4th and Done

For 18 weeks now, Mondays have given football fans a day of heightened emotional exhaustion. Compounding the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat with an already tedious weekday that's typically characterized by high stress levels at the workplace. After mixing in an argument with your spouse, getting cut off in traffic by a teenager on their cell phone, and a sprinkle of unruly customers, "Overreaction Mondays" have given fans an opportunity to vent.

Message boards, chat rooms, talk radio, neighborhood bars, office water coolers, barbershops, etc...

No matter where you go on Monday, you'll be lucky to make it to lunch without hearing the chatter about yesterday's game.

For Dallas Cowboys fans, it's over.

Monday was your last chance to lie on the couch and tell Dr. Football what exactly has been bothering you since Brett Favre threw his 4th TD pass to humiliate your team the day before. I've gotta be honest, I couldn't even eat anything after that game. I found myself munching on some Doritos around 6 pm and finally able to slurp down some chicken noodle soup before bed. My bottom lip quivered and my eyes watered all night (this might have been caused by the tap water I used as contact solution, not a good idea). Favre had ripped my heart out like Kano's fatality move from Mortal Kombat.

Because of this unknown complex that I'm suffering from, I'm not getting into any specifics about the game. Ok, ok...maybe just one.

Let me paint the picture for you....

On the Cowboys first possession of the game the Cowboy offense moved the ball from just shy of their 20-yard line to the Minnesota 32-yard line and didn't show any signs of slowing down. Minnesota looked as if they were laboring against the run and Felix Jones had already squirted through for a couple of 8 to 10-yard carries. Even Miles Austin had a key 7-yard carry to convert a key third down situation.

Cowboys kicker, Shawn Suisham starts trotting out onto the field to attempt a 49-yard FG on a 4th and 1 situation...

A Field Goal?? Seriously, Wade?? On 4th and ONE?? With the score 0-0??

Did I mention that our kicker was 7-13 for his career kicking inside of domes?

It's impossible to pinpoint where everything went wrong for the Cowboys in such a lopsided game. If it wasn't Tony Romo, who looked like Willie Beamon in Any Given Sunday after he'd put himself before the team and his offensive line refused to block for him. Or our porous secondary who was torched by Jerry, I mean Sydney, Rice, for not one, not two, but THREE touchdowns. Or maybe Red Jesus and his play calling on offense? This is all fair game on Overreaction Monday, but my question goes to Wade Phillips...

What happened to being aggressive and pulling out all the stops in a must win game on the road?? Why didn't you go for it on 4th and 1?

That's it. There's nothing else to say.

In my opinion, this season was a success. We're off the hook as far as the 13-year playoff win drought goes. Our defense looked like a top-5 squad the second half of the season, against some pretty stiff competition I might add. And our QB and head coach have taken that ugly monkey off their backs.

Here are some things that Cowboys fans have to look forward to next year:

1. Cowboys Stadium is the best stadium in the NFL, by far. I encourage anyone that lives within a 500 mile radius of Arlington to check it out. It doesn't matter what type of event you go to, the stadium alone will blow you away. I just hope that it got the attention of some soon-to-be free agents this offseason.
   
2. Jerry Jones will make the necessary moves to get his team over the hump. It will be up to the players and the coaches to make it happen next season. Mark my words, as soon as Jerry starts holding people accountable, the Cowboys will return to their glory days of the 90's.
   
3. Standout seasons by Jay Ratliff, Mike Jenkins, Miles Austin, Anthony Spencer, and Felix Jones should be the tip of the iceberg. Each one of these guys made huge contributions and where pretty much afterthoughts before the season started. Now they're on the map and it will make game planning against the Cowboys that much more difficult.
4. Finally, Tony Romo's age is getting up into the area of "Super Bowl" or "Bust" as far as his career's concerned. The added pressure should motivate Romo to work harder this offseason and come into 2010 with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Here are some pics of the Cowboys - Eagles playoff from a couple of weeks ago. Sorry it took so long! We had really great seats!

Playoff Drought - RIP

Felix! Felix! Felix!

Those were the chants permeating inside the ninth wonder of the world, known as Cowboys Stadium, during the third quarter of last night's Cowboys/Eagles playoff game in Arlington, TX. Felix Jones had just ripped off an untouched 73 yard touchdown run, the longest in Cowboys playoff history. Felix's TD run made the score 34-7, Cowboys favor, with just over 20 minutes remaining in the game. You could feel it in the crowd. You could sense it in the air. You could see it on Coach Phillips' face (if you were looking at the largest flat screen in the world).

