Midseason records

With Cowboys fans worldwide panicking about the teams slipping playoff chances, I decided to break down some numbers and see which teams with that records at the half-way point make the playoffs. I broke NFL teams into three midseason categories: those with a 6-2 record or better, teams with a 5-3 or 4-4 record (where Dallas will be at midseason), and teams that were 3-5 or worse. From there, I wanted to see how many of those teams from each category made the postseason, the emphasis being on the 5-3/4-4 category as that's where the Cowboys will be after the Tampa Bay game this Sunday.

Over the past 10 NFL seasons, 112 teams have reached midseason at 5-3 or 4-4, and of those 112, 55 have made the playoffs, just under 50%. Most interesting stat I found from this is just how many teams that reached 6-2 or better failed to make the playoffs (11 out of 75). Anyway, enjoy these numbers.

Total Breakdown 1998-2007
6-2 or better teams: 75

Made playoffs: 64
Missed playoffs: 11

Final record breakdown:
16-0 (1)
15-1 (2)
14-2 (8)
13-3 (15)
12-4 (12)
11-5 (11)
10-6 (11)
9-7 (7)
8-8 (7)
7-9 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 112

Made playoffs: 55
Missed playoffs: 57

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (7)
11-5 (12)
10-5-1 (1)
10-6 (23)
9-6-1 (1)
9-7 (20)
8-8 (17)
7-9 (15)
6-10 (10)
5-11 (3)
4-12 (2)

3-5 or worse: 128

Made playoffs: 1 ('02 NYJ, AFC East champs at 9-7)
Missed playoffs: 127

YEAR BY YEAR BREAKDOWNS
2007 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 8

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 1

Final record breakdown:
16-0 (1)
13-3 (3)
10-6 (3)
7-9 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 11

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 6

Final record breakdown:
11-5 (2)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (2)
7-9 (3)
5-11 (1)
4-12 (1)

3-5 or worse: 13

All 13 missed post-season

2007 Regular Season
team ... midseason ... final record (*playoff team)

DAL ... 7-1 ... 13-3*
NYG ... 6-2 ... 10-6*
WAS ... 5-3 ... 9-7*
PHI ... 3-5 ... 8-8

GB ... 7-1 ... 13-3*
MIN ... 3-5 ... 8-8
DET ... 6-2 ... 7-9
CHI ... 3-5 ... 7-9

TB ... 4-4 ... 9-7*
CAR ... 4-4 ... 7-9
NO ... 4-4 ... 7-9
ATL ... 2-6 ... 4-12

SEA ... 4-4 ... 10-6*
ARI ... 3-5 ... 8-8
SF ... 2-6 ... 5-11
STL ... 0-8 ... 3-13

NE ... 8-0 ... 16-0*
BUF ... 4-4 ... 7-9
NYJ ... 1-7 ... 4-12
MIA ... 0-8 ... 1-5

PIT ... 6-2 ... 10-6*
CLE ... 5-3 ... 10-6
CIN ... 2-6 ... 7-9
BAL ... 4-4 ... 5-11

IND ... 7-1 ... 13-3*
JAX ... 5-3 ... 11-5*
TEN ... 6-2 ... 10-6*
HOU ... 3-5 ... 8-8

SD ... 4-4 ... 11-5*
DEN ... 3-5 ... 7-9
OAK ... 2-6 ... 4-12
KC ... 4-4 ... 4-12

***if requested, I can post the regular seasons records like this for each of the past 10 seasons. Didn't have time to do it all this morning, so if it's something yall want to look over, let me know, and I'll post it.***

2006 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 8

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 1

Final record breakdown:
14-2 (1)
13-3 (2)
12-4 (2)
10-6 (1)
9-7 (1)
8-8 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 11

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 6

Final record breakdown:
10-6 (2)
9-7 (3)
8-8 (4)
7-9 (1)
6-10 (1)

3-5 or worse: 13

All 13 missed post-season

2006 Regular Season
team ... midseason ... final record (*playoff team)

PHI ... 4-4 ... 10-6*
DAL ... 4-4 ... 9-7 *
NYG ... 6-2 ... 8-8 * -- just barely
WAS ... 3-5 ... 5-11

CHI ... 7-1 ... 13-3 *
GB ... 3-5 ... 8-8
MIN ... 4-4 ... 6-10
DET ... 2-6 ... 3-13

NO ... 6-2 ... 10-6 *
CAR ... 4-4 ... 8-8
ATL ... 5-3 ... 7-9
TB ... 2-6 ... 4-12

SEA ... 5-3 ... 9-7 *
STL ... 4-4 ... 8-8
SF ... 3-5 ... 7-9
ARI ... 1-7 ... 5-11

NE ... 6-2 ... 12-4 *
NYJ ... 4-4 ... 10-6 *
BUF ... 3-5 ... 7-9
MIA ... 2-6 ... 6-10

BAL ... 6-2 ... 13-3 *
PIT ... 2-6 ... 8-8
CIN ... 4-4 ... 8-8
CLE ... 2-6 ... 4-12

IND ... 8-0 ... 12-4 *
JAX ... 5-3 ... 8-8
TEN ... 2-6 ... 8-8
HOU ... 2-6 ... 6-10

SD ... 6-2 ... 14-2 *
KC ... 5-3 ... 9-7 *
DEN ... 6-2 ... 9-7
OAK ... 2-6 ... 2-14

2005 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 8

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 1

Final record breakdown:
14-2 (1)
13-3 (2)
11-5 (4)
8-8 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 10

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 5

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (1)
11-5 (2)
10-6 (3)
9-7 (2)
6-10 (2)

3-5 or worse: 14

All 14 missed post-season

2004 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 5

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 0

Final record breakdown:
15-1 (1)
14-2 (1)
13-3 (1)
11-5 (1)
10-6 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 12

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 5

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (2)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (3)
8-8 (2)
7-9 (1)
6-10 (2)

3-5 or worse: 15

All 15 missed post-season

2003 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 8

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 1

Final record breakdown:
14-2 (1)
13-3 (1)
12-4 (2)
11-5 (1)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 9

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 4

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (2)
10-6 (4)
7-9 (1)
6-10 (1)
4-12 (1)

3-5 or worse: 15

All 15 missed post-season

2002 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 7

Made playoffs: 4
Missed playoffs: 3

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (3)
10-6 (1)
9-7 (2)
8-8 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 13

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 6

Final record breakdown:
11-5 (2)
10-5-1 (1)
10-6 (2)
9-6-1 (1)
9-7 (3)
8-8 (2)
7-9 (1)
5-11 (1)

3-5 or worse: 12

Made playoffs: 1
(NYJ went from 3-5 to 9-7 to win the AFC East, beating out NE and MIA which also finished 9-7)

Missed playoffs: 11

2001 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 7

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 0

Final record breakdown:
14-2 (1)
13-3 (2)
12-4 (2)
11-5 (1)
10-6 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 14

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 9

Final record breakdown:
11-5 (2)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (2)
8-8 (1)
7-9 (4)
6-10 (2)
5-11 (1)

3-5 or worse: 10

All 10 missed post-season

2000 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 9

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 2

Final record breakdown:
13-3 (1)
12-4 (2)
11-5 (2)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (1)
8-8 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 9

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 4

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (1)
11-5 (2)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (2)
8-8 (1)
7-9 (1)

3-5 or worse: 13

All 13 missed post-season

1999 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 8

Made playoffs: 7
Missed playoffs: 1

Final record breakdown:
14-2 (1)
13-3 (3)
9-7 (2)
8-8 (2)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 11

Made playoffs: 5
Missed playoffs: 6

Final record breakdown:
11-5 (2)
10-6 (2)
9-7 (1)
8-8 (4)
7-9 (1)
6-10 (1)

3-5 or worse: 12

All 12 missed post-season

1998 Breakdown
6-2 or better teams: 7

Made playoffs: 6
Missed playoffs: 1

Final record breakdown:
15-1 (1)
14-2 (2)
12-4 (1)
11-5 (2)
8-8 (1)

5-3 or 4-4 teams: 12

Made playoffs: 6
Missed playoffs: 6

Final record breakdown:
12-4 (1)
10-6 (3)
9-7 (2)
8-8 (3)
7-9 (2)
6-10 (1)

3-5 or worse: 15

All 15 missed post-season

Playoff possibilities

The 4-3 Cowboys didn't hit a speed bump in recent weeks. More like a brick wall. And now with the original diagnosis of Tony Romo missing 3-4 weeks settling in and optimism about an early return dying down, it's time to take a look at what the Cowboys legitimate chances are for the playoffs.

