2016 Cowboys: Giddyup for Elliot

[dcmissle]

One of the most impressive aspects to me was the team and especially Dak keeping it together when the Ravens went after them hard early. They adjusted, played within themselves and ultimately imposed their will. Against a defense ranked first against the run coming into this game.

So this is far beyond what I would expect from a rookie QB. So I won't be buying tempered playoff expectations that are based on Dak and Elliot being rookies. They are cool under fire, they have a fabulous offense line, and there is too much there in the way of other weapons to fear that these two will "try to do too much" in the post-season.

Keys going forward are continued decent play from the defense and, of course, reasonable health.

 

[Rick Burlesons Yam Bag]

Major kudos to the coaching staff. It wasn't that long ago that a start like yesterday's would result in one of those losses where the defense finally caves under the pressure of being on the field all day long and gives up a score late in the 4th quarter. They saw what Baltimore was doing on defense, adjusted, and took the game to them from the second quarter on. There are still remnants of poor coaching decisions floating around - like Garrett accepting the holding penalty on what would have been 4th down late in the 2nd quarter which cost them 12 seconds and a shot at the end zone at the end of the half - but we're seeing a maturation of the players and coaching staff, alike. It gives me great hope that the term "brain trust" can no longer be used sarcastically when referring to the Cowboys coaching staff.

I came in to post almost this exactly. I do not think that Garrett has been a good coach for the Cowboys over the lifespan of his leadership, but he is doing a good job this season. The team has obviously played well, but in addition, he has kept a steady hand on top of off field drama and managed the Romo situation about as well as he could have. When I watch the Cowboys closely I still don't see a team that is as dominant as their record seems to indicate (although certainly a very good team), but while I used to think that Garrett would lose the Cowboys 2-3 games each season, I think he has been a ++ for them this season.....something I never thought I would hear myself say. He is keeping his cool, putting his offense in good positions and playing appropriately aggressively on defense.

 

[Bosoxen]

When I watch the Cowboys closely I still don't see a team that is as dominant as their record seems to indicate (although certainly a very good team)

I'm with you on this. They're certainly very fortunate to be playing the North divisions, which boast division leaders of 6-4 and 5-5. It doesn't seem like a very big stretch to suggest that playing the West divisions would have added another loss or two to the ledger. Of course, the entire division is benefiting from this schedule, so they might still be leading the division at 8-2 or 7-3.

With that said, I think the offense is as legit as it seems. They've faced the #1 rushing defense several times this year and hit them for 100+ yards every single time. That's no mirage.

 

[dcmissle]

From the non-fan vantage point, Seattle is the only team in the League that can slow you on offense. And Seattle appears to be struggling with injury bug this year. Everyone else has to play a damn near perfect game on offense to win. That's a good spot to be in. Your prayers can be limited to reasonable health.

 

[Erik Hanson's Hook]

So I won't be buying tempered playoff expectations that are based on Dak and Elliot being rookies.

Have to disagree here.

No rookie quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl. I expect that streak to continue. As good as Prescott has been, there is simply too much to digest in this league as a first year starter in the most important position on the field to win a championship. As schemes and defenses become more complex, and the playoff pressure cooker gets more intense, I expect the rookie wall to show itself.

I'm happy that the Cowboys are good again, because the NFL is better when they are, but I just don't see two rookies leading them to the promise land. Not in this league.

Next year is probably their year.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Have to disagree here.

No rookie quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl. I expect that streak to continue. As good as Prescott has been, there is simply too much to digest in this league as a first year starter in the most important position on the field to win a championship. As schemes and defenses become more complex, and the playoff pressure cooker gets more intense, I expect the rookie wall to show itself.

I'm happy that the Cowboys are good again, because the NFL is better when they are, but I just don't see two rookies leading them to the promise land. Not in this league.

Next year is probably their year.

Some pretty mundane quarterbacks have won Super Bowls, like Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Trent Dilfer and Mark Rypien. For at least one of them, Trent Dilbert, I mean Dilfer, the game plan was for the defense to pound the crap out of the opposition (Giants) and for Dilfer to just not screw up. Dak could definitely do more than that. Not saying the Cowboys have a defense like Dilfer's Ravens, but they have a juggernaut offense that could put up a lot of points for anybody to have to overcome. Too many weapons, as we say.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

That 1991 Redskin team was completely dominant with Mark Rypien at QB. Give almost anyone a great line that provides a clean pocket more often than not and it's amazing how well they can do. Throw in a stud RB, a stud WR and a past-his-prime-but-still-very-good TE, and the sky is the limit.

