First, everybody wear black & yellow tonight. The Redskins (6-2) can kill the 5-4 Cowboys' hopes for the playoffs.

During the preseason, I sure was impressed with Redskins' rookie QB Colt Brennan. His command of the offense struck some fear into me as I pondered how Jason Campbell would do in Jim Zorn's West Coast passing attack. My fear has become a reality as the starting QB has yet to throw any interceptions. No interceptions! None! On top of that, Clinton Portis is having an MVP year, Santana Moss is killing other teams besides the Cowboys, the defense is holding everybody (except the Cowboys) to under 200 yards passing, and the O-Line is hoggin' it up.

With the Giants as the favorites to win the East and the Eagles alive & flying, the Cowboys' playoff hopes are dimming. But there is hope.

Next week's Skins game: Dallas has to win in D.C.--no matter what. If the Skins sweep the series they will own any tie-breaking advantage. They may own it anyways if the 2 teams finish with the same record, unless they start dropping some games and Dallas ensures they run every game in the conference. Washington is a healthy 5-2 in the NFC, while the Cowboys are an awful 3-4 thanks to those NFC West teams.

The NFC South: This tough division should challenge the East for a Wild Card team. The best scenario for the Cowboys is if Tampa Bay finishes 2nd because by beating them last week, they'd own the tie breaker. Of course, Dallas has to match or better the Bucs record and the Panthers, Saints, or Falcons have to win the division.

The NFC North: The same situation for the North. If 2 teams are in playoff contention, we need Green Bay to be that 2nd seed because of our tie-breaking (Head-to-Head) advantage. Hope for the Bears or Vikes to win the division.

The NFC West: Don't expect a Wild Card contender here, but Dallas has to beat the 40winers and the SeaChickens this month to bolster that conference record.

Of course, all of this is in vain if Dallas loses more than 2 of their next 7 contests. They may have to win 6 of 7 if they lose to the Skins or Giants again. Cleveland missed the playoffs last year with a 10-6 record because of the competition (3 playoff teams) in the AFC South.

If the Cowboys lose, those losses better be to an AFC team. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are nothing to sneeze at.

Of course, all of this is in vain if Dallas wins hereon out. T'would be tough, but possible. For now, let's just try to forget this last game, get our guys healthy, and scout these Skins.

via www.culinaryartsblog.com

It's 11 minutes into the 4th quarter, and the Cowboys are up on the Giants 38-22. NFL Network is reairing that Sunday Night game from early last year. Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves are playing about 5 miles off the WRs. Derrick Ward is gashing through the defense. Roy Williams is just a body out there. Dallas is playing loose and will let the Giants right back into this game.

Shoulda stepped on their necks in the 1st half when we were up 17-6. But, just like the infamous playoff game, we let them score a TD before the break. Oh, and Tyson Thompson fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which allowed another quick 3  with seconds left. Instead of being up 2 scores at half, the Cowboys were only up by one: 17-16.

It sure is fun watching Romo air it out to Witten, seemingly whenever he wants. It sure is fun watching T.O. declare it will be his show in the 2nd half ,and proving so with that one-handed catch in the back of the end zone, as well as his TD as a result of his all-important YAC. It sure is fun watching how loose this team played last year. 38-35? No problem--chuck a slant out to Sam Hurd.

I almost miss that arrogant offense. I don't miss that just-as-long-as-we-outscore-them defense. At the end of the day, I'd rather see guys like Bradie James and Ken Hamlin smiling than I would T.O. and Patrick Crayton.

Injuries and losses have handed some slices of humble pie to this offense. My hope is that the defense and ST have already had their fill. Play tight; make opposing offenses earn every first down, every yard. If Brad & Co. put up 14 or 17, know that that is enough to win, especially if they and the special teams limit their turnovers and win the field position battles. When the offense pieces itself back together after the bye, stay tight. Even if Romo & Co. score 41, don't allow 37--continue to allow 10, 13.

I know it's easier said than done, but that humble pie may be just what this team needed to prevent from starving down the stretch. November is here and will go quickly. In December, we'll all be hungry for something more than just humble pie.