With Monte Kiffin and the original Tampa 2 defense coming to Texas Stadium this Sunday, Dallas won't have many opportunities to take deep shots down the field, which is perfectly fine considering Brad Johnson's arm strength has about as much power as Shawn Bradley driving to the hoop. Dinking and dunking with substantial yards after the catch will be the key to the Cowboys passing game, assuming that Johnson is allowed to remain upright (don't get me started).

So just for fun, I decided to look at the last 40 Super Bowl participants to see what if any struggles they encountered during their Super-seasons. Obviously there were teams that blew away the competition (2007 Patriots, 1999 Rams, 1989 49ers). On the other hand, some teams that made the big game seemed lost at times during the regular season:

+ The 2007 Giants went 1-2 in November, including an embarrassing home loss to MIN
+ The 2006 Bear has QB concerns all season long. Rex is our quarterback.
+ The 2006 Colts went 2-4 during a stretch.
+ The 2005 Steelers started 7-2 then lost three straight
+ The 2003 Panthers lost to the Texans. Also had three straight late-season defeats.
+ The 2002 Raiders were 4-0 before losing their next four games. + The 2001 Patriots started 1-3
+ The 2000 Ravens started 5-1 before dropping three straight games and going to Trent freaking Dilfer.
+ The 2000 Giants were 7-4 until Jim Fassel's guarantee. (I wish Wade Phillips would have a press conference like that JUST ONCE!)
+ The 1996 Patriots were 3-3.
+ The 1995 Steelers started 2-0 but fell to 3-4 after Week 7.
+ The 1994 Chargers started 6-0 but fell to 9-5.
+ The 1993 Bills lost 3 of 4 in late November / early December.
+ The 1991 Bills had a +2 turnover margin for the season.
+ The 1989 Broncos ended the regular season losing 3 of 4.

Looking at all these teams, the midway point of the season is when championship-caliber teams discover within themselves if they are legitimate contenders. From the point of being 5-3, 4-4, 3-5, that's pretty much the breaking point. After Sunday, Dallas will be either 5-3 or 4-4, still well within the reach of the playoffs. And like Bill Parcells used to say, once you get into the tournament, anything can happen.

Here's a look at the regular season records of teams that have made the Super Bowl, and their records in the game itself:

Since 1978 (16 game schedules - not including strike-shortened seasons)
16-0: 1 SB, 0-1
15-1: 2 SB, 2-0
14-2: 11 SB, 7-4
13-3: 13 SB, 6-7
12-4: 14 SB, 8-6
11-5: 12 SB, 3-9
10-6: 2 SB, 2-0
9-7: 1 SB, 0-1

Last 20 Super Bowl Champions

2007 NYG
Went 1-2 in November, including a 41-17 home loss to Minnesota to drop to 7-4. Also dropped two regular-season games to division-rival Cowboys before facing the team again in the playoffs (and we know how that turned out). Three road playoff wins en route to SB XLII title.

2006 IND
After a 9-0 start, hit a 2-4 late-season skid. But Peyton Manning on offense and Bob Sanders on defense provided leadership to bring Colts their first title since the days of Don Shula coaching in Baltimore.

2005 PIT
Squandered 7-2 start by losing three straight to Ravens, Colts, Bengals to fall to 7-5. Finished with eight straight wins (four regular season, four post season) including three road playoffs wins (two against Colts, Bengals) en route to SB XL title.
2004 NE
14-2 team didn't have many concerns as they plowed their way to a third title in four years.

2003 NE
Started 2-2 before winning 15 straight games.

2002 TB
Beat the teams they were supposed to beat in Jon Gruden's first season with the Bucs. Great defense gave up just 12.3 ppg in the playoffs.

2001 NE
Started 1-3 and remained a .500 team beyond halfway through the season before winning final six regular season games to go 11-5 as Tom Brady replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe. Won tuck rule game en route to upsetting 14-point favorite "Greatest Show on Turf" in SB XXXVI. Also started the new trend of choosing to be introduced as a team at Super Bowls. Emphasis on team rather than individual throughout the season.

2000 BAL
Started 5-1 before dropping three straight games as the offense failed to score a touchdown in October. Replaced QB Tony Banks with Trent Dilfer and Ray Lewis-led defense shut down opposition as the team did not lose again. Emerged from wild card round to win SB XXXV.

1999 STL
Greatest Show on Turf and MVP Kurt Warner dropped consecutive games after 6-0 start to SB runner up Tennessee and 8-8 finisher Detroit. Responded with seven-game winning streak. Defense held up under pressure until the final play of the season (Mike Jones & Kevin Dyson).

1998 DEN
No messing around as Broncos went 14-2 during regular season in Elway's final year. Crushed Falcons in Super Bowl, 34-19.

1997 DEN
Terrell Davis emerges as unstoppable runner Elway yearned for since '83. 12-4 regular season. This one's for John!

1996 GB
Brett Favre guides Pack to 13-3 regular season, defeats Bill Parcell's Patriots in SB XXXI.

1995 DAL
Two late-season losses put 49ers in NFC Driver's Seat, but bounced back to gain home field when Atlanta upset Niners in week 17. Team faced tremendous pressure as owner Jerry Jones declared he could find 500 men who could coach team to SB title.

1994 SF
Steve Young escapes Joe Montana's shadow, making SF "first to five" in a season that included two big wins over two-time defending champion Cowboys in Week 11 and NFC Championship game.

1993 DAL
Began season 0-2 during Emmitt Smith hold out. Dropped consecutive games Thanksgiving week, including Leon Lett blocked field goal incident, to fall to 7-4 before winning eight straight for consecutive SB titles.

1992 DAL
New kids on the block went 13-3 in regular season, upset mighty San Francisco in NFC Championship game before blowing out Buffalo in SB XXVII. Not much adversity as Jimmy Johnson reigned with terror. Machiavelli did say it's better to be feared than loved. It seems he was right.

1991 WAS
Cruised to 14-2 regular season record en route to Joe Gibb's third SB win. What adversity?

1990 NYG
No. 1 defense and +20 turnover ratio shed insight on Bill Parcell's second SB title for the G-men. Did start 10-0 before a 1-3 skid in Nov/Dec. Won NFC Championship game (15-13) and Super Bowl (20-19) by three points combined. Wide right!

1989 SF
Went 14-2 in regular season as Joe Montana won another title by the Bay in George Seifert's first year coaching SanFran.

1988 SF
Only 10-6 regular season, including 2-4 stretch in Oct/Nov that dropped the team to 6-5. Rebounded to win Super Bowl in Bill Walsh's final season with 49ers.

Last 20 Super Bowl runners-up

2007 NE
Okay, so going undefeated isn't the answer.

2006 CHI
Did go 13-3, but who can forget the questioning week after week about QB situation. We're 10-2 with Rex as our quarterback. Rex is our quarterback. Rex is our quarterback.

2005 SEA
Clearly the class of a weak NFC. Started season 2-2 before winning 11 straight. Still bitter about officiating in SB XL - the worst Super Bowl in recent memory.

2004 PHI
Eagles finally reach SB after losing three straight conference championship games. Lost Terrell Owens in Week 15 win in Dallas and dropped final two regular season games (PHI had already clinched #1 seed). McNabb gets tired in SB XXXIX and Patriots win third in four years.

2003 CAR
Cardiac Cats start season with a win on game's final play vs. JAX. Lost in early Nov to the Texans and suffered three straight defeats in Nov/Dec for 8-5 record. A kickoff out of bounds might be the reason NE won the SB.

2002 OAK
Not smooth sailing in Bill Callahan's first year as coach. Started 4-0 before dropping four-straight. No. 1 offense propels team to SB XXXVII after being eliminated one year earlier in Tuck Rule game.

2001 STL
Greatest Show on Turf goes 14-2 but fall to budding Patriots dynasty.

2000 NYG
Coach Jim Fassel guarantees his 7-4 team will go to the playoffs after losing to *gulp* the Lions. Giants respond by winning seven straight to reach first Super Bowl since Parcell's era.

1999 TEN
The +18 turnover ratio a big reason this team only lost three regular season games. Came up one yard short in SB XXXIV.

1998 ATL
Dirty Birds went 14-2 but were no match for Elway, Davis and Co. in the Super Bowl.

1997 GB
Defending champs went 13-3 with no real signs of struggle in regular season.

1996 NE
Lost first two games of '96, stumbling to a 3-3 record early on. Finished 11-5. Dominated AFC in playoffs but no match for the Pack in SB XXXI.