The Cowboys were about to pull off an improbable season long trifecta against their bitter rival the Philadelphia Eagles, and most importantly, end a 13 year-long playoff drought.

Two days prior to the game, my mother called me and asked if I would like to go to my first ever Cowboys playoff game for my birthday. I believe my response was something along the lines of, "Hell yeah!" or "That would be nice.". We were able to track down a couple a tickets online in section 219, at a very reasonable price I might add.

Realistically, I wasn't expecting much of a view. I've been to Cowboys games in the old Cowboys Stadium, and I've sat in just about every section. I can honestly say that the best seats were on the 50 yard line in the second deck. You're high enough to see over the players on the sideline and close enough to take in all the action on the field. Last night, we had two of the best seats in the house for the money. The thing is...every seat in the house is phenomenal.

From the time we were molested by security guards walking into the stadium, to avoiding all the meandering drunkards outside of the stadium after the biggest Cowboys win in recent memory...the experience had to be one of the greatest sports spectacles I've ever witnessed. I found myself watching the big screen for the majority of the game...along with high-fiving about 7 different people every time the Cowboys made a big play. My hand is killing me today.

My only complaint about the whole night is this...Eagles Suck! Eagles Suck! Eagles Suck! That was the clever chant the Cowboy fans repeated throughout the night. Please Cowboy fans, let's get a little more creative.

So overall, it was a fantastic game between a seemingly cohesive Cowboys squad and a flailing Eagles team that needed a trick play from a former dog fighter to get on the scoreboard. My buddy that went to the game with me, Tyler, said, "I wonder if Keith Brooking will go up to Mike Vick and say "I sure am glad we got the hell out of Atlanta."?

These were a few things that hit me during the game:

1. Mike Jenkins is the next great shutdown corner in the league. He and Terrance Newman held Eagles wideout, Desean Jackson, to three catches for 14 yards in last night's game. Jenkins also added two interceptions during the game and made one hell of a play on a key deep ball in the first half that could have been a turning point in the game.

2. The Dallas pass rush is downright scary. They remind me of the days of Charles Haley, Russell Maryland, Jim Jeffcoat, and Ken Norton. That defense was also overlooked because of all the stars on offense. The similarities give me goosebumps. I'm going to pray for Brett Favre next weekend. If what we did to Donovan McNabb is any indication...imagine what we can do to a 40 year old quarterback with zero agility.

3. Wade Phillips will keep his job next season, no matter what happens in Minnesota. Just by getting the monkey off his back last night, Phillips has all but secured his job with the Dallas Cowboys for at least another season.

4. Next weekend's game against Minnesota is my unofficial "Super Bowl". In my opinion, these are the two most balanced teams in the NFL. I feel like New Orleans faded down the stretch and lost their edge against Dallas. Indianapolis cannot make any stops in the fourth quarter. Every close game that they played in this year, the other team made boneheaded mistakes or went for it on fourth down as if they were playing a game of Madden. Minnesota and Dallas are the only two teams that you know what you're going up against when you play them. Relentless pass rush, smart middle linebackers, and balanced secondaries on defense. Quarterbacks capable of making every throw, running backs with home run speed, tight ends that move the chains and wide outs that are red zone threats on offense. I'm stoked about next week's "Super Bowl". Let me know what you think!

Week 12 Picks

First off, I just want to thank everyone that's been following my blog for the past few weeks. Surprisingly, these blogs are way harder to promote than you can imagine.

Next, I wanted to give a shout out to the men and women overseas that don't have the luxury of being with friends and family this holiday season. Their sacrifice and commitment is second to none and I dare anyone to tell them otherwise. The blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed since 9/11 will certainly be remembered by my family this Thanksgiving and I would venture to say that many other families out there can say the same.

Before we get started here with picks, I'd like to mention that my record last week was 10-6 against the spread, 14-2 straight up, and 8-7-1 on the over/unders. So let's get those tickets ready to Vegas....I'm on a roll!

Now, on with the picks!

Green Bay (-12) @ Detroit O/U 48

This game just reeks. Detroit is coming off of a huge win against the Browns and will be playing without their starting QB (I stand corrected...Adam Schefter just tweeted that Stafford will start this week...Gutsy.). This was a no-brainer during the Brett Favre days in Packerland, but now that Dr. Aaron and Mr. Rodgers are playing QB for the Pack...anything's possible! My brain tells me Green Bay should enjoy a nice feast of tenderlions this Thanksgiving, but my gut tells me never to listen to my brain when it comes to the NFL. So....GB by 10 and UNDER

Oakland (+14) @ Dallas O/U 40

The Cowboys defense is just plain nasty. So nasty that Redskins QB, Jason Campbell, completed 13 of 13 passes on 3rd down for 150 yards and the Skins could only manage 6 points. This week the Cowboys offense was stripped by the local media of whatever shred of manhood they were clinging on to. I look for them to put the naysayers to bed and go looking for dinner against the lowly Raiders. Dallas by 17 and OVER.

