Cowboys lone unbeaten in NFC; Keith Davis out for Monday night
Well, well, now we are the lone undefeated team in the NFC as the Bears took down the "old Tony Romo" in Green Bay. I got a read on some of our NFC competition this Sunday and the reviews are mostly negative. Green Bay couldn’t beat a team at home that we slapped around at their joint. Seattle was shutout against one of the AFC’s best in Pittsburgh, and similarly the Bucs got whooped by another of the AFC powers, the Colts. Granted, both of those games were on the road but they didn’t look to be in the same class as the AFC teams. Don’t look now, but could Washington be the 2nd best team in the conference at 3-1? I’m just saying. Probably not, Green Bay still looks to be. Now Dallas just needs to take care of business in Buffalo and remain undefeated. Then we get our own shot at an AFC power.

Special teams ace and known bullet magnet Keith Davis will not be playing against Buffalo.
Keith Davis has been ruled out of Monday's game at Buffalo. He practiced in a limited fashion during the week after missing the St. Louis game. Davis suffered a partially torn pectoral muscle against the Bears.
Uh oh, McGee and Parrish are dangerous return guys.

ESPN is pumping the game since they’re broadcasting it, so Michele Tafoya and Ron Jaworski penned columns for the paid Insider subscription. If you don’t have it, don’t worry, you’re not missing too much. Here are the most interesting parts. First, Tafoya:
It was Monday, Oct. 23, the sixth game of the 2006 season. Drew Bledsoe, were trailing the New York Giants 12-7. Without much prompting, Parcells told me: "I'm going to play [Tony] Romo."
"How soon?" I asked.
"Right now."
As Parcells walked away, I bellowed a rarely used phrase into my "Monday Night Football" microphone: "Red dog! Red dog!" (We use that when there is breaking news.)
"What is it?" asked Jay Rothman, the show's producer, from the truck.
"Tony Romo's going in the game. Bledsoe has been benched."
And what ensued was the beginning of the Romo era in Dallas.
Red dog! I guess that should be the battle cry whenever we need Romo to jump into the phone booth, don his Superman cape, and pull out a miracle. Like when the ball went over his head last week, we can all cry "Red dog! Red dog!" and Romo will scoop it up, juke a defender or two and pick up the first down. Red Ball can name a play Red Dog, and we’ll judge Romo on degree of difficulty of the miracle. It will be Gurode’s choice as to where he wants to snap the ball. OK, maybe not.
Tafoya also gave the Cowboys some love by saying people aren't giving Romo the respect he deserves because the other three undefeated teams (this was pre-Green Bay loss) have QB’s with Super Bowl rings.
So why aren't people talking about Dallas in the same breath as New England, Indianapolis and Green Bay?
All four teams are 4-0. Each one has a proven quarterback.
Ooooooh. Maybe people consider Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre proven, but aren't willing to go out on a limb for Romo.
Meanwhile, Ron Jaworski has much love for the offense.
The Cowboys have a tremendous attack this season and balance is one reason why. When I broke this team down in the film room, I was amazed at how potent they are at every dimension of the offense. The passing game attacks from sideline to sideline, vertically and with screens. On top of that, opposing defenses can't pick out who is going to get the ball because Tony Romo's pass distribution has been so even this season.
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16 comments
Comments
Uhhhh, Michele
Maybe someone should be checking her articles:
Cut to this season: After four weeks, Romo is third in the NFL with 1,199 passing yards (behind Jon Kitna's 1,127 and Brett Favre's 1,205). He's also third in passing yards per game with 288.2.
Isn't 1199 greater than 1127? Should read 1227 for Kitna.
by huslinone on Oct 7, 2007 11:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Detroit SUX
What a mess. No defense, no offensive line, Kitna will be lucky to survive the season. Martz is an idiot.
Washington was bumbling and stumbling all over themselves, yet even they couldn't manage to lose that stinkbomb.
If GB trades for a RB, they are still dangerous. That's a glaring weakness.
I hate waiting for the Cowboys MNF games. I feel unsatisfied until I see them kick ass.
by APerfectStar on Oct 8, 2007 1:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sunday thoughts on balance
First the passing attack. To hear John Madden compare Brett Favre as an old Tony Romo tonight was an enormous compliment to Tony. After all these years and all the records (he tied another tonight: most interceptions) Brett Favre is likened to Tony instead of the reverse.
