Dallas blows early lead, loses to Jax 24-17

by Dave Halprin on Sep 10, 2006 6:59 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

The Dallas Cowboys raced out to a quick 10-0 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars, only to lose the game with poor quarterbacking play and a pourous secondary. Drew Bledsoe didn't play like the QB who will lead Dallas to the promised land, throwing 3 INT's with two crucial ones that lead to 14 Jacksonville points. Bledsoe ended up going 16 of 33 for 246 yards with one late TD to Terrell Owens, but the Cowboys couldn't overcome his turnovers.

The Dallas secondary was shredded by Byron Leftwich who went 23 of 34 for 237 yards, that's a 67.6% completion percentage. Leftwich completed one TD and had one interception, and drove the Jaguars down the field when his team needed it most. The vaunted Dallas secondary didn't play up to form with Anthony Henry getting beat repeatedly and Terence Newman also gave up some big plays.

The Dallas offensive line started out playing well, but as the night wore on the Jaguars defense started to pressure Bledsoe. Flozell Adams looked like he hasn't regained his stamina as he was beaten by for a sack and allowed pressure on Bledsoe on several plays. He was also called for holding and an illegal motion penalty. In all, Dallas committed 9 penalties for 93 yards and had a TD called back for offensive pass interference.

Only the run defense played well tonight, holding the Jaguars to 78 net rushing yards. The pass rush wasn't a factor, only getting one sack and allowing Leftwich ample time to pick apart the secondary. Even Bill Parcells needs to take some blame for conservative play calling in the redzone and not calling for more blitzes to generate pressure on Leftwich.

Shaun Suisham, in a fitting image for the game, missed a FG, and it was 2005 all over again.

I haven't reviewed the game tape yet, I'll try to get to that tomorrow, and I'll better be able to dissect the many failings of the Dallas Cowboys in this game.

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Repost from 4th Quarter Thread:

I hate to be doom and gloom, and I do realize it's just one game, like I said in the other thread:

But the way we lost. Penalties, missed Kicks, INTs, poor offense, and poor D. Things that were supposedly all addressed over the offseason because they killed us last year.

It is just one game, but it's a tough way to start a season where we're supposed to be contenders.

by Parl on Sep 10, 2006 7:05 PM CDT reply actions

Like the new poll said...

Bledsoe's INT's cannot be tolerated. He's the reason we lost and we'll continue to lose if he doesn't get his act together. You can't win in this league with poor qb play, it's impossible.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Sep 10, 2006 7:11 PM CDT reply actions

Do you remember...

The play before the missed kick where it was 3rd and 14 and we ran it... Does anyone have any idea why?

by hiafex on Sep 10, 2006 7:15 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, because Parcells went conservative

and played for the FG. He does that alot and with our kicking, it comes back to burn us.

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by Dave Halprin on Sep 10, 2006 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Why didn't he try for the field goal

when it was 4th and 1? I just don't understand how Parcell's mind works...

by hiafex on Sep 10, 2006 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I think

he was trying to avoid trying a long field goal and thought we'd have a better chance to win if we could convert the 4th and 1, then hopefully end the drive with a TD. But when he went for the FG we were closer in range of Suisham and it was a longer 4th down yardage situation. Unfortunately Suisham boinked it off the upright. Deja vu all over again.

by APerfectStar on Sep 10, 2006 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I got to go with Terry, and believe...

...if the command of the team is going to be turned over to Romo, it should be now rather than later. My Reasoning: If you put Romo in now and he faulters, then the controversy in over, you put DB back in and still give your team a chance. Wait until later in the season, you limit your chances. "IF" JJ and BP truely have had any inclinations to start Romo, THE TIME IS NOW!!!

I know it is only one game, but before you know it, it becomes 2, 3, 4, etc.

Don't misunderstand me, I am a big DB fan, but I am a bigger Cowboys fan and I hate a QB controversy just as much as anyone. But when reality forces it's voice, you have to listen.

Granted, as much as you can put some blame on Bledsoe, you have to put some on the secondary two. The plays they gave up were ALMOST as much a back breaker as the INT's.

