The VRR: Cowboys Must Get Back in Saddle after Pulling off Squeaker over 'Skins
The 7-6 victory over the rival Redskins did little to boost fans' confidence in the Cowboys' struggling offense. Running the ball 33 times - including six straight called in the first quarter - may have made the playcalling seem more "balanced", yet it produced no points.
However intriguing it is to see Felix Jones break the double-digit carry barrier for the first time in his career, or to see Marion Barber come up a yard shy from hitting the century mark, the scoreboard is still dependent on Tony Romo to pull that big, fat "0" down.
Heck, even Nick Folk failed (again) to get the team on the scoreboard prior to the end of the fourth quarter. Fortunately, the defense again refused to let that other side of the scoreboard be lit up.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys will be a bit more banged up heading into the shortened Thanksgiving week. Nothing major, but there are some bumps and bruises that must be played through as the team hosts the Raiders on Thursday. Making it through this week unscathed can be a real asset, as the team will get a few extra days to rest up before the Week 13 road game against the Giants.
More VRR after the jump.

Here's the latest on who's hurting:
QB Tony Romo - back (11/22) The quarterback injured his back in the first quarter when he was kneed in the backside while making a tackle. Romo never missed a snap against Washington, but he was limited in practice on Monday. Romo received a pain-relieving shot after the game Sunday, but told reporters he expects to play. Wade Phillips told the media Monday the quarterback was feeling better, but hinted that backup Jon Kitna might have to take some precautionary reps in practice.
TE Jason Witten - foot (11/22) Despite playing the entire game Sunday, Witten didn't practice Monday because of a foot injury. The All-Pro tight end caught two passes on the Cowboys' game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
LB Keith Brooking - ankle (11/22) The veteran linebacker was limited in Monday's light practice with an ankle injury he suffered near the end of Sunday's win over the Redskins. Brooking said on Monday he expects to play this week.
CB Mike Jenkins - elbow/head (11/22) Jenkins got "banged up" in the Redskins game, according to head coach Wade Phillips. The cornerback was already battling the elbow injury from the Packers game but suffered the head injury late in the game when making a tackle. He did not practice with the team on Monday in the light workout.
Despite the blow to the back, Romo impressed in the end and sounds good-to-go for Thursday's game.
"That's Romo being Romo," Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. "We had guys wrapped around him, and he still escaped. He's a tough sack."
And a tough guy. Romo bruised his back in the first quarter tackling cornerback DeAngelo Hall after he picked up a Marion Barber fumble in the red zone.
"I must have asked Tony 10 times, ‘Are you OK?'" Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking said. "You could tell he was hurting, but he kept grinding."
Romo said he never considered leaving the game.
"I've always felt you can play as long as it's not something like a broken bone," Romo said. "With the adrenaline of the game, you can always do it. It only hurts right before the snap and right after."
The Redskins' injuries were much more severe. RB Ladell Betts and OL Chad Rinehart will be placed on IR and miss the rest of the season.

Along with Coach Phillips' aggressive blitzes, Keith Brooking credits DeMarcus Ware for his career-high four sacks.
Brooking has taken advantage of all the attention opponents pay the NFL’s reigning sacks leader in pass protection. He said his sacks often come on "hug blitzes," when he’s in man coverage against a running back and rushes when the back stays into block. When the back goes to chip Ware, that often leaves a lane for Brooking.
"The majority of my sacks, just to be dead honest with you, come from I'm just running scot-free and a lot of times the backs are sliding toward No. 94," Brooking said. "As I said yesterday, I'd do the same thing if I was in the backfield trying to block that guy. I'm just taking advantage."
Anthony Spencer was almost credited with a sack, but getting the game-winning INT proved much more rewarding.
It was Spencer's first career interception. The theft made up for a review taking away what he thought was his first sack of the season.
Late in the first half, Spencer chased Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell out of bounds for an apparent 5-yard loss. But a replay showed Campbell had released the ball just before stepping out.