Then on to the running game. The Cowboys have two outstanding runners whose differences have sparked some really good debates here. But San Diego broke out of their funk today and found their running attack. It was not LT. Michael Turner ran for 147 yards on 10 carries and a TD. Great average, good total. LT ran for 67 yards on 21 carries (3.2 avg) and no TDs. Following the claims for MB3 of some here, it follows that the Chargers should now bench LT and start Turner. I would not agree. My point is that a defense keys differently on different runners. When both are effective the team can win big. This is true of the Cowboys and today was true of the Chargers as well. To maintain the balance that Jaws admires so well we must continue to force teams to plan for and stop both Jones and Barber. If they do stop both (as in Chicago - first half) they then become really vulnerable to a balanced air attack. We have multiple weapons and that is why we are winning.
Finally I believe that if Cleveland can score 17 on the Patriots in New England, then the Cowboys can at least double that in our house. The bigger question is: can we hold New England under 34? And yes - we still need to win Monday in Buffalo and escape serious injury in the process.
by lee3022 on Oct 8, 2007 2:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
some of the Jaws and Tafoya article
that I liked.
Jaws:
When I look at Romo I see a quarterback very similar to Brett Favre. They are both willing to throw the ball at any point -- from any arm angle -- at any time and are gunslingers in the truest sense of the word. Both have good mobility and can move out of the pocket very well, but both are always focused downfield and hitting a receiver. Neither looks pretty all the time, but they both have great results and get the job done.
Tafoya:
But at least open your minds to the idea that Romo is looking like a QB who can lead his team deep into the playoffs.
Many are already making comparisons between Romo and his idol, Favre, because the two seem to share gunslinging, swaggering personalities.
I'm fine holding off on the comparisons for a bit.
But let's give credit where credit is due. Romo is handling a new head coach in Wade Phillips, a new offensive coordinator in Jason Garrett and an egomaniac in T.O., and he's also making the most of his opportunities.
by Terry on Oct 8, 2007 7:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Can't wait for the game tonight, BUT...
My Yankees are still alive & kicking.
What to do, what to do. I'm going to wear out the 'LAST' button on my remote tonight!
by Pete on Oct 8, 2007 8:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel ya pete
If the boys rack some big points early I might have to sweat it out with the yanks.
by Billito on Oct 8, 2007 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This kind of stuff always makes me smiles
Here's a nice little stat from the DMN blog: The Cowboys gained 701 yards on the 19 plays. By comparison, the Bills have passed for 586 yards and one TD all season.
by ChrisRichey on Oct 8, 2007 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Julius Jones
by Citilicious on Oct 8, 2007 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes
JJ's frustration is obviously building. I don't know if it'll be this game, but he's going to explode all over somebody...which will be admittedly disgusting, but fun to watch if you're standing back far enough to avoid the splash.
by Incredifan on Oct 8, 2007 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Colorful analysis!
by Rigor on Oct 8, 2007 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
keith davis
his absence scares me. Even Parcells didn't like it when he played more safety and his special teams duties suffered
get well soon, keith
by ab03 on Oct 8, 2007 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah we will miss Davis
and I am still worried about tonights game because for young teams on MNF against the cowboys who have no postseason to look forward to, this becomes their superbowl. If the boys can withstand the special teams and trick plays the bills are sure to send and keep playing their aggressive, balanced game, I will be even more impressed and really start believing that next sunday's game can be won without miracles.
In other words - I believe in this years boys but am still emotionally scarred from the last decade and still have to take things slow. :)
by Billito on Oct 8, 2007 1:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
ready to go....
the pats. didn't look invincable to me....i think our d-backs and d-line can hang with the pats...
by hashishkabob on Oct 8, 2007 5:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
WHAT!!!!!!
the pats have Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Gaffney and Watson.
We counter with Newman who has a lingering injury, Henry who has his foot in a boot, questionable if he'll even play, Reeves who is an average corner, nate Jones who was cut ans wasn't picked up by anyone and signed back, and Oglesby who was cut by Baltimore and hasn't got into a game at corner, and we all know Roy Williams cant cover anyone and you're going to tell me that our secondary can HANG with the Patriots wideouts and tighends, wow, What are you drinking, send me some!!!
If we dont get Pressure early and often on Brady, it could be a long night for our defense.
by Deke on Oct 8, 2007 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
slight correction
Given the poster's name - hashishkabob - I believe the correct question is:
"wow, What are you "smoking, send me some!!!
by Cowboy Louie on Oct 8, 2007 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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