa Bay? 26-49, 243 yards, one interception, two lost fumbles? Yeah, that’s clutch. Or against Carolina in the Championship Game the next year? 10-22, 100 yards, three picks.
Or the Super Bowl the next year, 30-51, 357 yards, three picks, and one upchuck in the huddle. What a champion.
And in his next playoff game…oh, wait. He hasn’t played in the playoffs in almost four years.
On the other hand, Romo played well against Seattle and drove the team down for a chance to win. He fumbled the FG snap, but was poised as a QB in that game. Romo did not have a good game against the Giants, but that was due more to pass rush and dropped balls than his play.
And Reid’s supposed genius in Dallas is more due to playing Dallas when a) Dallas was a bad team in the early years, and b) Getting Dallas when they faded down the stretch the last two years. It had nothing to do with Andy Reid, because we struggled against teams like St. Louis and Detroit.
I guess he lost his smarts in 2005, when we sweep the Eagles? But became a game-planning genius the next two years? Not likely.
it would be nice to converse with an Eagles fan who actually had a decent grasp on reality, for a change.
when did i bad mouth romo?
i never did. but if you wanna go there the QB isn’t the entire team. we swept the boys in 2k6 WITH mcnabb and garcia. so whats your point about sweeping us in 2k5 when we had 19 guys on IR?
how many playoff wins does romo have?
now WHO’s out of grasp with reality?
You, That's Who
You said:
He has played bad in some big games.
But without any supporting evidence. Actually, he has played very well in big games, with one exception: The Giants game last year. So does “some” mean “one” in your understanding of the English language?
The point about us sweeping the Eagles in 2005 was blindingly obvious, rebutting your silly idea that Andy Reid knows how to gameplan against Dallas. I even pointed that out for someone as slow as you to understand. In the October 2005 game, where we demolished you 33-10, there weren’t 19 guys on the IR, the Eagles were at full strength. It’s the usual lies and excuses for out of touch with reality Eagles fans.
You're buying the media line, Joe D
Romo plays as well in big games as anyone in the NFC. Division games are big games and he has a solid record there. He led the team to two wins last year against the eventual SB champs and with some WR help would have advanced to the NFC championship. He’s appeared in exactly TWO playoff games. Not exactly enough to form a pattern. He also got his team to those games in his first two seasons starting. Took P Manning three years to get there and three more to win a game. Romo’s numbers are a Hollywood script. He earned them in the same NFL McNabb, Eli and Campbell play in.
I give Reid and Johnson big credit for fashioning game plans around injuries. They are as good as anyone in the game at those kinds of adjutments.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
My memory for these games is bad sometimes...
But what about that Bills/Nick Folk game? Was that a Sunday night I’m guessing…?
it makes it more exciting...
with the birds having a good first game and the same with us…..i love it when we play teams that play us well, nothing like a good rivalrey (sp?)…..LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE………..
I don't need a compass to know which way the wind shines....
Just Heard
On ESPN Newman said he will be ready to go on Monday Night..
I am interested to see what Desean Jackson can do on Newman and Pac-Man..
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
I hope he can
That would be awesome news. We’ll need him in the slot on Jackson. If we can get that matchup, I’ll like our other CB matchups.
I for one love Monday Night Football
especially when the Cowboys play, I’m actually disappointed they haven’t played more on Monday night in recent years.
Cowboys, as America’s Team, should play on football’s biggest regular season stage more often.
It will also give Romo a chance to prove all the naysayers wrong that he doesn’t play well under pressure which is so ridiculous it makes me laugh. The dude thrives on big pressure games and has played well in many over his last 27 games. I’m looking for another gem of a great game by #9 and a big Cowboys win.
In Romo we Trust
Monday Nights
Are no longer the marquee games. They’re now on Sunday nights. When the television contracts were renegotiated in 2006 I believe, the ESPN game formerly on Sunday night moved to Mondays, because people like us on the East Coast couldn’t stay up until 1am to watch a good game on a work night.
The marquee games were moved from Monday to Sunday nights, and switched from ABC to NBC.
That’s why with few exceptions Monday night games are dogs.
Yep, Monday is an afterthought
Sunday night is indeed the big stage, with Monday now mostly an afterthought. The players and coaches all hate it because of the short week and other disruptions to their schedule.
During the regular season, there is no ‘big stage’ anymore because every fan can watch every game that is important to him/her. The ESPN production falls way short of the networks. It wouldn’t surprise me if Monday night didn’t survive the cut the next time television contract are let out. I think a weekly Saturday Night Football game would resonate much better than Monday night.
by Cowboy Louie on Sep 12, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Nearly everyone has options
True, not everyone has the Ticket, but virtually everyone can watch any game, be it in their home, a sports bar, a friends home, etc. If it is a priority, people can and will find a way. Telecast of games is so widespread and disbursed now that catching an out-of-market team isn’t a big deal anymore. People used to tune into MNF because that was their only opportunity to see teams outside of their hometown. MNF is an idea whose time has come and gone….far from being a main stage, it is now more of an afterthought on the NFL scene.