"I gave the ref a little mouth about it," Spencer said. "But I'd much rather have the interception. It's a relief for the simple fact I've been around so many opportunities to make plays. It's good to see it come to fruition."

"We have been sexy," linebacker Bradie James said. "We have been trying to be glamorous. And teams have come in and beat us. They have us ugly. What’s wrong with ugly? We won. That’s all that matters. Now we’ve got Oakland. We are concentrating on winning and getting ready for the stretch drive in December."
Coach Phillips squashed the media's attempt to get more info on the Campo-Newman argument.
If you haven't read it by now, LaRon Landry called Roy Williams "scared". Landry didn't get all Xs-andOs about it, but did imply that Williams' play was "scared".
"Certain pass concepts they had," Landry continued, by way of explaining how he knew Williams was scared. "Certain routes he ran, you could tell he didn't want any part of it."
A good area of focus on both offense and defense will be third-down conversions.
With the short week, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips might not have an opportunity to address the team's struggles with their third-down offense and defense.
"We just haven't played well enough on third downs, and we need to take a look at it."

Nick Folk knows he's in a "funk", and will stay patient.
"A little funk," Folk said Monday. "I got to work my way out of it right now."
Folk said he's not too concerned because he's hitting the ball well. On the 46-yarder he missed on Sunday, Folk said he hit it well, but it just stayed right. The last kick he missed, a 38-yarder in Green Bay the previous week, Folk said he just missed it.
"I feel good, I hit the ball really well, it stayed a little to the right," Folk said. "I dont know I got to go look at it. it felt good coming off my foot had a good week of practice."
Patrick Crayton has worn many hats in his football career. Did you know he can kick? Well, sort of.
Patrick Crayton was once the emergency kicker on his college team.
"Make that the emergency-emergency kicker," he said, smiling. "If it had ever come down to me, we probably would have gone for two."
Even then, at Northwestern Oklahoma State, Crayton had a strong leg. Once, on a bet, Crayton surprised himself.
"I made a 50-yarder," he said, again smiling. "You never know when it comes to kicking."

After waiving KR/PR Allen Rossum, the Cowboys re-signed CB Cletis Gordon to the active roster.
The Buccaneers sure like the Cowboys' practice squad players. They've already plucked rookie CB Mike Mickens off there, now they've signed QB Rudy Carpenter as well.

Matt Mosely is shopping Shanahan. If the Cowboys were to part ways with Wade Phillips after this season, he thinks Mike Shanahan could be a good fit.
I think Jones would do just about anything to win another Super Bowl but you have to question his decision to stick with Wade Phillips after a disastrous ending to the '08 season. The fact that it was partly a financial decision makes you wonder if Jones would be willing to outbid his little buddy Snyder.
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I can't believe that it was money related. He makes the same amount as the O-coordinator. I think he knew that Wade deserved another year
You can do a lot of things in life. You can't stab a teammate with a pair of scissors. - Kevin Smith
Given what Jerry just invested in this stadium...
…I think it’s ridiculous to assume that he wouldn’t have taken a $3MM hit and fired Wade if he thought it gave him a better chance of winning SB this year.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
it think "yes," but you'd never hear King Jerry admit it.
Phillips is currently in the last year of his contract.
Is playing smart too much to ask?
If Jerry thought he’d have a better shot with someone else without having to start from scratch, he’d of fired Wade Phillips.
What changes Dallas needed Dallas got, Pacman, TO gone, and a hard working, gut it out approach in it’s place
by AustonianAggie on Nov 24, 2009 9:56 AM CST up reply actions
Not so sure about that
Historically, da King has been fiscally conscious when paying coaches. The only recent exception was when he hired Big Tuna to that monstrous deal.
If Phillips doesn’t at least win a playoff game, I don’t see King Jerry signing Wade to a lucrative long-term deal… or even signing him to a new contract period.
Is playing smart too much to ask?
by silverblue5 on Nov 24, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions
Fiscally conscious? Does Jason Garrett ring any bells, Silver?