Not to say that acquiring players such as T.O., Roy Williams, Zach Thomas, Leonard Davis and PacMan Jones hasn't played a significant role in the successes of the Dallas Cowboys, but it's the contributions of lesser known players that really show Jerry Jones' foresight into maintaining the team. 

With the Special Teams ailing this preseason, Jerry Jones resigned Keith Davis and trusted in Coach Wade's experience with LB Carlos Polk. Back during the draft, he didn't stay content at CB by resigning Jacques Reeves or Nate Jones, nor did he bank that PacMan would provide stability at that position; instead, he stocked up on talented DBs Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. He also didn't settle his backup RB hopes on Felix Jones either. Though we haven't seen much of Tashard Choice out of the backfield, I think it's safe to say that he does his best to contribute (especially on ST) when he does get his chances. And now with Jason Witten nursing his ribcage, Martellus Bennett looks to get an increased role in the offense this week.

Yesterday when punter, Sam Palescu, squared his shoulders into that Tampa returner, I roared so loudly that I disturbed my already disturbed neighbor. It was well worth it to see this new Cowboy add some intensity and integrity to America's Team.

These under-the-radar acquisitions are the only thing about the Dallas Cowboys that the national media don't run with. Sure, the big name guys ice the cake but it just takes a handful of plays from these little guys to help turn a close game around. Whether it's signing a former 3rd round pick (WR Travis Wilson) to the practice squad, or secretely grooming a star QB like the Cowboys did with Romo, we gotta give Jerry Jones his props for his general managing of the entire roster--not just the stars.

If I was Jason Garrett, I would slow the offense down. Have Brad look down the field only a handfull of times. Instead, pick at the defense with bubble and halfback screens. Get T.O. 10 catches. That's right; 10 catches, even if they're 10 catches for 50 yards. Keep at it, even if were down 21-7. Be patient. Something will break. These little passes will open up the run against that Tampa 2.

If I was Brian Stewart/Wade Phillips, 70% man-to-man: Anthony Henry on Antonio Bryant, Jenkins on Galloway/Clayton. Bump them, shadow them in motion. One safety back, one safety up to support the front seven. D-line: get your hands up against Garcia and contain him within the pocket.

This team needs a statement game in these next two weeks, and it would be nice to get some confidence back before taking on the Gigantes. What do you guys think can get us a much needed season-saving victory?

Do we all agree that the issues destroying this team are issues that have already been addressed, yet not corrected? Here's my laundry list:

1. Penalties--When will Flozell go through a game without having a false start? 5 yards may not be a big deal on Monday, but as you are watching the game and the already beleaguered offense has to go from 3rd and 3 to 3rd and 8, it REALLY makes a difference--not to mention how much wind it takes out of the players' sails. The big man's jumpiness seems to be contagious. Presnap penalties are contagious, even to the WRs and TEs. 

2. Turnovers--Remember when Bill Parcells had MB3 carry a football around with him everywhere he went? He had him do that because Marion's role was that of the "rock". Steady, grind-it-out backs are the security of the offense. They control the ball almost as much as the QBs.

Speaking of QBs--When will Romo go through a game without fumbling a ball? Like most of the locker room talk: THIS ISN'T LAST YEAR. The magic of being the new bully on the block is gone. This is a scratch and claw year; can't just outscore opponents anymore. Every turnover counts. No more Bills games. When Romo comes back and fumbles, or when Brad throws an interception, this team feels the effect. As we've witnessed the last 4 weeks, no team in the NFL will allow the Cowboys to use their 2007 get-outta-jail cards.

3. Coverage in the Secondary--Does it even matter who is playing back there? Sure, Dallas is prone to be beat deep, just as many teams are. But what is up with the coverage on 3rd downs? I swear, it feels like 3rd and 12's are as easy for offenses to pick up as they are with 3rd and 2's. Zone, press, Cover 2--doesn't matter. Is it inconsistent pressure, poor tackling, or simply bad coverage? The defense needs to learn a whole system of limitations on 3rd downs. Sure, they stop them sometimes--but good defenses stop them the majority of the time. 3rd downs are the heart of offenses. Learn to rip that out!