That said I'm still not sold on this Cowboy team. The Eagles, a very flawed team, had them beat a few weeks back. Credit for the win and all but they let them off the hook. The NFC looks pathetic to me this year so won't be surprised if it's Seattle v Dallas in the NFCC, but I think Seattle wins that pretty easily.

 

[Marciano490]

That 1991 Redskin team was completely dominant with Mark Rypien at QB. Give almost anyone a great line that provides a clean pocket more often than not and it's amazing how well they can do. Throw in a stud RB, a stud WR and a past-his-prime-but-still-very-good TE, and the sky is the limit.

That said I'm still not sold on this Cowboy team. The Eagles, a very flawed team, had them beat a few weeks back. Credit for the win and all but they let them off the hook. The NFC looks pathetic to me this year so won't be surprised if it's Seattle v Dallas in the NFCC, but I think Seattle wins that pretty easily.

I don't think you can play that game in the NFL. Every team is going to have a bad loss or close win over middling teams during the season. It has no bearing on whether they'll reach or win the Super Bowl. As Pats fans we should know that we'll.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

That's totally fair. It's definitely a week to week league. As it stands I think Seattle's the cream of the crop though. Dallas is playing great ball though so don'/t really mean to take a lot away from them. I didn't get to watch as much of the game yesterday as I had hoped but I actually thought pretty highly of the Redskins and it seems Dallas just took them apart.

 

[dcmissle]

That stud WR, BTW, is not Dez. He's Beasley. Security blanket of security blankets for Zak, and basically uncoverable.

Cowboys have good depth on offense as well.

 

[Stitch01]

Have to disagree here.

No rookie quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl. I expect that streak to continue. As good as Prescott has been, there is simply too much to digest in this league as a first year starter in the most important position on the field to win a championship. As schemes and defenses become more complex, and the playoff pressure cooker gets more intense, I expect the rookie wall to show itself.

I'm happy that the Cowboys are good again, because the NFL is better when they are, but I just don't see two rookies leading them to the promise land. Not in this league.

Next year is probably their year.

Brady wasn't a rookie but he was a first year starter I don't think there is enough of a difference to say a rookie can't win. Dak is in the nut offensive spot for a rookie starter, A+ running game and OL and a strong WR corps with complimentary skill sets. The offense isn't likely to be a problem with Dallas barring injury. The defense is starting to leak though, that performance yesterday was on the same level as the one the Pats got trashed for two weeks ago and they weren't much better in the Steelers game.

 

[dcmissle]

That's totally fair. It's definitely a week to week league. As it stands I think Seattle's the cream of the crop though. Dallas is playing great ball though so don'/t really mean to take a lot away from them. I didn't get to watch as much of the game yesterday as I had hoped but I actually thought pretty highly of the Redskins and it seems Dallas just took them apart.

Redskins lost the game, IMO, in the first half. Red zone squanders on three possessions. I felt going in that Washington would have to win a track meet because it had no realistic chance of shutting Dallas down. If the Pats play them, I'd probably feel exactly the same way.

Cowboys have a relatively simple offense. They do what they do, few can stop it. The line wears you down, the receivers execute, the RB is world class, and they don't put Dak in the position of losing the game via confusion.

Edit. I'm not crowning Dak based on three quarters of one season. But if he carries this over next year and becomes the son of Troy Aikman, the Cowboys have him for three years for little money. If they are smart, they'll try to extend him before the rookie contract expires. But they'll still be working with a version of the Russell Wilson cap advantage that helped Seattle.

 

[TFisNEXT]

I think the Cowboys will have to get a healthy Barry Church and Morris Claiborne back to be favored against Seattle. It takes their defense up one notch to the point where it's probably going to get 4 or 5 stops per game rather than 2 or 3.

