27
Dec
2009
Cowboys, Redskins, Live Blog
By C-O-U-R-T-N-E-Y!
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
I am late to the NFL party today, having missed most of today’s games (except for some highlights) because of holiday stuff. I am going to blog tonight’s Cowboys-Redskins game (just underway) . . . .
Perfect start for the Cowboys: a turn over turns into seven points. This is obviously a big game for the Cowboys but the big story of the day is the Giants loss. It was surprising that the Giants lost, let alone got embarrassed by the Panthers.
Dallas is really over-pursuing in the early going. Redskins should use play action and misdirection, perhaps, to get something going.
Crayton nearly got decapitated. Redskins did a nice job of pressuring Romo on that series.
Other than the Cowboys’ turn over and opening drive, the best thing about this game has been the commercials for the Book of Eli. Denzel Washington is too old to be an action hero but with a few tight shots anything can be made to look like the Matrix– I wonder if that will be as good as it looks in a 30 second commercial.
Romo to Witten leads to a Marion Barber touchdown. That was too easy. Landry talked a lot of trash after the Cowboys-Redskins first match up, claiming that Roy Williams was scared out there. Williams didn’t flame the fires this week (wisely for a guy that has not delivered on the field), saying that Landry was a good player. Landry just got beat like a rented mule by a tight end.
Little bit sloppy for Dallas to close the half. That is the kind of stuff that, against a good team, gets you beat. Roy Williams is the third best receiver on Dallas at this point. He needs to stop laughing after dropping balls and start making plays if he wants to be in a Cowboys uniform next year.
Jason Garrett’s star has already faded in Big D. Between the reverse call on the Wildcat and the back to back Barber gives to start the third quarter on third and fourth and one, he is doing nothing to turn the lights back on. Cowboys do not look crisp.
Haynesworth gets paid 41 million guaranteed to sit out on third down? And he gets worn down late in games? Come on.
Jerry Jones is totally ridiculous. How about those comments re: Wade Phillips.
Dallas has run its three short yardage plays this evening AT Albert Haynesworth (and behind Davis, Adams). The are 0 for 3 but have to go for it here on 4th down.
Make it 0 for 4 (though this time they run away from Haynesworth). If nothing else, Garrett sticks to what he believes in: no spreading the field, no play action– just plain vanilla to the 4 hole.
So, the Redskins are interviewing for a head coaching job while they have a coach? Or was that something that they did in order to be able to interview Mike Shanahan. I mean, everyone knows that Jim Zorn is not coming back but that doesn’t seem particularly classy.
Dallas giving the Skins a heavy dose of Felix Jones right now. I would expect more of the same against the Eagles next week.
The Cowboys have solved one problem: December. They have also qualified for the playoffs. It will be an interesting game in Dallas next week if the Vikings lose tomorrow night (because the winner of Eagles-Cowboys gets a bye). If that doesn’t happen, it will be interesting to see if either team uses it as a bye (because all that is being settled is the division and home field for a wild card game). Dallas would like to avenge the game from last year– but I am not sure it does them much good.
A lackluster win tonight, but a win nonetheless for Dallas. The Giants must be kicking themselves this evening . . . .
Thanks for tuning in to the live blog this evening!
One thing to add: there is potentially more to play for than just home field game next week because, depending on who wins the other games (i.e., the Cardinals) they could have two home field games.