Of course Wade doesn’t get a long term deal, but we’re saying that if Jerry thought he had a better chance THIS YEAR with a new coach, he for sure fires Wade and hires that new guy. Getting a winning playoff team will make Jerry far more than the $3MM Wade would’ve cost in dead salary.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
i hope you're right, tim...
… because with all those proven head coaches available (shanahan, cowher, holmgren) in the upcoming off season, that would be the time to shell out some serious jack if needed.
however, i’m skeptical da King will do that.
i sure as hell hope i’m wrong.
Is playing smart too much to ask?
Let's wait and see...
If Wade keeps up what he is doing defensively this could be a championship caliber defense by the end of the year. Firing Wade will certainly not help that.
I would rather keep Wade.
If the choice is Shanahan or Holmgrem. I heard Holmgrem may become the GM at Seattle.
How bout dem Frogs!!!!
i want Wade and JG to make some bold moves..
Bench “Soy” Williams-had to bring that title back. Get more reps for Hurd and Tree-ASAP. The good teams don’t hesitate to bench a player regardless of salary. Roy needs some time to get his mind right..
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
shanahan
I think he could take Romo to the next level, but I am afraid to see what our D would look like.
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
Not shanahan!
He would destroy the team spirit that is slowly building up.
Read KC Joyner’s annual analysis of Shananan in his Football Scientist books if you need convincing.
"Where's Woody? - We need another Darren Woodson
Just in case Mosley didn't notice
It’s continuity in this league that eventually brings the championships. But I guess he wouldn’t know that. BTW, what kind of compensation is there for having your practice squad plundered?
I don't think there's anything. They just have to keep the guy on the active roster for like 3 weeks.
You can do a lot of things in life. You can't stab a teammate with a pair of scissors. - Kevin Smith
That's what I thought but then I read this;
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/11/tampa-bay-claims-rudy-carpenter.html
You can do a lot of things in life. You can't stab a teammate with a pair of scissors. - Kevin Smith
watching
Chris Johnson and Stephen Jackson this had me wondering what if……
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
I've been thinking the same thing
You can do a lot of things in life. You can't stab a teammate with a pair of scissors. - Kevin Smith
Sounded like Landry just trying to take
another shot at Roy. He lost the game, now he is upset and wants to make snide comments about his opponents
it would take someone real ballsy
to take the hits roy has in the last few games, and continue running routes without a little fear.
having said that… its what the man gets paid to do (hansomly i might add), and he he needs to sacrifice his body to make hard catches over the middle for this team… he’s a possession receiver, he needs to start acting like it…
if your reading this roy, i like your game… forget what happened in the past, and play the next play like its your last
by CowboysFan4Life on Nov 24, 2009 12:01 AM CST up reply actions
I hope NFL Replay shows this game. I'd like to see Ware get those four sacks.
Family, Friends, Cowboys, Beer & BBQ. Life is good!
no... you are doing it wrong..
Keith Brooking got the Cowboys only sack in the game bringing his season total to a career-high 4 sacks. He credits DeMarcus Ware for drawing the HB block and him getting a clear-cut rushing lane to the QB.
it's ok
when i read the line first, I thought the same thing…. until I realized D-Ware didn’t have any sacks at all.. but 4 sacks is a career high for KB that’s kind of surprising.
Texas Stadium has a hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team play football.
With only 7 against the Skins, maybe we saved some scoring for the Raiders. Tony, Miles, Marian, we're trying to get TG dinner
on the table about 3:30pm pst. I’d like the score to be Cowboys 44, Raiders 3 by then. Thanks much
Family, Friends, Cowboys, Beer & BBQ. Life is good!
Unfortunately for me
I hated the move on draft day.
GM 101. You don’t take a situational back in the first round.
Especially after you just signed a RB to a 5 year deal.
When you needed a WR. Which has led to the current situation we are in.
There is not one WR on this roster the Cowboys drafted themselves.
