There's a world of difference between "winnable" and "won". Especially when the equation includes AJ Green and the Dallas defense. That defense has a tendency to make average QBs look otherworldly, which Andy Dalton is certainly capable of doing against such a terrible pass defense. Were I a betting man, I would not bet a penny on the Cowboys in that game.A home game against a mediocre Bengals team is absolutely winnable. I expect the Cowboys to win that one and lose in Lambeau. And if Dez doesn't play, they may be able to win in Lambeau as well
They are lucky to have Leary as the backup. He'd probably be starting on any other team, and of course he was the starter in 2014 when Murray ran wild. The line has been pretty deep the past few years. They had Parnell as a backup too before he got that big contract in Jacksonville.Collins did have to have surgery on his toe and went on IR - out at least eight weeks.
That's not at all how I interpreted what happened in the 4th quarter. Yes, they scored two touchdowns but the defense caused them to die the death of a thousand papercuts on their second TD drive. Rather than scoring quickly and having enough clock left for a last-gasp attempt at salvaging the game, they scored with under three minutes left and no prayer, had they even recovered the onside kick.For the first three quarters yesterday, before the predictable fourth quarter letdown, I thought that was about as good as this team can possibly play. They even managed to get heat on the QB all day, which was stunning, and Terrance Williams looked halfway decent.
However, I assume Romo-related distractions and shenanigans are about to kick into full gear, plus a trip to GB, so we'll see how the kids respond.
We'll find out a lot abut Dak in the GB game. On the road, tough defense, etc, etc. IF he plays well and they win, there's definitely going to be a huge QB controversy. Big if though.That's not at all how I interpreted what happened in the 4th quarter. Yes, they scored two touchdowns but the defense caused them to die the death of a thousand papercuts on their second TD drive. Rather than scoring quickly and having enough clock left for a last-gasp attempt at salvaging the game, they scored with under three minutes left and no prayer, had they even recovered the onside kick.
Terrance Williams, despite his terrific game, continues to make stupid decisions at every turn. On the Prescott fumble, he had a clear shot at recovering the fumble but, rather than falling on the ball, he decided to try to pick up the ball and run with it while he had a defender on his back. The guy is simply incapable of making good decisions.
I hate that people are making me side with Jerry Jones. Yes, Prescott's success thus far gives them a little more leeway for easing Romo back. Yes, Prescott gives them an element that Romo doesn't have. But Romo is still one of the better quarterbacks in the league - when healthy, of course. The last time he was healthy, the Cowboys went 12-4 and came within a breath of the NFC Championship Game. I'm getting excited about the future with Prescott but we're still talking about a rookie with five games of experience who has not yet faced a top 10 defense (by DVOA) but is staring down the barrel of three in the next four games. I think maybe people need to tap the brakes just a tad on the Prescottmania.
Your problem is that you're approaching this from a logical perspective. The fact that you said the bolded shows the disconnect between you - and me - and the drooling masses. People don't want Prescott to take over because he's played a few good games. People want Prescott to take over because they've bought into the narrative that Romo is a choker and is the sole reason the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in the 11 years since he became a starter.We'll find out a lot abut Dak in the GB game. On the road, tough defense, etc, etc. IF he plays well and they win, there's definitely going to be a huge QB controversy. Big if though.
It's easy to forget the Cowboys are 15-4 when Romo starts the past 2 seasons. His knock is health, not how good he is. If he's healthy, he's going to be really good. For the Cowboys, it's probably a good problem to have. At least they know if Romo gets knocked out again, they have a legit backup.
I mean, you would have thought that the past couple seasons have dispelled that narrative for anyone who still was holding out that it was Romo, and not the atrocious O-line/D-lines, that were holding them back. I guess some people are still living in 2008.Your problem is that you're approaching this from a logical perspective. The fact that you said the bolded shows the disconnect between you - and me - and the drooling masses. People don't want Prescott to take over because he's played a few good games. People want Prescott to take over because they've bought into the narrative that Romo is a choker and is the sole reason the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in the 11 years since he became a starter.
When viewed through that lens, it's easy to see why people are ready to send Romo packing. I even heard on local sports talk radio (I know, I know) yesterday the suggestion that the Cowboys trade away Romo and Dez. Just because Terrance Williams had one good game does not give a team license to trade away one of the best receivers in the league - headache though he might be. This is the kind of shit I have to deal with over here.
It should come as no surprise that a not insignificant number of Cowboys fans are likely Trump supporters. That lot doesn't care about that pesky little thing known as "facts".I mean, you would have thought that the past couple seasons have dispelled that narrative for anyone who still was holding out that it was Romo, and not the atrocious O-line/D-lines, that were holding them back. I guess some people are still living in 2008.
On a side note, I am surprised how polished Zeke looks. He's learning really fast, even just looking at him from his first game or two versus the past couple. He's in pretty rarified air for a rookie RB. He really showed his explosiveness in splitting the DBs on that 60 yard TD run against Cinci.