The Cowboys offense against Seattle would be a real awesome spectacle to watch. In 2014 with a healthy Romo and Demarco Murray, Dallas went into Seattle and dismantled/embarrassed that defense. They hung 30 on them and won despite 2 devastating turnovers deep in their own territory (blocked punt and another was a muffed punt catch...so not on the offense). I think this offense is similar now except it is Dak and Zeke instead of Romo and Murray. But that dominant O-line might be even better and they still have the good receiving corps.

So while Seattle has an awesome defense, I'm not really convinced they would stop Dallas very much. It's the Cowboys defense that is the weak link.

 

[dcmissle]

Brady wasn't a rookie but he was a first year starter I don't think there is enough of a difference to say a rookie can't win. Dak is in the nut offensive spot for a rookie starter, A+ running game and OL and a strong WR corps with complimentary skill sets. The offense isn't likely to be a problem with Dallas barring injury. The defense is starting to leak though, that performance yesterday was on the same level as the one the Pats got trashed for two weeks ago and they weren't much better in the Steelers game.

+1.

Would add that although I have not crunched the numbers, and the game has changed in 15 years, my sense is that Dak is playing as well, or better, than Brady did in "01. So he projects at least as well through February. And although I would take the 01 Pats' defense over this Dallas crew, the Dallas offense is vastly more talented than what Brady had at his disposal 15 years ago.

 

[mwonow]

+1.

Would add that although I have not crunched the numbers, and the game has changed in 15 years, my sense is that Dak is playing as well, or better, than Brady did in "01. So he projects at least as well through February. And although I would take the 01 Pats' defense over this Dallas crew, the Dallas offense is vastly more talented than what Brady had at his disposal 15 years ago.

I have no dog in this fight, but the Pats win in 01 was at least a bit fluky. I think the Boys have a real shot to win it all this year, but I'm not sure the comparisons are all that important or compelling, first year/rookie QB or no

 

[pappymojo]

+1.

Would add that although I have not crunched the numbers, and the game has changed in 15 years, my sense is that Dak is playing as well, or better, than Brady did in "01. So he projects at least as well through February. And although I would take the 01 Pats' defense over this Dallas crew, the Dallas offense is vastly more talented than what Brady had at his disposal 15 years ago.

'Vastly' may be the wrong term. Not taking anything away from the Cowboys and Elliott because I think they are entirely capable of winning the Super Bowl this year, but Antowain Smith, Troy Brown, David Patten, and Kevin Faulk were really good players.

Plus, of course, Belichick.

 

[Marciano490]

I think vastly is fair. Troy and Patten were nice receivers. Dez is on a different level. Zeke is far better than Smith was, thought Faulk is a wild card in our favor. Dallas' o-line is better than that team's by a good margin too.

 

[tims4wins]

Faulk wasn't Faulk until like 2003 though. And guys like Light and Seymour were just rookies. That title was even more of a miracle than Denver last year which was a miracle in its own right

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

Faulk wasn't Faulk until like 2003 though. And guys like Light and Seymour were just rookies. That title was even more of a miracle than Denver last year which was a miracle in its own right

Yea, I remember yelling at the TV every time Faulk touched the ball. "please don't fumble, please don't fumble." he was not a great asset then.

 

[tims4wins]

In a way I think Brady had to play better than Dak this year. His o-line was middling, his receivers, backs, and TEs were a joke. The D and ST saved that team's bacon. But if you put Brady 2001 in the same offense as Dak 2016 I don't think the results would be much different.

Edit: plus of course the game has changed significantly

 

[mwonow]

In a way I think Brady had to play better than Dak this year. His o-line was middling, his receivers, backs, and TEs were a joke. The D and ST saved that team's bacon. But if you put Brady 2001 in the same offense as Dak 2016 I don't think the results would be much different.

Edit: plus of course the game has changed significantly

Hang on - Troy Brown was definitely not "a joke." He had 1199 yards receiving in 2001 (plus another 400+ in punt return yards). Dez has topped 1200 three times, but won't this year (he's got 550 in eight games, so even if he hadn't missed time earlier in this season, 1200 would have been a bit of a stretch).

To your edit re: the change in the game - total passing is up about 15% league wide (2012 vs. 2001 - couldn't find more recent stats easily) - if you make that adjustment, Troy's '01 still isn't as good as Dez's 2012 was, but it's at least in the same ballpark. And, he was the go-to-guy on a team that finished the year with a ring...