I also wonder if we would have drafted Deshaun Jackson or Manningham if Roy would even be here.
Our season was saved by an undrafted WR. Do you really believe he’s going to lead us to a Superbowl.
Let me put my Cowboys sunglasses back on.
-1 on the WR comments
Who cares if they were drafted, they have produced on many occasions. Manningham has terrible dropsies, and we would love to have jackson, but he is not in the mold the cowboys like at WR.
Crayton was drafted in the 7th btw.
Situational back?
It could have went either way but chris johnson was raw, and at time felix was rated higher by most all teams. They felt that if needed felix could handle the load. That said, you and I both know that’s not the case, and there is where they missed. Idk if you recall but the first WR taken was in the second round, and it was devin thomas by the skins, the boys would not have drafted a WR at that position anyway.
by TONYINCC on Nov 24, 2009 6:59 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I remember yearning for Limas Sweed in that draft
and how’s he doing?
“yearning for Limas Sweed”….that doesn’t even make sense
Sounds like a bean dish.
Limas Sweed casserole?
"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell
-1
That was a very good overall draft. Take out Felix Jones and you still have:
Jenkins (starter)
Bennett (could be a franchise TE on over half the other NFL teams)
Choice (starter quality – found in late round)
Scandrick (decent find for a late round pick)
Felix Jones is a good back, and hopefully he is just battling injury. Obviously Johnson turned out to be a great back, but hindsight is much clearer than a draft board.
Johnson
showed none of this wiggle in college. He had great straight line speed, obviously, but he wasn’t a tackle-breaking, ankle-breaking type back… at least he didn’t appear to be so. Turns out he didn’t have to do much to excel in college and he didn’t have to showcase all his skills. I was down on him… thought he was Aveion Cason or Justin Fargas. But, no… I was wrong. really, really wrong. Apparently he landed here from Krypton and I wasn’t aware of that.
u need a situational back...
who was our back-up at the time? remember we didn’t have TC he came in that draft class as well. We weren’t drafting a RB to come in and pound the ball 20x we already has that in MBIII, that’s why they took Felix. Chris Johnson was a shocking pick at the time, everybody hated that he went so high, and everybody ripped the Titans. So, yea he was there but you can’t really look at it like that…. or u could say damn we should’ve drafted Tom Brady yers ago, he went in the 7th round…
Also when it comes to WR… we have talent, and J-Witt and Bennett (both of whom Dallas drafted). and Dallas signed Miles and Crayton to undrafted deals, so essentially they drafted them, just late.
Either way not every player on your team has to be the best at their positions to win a superbowl. They just have to play well within the confines of the system they are a part of. it doesn’t matter that our best WR was undrafted… so was our QB. and yes Miles Austin cannot lead Dallas to the superbowl… but he can help get Dallas to the Superbowl. same thing with every player in this team.
Texas Stadium has a hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team play football.
It wasn't even the need for a situational back
but they were also replacing Julius Jones…
GM 101?
Let me know which GM school you went to. I’ve been looking for a place to go so I can learn all of these rules. Or you could just keep making things up acting like you do it for a living
by longhorn3621 on Nov 24, 2009 10:26 AM CST up reply actions
Offensive engine is "missing".
Running a bit rough right now, but experience says a bit of a tune up and it’ll get back to what it was earlier, just in time for December stretch run.
Better now than later. Some of our December problems have been offense running cold when we needed to sprint to the end.
"We'll see." --Bill Parcells
The offense is missing execution.
If everyone does their job on every down then every play should work. They won’t all go for TD’s but they should gain yardage. Stop the penalties and self inflicted wounds and you will make it alot easier on yourself.
"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell
The problem is
that teams can cover the Cowboys’ mediocre to bad WRs easily in man to man coverage. Allows them to roll help over to Witten, and gives their rush time to get to Romo. Miles Austin’s flukey run is over and he’s now invisible again. RW is a possession reciever who can’t get open, and I agree with Landry that Roy has alligator arms.