1995 PIT
After 2-0 start, dropped to 3-4 before rebounding for 11-5 record and first-round bye. Advanced to SB XXX after failed Colts Hail Mary in conference title game.

1994 SD
Burst out with 6-0 record only to fall to 9-5 by Week 15. Exposed in SF route in SB XXIX.

1993 BUF
A 7-1 team lost 3 of 4 in Nov/Dec to fall to 8-4. Won six straight to make record fourth-straight Super Bowl appearance.

1992 BUF
Lost consecutive games twice en route to 11-5 record. Showed heart of champions in greatest comeback in NFL playoff history against Oilers in Wild Card game.

1991 BUF
Offensive juggernaut but defensively shaky with 13-3 regular season record. Only +2 in turnover margin all year. Never lost consecutive games.

1990 BUF
13-3 with No. 1 offense and No. 6 defense. Shoulda coulda woulda, except for wide right!

1989 DEN
This 11-5 team finished regular season losing 3 of 4 -- with all three losses coming on the road. Elway reached third SB in four years only to suffer worst defeat in SB history.

1988 CIN
After 6-0 start, lost 3 of 5 games. Recovered to finish 12-4. Montana leads game-winning drive against NFL's 16th defense as Bengal's No. 1 offense sit powerless on the sideline.

Why Wade must stay

Speculation of Wade Phillips' future as the Cowboys head coach continues to build this week. Losing three of four, including a blowout by the Rams, dude, will do that to a coach. And while many Cowboys fans feel a knee-jerk firing is necessary, making a mid-season move would be irresponsible and counter-productive.

Some want a change of coach, others want a change of coaching philosophy.  Either way, the storm of public outcry is no longer brewing on the horizon.  The preliminary rain is falling hard and the heavier stuff isn't far off at this point.

If Wade Phillips were to be fired, a decision owner/GM Jerry Jones says will absolutely not happen, someone on the Cowboys coaching staff would have to be elevated to interim head coach - most likely Jason Garrett. Garrett, the NFL's highest paid assistant and last off-season's hottest coordinator, has seen his offense crumble in recent weeks. They scored 14 against the Rams, dude.

His unit turns the ball over at an alarming rate. Cowboys quarterbacks have thrown 8 INTs this season, tied for 3rd most in the NFL. To be fair, they've also thrown for 15 TDs, 2nd most in the league. They've also lost 5 fumbles of the 15 they've put on the ground, meaning it's only a matter of time before opposing defenses start getting the bounces to recover even more of these fumbles. Dallas is -6 in turnovers, 29th in the NFL. Garrett went a week without giving Felix Jones the ball. Terrell Owens is under-utilized. And now the offense has been turned over to a 40-year-old statue.

Someone call Drew Bledsoe and see if he's busy Sunday.

If Phillips is not the answer, what has Jason Garrett shown this season to prove he is capable of taking over? Nothing. And while the assistant head coach might be the most popular guy on the coaching staff the way a backup quarterback is the favorite player, that only lasts so long as they are an untested commodity. Once that seal is broken and the freshness fades, then where will the Cowboys be left?

If a move is made, Garrett would probably get the nod as a result of the off-season contract he signed. But just for fun, let's look at who else could take over. Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart is out as Wade is officially taking over the reigns of the defense.

The rest of the Cowboys coaching staff? Un-promotable.

Only one coach other than Phillips on the Cowboys staff has been a head coach in the NFL. Dave Campo. Remember Dave Campo's tenure in Dallas, or have you blocked it out as well? As bad as things are now, reverting to the Campo era would be not just a step back, it would be more embarrassing than the loss to the Rams, dude. Three 5-11 seasons that saw starting quarterbacks named Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson and even Ryan Leaf.

Dallas must move forward with Wade Phillips as the head coach. Call him the Stay Puft marshmallow man. Call him Barry Switzer II. Call him clueless. Call him Jerry's latest puppet. But whatever you call him, make sure you're calling him the head coach of the Cowboys if they're going to turn it around in 2008. To replace him with what's on tap would be giving up.

That's where I stand, but what do yall think?  Should Wade stay or should he go?  And if he goes, who takes over?

Tomorrow's Cowboys post takes a look at the teams that have been to the Super Bowl, their records, their struggles, and the Cowboys chances to 1. make the post season, and 2. make the big game in February.

Ramming speed: DAL 14, STL 34

Newly acquired Cowboys receiver Roy Williams described this loss the best while talking to Brad Sham after the game.

"I'm used to this. ... Really nothing new to me," said Williams, who spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions until this week's trade made him a Cowboy. That should put this loss into perspective. As (hopefully former cornerback) Pacman Jones would point out, they played the Rams, dude. And it wasn't close.

Had you told me 21-7 after the first quarter, I would have 100% believed you. I just would have been wrong as to which team held the lead. Dallas dominated the first 5:18 of the game, marching down the field for an early 7-0 lead. Unfortunately for Dallas, football games don't last 5:18, and the remaining 54:42 turned into a St. Louis showcase. Greatest Show on Turf 2.0? No, but Dallas sure helped the Rams make their case.

There is no singular reason for this loss. Everything stunk. Dallas couldn't pass protect or run block, leaving the offense about as mobile as a tree stump - or Brad Johnson. The defense got burned for deep balls and failed to wrap up when tackling, leading to big plays on the ground. And I'm starting to think the special teams is special in the way that "Mommy told us we were special." I'm talking to you, Bobby Carpenter. Then there was the lack of discipline, the coaching, the kicking, the punting, the lack of energy, lack of urgency, and - in the end - lack of dignity.

The Cowboys drop to 4-3 after a 34-14 butt-kicking that wasn't as close as the final score indicated ... and they lost by 20! Dallas hasn't hit the bottom of the division because Philadelphia sat idle on their bye at 3-3, but they looked every bit of the part of a last-place team.

I don't know if Romo will go next week against Tampa Bay back in Irving, Texas. Dallas suffered more injuries today - Roy Williams (SS, not WR) might be out for the season. And while the head coach won't - and shouldn't be - fired after this loss, the temperature is rising on the hot seat.

Some notes from a game I wish I hadn't attended:

+ Let's start with something positive - the only positive I could find. DeMarcus Ware once again brought down an opposing QB behind the line of scrimmage for the 10th straight week. He finished the games with 3.0 sacks, giving him nine so far this season. At least he played with some fire.

+ Another brighter spot in this game was #84. So much for Patrick Crayton taking a backseat role with the addition of Roy Williams #11. True Williams is only three days into his Cowboys career and won't be 100 percent functional in the offense until after the bye week (Nov. 9). On the Cowboys first possession of the second half, Crayton jump-started things with a 33-yard punt return (Adam "Pacman" who?), and Dallas was able to move the ball effectively for the first time since the game-opening drive. Crayton finished with 3 catches for 30 yards and a carry for 11 yards.

+ Penalties killed the Cowboys today. Dallas surrendered 8 penalties for 56 yards. On the afforementioned second-half drive, the Cowboys moved to the St. Louis 33 yard line with 3rd and 1. Two false start penalties later (Flozell Adams and Martellus Bennett), Dallas settled for sending in the field goal unit. Folk missed the 46-yard attempt.

+ For the second straight week, special teams troubled Dallas. It wasn't the fact that Sam Paulescu's punts only averaged 32.0 yards or that he had to punt five times. Paulescu actually had a nice directional punt that sailed out of bounds on the Rams 13 yard line. Folk's kickoffs routinely fell short of the goal line. Fortunately, Dallas wasn't kicking off too often. Kick and punt coverage seemed a little more under control. One Paulescu punt in the second quarter hit at the 10 yard line and began rolling toward the end zone with plenty of time for the coverage team to down the ball inside the five. Instead, Dallas misplayed the ball: Touchback.

+ Three Cowboys offensive linemen made the Pro Bowl last year? Really?

+ Mike Jenkins lucked out on a near-fingertip catch when he got turned around the wrong way leaving receiver Donnie Avery wide open. The ball probably could have been caught. Jenkins may be a rookie, but his blown coverage on Avery probably should have cost the Cowboys more than it actually did.

+ As much as the secondary struggled today, Pacman's permanent absence from this team would not bother me.

+ The Cowboys starting field positions from today's game: Dal 26, Dal 22, Dal 20, Dal 20, Dal 44, Dal 42, Dal 40, StL 44, Dal 22, Dal 21, Dal 13, Dal 10. Average starting position: Dallas 28 yard line. Their best starting field position came from a missed 54-yard field goal attempt, forcing a Rams three-and-out when they were pinned deep, a kickoff out of bounds, and Crayton's long punt return.

