Cowboys vs. Packers: What they're saying

... belongs to Jackie Smith, gifting the Pittsburgh Steelers their second SuperBowl victory over Dallas.

Somehow, today it doesn't hurt so bad to think of that drop, knowing the Cowboys not only are looking like SB contenders this year, but for many years to come.

Romo is king.

I saw Romo's comment but not TO's, that's pretty funny.

I noticed twice earlier in the year when asked if a win made a statement, Romo said something about not being into statement games, and then TO comes out and says the game made a statement.

They're on the same page in the game, but not always about the game.

I still hate the NFL for this, but I think the proprietors of my local sports bar love them.  I have never seen the place so full, it was wall-to-wall with people watching the game, and very few were actual fans of either team (though many seemed to care for fantasy reasons).  It was like the normal Thursday night crowd on steroids.  

That would be great provided he can play, I'm just not sure how healthy he can get.

to understand what the coverage is going to do and see how the whole field is moving and quickly go through his reads to find the open man, and the way he knows how to look off the safety and not give away his intentions until the moment before he throws it.

in the game today.

Brady, Manning and Palmer can work magic within the pocket, but move as if their feet are in cement. Put pressure on them, they become ordinary.

Roethlisberger can move around for a big guy and make plays outside the pocket, but his accuarcy isn't the greatest.

Favre's age showed yesterday, he just doesn't have the mobility anymore.

The complete package is Romo, the guy can do it all and like you said, he's only going to get better with more experience.

The days of us ruling the NFL again may soon be upon us.

from Trading Places. But I'm old enough to remember the GI Joe with the kung-fu grip, when it came out!

The Cowboys have done this all year.  If they get a lead of 10 or more points, they call off the dogs on both sides of the ball until the other team creeps back to within 1 score.  That's why even games that we dominate like the Giants, Eagles, and this one end up with tighter scores than they should.  It's also why our passing defense numbers are poor, because we are playing bend but don't break once we get the league.  It's likely also why our rushing numbers are down, because teams know we won't up top and use play action after we get a lead, so they can focus on stopping the run.  I'm not sure that Wade has the killer instinct to put teams away, particularly in the playoffs.

I think this would be a bad move for a few reasons.  One, it already takes refs forever to do regular replays, and PI is much more subjective and difficult to judge.  I hate the delays, so this would drive me crazy.  Two, I think it might lead to more PI flags, because refs would know that it could be reviewed if they really messed up.  Three, you'll end up with situations like the play last night, where even if they reviewed it they might have trouble deciding whether the call should stand.  Four, I don't want coaches throwing a challenge flag when there was no call and claim there was PI (if that's part of this proposal).  

I very rarely see a truly phantom PI flag (though they do get thrown).  Usually the ref (if he is doing his job) will see something that prompts him to throw the flag, and if there is any kind of contact on the play, then that would probably be enough to put it in the gray area where the call on the field would stand.  It's just too subjective a call to run through replay over and over again and get any real benefit out of that.  I think in cases where PI is truly impossible, i.e. when the ball has been tipped, reviews would be okay, but refs rarely miss those calls entirely.

Ok...where to begin...

Wade has pretty much the exact same roster that Parcells had last year, save Bigg.  His team is 11-1 (the best record in team history), and has only lost to what may well be the best team in NFL history.  How, in any way, is he not doing an AMAZING job of coaching?  Is this Switzer's 1994 or 1995 teams, who were already champions that effectively coached themselves?  Many players on this team are likely to finish with career highs in many important statistical categories.  I'll leave our record-breaking offense out of this since that's more Garrett's area, though I think Phillips directly has created a far more harmonious environment for TO that is allowing him to flourish.  Ellis and Ware are having career years in sacks and Ware is a bonafide DPOY candidate.  Canty has matured into a complete DE, and Ratliff is giving us very good play at DT.  Hamlin has already beaten his career high for INTs and passes defensed.  Newman is having a career year for INTs.  Henry is having a great season, eclipsed only by his stellar rookie year in Cleveland.  James is playing the best football of his career.  Pretty much every player on our (maligned) defense is having one of the best years of their careers...hell, even Marcus Spears has made some plays!  Phillips is delivering on the promise of a better, playmaking defense, using the exact same players as Parcells.  And let's not forget Reeves, who has played pretty well as a starter, and who would be buried on the bench if Wade didn't have the stones to cut Aaron Glenn.

I just don't know if we're watching the same team.  Parcells' teams constantly played in the "prevent offense" and tried to grind away 3 point victories.  This team has been consistently more aggressive and successful on both sides of the ball, AND we're giving up fewer of the crippling long passes that the team was susceptible to in the past.  Some of that may be due to the assistant coaches, but you know who's ultimately to credit or blame for their successes/failures?  The head coach, especially so for the defensive staff that Wade brought in.

And do you remember the coaches we had between Switzer and Parcells?  I won't even mention their names to keep the bad vibes away, but suffice it to say they were, at best, mediocre.

Wade Phillips has been the perfect head coach for this team.  This is true, in part, because of the way the players were coached for the past few years under Parcells.  But they have really responded to the fact that he respects them and understands the toll that the season takes on the players, and he knows how to get the most out of everyone on his team.  Almost every one of our players on both sides of the ball is having one of the best years of their careers, and they're clearly having fun doing it.  Remember all those games the past few years when the team totally came out flat and stunk out the joint, losing to an inferior team?  They aren't happening this year.  Wade has made sure of that, and the players have made sure of that as well due to the accountability they are trusted to have.  Parcells deserves a lot of credit for building this roster, and Jerry deserves credit for bringing in certain players to supplement the roster.  But it's Wade Phillips and his assistants that have made this team come close to realizing its full potential.  

11-1.  WTF.

I would be embarassed if we played to "annihilate and humiliate other teams" the way the Patriots do.  What they've done in some games this year is shameful.  There is such a thing as sportsmanship, and we've displayed it every game this year.  I'm proud of the dignified way this team has carried itself this year, led improbably enough by the pod-person himself.