NYG (-7) @ Denver O/U 42.5

Both teams are 1-4 in their last 5 games and have been written off by many so-called experts. Everyone had assumed that the "old" Giants were back after they jumped out to a commanding lead against the bandwagon Falcons. However, the Giants were outscored 24-14 in the second-half, but held on to win by a FG in OT. I believe this game will be low scoring and the Giants should be able to edge the overachieving Broncos with a late FG. Giants by 3 and UNDER

Week 12 Picks will be continued tomorrow! I hope everyone enjoys family, friends, football, turkey, stuffing, and dessert, in that specific order, this Thanksgiving. Best wishes!

All we could put together was one lousy TD?

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys – 11/22/09

Running Game Time Diary

12:03 – Just settled into the IKEA chair that was given to us by my wife’s sister and husband. Thanks guys for making football Sunday so comfortable. Felix with an excellent return out to the 35 yard line. It looks like his legs are back for the first time since coming back from injury a couple of weeks ago. That’s a good sign.

12:05 – Fox just zoomed in on Big Albert Haynesworth on the sideline….wearing street clothes…what a relief.

12:06 – In typical Tony Romo fashion, he over throws Witten on 3^rd and 5 and is fortunate that it wasn’t picked off.

12:08 – Huge 3^rd and 1 stand by the Cowboys D. Keith Brooking has been the biggest acquisition for the Cowboys this season. Brooking looks like he should’ve been a character in the movie Gladiator. He just reminds me of this burly warrior that feasts on huge turkey legs and then snatches up a couple of women when it’s time for bed.

12:14 – RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN….I like where Garrett is going with his play calling.

12:15 – Just as I wrote the previous line…Barber fumbles and Romo injures himself making the tackle after. Maybe I should stop writing. Cue the eerie Kay Jewelers commercial…the one where the guy makes a comment about how bad the storm is and his wife says something cheesy and he follows it with up with “I’m right here, and I always will be.” I still have no idea how he got from the storm to opening up that flashy necklace.

12:19 – Jason Campbell makes his one and only highlight reel play of the season. He spins out the grasp of THREE Cowboys and converts a 3^rd and 13.

12:24 – Great shot of Dave Campo (yeah the former head-coach) manning up to Terrence Newman (the most overrated player on the Cowboys). I would to run see Campo sucker punch Newman like Buddy Ryan did to Kevin Gilbride.

12:26 – Martellus Bennett just made his first significant catch of the season…in week 11. Remember all the talk about “Double Dynamite” before the season started? Maybe, they just wanted to ease into it.

12:28 – The Redskins have exactly one running back left in the game. So, Jason Campbell will have to throw the ball 40-50 times today...(smiling).

12:31 – Back-to-back weeks with scoreless first quarters for Dallas, yuck. It’s sad when our most valuable player after the first quarter is Tony Romo and it’s not for his passing ability. He saved a sure fire touchdown when he made the tackle after Barber’s fumble.

12:34 – Brooking CRUSHES Campbell for a 6 yard sack! I can’t say enough about him…Uh oh, Newman kills us again with an illegal hands to the face penalty….HOW CAN YOU PUT YOUR HANDS IN SOMEONE’S FACE WHEN YOU KNOW IT’S ILLEGAL?

12:39 – Rock Cartwright makes his one and only highlight reel play of the year to convert a 3^rd and 2. (Shaking my head)

12:42 – Campbell get CRUSHED by Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Spencer…but guess what? He completes an 18 yard pass to Santana Moss to convert ANOTHER 3^rd and 8 situation.

12:46 – Redskins run a draw on 3^rd and 15 and settle for a FG. I sometimes wish the Cowboys would implement the FG strategy. FG’s are highly underrated in the NFL.

12:50 – The new Mastercard commercial with Peyton Manning is hilarious. I hope that he goes into acting full-time after retirement from the NFL. I’m afraid he’ll end up coaching some poor franchise that’s in an impossible situation for a few seasons, compiling an awful record and thus tarnishing is image forever with the younger generation. PLEASE PEYTON….DO NOT TRY TO COACH!

12:54 – Fox just cut to a highlight from the Vikings-Seahawks game. Favre to Harvin...what a combo.