+ The Rams starting field positions: StL 38, Dal 44, Dal 17, Dal 34, StL 13, StL 20, StL 20, StL 19, StL 37, StL 27, StL 35, StL 49, StL 22. Average starting position: StL 37 yard line.

+ Brad Johnson: three interceptions. One deflected off Jason Witten's hand, but the others were throws into crowded parts of the field. There were plenty of other shoulda coulda woulda interceptions the Rams missed out on.

+ April 2004 NFL Draft. Dallas trades the No. 22 pick to Buffalo, moving out of the first round. Two picks later, the Rams select RB Steven Jackson out of Oregon State. Dallas took RB Julius Jones 19 picks later. Today, Jackson ran 25 times for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns. Julius Jones no longer resides in the Cowboys backfield. Enough said.

+ As if the Cowboys injury situation heading into today's blowout loss was not already trouble, the Cowboys defense became even more banged up. Roy Williams #38 might be out of the season with another fracture in his arm. Bradie James hyperextended his elbow, but it shouldn't cause him to miss any games. Keith Davis found himself writhing around on the turf after a big head to head hit on Crayton's long punt return. While he also probably won't miss any time, the Cowboys are already thin in the secondary and cannot afford to lose any more DBs.

The road ahead gets bumpy as Dallas will match up against first-place Tampa Bay in Irving followed by a division showdown in East Rutherford against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Dallas could very well be looked at 4-5 going into their bye. Wade Phillips needs to instill some discipline in his football team. Jason Garrett needs to remind the offensive line that it's hard to do anything productive if they don't block. The faster Romo can get back under center, the better, but what will he be coming back to?

And for a team thought to be a Super Bowl contender on opening day, three losses in four games have humbled and embarrassed this proud franchise. The last time Dallas looked this lost, coach Bill Parcells decided enough is enough and installed Tony Romo as the starter, and the 3-3 Cowboys took off to finish 2006. The Cowboys better hope Romo's return from injury has a similar effect.

Dr. Jerry's prescription

A few final thoughts on the Cowboys quarterback situation entering this weekend's game in St. Louis against the (formerly?) Sacrificial Rams.

This is not the high risk / high reward situation it's being made out to be.  Putting Tony Romo under center is instead a high risk / low reward opportunity for Dallas.  This is not Emmitt Smith playing with a separated shoulder versus the Giants in the final regular season game in '93 to give Dallas home field throughout the playoffs.  It's Week 7 for a 4-2 team.

If the Cowboys play Romo, he better be able to receive the ball from under center as well as properly execute hand offs, two things which apparently did not happen at practice this week.  I get the feeling that the Cowboys don't want to tip their hand as to who will start, but Jerry Jones makes that difficult for his head coach when he goes on the radio and says it's likely Romo will play.

Wade Phillips has already said he's differing to "Dr. Jerry" but he needs to realize that the future of his season depends on Romo's health. Just because Romo can play doesn't necessarily mean he should. While Brad Johnson has not played meaningful time since being a starter in Minnesota in 2006, the general consensus is he can more than handle starting for the Cowboys at the age of 40.

Cowboys fans were amenable to the idea of Johnson under center for the initial 3-game prognosis until Romo faced peer pressure from ironman Brett Favre. Thanks a ton, Brett. NOT! If it was so easy to have a 258-games started streak, Favre wouldn't be the only QB to accomplish that, so for Romo to continue his 32 games started streak seems not to be worth it.

Now for all the "ifs." Obviously winning cures everything.  If Romo plays and the Cowboys win and he does not worsen his injury, Cowboys fans should say a prayer and thank their lucky blue stars.  If Romo plays, he could potentially extend the healing time on his pinkie finger and really cost the team long term. If the Cowboys lose with Romo under center but his pinkie looks okay, it may at least show he's capable of leading this team with his injury despite the losing effort. However if Dallas loses - with either Romo or Johnson under center - the Cowboys will be 4-3 potentially two games back in a fierce division. More importantly, if they think they are facing tremendous pressure now after going 1-2 the last three weeks, drop a game to St. Louis and see what the reaction is.

Dallas cannot afford to lose this game. As cliche as it is, they absolutely must beat the teams they are supposed to beat. St. Louis has already proven they won't roll over and die under Jim Haslett, so they will make Dallas earn a victory on Sunday. Whoever is under center (my choice would be Johnson, but then again I was against installing Romo for Bledsoe in '06, so what do I know) will enjoy the newly acquire offensive weapon in Roy Williams (of Texas). If Romo dresses, he better start or be the emergency #3 QB. If he's not well enough to start, he shouldn't be playing at all.

Hopefully Wade Phillips makes that call on behalf of his team's future success. If Dr. Jerry is calling the shots, that's a prescription for trouble.

Tommy Lasorda speaks

Video I took from last night's NLCS Game 5 after the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance to the World Series. Former Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda took the mic and reminded fans of the old Brooklyn Dodgers saying, "wait til next year." After an emotionally charged series (not just on the field), a good number of Dodgers fans stayed to thank their team and their second-half MVP Manny Ramirez for a great 2008.

Cowboys midweek: To play or not to play

Midweek reports suggest it's possible for Tony Romo to play in the Cowboys/Rams game in St. Louis this week. Romo has received calls from Brett Favre, has sports writers suggesting he heed advice from Drew Bledsoe, and he's telling Dallas coaches he wants to play.

There is no assurance he can protect the ball, take a snap or deliver the ball accurately under game conditions.

The Cowboys' biggest concern is that Romo gets hit again, causing him to miss more time than initially anticipated and possibly require surgery.

While it would be great to see the Cowboys leader and franchise QB take the field to give his team an emotional lift, I hardly think the St. Louis Rams game is the time to make this sort of statement.

St. Louis could play like the firecracker that ignited last week in Washington. Or perhaps that win opened the shaken-up coke can, and all the fizz is now gone. Whatever the case, the Cowboys cannot take this game lightly. Because the Rams did finally get their first win of the season, it's plausible that they will either return to the Sacrificial Rams after the pressure of getting in the win column if off their shoulders, or that the Redskins win has given them added confidence and now they want to win in front of their own fans. Whichever side you'd like to believe, the Cowboys will not have a cakewalk in St. Louis.

That being said, I think Romo should sit this one out. If he plays and Dallas wins and his finger isn't banged up any worse, that's great. At the same time, I don't think it's worth the risk. Brad Johnson is a capable quarterback and the offense around him is filled with weapons. Jerry Jones says the final decision on Romo will be made by Romo and Wade Phillips. If Romo is intent on playing, give him the first quarter, let him see how it feels, and if there are any signs of him struggling or favoring his finger, don't wait for the quarterback to bring it up. Sit him on the bench and protect your organization's future rather than jeopardizing it against St. Louis.

In other Cowboys news, hearing Warren Sapp weigh in on why Brad Johnson will be able to work well with Terrell Owens brought a smile to my face. I've heard T.O. referred to as a lot of things, but choirboy is definitely new to the list.

Retired DT Warren Sapp, who won a Super Bowl with Brad Johnson in Tampa Bay, was asked what the veteran QB could bring to the Cowboys.

"An accurate quarterback, a championship, someone that knows the ropes and how to distribute the ball," Sapp said on Showtime's Inside the NFL, per Barry Horn's sports media blog. "He's played with worse malcontents than T.O. He played with Keyshawn (Johnson, Tampa Bay). Keyshawn was kicked off the team, away from us.

"Terrell Owens is a choirboy compared to Keyshawn. He'll get the ball and distribute it and they'll be fine."

As T.O. has pointed out a time or 200, he's also a heck of a lot better receiver than Keyshawn.

Just a reminder, the Cowboys moved Keyshawn when they brought in Terrell Owens. Keyshawn Johnson played one more year (Carolina) before the Panthers released him after drafting fellow USC WR Dwayne Jarrett. So if KJ isn't TO's bff, you know why.

Officially Game Over? Eh, not quite, but all the signs are there that Adam "we've gotta be able to call him Pacman in light of his most recent suspension" Jones will not be returning to the Cowboys. GOOD! As I said yesterday, the Cowboys need to move on without him, and it sounds like Wade Phillips is ready and willing to do that.

While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seemed to suggest there is a small possibility of welcoming suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones back to the team if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should reinstate him this year, head coach Wade Phillips said he's operating under the assumption he's not returning to the team.

"It's like losing a player to injury. He's gone so we have to move forward," Phillips said after Wednesday's practice.