 

[dcmissle]

They had no one like Beasley -- and if you want to make Troy the Beasley comp, they had no one like Dez. Elliot -- forget it. And the Dallas o-line is incomparable.

But enough of Pats fans hijacking the Cowboys thread. Sorry.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Patriots had awesome special teams in 2001 and a pretty competent defense. The 2001 title definitely feels the most flukish out of their 4 titles and it's probably close to as flukish as the 2007 Giants title, though probably a notch below.

But yeah, the 2001 Patriots offense was not in the same ballpark as 2016 Dallas. It's kind of hard to overstate how good the Dallas offensive line is.

 

[Al Zarilla]

They had no one like Beasley -- and if you want to make Troy the Beasley comp, they had no one like Dez. Elliot -- forget it. And the Dallas o-line is incomparable.

But enough of Pats fans hijacking the Cowboys thread. Sorry.

One more, you said up above that the 'Boys stud receiver was Troy Beasley, not Dez. Some on SOSH have called him "Edelman-lite". Of course, we big homers. The Bees is having his best season, Julian not so much.

 

[dcmissle]

Beasley this year is an instrument of torture.

 

[tims4wins]

Hang on - Troy Brown was definitely not "a joke." He had 1199 yards receiving in 2001 (plus another 400+ in punt return yards). Dez has topped 1200 three times, but won't this year (he's got 550 in eight games, so even if he hadn't missed time earlier in this season, 1200 would have been a bit of a stretch).

To your edit re: the change in the game - total passing is up about 15% league wide (2012 vs. 2001 - couldn't find more recent stats easily) - if you make that adjustment, Troy's '01 still isn't as good as Dez's 2012 was, but it's at least in the same ballpark. And, he was the go-to-guy on a team that finished the year with a ring...

Yes, they had one good skill player. Antowain Smith had a very nice year with close to 1,200 yards and 4 YPC. But the skill players plus offensive line just isn't in the same stratosphere as this year's Cowboys. Just not comparable. If you say that Troy more or less equals Beasley, the Cowboys still have Dez, Witten, and Zeke, just massively more talented players than the likes of Wiggins, Patten, and Smith. The 01 Pats didn't even have a 3rd WR. Their skill position players were a joke despite Troy Brown. It would be the worst in today's NFL IMO.

 

[mwonow]

Yes, they had one good skill player. Antowain Smith had a very nice year with close to 1,200 yards and 4 YPC. But the skill players plus offensive line just isn't in the same stratosphere as this year's Cowboys. Just not comparable. If you say that Troy more or less equals Beasley, the Cowboys still have Dez, Witten, and Zeke, just massively more talented players than the likes of Wiggins, Patten, and Smith. The 01 Pats didn't even have a 3rd WR. Their skill position players were a joke despite Troy Brown. It would be the worst in today's NFL IMO.

Not the point I'm arguing. I'm just stating that calling all 01 non-Brady skill players "a joke" is inappropriately disrespectful of Troy Brown.

But yeah, sorry for the hijack, the Boys look really good this year. Hoping for a Dallas/Seattle NFCCG

 

[tims4wins]

Not the point I'm arguing. I'm just stating that calling all 01 non-Brady skill players "a joke" is inappropriately disrespectful of Troy Brown.

But yeah, sorry for the hijack, the Boys look really good this year. Hoping for a Dallas/Seattle NFCCG

Yeah I meant more collectively. And agreed about the hijack. These Boys are good

 

[Greg29fan]

I'm officially on the ledge for the first time this season. They played poorly at Minnesota and worse tonight.

Now two straight games against division leaders and I can just envision meddling Jerrah meddling in the QB situation.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

I still think they'd be better off with Romo.

 

[BigSoxFan]

I still think they'd be better off with Romo.

Dak under 200 yards for 3rd straight game. They clearly would be a better passing team with Romo but there's really no reason to go to him yet. The defense is still putting up quality performances every week and the running game is still sound. I would only go Romo if an injury knocked Zeke out because at that point you'd have no choice but to go vertical.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Dak under 200 yards for 3rd straight game. They clearly would be a better passing team with Romo but there's really no reason to go to him yet. The defense is still putting up quality performances every week and the running game is still sound. I would only go Romo if an injury knocked Zeke out because at that point you'd have no choice but to go vertical.