Cowboy fan since I was conceived!

by airtyme on Sep 10, 2006 7:27 PM CDT reply actions

Billy Volek

I guess everyone thinks that ROMO, who has never taken a regular season start, Preseason vanilla defenses are no comparison. Everyone was clammoring over Billy Volek, who cant even take the starting job from Kerry Collins, Volek was 3-7 in games he started I think, and tenneesee is looking to unload him, players are backups for a reason, he maybe good down the road, but Romo's not ready for the bigtime yet.One game doesn't make a season.

by Deke on Sep 10, 2006 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions

just to pile on...

since we know what the theme will be for this week in the papers: QB controversy.

Bledsoe had a terrible game. Didnt seem like he was getting a lot on the ball (his back was hurting?) and made some Favre-like bad reads. But its too WAY too early to chuck the season and start the roller coaster of playing an inexperienced QB. He'll bounce back next week. He's a guy who's going to throw some stinkers in there every year. Normally he waits until week 9. I'd be happy if he got all the stupid INTs out of his system early then finished the season hot.

Anyway, I'm just as pissed at Anthony Henry and Flozell Adams as with Bledsoe. A trinity of sucktitude.

And our vaulted 'D' had their lunches handed to them. It seemed like our D-Line was VERY slow off the ball, and spent too much time playing paddy-cake with the O-Line. And our tackles were getting pushed back like they were on roller skates.

OK, got that out of my system. Too much damn stress.

by jsdoty on Sep 10, 2006 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Romo is no Billy Volek

it's ridiculous to compare the two. Romo is our future, if Volek was Tennessee's, they would never have drafted Young.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Sep 10, 2006 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Both Jones and Parcells have been clear

They are not going to put in a QB who they consider to be a rookie, because they think this team can go far. The only thing that gets Romo in is an injury to Bledsoe, or the loss of so many games that the playoffs become impossible.

But they have been very clear. Romo isn't going in, so there isn't much point in talking about it.

by Rob Zuber on Sep 10, 2006 7:38 PM CDT reply actions

I wouldn't replace Bledsoe with Romo

unless Bledsoe was hurt. I think to leave him in injured puts us at a disadvantage. But I wouldn't pull Bledsoe after the first game, on the road, against a tough defense. And I'm sure BP won't either.

by APerfectStar on Sep 10, 2006 7:40 PM CDT reply actions

Bledsoe Sucks

Thats all I have to say!

by Badknees on Sep 10, 2006 7:51 PM CDT reply actions

food for thought

you put Romo in only if Bledsoe gets hurt, who's going to be the back up in case Romo doesn't do well? Also, if DB continues to play like this, you going to keep him in???

You just got to look at it at all angles. If Romo goes in now, you still got a healthy
DB as a back up. Why wait for disaster?

I really can't say who I would rather start...Honestly. I am just trying to look at it from all perspectives. I would rather see DB play well and lead this team to the promise land, but I also try to stay grounded. however, there are probably other factors that we do not know about that BP does and I trust BP will make the right decision, IF in fact hell feels there is one to make. He may not even be considering it, no matter how the media makes it out to be.

Cowboy fan since I was conceived!

by airtyme on Sep 10, 2006 7:53 PM CDT reply actions

we just need to get used...

to the fact that this is bledsoe...he can look great with time and look very very bad without it...this is who he is...the whole league knows it...we need to recognize it too...this is reason why the Keep Bledsoe Upright campaign was started (and its off to a terrible beginning, by the way)

it's virtually impossible for bledsoe to win a game like this...he's getting pressure...we're calling conservative plays....our o-line is making mistakes...he's not good enough to pull us out of a funk like this....

i'm not ready to pull the plug on bledsoe, but any apologist for his play wasn't watching the game....he threw four picks.....they scored 14 points off those picks...without those points...we win the game or at least send it to overtime....

funny how everybody clamored over T.O. missing practice...apparently, it isn't him who needs the work...it's those other mu'f*$%as who been at practice everyday who were holding, making dumb personal fouls and throwing picks....

that being said, let's not jump out of the window on this...this is a 12-4 team we played on the road...some very good teams lost today: Super Bowl favorite Carolina lost at home, Denver lost, Tampa Bay got spanked and the Super Bowl runner-ups beat Detriot by three in a game where it couldn't block their d-line and they couldn't score a touchdown....our problems aren't bigger than anyone else's....

we'll come back, regroup, lick our wounds and then lick those deadskins at home!

