What they're saying...Eagles game

by Dave Halprin on Dec 26, 2006 12:23 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

My how things change in this league. After winning last week, it appeared the embarrassment against the Saints the week before was a one-time thing, a bump in the road. Well, you can get rid of that notion, these Cowboys are teetering on the edge, and they could easily go over. Or they could just as easily turn it around, how many teams have been counted out how many times this year, only to get back in contention. Now, I'll grant you, I no longer think we are an elite team in the NFC, we are just another in the crowd. But we're still going to the playoffs so at least we have a puncher's chance, but we better get things right starting against Detroit. I never give up on a season until it's over, but these Cowboys are sure making it hard to believe.

Terence Newman expresses his frustration.

"It's the worst feeling in football," cornerback Terence Newman said. "We're at home. On Christmas. Everything was set up for us to look pretty good going into the playoffs, and then we come out and play like that. All I know is next week is going to be a long week, and if we play like we did today, we might as well hang it up next weekend and not even play in the playoffs, because the way we are playing makes no sense to me."

That's some deep frustration, but warranted. When you work so hard all season for a goal, only to let it go without a fight, it doesn't get any worse.

"For a long time, we've been chasing them," tight end Jason Witten said. "They were chasing us today, and we let that go. That's what hurts really."

Even Mr. Sunshine, Jerry Jones, is losing his cool.

"A game like this indicts us at the top just straight through," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "It's disappointing ... I'm disgusted. I really am."

Those are pretty strong words from the man who signs the checks. Parcells will have to do his best psych-job to get this team pointed in the right direction again. Somehow, he has to sell them on still being in contention for the whole enchilada.

"I told them they can either be judged by this game or they could come back ready to go next week and have a chance to compete for the championship," Parcells said. "We will know next week at this time which way we are going to go."

There's basically nothing good that came out of this game on the field. It was a total loss.

"We didn't do anything that well today," Parcells said. "We never got ourselves a spark to react to. We still had chances all the way through the third quarter - 16-7 - you've still got a good chance in the game. But we just didn't ever have a chance to get back in to the game. We just didn't do it."

And not doing it with so much on line has to be surprising to Parcells, right?

"Yes, I am."

Disappointed, too?

"Of course," he said. "You can't play like that and not be disappointed. There's not really anything good to say. I've got to take the responsibility for it because the team obviously didn't look prepared to play. We just didn't make any plays at all."

It was a disaster; I haven't seen the Cowboys look this bad on both sides of the ball all year. Heck, even the games with Bledsoe, we were at least scoring points. This one just fell apart in all areas; so much so, the Cowboys were getting booed at a game they thought would be their defining statement in the regular season.

"We owe our fans better than what we showed," [Terrell] Owens said. "Whatever boos that were given, then we deserve it. This is not how we play the game. We stunk it up. Overall, we need to regroup and play better."

More Jerry Jones:

"After tonight, you have to look at the entire organization, and I do," Jones said. "I'm about as frustrated as I've been in my 17 years as owner."

Bottom-line, we stunk.

"We were non-competitive tonight," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "Inexperience in this kind of game hurt us."

Last word to Romo:

"I kind of felt like we beat ourselves in some ways," Romo said. "This team has a lot of heart. We've come back before. We have a big game next week. We'll find out how good we are when we get into the tournament."

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"We have a big game next week."

Detroit? At home? If that's a big game, we're REALLY in trouble!

Texas slang in a Big Apple minute, by a friendly OED consultant. http://www.barrypopik.com

by barrypopik on Dec 26, 2006 1:28 AM CST reply actions

Big game only

in building rhythm and confidence again and momentum into the playoffs. This team needs this game to regroup. That is why it is a big game to me.

Does anyone else think that playing Seattle first and then maybe Chicago is a better outcome than playing Philly or New York first and then maybe New Orleans? Sure we don't get a home game but Seattle is even more ripe than the Cowboys. And Chicago may or may not be elite. We shall see.

by lee3022 on Dec 26, 2006 2:52 AM CST reply actions

HO HO HO T.O.s Got to Go!!!

and Take the Tuna With Him, It's time to gut and clean this team, bring in some others with heart like Roy, Romo and Whitten, and others, there are some great guys on this team, with only a bit of dead weight (like T.O.) but if the boys can shore up a few positions this off season, get rid of T.O. and the bad play callers like Tuna and some others from his staff, I think this team can go far next season, this season however is DONE.

by TexasGonzo on Dec 26, 2006 10:22 AM CST reply actions

No doubt...

T.O. has been a huge disappointment and distraction. Now Terry Glenn in coming out and ripping his utilization. Things can change quickly but it's hard to see this team getting it together in time....

TSG -

Mile High Report

The Sports Guru

by TheSportsGuru @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 26, 2006 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

The best playoff scenario

would be for the Cowboys to beat the Giants in the first round at home. Then travel to New Orleans and take revenge on the Saints. Hopefully the Eagles will take care of the Seahawks and the Bears, so we can exact extreme vengeance upon them in the NFC Championship Game. That would be the sweetest playoff run...

At least I don't live in Philadelphia.

by Citilicious on Dec 26, 2006 10:42 AM CST reply actions

We have a better chance...

Against the Bears who have lost every game this year against a decent Defense. Every other W came against Cupcakes.

And I like our odds against Seattle better than the Eagles. When Hasselbeck gets rattled early their entire offense suffers.

The Eagles and the Saints know the Cowboys too well for our shoddy defense and questionable offensive play-calling to get any advantage.

by Doomsday on Dec 26, 2006 11:31 AM CST reply actions

I don't know

Someone on the radio this morning pointed out that Hasselback is the same type of quarterback as Garcia and Brees: shifty, quick release, creates second chances, smart, knows his offense and runs the same style of attack.

I wish I could say I liked our odds against anybody in the playoffs, but I don't. I think our defense was probably somewhat overrated, took a big hit losinh Ellis, and they are unimaginatively coached. They played last night with hesitancy, as if their natural aggression had been suffocated from an overabundance of caution. We thought the big play was our weakness; last night we learned that all plays are created equal against this unit right now.

by AmosM on Dec 26, 2006 11:49 AM CST reply actions

Hasselbeck and Mobility

Is almost an oxy-moron. He's more mobile than Bledsoe in mud, but not by much.

He does shift around in the pocket, dump-off when he has to and scramble for yards up the middle when the pocket collapses but to say he's the same type of Quarterback as Garcia and Brees is a stretch. He's a clumsy runner and isn't all that accurate running bootlegs but he does pose problems when he has time and the running game is effective.

I'd hate to look that far ahead, Detroit could embarass us next week and none of that will matter. We'll just have to wait and see.

by Doomsday on Dec 26, 2006 12:07 PM CST reply actions

Tony is right

Detroit is a big game. If we're going to do anything in the playoffs, we have to come out and really kick their ass like they're a high school team. If we don't and barely win, or God forbid even lose, we're done, we might as well not even show up in Seattle.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 26, 2006 3:40 PM CST reply actions