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BTB Game Balls: Cowboys @ Chiefs

Mike Vrabel caught one, but Miles Austin caught two. For that, he gets a BTB game ball.

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

Mike Vrabel caught one, but Miles Austin caught two. For that, he gets a BTB game ball.

It's time to hand out game balls for the Cowboys' victory against the Chiefs. We've got one for a player from each unit: offense, defense, special teams. We've even got one for the coaching staff.

Offense

Miles Austin - 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns will be tattooed in the Cowboys' record books for quite some time. A new single game receiving record for Dallas was highlighted by his tackle-breaking, game-winning touchdown in overtime.

Austin did more than just score two 50+ TDs late in the game. He overcame a couple of dropped passes to make some key grabs that extended drives. Late in the third quarter, facing a 3rd-and-6, he jumped up to pull down a high pass from Romo as he was being flushed from the pocket. First down, drive extended. In the beginning of the fourth, Austin outjumped Brandon Carr deep down the left sideline to snag away what could have been an INT. He adjusted perfectly on the ball.

He caught slants, he caught outs; he played nearly 60 snaps and showed that his chemistry with his quarterback now has more to offer than just potential. Applause, for a job well done.

Honorable Mention: Tony Romo, Tashard Choice

Make the jump to see who else gets a game ball.

Star-divide

 

Defense

Keith Brooking - When a guy calls the team out during the week, he had better perform that following Sunday. Brooking did just that. Again, he led the team in tackles with 11, giving him 37 on the year. He even picked up his first sack of the regular season.

It is rare for a free agent acquisition to assume a leadership role on a team. Brooking is definitely an exception. There he was racing down the sidelines while Austin ran in for a score. It was him hoopin' and hollerin' when Austin popped Mike Brown during a Jason Witten catch-and-run.

When Brooking hits, ball carriers drop. That's a linebacker.

Honorable Mention: Jay Ratliff, DeMarcus Ware

 

Special Teams

Jay Ratliff - A beast in the middle of the defense, Ratliff has proved to be the same on the FG-block unit. Midway through the third quarter, he hopped over the snapper to nearly block Succop's 38-yarder. His block late in the fourth kept the Chiefs from breaking the 13-13 tie.

Honorable Mention: David Buehler, L.P. Ladoceur

 

Coaching

Ray Sherman - Without Roy Williams, Sherman simply had his guys ready. Other than Austin's big day, Patrick Crayton quietly had four first-down grabs and Sam Hurd picked up a first down with his one 10-yard catch. The receivers also did their part to make downfield blocks.

Austin was the guy breaking tackles out there, but Sherman helped ready him for his first career start. He also survived a big bear hug from Ratliff, which is also quite the feat.

Honorable Mention: Joe DeCamillis, Todd Grantham

Who gets your game balls?

0 recs  |  Comment 46 comments |

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+1

Yup, slam dunks, one and all.

by One.Cool.Customer on Oct 13, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

all the way down the line

by BishopWest on Oct 13, 2009 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Ratlitt would be..

an all pro D. end as well as an all pro nose. Maybe the best 7th round pick in the NFL ever.

by DIRE WOLF on Oct 13, 2009 1:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Was they 7th round?

They had about 20 rounds back then.

by DIRE WOLF on Oct 13, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah pre-merger is a totally different thing

Hayes was the 88th pick, Wright the 182nd, Rat the 224th. Big difference.

Leon Lett was a 7th rounder, but I think Rat is better.

by Leon on Oct 13, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, yeah. Ratliff is much more disruptive and consistent.

Ratliff’s motor is always running hot.

"We'll see." --Bill Parcells

by Uncle Angus on Oct 13, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

NIce touch on the Ray Sherman Game Ball

Well deserved and good recognition on your part

Was it me or did I see Buehler on punt coverage?

Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced

by tdships on Oct 13, 2009 1:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I saw him head butt the ball carrier at the end of one punt return

or maybe it was a KO, anyway, he’s definitely not your typical kicker, dude is definitely a football player.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 13, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I saw that. It looked like a KO.

He looked all disappointed that he didn’t get more of a hit in…lol.

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys

by Aaron Novinger on Oct 13, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He was in when

Crayton muffed that punt

So pardon my disposition; why should I listen to a system that never listened to me?

by NICK L on Oct 13, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Joe D has made a big diference...

in our special team play. Having Folk back and Buehler big leg on kickoffs doesn’t hurt.

by DIRE WOLF on Oct 13, 2009 1:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

May want to pay a little more

attention to average field position. Our punt and kickoff returns have to be corrected if the defense isn’t going to cause any turnovers. Only Tennessee and St Louis have worse starting field position, we are 30th

by cow_fanatic on Oct 13, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, we need better returns.

Last year our kickoff coverage was bad and the punt coverage wasn’t much better. We need a better return man. Ogletree needs to step up, he has speed and if he wants to suit up on Sunday special teams is the place for a undrafted rookie free agent to make it

by DIRE WOLF on Oct 13, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes indeed.

Todd Archer’s blog mentions that Rossum played 5 years for DeCamillis at Atlanta. He should handle punts and kickoffs.

"We'll see." --Bill Parcells

by Uncle Angus on Oct 13, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That wasn't nice :)

Just becuz you put yer boots in the oven don't make it bread

by dcfansinceiwasababy on Oct 13, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But Funny

"You have to have a stronger belief in yourself than the disbelief of others."
Antonio Ramirez Romo

by Far Rider on Oct 13, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ratliff and Austin obviously!!

How would Jerry Jones feel if Limbaugh gets Rams?

Rush Limbaugh an NFL owner: Hell No!!! http://bit.ly/7HDhj

"Don't Be Afraid to Stand on a Pile of 'No's' for one 'Yes'"

by curiousg87 on Oct 13, 2009 1:45 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

never heard of that shmuck

I can think of tons of reasons to keep Rush out of the NFL. However, the racism argument is just ridiculous.

Ich bin ein Berliner--JFK

by HudBaby on Oct 13, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Absolutely to Limbaugh

They would always run to the right

by cow_fanatic on Oct 13, 2009 1:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

lol

How Bout Them Cowboys!

by sprprsnmn on Oct 13, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't NFL owners

have to pass a drug test?

Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.

by OskieOskie on Oct 13, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like Folk hero and all

but he’s already missed two this season. when does beuhler step in as full-time place-kicker?

and don’t give me what folk has done in the past. Vandercrap was the most accurate kicker in history and he couldn’t stop the shanks.

It's not that I'm saying we're due a playoff win, but I didn't have my license to drive when we won our last one...

by bulldog jeeper on Oct 13, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Well
  1. - Folk is coming back from surgery
  1. - McBriar is a new holder. Say what you want about BJ as a QB, but as a holder he was excellent.

3-2 headed for the bye week.

by APerfectStar on Oct 13, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brookings Leadership

I really hope that our improved play on defense is in part due to Brooking’s increased leadership role. This team really does need it. I think he also shows other key players how to be leaders.

by staubachfan on Oct 13, 2009 3:39 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Have they made his jersey?

I’m eager to get one.

~Texas Massacre '09~

by TheHeat on Oct 13, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cowboys sign Allen Rossum

right after they read my above post about needing better punt and kickoff returns. You all are welcome

by cow_fanatic on Oct 13, 2009 3:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

NFL Replay has the Cowboys/Chefs at 5:00pm. See you later.

Family, Friends, Cowboys, Beer & BBQ. Life is good!

by CowboyMan on Oct 13, 2009 7:01 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I like the way Tashard runs the ball.

Nice acceleration and Vision..

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account

by Wmillion on Oct 13, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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