And when pressed on the issue, Phillips said, "We don't have him, that's where we are, so I can't count on him . . . I mean he's gone, that's what it looks like to me. I'm not saying what's going to happen in the future, because I don't know what's going to happen in the future or what is or isn't going to be done there, but I can't go there. I've got to coach the players I have."

Trade + suspension = another Tuesday in Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys aren't a roller coaster. They're a bungee cord.

With so many ups and downs in just the past week, it's been hard to keep up. And just when things seemed to be coming unraveled with the announcement of Adam (can we now call him "Pacman" again) Jones being suspended, Jerry Jones pulls the trigger for WR Roy Williams.

There's a lot of skeptics who think that adding another big receiver will frustrate Terrell Owens and throw off the Cowboys offensive chemistry. First of all, offensive chemistry gets screwed up when you change quarterbacks ... especially when you switch from the improv-stylings of Tony Romo to the game-managing of Brad Johnson. But in considering how Roy Williams (WR not SS) will fit in with this team, just look at some of his initial comments after the trade.

+ Williams talked about how he's looking forward to working with and learning from one of the game's best receivers in Owens, much like how Owens worked with and learned from the game's greatest receiver Jerry Rice while in San Francisco.

+ Williams talked about how he's just looking forward to all the things that comes along with playing for the Cowboys - or any successful franchise. This is a guy who has not only never played a playoff game, but he's never played on Monday Night Football (the Cowboys will play five prime time games this season and have yet to not to be the #1 game for either FOX or CBS).

+ Williams pointed out how he just went from 0-5 to 4-2. Talk about eye-opening. After the Arizona loss, 4-2 seemed like some sort of curse. To Roy Williams, it's a gift from the heavens.

With Brad Johnson now under center, adding another Pro Bowl caliber WR will help Johnson avoid pressure. Defenses must now plan for Owens, Williams and Pro Bowl TE Jason Witten, not to mention Marion the Barbarian who showed what's possible on his big catch-and-run play late in the desert. As a result, defenses will have to be more cautious about when they bitz. Also, think back to the playoff loss to the Giants when Witten did not run a rout on the Cowboys final play because he was needed to stay in and pass block. At the time, it left the Cowboys' second-best receiving option out of the play. Now if Witten must stay in to block, whoever is under center will have two Pro Bowl WR options to look for.

This trade revitalizes the Cowboys just hours after Pacman Jones earned another suspension. With any luck, this will be the last we hear from Pacman until the Cowboys wise up and release him. Realize a mistake has been made and cut your losses. If we was really worth all this trouble, we would have been able to discern that after six weeks of football. I've seen every Cowboys game this season and haven't viewed any reason for him to justify his return to Valley Ranch at the end of his "indefinite four-week suspension." Even the very person who drafted him in Tennessee is saying "game over."

As banged up as the Cowboys secondary is, and despite the fact that Pacman Jones leads the team in passes defended, what's the point of putting him back there if you can't count on him to be available each week, especially as the season progresses and each game becomes more crucial as the playoffs near.

Jerry Jones isn't great at admitting where he's messed up, but listening to him talk about Pacman Jones yesterday sounded as if he was speaking about him in the past tense. While the Cowboys have not yet cut ties with the cornerback, they need to. Soon. Now.

I guess that bungee cord yanked Pacman right back to where he was a year ago. Out of football.


Dodging Abuse - Part 2

I figured out that the reason so many pro-Phillies people voiced their opinions on my report from Game 3 at Dodger Stadium was because it got picked up on The700Level.com, a Philadelphia-centric site that almost serves as group therapy for fans who haven't won a championship in 25 years -- not making fun, just stating facts. It also showed up as the top story on YardBarker.com.

Back to the Cowboys:

Injuries piling up at Valley Ranch

For several years the Cowboys have been blessed on the injury front. This season appears as if the inevitable is catching up to them.

As if losing the starting quarterback and their first-round draft choice for several weeks wasn't enough, the crowning blow came late Monday afternoon when the Cowboys learned they are losing their punter for the season.

Yes, after word on the severity of Tony Romo's finger injury broke Monday, it seemed just a matter of time before the other shoe would drop. That shoe belonged to Mat McBriar, one of most important and productive special teams players on the club.

More on Cowboys injuries

Tony Romo is out three to four weeks.
Terence Newman is out four weeks.
Sam Hurd is out for the rest of the season.
Felix Jones likely is out at least two weeks.
Mat McBriar is out for the rest of the season.
Kyle Kosier might be out at least another week.
Roy Williams might be out another week.
Who knows about Anthony Spencer?
Who knows about Pat Watkins?
Who knows about Flozell Adams?

Breaking down the blocked punt

It appears Morey, who came off the right edge, should have been picked up by tight end Tony Curtis. The Cardinals were in a return formation, not selling out for the block, but Curtis let Morey have the inside penetration untouched, making a beeline for the ball.

For a team so wont to talk about the importance of accountability to each other, it appears Curtis' failure to do his job cost McBriar his season. After a look at the tape, Wade Phillips saw no reason the block should not have been made.

"The punt block was just inexplicable to me," Phillips said Monday. "You always block the same guy every time. There is basically no way you can block our punt with the get-off time that we have if you just get in the way of anybody. The guy that picked up the ball that scored the touchdown (linebacker Monty Beisel), we jammed him a little bit and he had no chance of blocking the punt. The guy that blocked it went straight to the punter without being touched. That can't happen, but it did."

Esiason disses Aikman's broadcasting

VOW: Corso sign

Lee Corso is a WHAT?


Past VOW

Michael Irvin's HOF speech

Woody Dantzler's TD return

Stars '08 Playoff Run

Romo "singing" at Wrigley

1999 Stars Playoff Run

Mavericks Memories

Cowboys/Bills MNF

Those ghosts have caught up

Okay, Adam Jones is no longer worth the trouble.  Despite the Cowboys secondary - not the mention the entire team - being banged up, this guy is proving he just can't stay out of trouble.  I'll have more on this tomorrow, but here's the latest details:

Pacman suspected minimum 4 games

FL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones indefinitely without pay, for a minimum of four games, on Tuesday for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy.

Jones will miss at least the next four games. Goodell will determine the final length of the suspension following the Cowboys' Week 11 game against Washington on Nov. 16. The decision on whether Jones can return to play will be based on his strict compliance with his NFL and Dallas Cowboys treatment plans as well as on evaluations of his progress that will be provided to Goodell by clinical experts retained by the NFL.

Jones was involved in an alcohol-related physical altercation at a Dallas hotel on Oct. 8 that resulted in hotel employees calling the police. Goodell in today's letter to Jones called it a continuation of "a disturbing pattern of behavior and clearly inconsistent with the conditions I set for your continued participation in the NFL."

Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season for multiple violations of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. In reinstating Jones on Aug. 28, Goodell said that the player's participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a socially responsible manner, avoiding any other conduct that brings disrespect to himself, his team, or the NFL.

Dodging abuse

Decided to take in an NLCS game Sunday evening.  Thought I'd see a great battle between two worthy opponents.  Instead I saw a one-sided onslaught that sent the losers running for cover.

And I'm not talking about the game on the field.  The anger, violence and hatred that permeated the stands cast a despicable shadow over anything for which Dodgers fans might feel pride.  If it was my team, I'd be embarrassed.

I wore a blue hat and blue shirt to the game though I didn't have much rooting interest for either side.  [[Disclaimer: if I had to pick a side, I'd like to see the Dodgers win because I've got family that used to live in Brooklyn in the Brooklyn Dodgers days, so why not.]]  I figured the blue would allow me to blend in.  I didn't really factor in the fact that the friend I went with was wearing his Phillies gear.  I figured it'd be no big deal though.  Sure, the Dodgers fans would probably boo him or taunt him, but how bad could it really get?

Little did I know.

Other than the "F*** the Phillies" chants that echoed in Chavez Ravine, things really got ugly when a Dodgers fan across the aisle started to run his mouth to the Phillies fan to my left.  The Phillies fan, to his credit, ignored the guy and just stared straight ahead, which only made the guy more intent to get a reaction out of him.  He started taking his rally towel and flicking it at him and threatening to pour his beer on the guy.  The Phillies fan got up, found an usher, and asked the usher to get the guy to stop.

When the usher confronted the fan, he became an angelic boy scout, cordially shaking the usher's hand and trying to explain how it was "all a misunderstanding."  The usher allowed the Dodgers fan to remain in his seat, and once the usher left the section, things really escalated.  The taunts of "help I need an usher" began to pick up.  Each time a Phillies fan walked up the aisle to the concourse, they were bored and forced to dodge an onslaught of peanuts catapulted toward them.