by Tuna Helper on Sep 10, 2006 8:13 PM CDT reply actions

Peyton Manning

Has almost thrown three interceptions tonight in the first half alone. The Giants defenders keep dropping them. These things happen. But Drew has got to stop the picks.

by Rob Zuber on Sep 10, 2006 8:19 PM CDT reply actions

I will say this

I agree with some of the above post and maybe we shoul td see how DB bounces back. If he dosen't bounce back with a solid performance, might be time to see Romo. If he has a solid game, then chalk this one up as just a bad game. They are entitled to one.

like I said earlier, I try to look from all perspectives. (it is just a way to vent after such a disapointing loss)

Cowboy fan since I was conceived!

by airtyme on Sep 10, 2006 8:36 PM CDT reply actions

Screw Perspective

I want someone's head!

by Badknees on Sep 10, 2006 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Kickers

Whenever I have a particularly frustrating week in fantasy football I cut the kicker for a little pick-me-up.

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam

by LRogue on Sep 11, 2006 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Here It Comes

Colishaw is suggesting that T.O. is "taking a shot" at Bledsoe by saying "This should be a confidence booster for Drew. With the weapons we have, we can't be stopped. We stopped ourselves today."

Colishaw and the DMN-ST crew are not going to let up on Owens. They hate him for reasons I don't think anybody has the balls to really talk about, myself included.

Colishaw ought to be banned from the Cowboys premises. I wish I owned that team. Anybody with Belo credentials I'd have escorted to the door with a little shove at the end and maybe a swift kick in the backfield. What a bunch of no-talent shills. Their constituency is the legion of Cowboy haters in the metroplex. Only this blog and a few others are providing high-quality content for people who like the team.

by AmosM on Sep 10, 2006 10:01 PM CDT reply actions

Link?

Anyone got a link to post game comments or interviews?

by Parl on Sep 10, 2006 10:17 PM CDT reply actions

And the Giants go down!

Not a complete disaster today. :)

by Rob Zuber on Sep 10, 2006 10:22 PM CDT reply actions

well at least...

the Giants lost...if the Vikings can beat the deadskins, everybody in the NFC East will be 0-1 except the Iggles.....

by Tuna Helper on Sep 10, 2006 10:23 PM CDT reply actions

Cow-li-shaw: the rumor peddler...

http://cowboys.beloblog.com/

In a game where one of the few bright spots was the play of our receivers, the media can let go of its hatred of T.O.

Jesus.

We have other concerns here that are more pertinet. Like our O-line. And our immobile, mistake prone QB. And our kicking game. And our offensive playcaller, who by the way, no one seems to know who this is and who does it. And the ones who know aren't telling.

But as far as our receivers go, I think we're covered on that.

Anyways, I'm putting on my "I-hate-T.O." rationale cap and I still can't see how he was criticizing Bledsoe by telling him we stopped ourselves today.

That's a real, real stretch.

by Tuna Helper on Sep 10, 2006 10:31 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed

Colishaw's comments were pitiful. T.O. was probably our best player on the field, and the Cow takes a shot at him after the game. It's really sad.

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by Dave Halprin on Sep 10, 2006 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions

That pisses me off..

TO worked his ass off all day to get open, and Bledsoe couldn't get the ball to him...

Jamaica Rector is a beast...

by miles @ Blogging The Boys on Sep 10, 2006 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Perspective

In 2005 the best team we played, in my opinion, was the Denver Broncos. They played in the AFC title game. The Broncos' first game that year was also in Florida (Miami) where the were slammed 10-34. The starting Broncos QB (Plummer) threw 2 picks, was 1 for 12 on 3rd downs, has 1 fumble (recovered), and completed only 46% of his passes. The Broncos defense surrendered 21 4th quarter points. The Denver papers were all over Plummer and Coach Shanahan.

This was a winnable game. The Cowboys were in it and were a tough test for a very good Jacksonville team. Perhaps we will see them again in Miami. At any rate it is not time to panic and not time to second-guess the club. I am confident that Coach Parcells will play the players that give us the best chance to win. Since I have zero wins in the NFL and zero chance of being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame I will endure my disappointment and continue to hope we win the remaining 18 or 19 games.

by lee3022 on Sep 10, 2006 11:59 PM CDT reply actions