12:55 – Roy Williams makes his presence felt with a key DROP on 3^rd down, again. Fool me once….shame on you? Fool me twice…shame on…you’re not gonna fool me again! Roy, please just take off your pads and give them to the equipment manager and turn in your pass to Valley Ranch before you leave the stadium. Thanks.

1:12 – Just noticed a graphic showing the Cowboys were about to be shut out in the first half of consecutive games for the first time since 2002. If we don’t get a FG soon, I might have to take a lap around my apartment complex to calm myself down.

1:16 – 2^nd and 23 from the Washington 43 yard line….pass complete to Bennett (3^rd big catch of the game) for 12 yards. Field Goal Range!!!

1:19 – 3^rd down: Romo to Williams….DROP. FOLK misses a FG from 40 yards. I’m depressed.

1:20 – Side note: I just checked in on the all-important Lions-Browns game and this is how bad those defenses stink: 24-24 with 5:01 left to play in the first half. Matt Stafford has thrown for 270 yards and 3 scores. Brady Quinn has thrown for 163 yards and 3 scores. They are terrible.

1:26 – Another one of those crazy challenges/ booth replays that happens in EVERY Dallas game. This one spurned from a play in which Campbell was running for his life and just ho-hum tossed the ball out of bounds as he stepped on the sideline. How can the Refs drop the ball on so many calls? How many zebras are out on the field? This game is still depressing.

1:30 – Troy and Joe are still rambling on and on about this booth replay and the repercussions of overturning the delay of game penalty. If I can sit here in my chair and know exactly what the call should be and where the ball should be spotted, but all of the refs on the field cannot even figure out how to clear this up, the NFL has a way bigger problem than Rush Limbaugh.

1:33 – Skins missed FG after all of that hoopla. I now understand why everyone in Washington and Dallas are fed up with their respective head-coaches: Washington 3 - Dallas 0 at the half. Break time! (Lunch, beer, laundry, and some more beer)

1:48 – Second half starts off just like it left off. Washington’s Devin Thomas has his career-best kickoff return out to the Wash 44 yard line.

1:58 – Campbell is 8-8 for 90 yards on 3^rd down so far this game. Unacceptable.

2:02 – It’s always nice to see Romo throwing out of his own end-zone. It’s kind of like running into your girlfriend at the movies and she happens to be with her “best” friend...who's a guy. It’s a little threatening, probably harmless, but you’re just waiting for her to screw it up.

2:07 – Campbell to Cartwright for 29 yards. We’re getting carved up by Washington’s scrubs. I feel helpless. I wish I had that “guy” that could take care of things like this. You always see them in those CIA/FBI thrillers, where they need some “specialist” to take out an impossible target. Target = Jerry Jones

2:14 – Romo airmails Williams on a 3^rd down play deep in their own territory. Our defense needs to make a BIG play. They’ve played their asses off up to this point, holding Washington to 3 points, and it’s about time that Campbell makes a critical mistake.

2:18 – Great pressure on Campbell again on 3^rd down…he completes ANOTHER 3^rd down pass for a first down. I’m glad Campbell saved his best game of the season for the Cowboys. The Redskins have cost me exactly 2 weeks worth of wins in my pick’em league because of Campbell’s ineptitude at QB.

2:22 – Campbell is now 11-11 passing on 3^rd down for 145 yards. Luckily, his last completion was short of the sticks. Field goal is good: Washington 6 – Dallas 0

2:27 – Romo rolls right and hits Miles Austin for a big gain! Why haven’t we thrown deep to Austin this game? Oh I forgot, we keep throwing the ball to Roy Williams.

2:29 – Following up the big play to Austin, Romo is sacked for a 5 yard loss.

2:31 – Back-to-back 1^st down passing plays for the Cowboys for a combined -5 yards. RUN the ball.

2:32 – Both 2^nd down plays have combined for 23 yards after those abysmal pass plays.

2:34 – 4^th and 2 for the Cowboys and Romo was in the grasp of the rookie, Brian Orakpo, and he forces a throw that’s picked off. Now I want throw something. Only in sports can you fail so many times at doing your job and still keep your job. Amazing.

2:36 – I’m almost certain the NFL instructed the Offensive coordinators in this game to keep the score low. I haven’t seen a single pass over 15 yards the entire game.

2:43 – Missed FG for Washington again! Wow, there’s no reason we should be in this game.

2:46 – Joe Buck just announced Romo’s QB rating – 35. Ouch. I think Chris Simms had a higher rating last week.