The Dodgers fan next to me, a nice guy who himself was repulsed by the actions of his fellow Dodgers fans, told us, "That guy does not represent Dodgers fans.  That guy represents drunk ass assholes.  Do not get the two confused."

If only the assholes weren't an overwhelming majority.

The boiling point occurred late in the game when two young ladies wearing red Phillies shirts tried to get their picture taken at Dodger Stadium.  While one fan held the camera, the girls positioned themselves against the rail in the front row, posing for a great snapshot with historic Dodger Stadium as the backdrop.  Dodgers fans decided booing would not suffice and a few men stood up and blocked the photographer from taking the picture.  The girls at first laughed it off, assuming the men would eventually let them get their photo.  No luck.

Dodgers fans began cursing out the women for apparently trying to show them for by taking a picture of themselves wearing Phillies gear in Dodger Stadium - yeah, it makes perfect sense.  *rolling eyes*

The photo incident erupted into a shouting match between rows of inebriated Dodgers fans and two petite women wearing red.  After cries of "Why doesn't somebody do something?" from the family sitting near us, ushers eventually came in to eject the offending Dodgers fans.

At first, the masses assumed the Phillies fans would be ejected and began chanting "na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye."  When they realized that fellow Dodgers fans were being kicked out, they began booing.  You'll even see in this video at the end of the clip one Dodger fan shares some choice words with the ushers and gets himself ejected for mouthing off.

When the seventh inning stretch hit, the nice guy next to me told me not to worry as most of the fans would be leaving soon.  He said that the fans stay to sing and leave.  "There's a whole generation of kids that think the game ends when you sing.  They don't find out til they're ten.  Like 'What? Baseball goes nine innings?'"

We stood for the seventh inning stretch and a singer took the field to sing God Bless America.  Just before she started to sing, the Dodgers fans around us once again started a "F*** the Phillies" chant which bled into the first verse of God Bless America.  Maybe it's because these specific fans behind us don't feel as close to this country because they didn't appear to be from here, and that's their prerogative, but don't start chating "F*** the Phillies" during God Bless America.  I had had enough and turned around to tell these fans to shut up for this song.  

While a few Dodgers fans next to me gave me looks of approval and thanks for attempting to put a stop to the foul-mouth chants during the song, the fans who had been yelling "F*** the Phillies" glared at me as if I'd told them the Dodger Dog tasted like crap.  It's not like they were chanting this during Take Me Out To The Ball Game.  It was God Bless America.  Can the bitching and taunting not wait 30 seconds?

To cap the night off, as we exited the stadium, a local TV reporter interviewed my friend the Phillies fan, during which time some Dodgers fans stole his hat and doused it with beer.  It's all on tape too.  Should make for exciting B-roll for KCAL 9.  

Walking through the parking lot after the game, Dodgers fans jeered my friend for the beating that LA put on Philadelphia in the game.  My friend said nothing more than, "we're still up, 2-1," and this pack of fans became irate, threatening to "throw down" with us if we didn't get moving.

I've been to Dodger Stadium before.  I've had fun there before.  But that night has left a severe scar on how I view Dodger Stadium and Dodgers fans.  You always hear about Raiders fans at the black hole, or Philadelphia fans booing Santa, or college football rivalries that provide tense moments.  But I could have enjoyed my life as a sports fan blissfully unaware of how utterly classless, thoughtless, and gutless some of the Dodgers fans act.

My optimistic side would love to believe that I was merely seeing the exception, not the rule.  Sadly, the majority of fans on Sunday were exceptionally unruly.

If you're a Dodgers fan and saw any of this behavior, please tell me I'm wrong that this is the majority.  I do want to believe that, but there was no evidence supporting that claim on Sunday.  I'd like to believe fans - not just Dodgers fans, but sports fans in general - are capable of a mutual respect to grant fans of opposing teams.  When you can't feel safe wearing your teams colors in an opposing stadium, something has got to change.

Broken pinkie, broken dreams

It was just reported that Tony Romo has a broken pinkie finger and will most likely miss four weeks.  

Hello adversity.  

It seems the injury bug that the Cowboys were so lucky to avoid in 2007 is making up for lost time this season. The secondary. Felix Jones. Mat McBriar. And now Romo.

The "bitching and whining and complaining" (as Norm Hitzges might say) about this will probably be overblown. Last season, the Cowboys were able to go 13-3 without dealing with any serious injuries. Now this team is facing some adversity. We'll see how the Boys bounce back against the formerly Sacrificial Rams.

If the O-line had been looking the way they looked in 2007 or early this season, I would feel comfortable with Brad Johnson under center. Now, I'm almost wondering if we should bring back Vinny Testaverde so we have a more mobile option. Okay, not really, but this could get ugly fast if the o-line doesn't respond to the challenge.

The entire team, back-ups especially, need to answer the call and play with the urgency this situation calls for. True Dallas is 4-2, but so is seemingly half the NFC.

For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys are facing some significantly meaningful regular season games. Think about it...

2007 - Win over GB gave Dallas inside track to home field (oh how useful that was)
2006 - Once Romo took over, all those wins in late '06 were icing on the cake for a team that was looking to '07 to really go for a title
2005 - Not really a contender with Bledsoe
2004 - Not really a contender with Vinny
2003 - The game vs. Carolina put Dallas at 8 wins and tied for a conference-best record. The "Can't call them losers" game
2000-2002 - The Campo era

That's not too many significant reg season games in a while. Am I overlooking some games that you can remember?

Buckle up in Dallas. Brad Johnson will be under center for at least the next month. He's got playoff and Super Bowl experience (Super Bowl XXXVII with Tampa Bay). Who knows, maybe this could be the spark. Or maybe that's the eternal optimist in me speaking. Whichever the case, we'll find out when the Cowboys play the Rams next week.

Dal 24, Ari 30 (OT): Not-so-special teams

Gut-wrenching may be too cliche. Disastrous seems little overblown. Heartbreaker is too Pat Benatar. But whatever you want to call the Cowboys overtime loss in Arizona on Sunday, chances are you can find traces of that negative emotion throughout the game.

No one played even remotely near the level at which this team needs to be to advance in January - and that's the name of the game. Every aspect of this game for Dallas was not without its faults.

Offensively, Tony Romo could not protect the ball when he faced pressure, fumbling three times. Marion Barber had a pedestrian day running the ball, and if you take away his big touchdown on the dump-off pass, it was a forgettable afternoon for MB3. As for Fast Felix? Three carries for 22 yards and a strained left hamstring. The offensive line played up to its name. It was offensive to watch as a Cowboys fan.

Defensively, things were better, but not by much. The boys up front kept pressure on the former MVP QB Kurt Warner, and the Cardinals could not run the ball against Dallas. The Cowboys took the ball away three times, winning the turnover battle, 3-1, which is usually good enough to win the football game. But when all else is even, the deciding factor can often come down to that third element of football: special teams.

The Cardinals dominated this aspect of the game from literally the games first play to its last. From the opening kickoff return for a touchdown to the game-ending touchdown off a blocked punt, the Cowboys missed assignments all afternoon. Nick Folk did hit a clutch 52-yard field goal to force overtime, which shows his resiliency after his 37-yard miss earlier. The missed field goal was Folk's first miss of 2008, and rarely does a kicker make 100% of his field goals in a season. I'm not here to call for special teams coach Bruce Read's head - there are plenty of other Cowboys fans doing that today - but I'm inclined to agree with Patrick Crayton's assessment that someone needs there a** chewed out.

game recap: Dallas 24, Arizona 30 (OT)

A few other thoughts:
+ I'm surprised it wasn't brought up more during the game, but I don't think the Adam 'Pacman' Jones hotel fight drama was a factor in this loss. Don't even bring it up. The cornerback did his part to make it a non-issue for Dallas. The Cowboys were in this game, and while their focus was lacking, I don't think that can be pinned on Pacman's off-the-field issues. Once the game kicks off, none of that matters.

+ When Nick Folk lined up for his field goal attempt for send the game into overtime, I along with every other Cowboys fan had a flashback to him drilling two 53-yard field goals to give the Cowboys a win in Buffalo last season. The guy is clutch. For all the years the Cowboys went with the bargain option at kicker, it's nice to see their investment of a draft pick so nicely rewarded.

+ Seeing Mat McBriar's punt blocked to end the game was bad, but seeing him stay down was equally as crushing for the Cowboys. McBriar is a Pro Bowl caliber punter, and in a game where field position is so vital, the Cowboys are far better off with him than without him. Considering how bad the coverage and returning and blocking of special teams was, the only bright spots are the two guys who kick for the Cowboys.