The Cowboys desperately need WRs.
-1
although I will agree our WR are not pro bowl caliber however what i’ve argued with others about is that Romo’s accuracy has taken a terrible hit. He is not throwing catch-able balls. Yes some are hitting WR outstretch hands, but thats my point, hit them in stride… put it in the numbers. Romo threw a dump off pass to Felix an he had to jump for it. I don’t know why all of his passes are sailing on him but between Garret and Wilson they are supposed to be fixing his mechanics the way a pitching coach will help a pitcher take command of his slider.
Yes as a WR you have to catch the ball PERIOD. But as a QB help out those WR by throwing the ball in such a manner that will promote YAC or just a plain ole catch.
I will say this he always seem better with 2 min left in the game… he threaded some needles on that last drive. So I know he has it in him I just want to see it for 4 QTRs not the last 4min of the game.
Whether you think you can or you think you can't either way your right
by UnNessecsary Roughness on Nov 24, 2009 9:30 AM CST up reply actions
Romo's been better off and on this year
after that knee to his back i’m not suprised it took him a while to get his accuracy back
by AustonianAggie on Nov 24, 2009 9:31 AM CST up reply actions
Romo's thrown some off target
But it’s less than you are making it seem like. Simple fact – RW has a TO level of dropped balls. That’s RW’s fault. Watch other QBs on other teams. They all throw a few that are slightly off. The good teams have WRs who “sell out” to make the catch. Witten, Crayton, Austin, Hurd. etc. make the extra effort. RW probably has a headspace issue, but he’s not getting it done.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
I think there is more truth to that comment than I want to believe but
The thing is Austin came on. He completed and succeeded a level of developement. Now he faces tougher corners, rolling safetys and doubleteams. He needs to figure out how to get to the next level. The benefits of this is more room for the other recievers in particular RW. He has seen more space and becuase of that more balls coming his way. The problen right now his inability to make these guys pay. He is open even more than what we have seen but Romo isnt trusting him and the passing game is struggling.
I love Ogletree but he isnt ready . Roy must find his game or we are done. Bennett looks as if he is might be making a move but we still need RW. People need to start praying/hoping he finds his groove or its going to be more of the same in December. Those teams in Jan are good and it will take all we have.
KICK ASS every day!!!
What's missing is Felix Jones
I may have misread some of these earlier posts, but it seems like there’s some grumbling about Felix. The guy is incredible and this offense needs his speed. From his first 3 games as a Cowboy you could see he was special. When he came in and did the same stuff the beginning of this season, I was hooked. When he went down, the offense bogged down. Last Sunday was the first since he’s been back that I saw some of that potential again. I’m looking for a big game from him against the Raiders. With a weapon like this, Garrett has to get him the ball.
What are we BITCHING about...