I would be a happy man if the Cowboys never played on Monday night again. But to each his own.
by Cowboy Louie on Sep 12, 2008 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I dunno
I hear what you are saying, but more football nights make me happy. If it were only Sunday, it would be so very sad. Hell, I even missed the Thursday night game last night. They absolutely should move it to an 8pm EST kickoff, though (or at least have games with Eastern or Central teams start then).
Agreed
It makes sense to move the real highlight games to Saturday nights. It gives the teams in those games, especially the road teams, a more favorable rest schedule. The road team on Monday night loses essentially two days of practice for the next game. On the other hand, Saturday nights are a great viewing night and are less than a day prior to the Sunday afternoon games.
The only downside is economic. The NFL would then be competing with college football for market share, which they’ve always avoided.
thats why it will never happen
no way NFL goes head to head with college football, that would be foolish.
In Romo we Trust
Circumstances Could Change
It the league sees an advantage in going that route, they’ll do it. It doesn’t look likely now, but never is a long, long time.
Sunday Night is...
The new night of Football. They have had better games ever since switching networks and their theme music is alot better. Can’t beat Al Michaels and John Madden either.
~Texas Massacre 08~
I agree with everything but the music point
The NBC song is TERRIBLE (and I am referring the Pink/Faith Hill awful “It’s Sunday night on NBC” song). I mean, you could say the same thing about the MNF song, but at least it’s “classic”. In terms of the theme music, I like NBC’s, but the MNF theme is a true classic. Duh-duh-duh-duh! Duh duh! Duh Duh!
But yeah, Sunday night has better games for the most part and the better announcers by far.
+1
Call me old school, but I hate when they play that crap to draw in younger viewers. I want the 70’s MNF theme.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Sep 12, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I disagree
I think Monday night games are just as good as the Sunday night games. Look at week 1 and 2. You telling me Indy v Bears and Steelers v Browns is better than Pack v Vikes and Cowboys v Eagles?
I don’t think so.
In Romo we Trust
Just depends on how the schedule turns out
Last season it wasn’t even close, Sunday Nights had the better games, MNF was mostly crap. This year looks different, but who knows.
I do know I don’t like the crew besides Jaws. Kornhole is awful, and Tirico Suave is mediocre. Compare them to Madden/Michaels and it’s not even close.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Sep 12, 2008 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I think that's a part of it
Monday Night Football is a time commitment people aren’t going to make for Cinci versus Miami. But Dallas versus Philly? Big time.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
I don't mind Monday night games, as long as I get to see my boyz in prime time!
But I do agree with the writer that MNF these days has turned into kind of a joke compared to the days of old. I’m barely old enough to remember the great Howard Cosell calling the game, and bantering with the boys in the box — when MNF was truly a weekly must see event. Even if the game was total garbage, those guys could keep you interested in the coverage.
I wish they’d get some better commentators — They’ve been trying for years to put someone in the box worth listening to, but they’ve failed miserabely every time… (Anybody else remember Dennis Miller in the box? haha)…. Someone with some personality would be soooooo nice…. Anybody…
- Hakrjak
ESPN
should have kept their old sunday night crew, minus Joe Theisman. Mike Patrick is second only to Joe Buck in my book.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Sep 12, 2008 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh man
Seriously can’t stand Buck, Patrick was OK. McGuire was kind of funny.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Sep 12, 2008 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
DON"T FORGET THE CIRUMSTANCES OF THE BILLS GAME!!
Romo had just found out that his dad had cancer. He wasn’t mentally prepared to played a primetime game like that.
This game will be very different. The Cowboys will not lose there games against Philly this season.
by GentleJeffrey cod4 on Sep 12, 2008 10:55 PM CDT reply actions
We should be wary
Good post, Dave. The Cowboys haven’t played so well on Monday night. This game isn’t going to be easy and it is very hard to predict what might happen. All we can do is hope.
But I actually like Monday night games when the Cowboys play—usually work does not interfere. What’s funny, and sad, I don’t even remember Peerless Price being a damn Cowboy. Or maybe I vaguely do. We have a great team this year. We played a better opponent last week. But it doesn’t mean anything.
thelandryhat.com New Coach, Same America's Team
It's a small sample though
with this core group of guys. This is a very young nucleus of talent and they are all growing up together. Romo is improving every year, same with Witten, Barber, etc. I don’t think we can assign much value to any trend until we see where their potential will take them.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
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