+ I'm sure a lot will be made of T.O.'s sideline scene with Andre Gurode after Romo lost a fumble, and perhaps T.O. could have handled things in a more diplomatic way, but in watching the play live and seeing the replays, what was Gurode paying attention to? The ball was right in front of the Cowboy center, and he flat out did not see it.

+ Speaking of guys not seeing things, how many times did Romo get hit from the blind side today? Usually big Flozell Adams has his back (no pun intended) and keeps pass rushers away. Today, the Cards sped past the Pro Bowl left tackle, and when they weren't stripping the ball or sacking Romo, they were forcing him to move in the pocket and disrupting his rhythm.

+ It's amazing to think that Kurt Warner is in a small group of NFL stars who have won two MVP awards. Those "Greatest Show on Turf" days seem like a while ago, but Warner continued to get up after getting knocked down time and time again. The Cardinals will go as far as Warner will take them in 2008. How far can they go? Well, right now their four wins equals the numbers of combined wins of the three other teams in their division.

+ When Romo had time to throw, he was spreading the ball around well. Barber, Crayton and Miles Austin finished with touchdown receptions in this game. While Owens was again limited in his production, his frustrations better result more from the loss than his role in the offense.

+ Next week's game will provide a true test of the Cowboys character. The Rams won an emotional game on the last play against the Redskins to give them their first victory of 2008. They can either revel in their win and allow Dallas to stomp them next week, or they can use this as motivation to play in front of a crowd in St. Louis that finally has a reason to show signs of life - hey, as long as the team is doing it. Dallas has a great opportunity to announce their presence with authority. Dallas should dominate the "Sacrificial Rams" in the Ed Jones Dome on Oct. 19, but it will take a complete game to do so. If they put that game together, they can put these recent three sloppy games behind them and move on with their season. Another win like the one against the Bengals or a result like Sunday, and the Cowboys will fade fast in the NFC East.

If the Cowboys think they faced a tough week from the media after a win against Cincinnati, it's not going to be any better following a loss to Arizona. Here's what else is being said after a disappointing loss...

Kevin Sherrington wants to know who the new guy is under center...

His right hand packed in ice afterward, Tony Romo hid the famous dimples behind a mask.

Nothing to smile about anyway, right?

Not after you lose a sloppy overtime game to the Cardinals, 30-24, in front of a schizoid crowd of 64,389, half Cards, half Cowboys, polar opposites forced by wayward allegiances to sit side by side, cheek to cheek.

And if that scene wasn't weird enough, you witnessed the Cowboys quarterback's continued retreat into a shell.

The numbers say he completed 61 percent of his passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-24 overtime loss to Arizona.

The body language? This is not the quarterback we thought we knew.

When he's feeling it, Romo wears his heart on his sleeve. He's an infectious presence on a team that has thrived on his enthusiasm. When he's happy, he chest bumps, he arm pumps, he bounces. A few times in his short, intense tenure, he's looked as if he might leap into an official's arms.

Question: Does that description sound anything like the Cowboys quarterback you've seen the last few weeks?

"Sporadic," is how Wade Phillips described Romo's play Sunday.

Jerry Jones said Romo "looks like a guy trying to compete and figure it out.

"The defense is throwing a lot at him."

The Cardinals' plan for the Cowboys sounds simple enough, of course, unless you're standing in the hot breath of it.

Still, for the most part, Arizona rushed four linemen as the rest of the defense dropped into coverage. As Romo bounced on the balls of his feet, looking for someone, anyone, to get open, the Cards' defensive front rapidly encircled him.

Result: They came at him from behind, where he's not feeling the pressure and consequently unable to squirt out of the rush's grasp, normally a strong point. They sacked him three times. Not only that, they blindsided him, forcing three official fumbles and one that didn't count because of a premature whistle.

Romo doesn't do a good job of protecting the ball as it is, and that was before he sprained a pinky in overtime. When he doesn't see the rush coming, he's particularly vulnerable.

And that's what he's looked like lately: a once-confident quarterback suddenly vulnerable.

Maybe he's thinking too much. Maybe he's worried what T.O. thinks.

Maybe he's overcompensating for turnovers. The most overblown stat of the season was his NFL-leading interception streak going into the Arizona game. Well, he didn't throw one Sunday. So much for that stat.

A sports culture primer on Romo: Like Don Meredith, a kindred spirit, he's the type of QB who's going to throw interceptions. He has to compensate by throwing touchdowns. For better or worse, he has to play like his idol, Brett Favre. Cut loose, let it rip, have a little fun.

Otherwise, he plays as if he's lost his confidence. And a QB with no confidence is lost.

For the record, Jerry doesn't believe in body language. He says he used to get critical letters about Troy Aikman's look, and he never paid them any mind.

But Aikman and Romo are two different kinds of quarterbacks. Aikman – stoic, aloof, cold-blooded – ran a highly efficient offense that needed his precision, not his personality.

These Cowboys make too many mistakes on offense to grind the ball down the field. They need big plays. They need big plays from their quarterback.

They need Tony Romo, the happy gunslinger who captured a fandom's hearts. Whoever this new guy is, it's not working out.

Mosley thinks the Cowboys are more lost in the desert than the Jews leaving Egypt...

For a few frantic moments Sunday, the Cowboys made you forget how pedestrian they've become. Marion Barber's mad dash to the end zone and a 52-yard field goal by Nick Folk at the end of regulation temporarily covered up another unimpressive effort.

But with one blocked punt return for a touchdown, the Cardinals delivered a jolt of reality. Arizona won the game 30-24, and any other result would've been a crime after watching the Cardinals dominate the second half.

The Cowboys probably should've turned the ball over four times in the first half, but they only had one. The aerial assault on what had been rumored to be an outmanned Cardinals secondary never materialized, and Tony Romo spent most of the day checking down to Barber.

Romo somehow always ends up with 300 yards and three touchdowns, but don't be fooled by those numbers -- or his 113.3 passer rating. He fumbled the ball three times, and was fortunate to lose only one. The only thing that prevented him from giving up a touchdown in the first half was the tuck rule, which makes less sense every time I see it called.

In fairness to Romo, his Pro Bowl-laden offensive line was dominated by the Cardinals' defensive line. Left tackle Flozell Adams offered little resistance as defensive ends Bertrand Berry and Antonio Smith raced past him. I've documented almost every Romo start since 2006, and I've never seen him take that much punishment. People want to ask where all the enthusiasm and child-like joy has gone. Well, getting hit in the mouth every other play isn't a particularly enjoyable experience.

Romo showed up to his news conference with a heavily bandaged right throwing hand. According to the Cowboys, he sprained his right pinky finger. And considering the punishment he took Sunday, he may have gotten off easy. Romo made an interesting statement when asked about the constant pressure he faced.

"I think there's a couple of things we've got to do to counteract ... one of our formations I think some of the teams are kind of getting a bead on," said Romo. "We'll rectify that this week and hopefully learn from it."

(Surely Romo's not suggesting that teams have figured out what the Cowboys' $3 million offensive coordinator is doing? After all, Jason Garrett was the hottest name in coaching last season.)

For a half, the Cowboys' defense returned the favor, hitting 37-year-old Kurt Warner almost every time he dropped back. The strategy of using press coverage on the Cardinals' dangerous wide receivers paid off, because it forced Warner to hold the ball longer than he wanted. Safety Ken Hamlin became the first defensive back to get an interception this season when Warner was slammed to the ground as he delivered a pass late in the first quarter.

The Cowboys opened the second half exactly as they did against the Redskins two weeks ago. Romo led the team on a 12-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that put the Cowboys up 14-7. But this team barely put the Bengals away the previous Sunday. On a play that a lot of people will forget about because of the wild finish, the Cardinals had a third-and-17 at their 33. Warner completed a short pass to rookie Tim Hightower in the left flat and he bulled his way down the sideline for 17 yards. It was an effort play that breathed life into the Cardinals' offense.

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Todd Haley, who has done a remarkable job playing to Warner's strengths this season, wanted to go after Adam "Pacman" Jones, and that's who Larry Fitzgerald beat on a two-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. Haley was the passing game coordinator in Dallas when Romo replaced Drew Bledsoe in 2006, and he has an intimate knowledge of the Cowboys' personnel.

After the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones insisted that Pacman's fistfight with his team-hired bodyguard earlier in the week didn't serve as a distraction. I approached the cornerback as he slipped on some sunglasses (it's always bright in the visiting locker room), but he said, "I ain't saying anything."