I sometimes think this but then I am reminded of just two seasons ago in 2014 when Romo ran the "run first" offense to perfection. This offense is starting to look way too limited in the passing game. Romo's superior vertical threat to defenses is really enticing.

But obviously changing QBs is something you have to really think hard about. This late in the season it is likely to be your move for the playoffs, so the decision can't be too reactionary. I do think they will very seriously consider it though if Dak has another turd against Tampa Bay.

 

[Bosoxen]

Now two straight games against division leaders and I can just envision meddling Jerrah meddling in the QB situation.

There's no need to envision it. He's already doing it.

"I think Romo is going to get his opportunity," Jones said. "I don't want it to happen. But I think he may get his opportunity to get us a Super Bowl. While that's a mixed bag when I think about it — that means you don't have Dak out there — but it means, what a story, one for the ages, if he'd step in there and this year help us win a Super Bowl on the field with his skill. That can happen here. We're not talking about a bus driver out there. We're talking about a guy who can go out there and move our team."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jerry-jones-tony-romo-play-part-cowboys-super-bowl-run-article-1.2903930

 

[Flunky]

That is the team I hate them losing to most because I have to hear about it all the next day. The Giants did a great job of limiting extra yards on those short outs.

Even if the offense is looking a little weak in the passing dept. the defense has looked quite strong lately.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

Dak seems competent as a QB, but Romo is an assassin.

The Dallas offense seems so conservative. It almost doesn't matter because that OL is just so talented and so they're going to move the ball on the ground and in the air, but I really really think it would be outrageous with Romo back there. Assuming Romo is still Romo.

And I can't fault the way things have unfolded. There's more to being the QB than just what happens on the field and I get that. And it would be really difficult to make a change in the midst of a long winning streak. It's a challenging situation.

 

[21st Century Sox]

Last night I thought the Giants schemed very well on defense. Very impressed with Cowboys D as well....Lee is a beast. I think Romo has a better night last night if all things were equal, but they are not. I think Romo would need weeks of games to get to where Dak is now. I would exchange Dak's mobility for Romo's progressions and accuracy....I think at this point though the cake is baked. It would be asking A LOT to have Romo step in beginning next week, and really, Dak has been exceptional....you can't pull the guy after a bad game, and one where the opposing defense was running at 100MPH....

 

[NYCSox]

I sometimes think this but then I am reminded of just two seasons ago in 2014 when Romo ran the "run first" offense to perfection. This offense is starting to look way too limited in the passing game. Romo's superior vertical threat to defenses is really enticing.

But obviously changing QBs is something you have to really think hard about. This late in the season it is likely to be your move for the playoffs, so the decision can't be too reactionary. I do think they will very seriously consider it though if Dak has another turd against Tampa Bay.

I think this is right. Another bad game from Prescott should give Garrett an out to make the switch. And then Romo has two full games to shake off any rust and get ready for the playoffs.

 

[Erik Hanson's Hook]

Some pretty mundane quarterbacks have won Super Bowls, like Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Trent Dilfer and Mark Rypien.

None of those players were true rookies, and each had years of experience reading NFL defenses, dealing with the media, playing a longer schedule, etc

Brady wasn't a rookie but he was a first year starter I don't think there is enough of a difference to say a rookie can't win.

+1.

I believe there's a big difference. Watching and learning the offense behind Bledsoe for a year was important. Does true rookie Brady still get it done in '01 without that experience?

Heck, no rookie QB has even made it to the Super Bowl, and only four have led their teams to conference title games (Shaun King in 1999, Roethlisberger in 2004, Flacco in 2008 and Sanchez in 2009).

I'm not trying to hate on Dak. I love his game and personality. Just saying that history is not on his side.

 

[Stitch01]

Not enough to make a blanket statement that a rookie quarterback can't win, no. There's a massive selection bias involved in that stat.