We got the frigging WIN…thats GOOD people…Winning is GOOD…!!! I dont give a flying fekk to a rolling doughnut what the hell Landry says about Williams..He’s just bitter about the loss…didnt see much of him out there, sacrificing his “heavenly body, hahaha”..In fact if truth were told, we didnt see much of him PERIOD…Hes just jaw-breaking cause he lost…thats what loosing teams players do…they yap, and yap and yap, but they still LOSE…
Another one of those games where we almost lost because of self-inflicted wounds…Ive said it so many times, there is NO TEAM can beat us…GreenBay, Denver, and New York all beat us because of T/O…argue if you want, but when we have been t/o free or almost t/o free we have WON…Every freakin team in the NFL knows that if they dont get at least +2 T/O against us they lose…The RedSkins game proves me right…We had a negative 1 T/O ratio and we WON…The Cowboys are talented enough to overcome mistakes, and people that is exactly what it takes to be WINNERS…Look at the Steelers for a very good example…We all know what a clown for a QB they have…But their Defense is so vastly Superior to everyone else that it finds ways of covering up Ben Raperboogers mistakes…Case in point, was Sundays loss at KC…No Troy, No Win, simple as that…
Now, as for that loss in Greenbay…c’mon people that was a freking fluke…we know it, the packers know it…Play that game anywhere else and we beat them with very little effort…Proved it in Dallas in 2007…Proved it in 2008 in GreenBay…we lost cause we beat ourselves…plain and simple…Are we going to believe that Romo went from stellar, to benchwarmer in 1 week?…are we going to believe the packers were a better team because they got 3 T/O???…I wont, not ever…How can a team like Dallas go to Philly and beat them when they are in prime health, and then go and lose to a bunch of scrubs in GreenBay the next week?…100% healthy, and lose to Greenbay?…Tell me and convince me it was anything but a fluke…
This Thursday we find ourselves in a very fine position…We take on the perrenial bottom feeder raiders in Dallas, and we can and we will win…More importantly what I seen happen in New York confirms my position even more…New York had to beat a team in OVERTIME in New York that we beat very handily in Dallas…New York is hurting, they are in their desperation mode, and it can either kill or save you…they know they are going to have to win at least 5 of the 6 games remaining if they want to take the division…I see them LOSING handily to the Broncos in Denver…The Falcons and Cowboys are the only teams they have beaten(that term applied loosely here) with a winning record…Everyone laughed at us all season until the last 2-3 games before they took us seriously…If we win, and the Gnats lose this Thursday I say we take the Division hands down…right about now, I see the Iggles taking a nose dive…This Decembers stretch doesnt include Dawkins, Sheppard, Thomas, and Considine to bolster that wrecking crew of Rookies…JMO…
I just came back from Iraq(2008), and was a DAV…(WIA)…and I would like to take this time and say Happy Holidays to everyone whom I have met on these blogs…I hope that each and everyone of us will remember what a GREAT and Beautiful Country we have and live in…Lets be Thankful for our Liberties, and our Freedoms..Me and MY BROTHERS in arms have fought for, and bravely defended Her and we love Her very much…We hope and pray it is not in vain that we have done so…I extend this wish even to those who are Cowboys Haterz…HAPPY THANKSGIVING….
FEAR THE STAR
by Hawgz, Bugz, and FilthyFowl Hater on Nov 24, 2009 8:04 AM CST reply actions
lol
I don’t see any bitching… I see football discussion on a football blog. If you can’t handle that, then you should head over DC.com.
Great Pep Talk for the Fans...
That’s just how we should be thinking…
by LDVFootball on Nov 24, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions
not to make excuses
but we have also played 2 defenses ranked in the top 5, which can hopefully explain why we have been struggling.
The offense needs to get over that then.
Not many of the defenses in the playoffs suck. If we can make it that far.
"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell
I don't think of Patrick Crayton as a playmaker
but he sure has good chemistry with Romo when the pocket is busted
kind of like FredEx
The loud mouth WR from Philly Freddy Mitchell, He had zero Talent but when McNabb scrambled around there was Freddy on the spot to make the play.
Of course Crayton is far better my comparison only is that in time of trouble he looks for 82 an 84
Whether you think you can or you think you can't either way your right
by UnNessecsary Roughness on Nov 24, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions
PC is in his element and producing. He will better for us if we can keep him there.
KICK ASS every day!!!
yes time to start looking off Roy..
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
Dallas really needs to beat Oakland
After this next game, Dallas plays to hot division leaders in SD and NO, and all 3 NFC East opponents
they need to win their next two games
if they have any hopes of winning the East. I’m not saying they can’t beat SD or NO, but they will definitely be the toughest opponents remaining on their schedule.
In Romo we Trust
yes
Cowboy fan in CA, we MUST WIN..
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
Uh Oh!
This is just the type opponent that brings out the worst in the Boys.
If you thought the Washington win was ugly, I shudder to think about this one, like Oakland is anything to worry about. But this is the Phillips-led Cowboys we are talking about, not Jimmie’s…….
I do hope I am totally wrong of course……..

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