My gut's telling me that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend Pacman for at least next Sunday's game against the upstart Rams, but I didn't mention that to Jerry. He was busy justifying Sunday's loss. Asked if this team had met expectations, Jones said, "Yes. Absolutely. I wouldn't have thought we'd be sitting here 6-0."

In fact, Jerry even made the point that some early losses might be the way to go. Perhaps the Cowboys breezed through the 2007 season without enough hardships. Maybe you need an occasional bathroom brawl and a loss to the Cardinals to keep you honest.

"This kind of disappointment might prepare us better for the playoffs," he said. "No one's gonna fall on their sword over this game."

Maybe not. But if they can't clean up this mess against the Rams on Sunday, I'd at least have a sword or two handy. And if the owner comes to Arizona and handles a loss so graciously, maybe it's time to lower our expectations for this team. I know I have. Honestly, it was sort of refreshing to hear wide receiver Patrick Crayton showing a little frustration.

"Maybe we need our a---- chewed out or something," Crayton said. "You never know. Sometimes that jump starts something. We need to step up and play ball."

Crayton went on to say that the team "bops around" during practice and that the Redskins loss should've been a wakeup call.

"We hit the snooze button," he said.

With all due respect to Wade Phillips, the rear-chewers now reside in South Florida. The Cowboys embraced Wade's touchy-feely approach, so it's interesting to hear a player yearn for discipline.

Maybe this team needed a dose of reality. I remember at least two players talking about how they wished they could flash forward to the playoffs. Based on Sunday's performance, that seems like wishful thinking.

Stay tuned as Tuesday will bring my report from the cheap seats at Dodger Stadium and Sunday's NLCS playoff.  I thought Raiders fans or Eagles fans were bad, but when it comes to baseball, the Dodger faithful can get pretty darn ruthless.

Ugly Sanchez: USC 28, ASU 0

No, I wasn't going to title this post what you're probably thinking would be funnier, but after sitting a row in front of an ASU fan who thought he was the first to refer to the USC quarterback as "dirty" roughly six times per minute, I've had enough of that.

The Trojans escaped with a win - and they won by 28. But looking at how the USC offense played, escaped is the right word. Sanchez threw three interceptions (one of them was the receiver's fault, but the other two were under-thrown) and fumbled once, giving ASU opportunities to get on the board. Sanchez was not stepping into his throws all day. In the game's opening drive, you may remember Sanchez hitting Ronald Johnson for a 34-yard completion to help set up the first Trojan touchdown. Sanchez had room to step up and make the throw, but instead he fired the ball of his back foot, and the under-thrown pass caused Johnson to stop his route to make the catch. Had Sanchez put the ball ahead of hi target, it would have been six points then and there.

So what's the big deal? USC (4-1) still took a 7-0 lead after the drive, right? Sure, but think of it this way. Late in the game, Arizona State backup quarterback Danny Sullivan threw a deep ball to a wide open receiver for a sure touchdown to put ASU on the board. Only problem: the throw was lobbed too high and not far enough ahead of the receiver. USC DB Taylor Mays closed on the receiver and broke up the play for an incompletion, a great defensive play that would not have been possible had Sullivan thrown a better ball. It's a play that could have broken up the shut out. If Sanchez is under-throwing these passes, if going to give opposing defensive better chances to make plays against the Trojans. The two INTs that were his fault were under-thrown. I don't recall seeing too many incompletion over-thrown. Hopefully for the Men of Troy, his knee isn't the reason, and he'll be able to correct this problem as USC moves forward.

Enough nit-picking. Onto the good of a 28-0 victory...

+ Yes, it was against ASU (2-4), who hasn't looked good very often this season (their two wins came against Northern Illinois and Stanford). At the same time, USC's defense not only blanked ASU's offense, but the Trojans blocked *two* field goals. Two. What the heck is happening to your offensive line on the field goal unit when you give up two blocked field goals? Well, apparently USC's front men are making a case to be named "Wild Bunch III." Granted, that's still a ways away.

+ Joe McKnight posted a career high 143 yards in his sophomore season. Looking back to Reggie Bush's career at USC, it wasn't until his sophomore season that he really flourished. McKnight has struggled at times this season (7 carries, 10 yds at Oregon State), but his explosiveness gives the SC offense something to keep linebackers on their heels. With so many different rushing options, it really just depends who is "the guy" on a given day. CJ Gable, Staffon Johnson and McKnight need to work together the way Reggie Bush and LenDale White did - that seemed to work out for USC.

+ Back to the defense. Kevin Thomas's 46 yard INT return for a touchdown was sweet. It not only put USC up a comfortable 21-0, but it provided a big defensive play that the Trojan defense hasn't really had a lot of this season. SC almost had another INT returned for six points on the game's final play when T.J. Bryant intercepted Sullivan. How greedy are USC football fans? They were upset he didn't get the score to give USC a 35-0 win. Aw shucks.

+ Okay, so I was a little disappointed Bryant didn't score. Maybe next time.

+ Kudos to Coach Carroll for going for the kill early against ASU. On 4th and 4 from the ASU 9, the Trojans lined up for a field goal. Holder Garrett Green took the snap and ran left, faked a pitch to the kicker, and tried to hit the hole. While the Sun Devils defense stopped the play one yard shy of the first down, fans at the Coliseum applauded Carroll's fake field goal attempt. They don't call him "Big Balls Pete" for nothing.

+ Rudy Carpenter getting knocked out of the game was a big loss for the Sun Devils. They weren't going to be USC with or without him, but Carpenter has played solid during his time at Arizona State. By the way, the best sign I saw the stands:

ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

So broken a Carpenter can't fix it!

+ Really? Two blocked field goals? Damn.

+  Next up for USC, two road games against Washington State and Arizona.  Two games they can win by bigger margins than they did against ASU.  Neither game will provide the type of trap-game potential that Oregon State brought.  USC must use these games to correct the problems in the passing game.  Perhaps Sanchez just needs time to recover from his knee getting banged up in the Oregon game.  If the Trojans want to get back into the title hunt (and thanks to the shake ups in the Top 10 this week, they have a chance), their offense must be crisper than we saw this week.

Pacman: One headline away

Not sure what to think about the Adam "Pacman" Jones situation that's been unfolding all afternoon. After hearing more about the incident, we need to hear more about the incident before jumping to a "suspend him indefinitely" conclusion. Maybe that will be the answer. Maybe it was really some "jiving around" between friends as Jerry Jones made it out to be.

Whatever the case, the fact that it is an issue is upsetting. Jerry Jones took a gamble on Adam Jones, just as he did with Terrell Owens and Terry "Tank" Johnson, and while the Owens and Johnson have both shown tremendous signs of maturation during their tenure as Cowboys, Adam Jones has now put himself within one more headline of completing his NFL Career.

I'm not trying to convict nor acquit the cornerback. I'm simply hoping that NFL Commish Roger Goodell doesn't make a snap-judgment one way or the other. He has launched an investigation into what really happened, but if Jerry Jones is correct in saying that the altercation was witnessed by only Adam Jones, his body guard, his uncle and his significant other, I'm not sure what Goodell expects to find.

Property was damaged at a Dallas hotel in the incident, but more damaging than even Adam "Pacman" Jones's already fragile reputation was the perception of Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips getting beaten up by the media. Phillips is a good coach. I think he's the right for this team right now. The Cowboys are capable of winning a Super Bowl under Phillips. But his performance during his press conference regarding the Adam Jones situation embarrassed me as a Cowboys fan.

Wade came into his press conference wanting to not talk about the situation, but rather than setting the tone of "I'm not taking questions about this," he tried to stiff arm the media by playing dumb. He made the point that Jerry Jones would be on later to talk about things, but then he kept trying to deflect questions. Mickey Spagnola told Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket's Hardline that Phillips really wants to coach football and wants to allow Jerry Jones to handle these types of situations. But by not setting that tone immediately, he allowed the media to run him over. Spagnola says Phillips is too nice in that he won't tell the media he's not talking about a topic, so in trying to not answer questions, he seemed weak.

For the Cowboys, they now can only hope 1. Commissioner Goodell doesn't find a reason within this to end Adam Jones's career, 2. they can refocus for Sunday's game and the rest of the season, and 3. Adam Jones's avoids any other potential problem situations. If he ends up in the middle of another situation, this current predicament has burned up any room for error he had. One more incident, one more headline, and his playing days are done.

++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE:
The police report had the time of the incident wrong. That does put the rest of the report's credibility in doubt - just like Adam Jones's future in the NFL.

911 phone call

Police Report