The Real Problem: Nobody is learning from their mistakes. Collectively, the team is not learning from its mistakes. It's just like that Bush song from the 90's: "It's the Little Things that Kill". Last year, the Cowboys were excited to play and exciting to watch. Now, a simple false start, or fumble, or crazy shotgun snap is nothing new to overcome. Now, it's just a play that rolls the figurative eye and echoes "here we go again".

From my experience here on bloggingtheboys, I know that some fans refuse to acknowledge the discipline that Parcells' regime instilled in Dallas. And firing or replacing coaches IS NOT the answer, at least not right now. But I do feel like these coaches are trying to get the most of the roster's talent, instead of focusing on the ills that limit the talented. Playmakers need the ball to make plays. QBs need time to get them the ball. Defenders/Special Teamers need to better control field position. It sounds so fundamental. Fundamentals, though, are what is costing this team W's and will continue to do so, until they learn to correct them.

I know it's early, but we've seen enough in these last 2 preseason games to have some adequate first impressions of this year's draft class. Here's my take on each player:

Felix Jones - Honestly, I only expected him to provide a Reggie Bush-type influence on this offense. Now, instead of a RB/WR hybrid, I see him more as a guy who can do it all (ala Brian Westbrook). "El Gato" looks strong enough to lead the running attack should Barber miss any time. Grade so far: A

Mike Jenkins - Like Felix, Jenkins doesn't need a year in an NFL weight room to prove he can hang with the pros. Already, he's shown some great pass defense skills and those hard-hitting traits we all saw highlights of when Dallas made the pick. He'd be an Opening Day starter on most teams in the league. Grade so far: A- 

Martellus Bennett - Hard Knocks perhaps provided fans with too much insight on this already controversial draft pick. If we throw all that out, along with the debate of who else Dallas could have drafted in the second round, we can see that Bennett provides some dynamics that Anthony Fasano could not: speed, range, and untapped potential. His upside, though, depends on his passion to be great.   Grade so far: C+

Tashard Choice - Some players appreciate the game so much that their passion drives them every chance they get on the field. Guys like Choice are guys you want on your football team. He picks up the tough yards, excels on special teams, and has potential to be a real leader. He was the one player I wanted the Cowboys to target in the draft. Grade so far: B+

Orlando Scandrick - Scandrick's play so far has been the biggest surprise for me. After drafting him, I just expected a speedy project player to provide some depth at the cornerback position. But this guy brings it! The coaches are giving him a good deal of playing time and he looks, to me, to be ahead of the learning curve. Odds are he'll be in those sub packages this year and will prove to be a special teams ace. The best thing I like about Scandrick is he proves the Cowboys' scouts know what they're doing. Grade so far: B+  

Erik Walden - Either I haven't been paying attention to this guy's play, or he hasn't made many. But as a pass-rusher, his duties have been limited by the reluctance of the coaching staff to blitz this preseason. I trust that their defensive minds will turn him loose soon. He plays the most impactful position in this scheme, so I'll have to make a conscious effort to keep my eye on him in these last two games. But until I do, he gets the benefit of being on the Pass/No Pass option. Grade so far: P 

How would you grade this class so far?

CB Anthony Henry's future with the Dallas Cowboys looks secure, but his position at corner does not. This is another offseason that has produced rumors of his move, or eventual move, to free safety.

But I gotta tell you: when I saw him make that goaline hit in the Chargers' backfield the other night, I was excited. That is what a safety does. I hit rewind on my TiVo just to see if Henry was lined up at any safety spot. Not so, but it did look like he kind of stunted with the safety on that play. Interesting play, Wade/Stewart.

With the depth at corner, it would make sense for Henry to make a switch to FS. This year, he'll play more of a safety position on dime and nickel packages to shadow the opponent's TEs, which is what I think he was doing on the goal-line--he saw the TE stay in to block and decided to make a great play. The coaching staff seems to be grooming him for a position switch.

But really, I would miss his aggressiveness on the corner. And I think the Cowboys would too. I just don't see him making the switch if Roy steps up his game. Then, what will happen to Henry next year if the safety position is set and one of these other corners are starting?