I mean, Dak probably won't win the Super Bowl just like every other team won't win the Super Bowl. That said, for me this goes right in the "the Pats have no chance to win because of their defense" category of logically nonsensical hot takes. Of course the Cowboys have a chance to win the Super Bowl even though Dak is a rookie. They're 11-2 with two last second losses to another pretty good team, are probably going to have homefield for the playoffs, and every other team in the league is flawed to some extent.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Last night I thought the Giants schemed very well on defense. Very impressed with Cowboys D as well....Lee is a beast. I think Romo has a better night last night if all things were equal, but they are not. I think Romo would need weeks of games to get to where Dak is now. I would exchange Dak's mobility for Romo's progressions and accuracy....I think at this point though the cake is baked. It would be asking A LOT to have Romo step in beginning next week, and really, Dak has been exceptional....you can't pull the guy after a bad game, and one where the opposing defense was running at 100MPH....

I think this is prob selling Romo quite a bit short. The guy knows the Cowboys offense like the back of his hand, he's been in Garrett's system for 10 years. He's seen pretty much every defense these divisional opponents throw at them. I don't think it would take long for him to be ready. He's been healthy for a month now, so it's probably safe to assume he's not favoring anything from a physical standpoint.

I have a hard team believing that Romo leading that offense last night only scores 7 points.

Also, Dak has had two bad games in a row now...not just one. I don't think you bench him now, but you have to think about it seriously if he lays another egg against TB.

 

[Greg29fan]

It's really three straight games (under 200 against both Washington and Minnesota even though the completion percentages were all right).

I'd be terrified about Romo ending up in traction every time he took a snap, but I'm less against changing than I was.

 

[Bosoxen]

It's really three straight games (under 200 against both Washington and Minnesota even though the completion percentages were all right).

I'd be terrified about Romo ending up in traction every time he took a snap, but I'm less against changing than I was.

I think this is right. Even though he was efficient in the Washington game, the passing game has sagged a bit of late. I don't know enough to determine what the cause of it is but I'm not seeing the same offense that rolled through the first two months of the season. The Giants completely eliminated the underneath stuff last night and the offense stalled out as a result.

I would not be opposed to Romo getting increased consideration (I really think the ceiling is much higher with him) but let's be fair to Prescott: Dez had probably the worst game of his career last night. He was intimately involved in three crucial turnovers and was completely shut down by Jenkins. Not that Jenkins is some slouch but if you want to be considered one of the best in the game, dropping an egg like that is completely unacceptable.

 

[TFisNEXT]

I think this is right. Even though he was efficient in the Washington game, the passing game has sagged a bit of late. I don't know enough to determine what the cause of it is but I'm not seeing the same offense that rolled through the first two months of the season. The Giants completely eliminated the underneath stuff last night and the offense stalled out as a result.

I would not be opposed to Romo getting increased consideration (I really think the ceiling is much higher with him) but let's be fair to Prescott: Dez had probably the worst game of his career last night. He was intimately involved in three crucial turnovers and was completely shut down by Jenkins. Not that Jenkins is some slouch but if you want to be considered one of the best in the game, dropping an egg like that is completely unacceptable.

Dez seems to disappear just a bit too often these days to be considered a top WR in the game...I mean, he's certainly talented enough, but the 1 or 2 catch games just aren't going to get it done.

Him and Dak have never really been in sync though...even when Dez has had his big games this year. I do wonder if there would be an explosion of performance by Dez if Romo returned to the lineup. I also agree the ceiling is higher with Romo in there. It's hard to take Prescott out when you win 11 in a row, so obviously you don't make a move. But after a total stinker last night that was a big reason for losing, I think the pressure is on for Dak to look good next week.

Romo said it during his press conference a month ago, the game is a meritocracy. If Dak continues to struggle, there really isn't a good reason to keep Romo on the sideline. This isn't a situation where you have an unknown backup QB or one that doesn't have a high ceiling.

 

[Bosoxen]

Dez seems to disappear just a bit too often these days to be considered a top WR in the game...I mean, he's certainly talented enough, but the 1 or 2 catch games just aren't going to get it done.

Agreed. Especially when the one catch leads to what essentially turned out to be the game-ending fumble. I know the QB gets the lion's share of the attention but I don't like that Dez isn't catching enough flak for his performance. My wife turned to me after the fumble and with a straight face said, "It's almost like someone paid him off." He was that bad.