2:49 – Amazingly, Romo has hit Austin twice and Witten twice during their 5 play 50 yard drive. Who’s name wasn’t mentioned in that sentence? Roy E. Williams. Sit down, Roy.

2:52 – TOUCHDOWN Boys! Romo finds Patrick Crayton after buying some time and the Cowboys take a one point lead. Come on Defense it’s time to unleash DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff!

2:58 – Mike Jenkins goes to the ground for what seems to be the 8^th time in the past two weeks. Get out of the game. Where are the doctors in situations like this? If he keeps this up next week, I’m writing a letter to the head trainer of the Cowboys. Not only does it SLOW the game way down, it also makes Dallas appear to be desperate that Jenkins remain in the game.

3:02 – FINALLY! Spencer comes up with a huge interception after Bowen got a hand on Campbell’s pass. The Cowboys are kneeling it to clinch their 7^th win of the season. Ugly, horrific, boring, anticlimactic….insert your own negative adjective here to describe what everyone just witnessed.

A few thoughts about the game:

• There’s no reason Dallas should have won this game. The game-ball should go to Suisam who went 2 for 4 on field goals for Washington and unintentionally saved Wade Phillips from the media this week.
• If this is the same Dallas team that knocked off the Eagles in Philly earlier this month, I’m not looking forward to see how far we regress when December rolls around.
• Wade, oh Wade. You’re hanging by a thread big guy. He may be safe for now, but his team is seriously under-performing against inferior opponents. Nine times out of ten, that comes down to poor preparation and poor coaching.

NFL - hitting it's stride in Week 10

Stunned. Shocked. Flabbergasted. Those were my reactions to the end of the Colts - Pats game, the most anticipated game of the season. Indy's improbable comback was the icing on an NFL cake that even the Cake Boss could appreciate.

The NFL couldn't have scripted yesterdays contests with any more drama. It felt like every game was another installment to the Jason Bourne trilogy.

Quick recap of the televised games:

NE 34 @ IND 35

By far the most entertaining match up on Sunday's slate. The two best QB's in the league put on an aerial display that included a combined 680 yards and 7 TD passes. What people will remember most about this instant classic, is Bill Belichik's decision to go for it on 4th and 2 from his own 28 yard line with 2:00 left in the game. Peyton Manning should consider endorsing hypnotic products and services, because there's no way Belichik goes for it if Chad Henne is standing on the other sideline.

(If Chuck Norris didn't wear Peyton Manning pajamas before last nights game, he certainly will be now.)

DAL 7 @ GB 17

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Dallas games are painful to watch. Not just because I'm a fan, but because there seems to be at a minimum 8 coaches challenges, 26 TV timeouts, 5 two-minute warnings, 3 players carted off, 37 holding penalties, and 4 shots of Wade Phillips celebrating like the fat guy from Teenwolf when he hits his free throws. Sloppy play, poor play calling, and a lack of discipline proved to be more than the Cowboys could overcome. Green Bay's defense looked solid and Clay Matthews, along with A.J. Hawk will be a talented core of LB's for years to come.

Side Note: Is anyone else as sick of the Bud Light "Too light, Too Heavy" commercials as I am? The lady using the nail gun to pin on her beau's boutonniere was pretty funny, but I get it already...Bud Light's not too light and it's not too heavy. One last thing...give it up on the Bud Light Lime already...if we want lime in our beer, we'll do it ourselves...with actual lime juice, thanks.

CIN 18 @ PIT 12

First place in the NFC North was decided by the boot of Shayne Graham and the stifling defense of Cincinnati. Graham's four second-half field goals were too much for the hometown Steelers to overcome. Cincinnati held the Steelers to a paltry 3.6 yards per play and sacked Big Ben four times. Pittsburgh finds itself in unfamiliar territory after losing both games to the Bengals this season. They're now two games behind the Bengals heading into Week 11.

DET 10 @ MIN 27

I mentioned Lions Rookie Matthew Stafford in an earlier blog post and brought up a few numbers that might relate to the Lions poor record this year. In an encore performance, Stafford attempted over 50 passes for the second straight week. So let me get this straight...it's Favre vs. Stafford, Good vs. Bad, no one believes you can win, and you want to lay the game on the shoulders of a baby-faced, 21 year-old rookie QB? They pay Coach Schwartz a considerable amount of money to make decisions like that. Run the ball, play defense, kick field goals, keep it close, and most of all keep yourself out of 3rd and Lake Michigan.

That's all for the recap! Enjoy tonight's scintillating contest between the Old Browns from Baltimore against the New Browns from Cleveland.

This week's picks will be posted on Thursday afternoon prior to the game.