 

[Stitch01]

I think Romo is a criminally underrated and underappreciated quarterback and that it is entirely possible the ceiling for this Cowboys team would ultimately be higher had Romo come back as the quarterback, but that ship sort of sailed for this season and for the right reasons. Dak earned the job with his performance. I dont think a couple of down games in tough spots (a road game rematch against a division opponent, statistically a spot where passing games underperform, and a Thursday road game at Minnesota) change that all that much (if it does then Romo should have been the QB a month ago)

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I think the key issue is Romo's actual current ability, which is almost impossible to have insight into as a fan. The guy has played four games in the last two seasons and those four games weren't that impressive. Examples like Brady/Manning/Brees aside, Romo is at an age where a lot of QBs have started to show severe regression in their play.

You can't really know until you put him into games. But I think there is a pretty good chance he stinks it up. So part of the calculation has to be how you think Prescott would respond to getting benched and then being called upon again in the playoffs, because that is a pretty plausible scenario.

 

[EP Sox Fan]

I think the key issue is Romo's actual current ability, which is almost impossible to have insight into as a fan. The guy has played four games in the last two seasons and those four games weren't that impressive. Examples like Brady/Manning/Brees aside, Romo is at an age where a lot of QBs have started to show severe regression in their play.

You can't really know until you put him into games. But I think there is a pretty good chance he stinks it up. So part of the calculation has to be how you think Prescott would respond to getting benched and then being called upon again in the playoffs, because that is a pretty plausible scenario.

That's the biggest problem that I see. He hasn't taken a snap in a game in over a year and really didn't play much at all last season after breaking his collarbone in Philly and again on Thanksgiving against the Panthers. There's no way he's going to be ready for the speed of a regular season game if he takes Dak's place. Imagine the shitshow if he throws three picks in the first half like he did the last time he came back from a long period on the sidelines (vs. SF in first game of the season in 2014). A healthy Romo who has regular season reps under his belt is very likely the superior QB for this team. While he's healthy, his lack of game reps is a problem. The Giants had an excellent game plan last night and it was clear that Dak was completely flustered from the word go. When the running game got shut down in the second half, he couldn't pick up the offense on his own.

A few weeks ago, Dez ripped Chris Carter for the his criticism of Dez's route running. I'm pretty sure Chris Carter is right. Dez is successful due to his freakish athleticism. If he worked on his route running, specifically his breaks and feints, he could be unstoppable. I love watching Witten, the guy is a master of creating separation despite his age. You'd think Dez could learn a thing or two from a TE who has an amazing ability to get open despite not having the same amazing athletic ability. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that Dez even sees that as a problem or has the desire to learn. IMO, that's why he can disappear in games for long stretches.

Offenses recent struggles have come against a couple of pretty solid defensive units the Vikings are good and the Giants have turned the corner. Tampa Bay's defense is presently playing pretty darn well at the moment. This weekend's game is looking mighty important as a barometer on where Prescott's head is. He just took a dump on prime time national tv against a divisional rival. There's going to be a lot of Romo chatter this week as well. Let's see how he responds his first real test before calling all hands on deck.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

Cowboys have asked NFL to investigate Giants’ use of unregulated radio:

https://www.all22.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-asked-nfl-to-investigate-giants-use-of-unregulated-radio?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Bosoxen]

Cowboys have asked NFL to investigate Giants’ use of unregulated radio:

https://www.all22.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-asked-nfl-to-investigate-giants-use-of-unregulated-radio?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Part of me thinks this really isn't a big deal and that it factored in no way to the result last night. Another part of me thinks this is a slippery slope issue that needs to be nipped in the bud fucking immediately.

The remaining part thinks it's tragically hilarious that they would do such a thing on national television less than a week after blowing the whistle on Pittsburgh for ball inflation levels. The fucking balls on those guys.

 

[Marciano490]

Part of me thinks this really isn't a big deal and that it factored in no way to the result last night. Another part of me thinks this is a slippery slope issue that needs to be nipped in the bud fucking immediately.

The remaining part thinks it's tragically hilarious that they would do such a thing on national television less than a week after blowing the whistle on Pittsburgh for ball inflation levels. The fucking balls on those guys.

The only thing that could make the NFL more fun is if it turns into a league of tattletales. I don't even know if I'm being sarcastic. Part of me relishes the idea.