Amazingly, the Giants look like the worst team. I bet most people didn't predict that. Their offense looks shockingly inept. I (and probably many others) figured their defense would be the weak link, perhaps taking a while to gel with their new signings. While the defense hasn't been that good, they are probably playing better than the offense.I told you guys you would like Zeke. While he has a ten cent head in a lot of ways, he is very football smart in addition to his sick athleticism. From what I saw of the Cowboys game on Sunday he seems to really make good decisions around when to use power vs. finesse, seems to know when to follow the block and when to use his turbo acceleration for 2-3 yards of pure burst to get into the open field, and he doesn't seem to be confused by anything going on at all.....which were pretty much the traits he showed for the Buckeyes over and over again.
Ummmm......the NFC East may be a decent division this year...........
Agreed. Or running backs not shifting the ball to their outside arms........That game in Philly on 1/1 keeps getting bigger and bigger. With every game Minnesota wins, it gets more and more important to win the East to ensure that a playoff berth doesn't fall to tie breakers affected by some fluke play - like, say, Terrance Williams not getting his stupid ass out of bounds.
There's still an eternity to go until that 1/1 game seems relevant...though I admit having stared at it a couple times already on the calendar already in the past two weeks.That game in Philly on 1/1 keeps getting bigger and bigger. With every game Minnesota wins, it gets more and more important to win the East to ensure that a playoff berth doesn't fall to tie breakers affected by some fluke play - like, say, Terrance Williams not getting his stupid ass out of bounds.
Yeah, exactly like that. Doing it at home against a division opponent (who might possibly end up the door mat) hurts a little more but the conference opponent is still a punch in the nuts.Agreed. Or running backs not shifting the ball to their outside arms........
Lifelong fan here back to Staubach....and I definitely do not buy into the above narrative.Your problem is that you're approaching this from a logical perspective. The fact that you said the bolded shows the disconnect between you - and me - and the drooling masses. People don't want Prescott to take over because he's played a few good games. People want Prescott to take over because they've bought into the narrative that Romo is a choker and is the sole reason the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in the 11 years since he became a starter.
When viewed through that lens, it's easy to see why people are ready to send Romo packing. I even heard on local sports talk radio (I know, I know) yesterday the suggestion that the Cowboys trade away Romo and Dez. Just because Terrance Williams had one good game does not give a team license to trade away one of the best receivers in the league - headache though he might be. This is the kind of shit I have to deal with over here.
I have no insight into his psyche, but I don't think "make one mistake and you get replaced by the veteran" is a good thing for his development.While I prefer Prescott to never struggle, like any rookie, I expect that at some point he will. That is when I would look to make a change.
Why would the team morale suffer in going back to Romo?Lifelong fan here back to Staubach....and I definitely do not buy into the above narrative.
I am a big Romo fan, but the QB position IS a legitimate issue now. Prescott has obviously surpassed all expectations, and while perhaps a simpler schemed offense, he has run things perfectly to date. Elloitt has been a huge factor, IMO in letting the offense be extremely flexible. Making a QB change has a monster impact on an offense. My thoughts have morphed to "please keep the Cowboys relevant until Romo can come back" to "keep it rolling". (I worry about team morale on making a change, but really have no way of quantifying if that would be an issue at all)
While I prefer Prescott to never struggle, like any rookie, I expect that at some point he will. That is when I would look to make a change. If Prescott plays well vs Green Bay, (win or lose) I would run him out there for the next game. And the next, and so on. If he does not stumble? Yeah, then it is his team.
It sucks for Romo.
I think this is really the crux of the matter that people either don't see or refuse to see. Romo's struggles occurred when the team completely and utterly ignored the offensive line. Once they got one and were able to establish a running game, Romo no longer felt the need to win games single-handedly - which always has been and always will be a recipe for disaster for a QB.The funny part is the way the Cowboys are succeeding right now is exactly how they succeeded in 2014. Guess who was QB that season? If anything, Elliot is probably more dynamic than Demarco Murray was. Put Romo back into that offense and the running for Elliot probably gets easier and not harder.
I could not agree more with this, which is why this situation is so sticky and needs to be handled delicately. The moment you make Prescott look over his shoulder you've already set him up to fail. The same could be said for Romo if/when he returns as the starter. He's going to be extremely rusty and he needs to be given time to readjust to the speed of the game.I have no insight into his psyche, but I don't think "make one mistake and you get replaced by the veteran" is a good thing for his development.
I have no idea if a QB change would have an effect on morale, but I can see it. There could be a huge chunk of vets loving the energy from these two rookies. I did say I have no way of quantifying. Maybe I am wrong, and 3/4 of the team is dying for Romo to come back. I am just saying you have to team dynamics.Why would the team morale suffer in going back to Romo?
Unless he's not healthy (and if he isn't then he won't be starting), Romo is going to be a superior quarterback. He reads defenses better, he throws the ball down field better, and understands the Cowboys playbook better. I'm not knocking Dak, he's been awesome, but I really don't get the logic in the team all of the sudden getting all down and depressed when the QB that has led them to a 15-4 record over the past couple seasons returns.
The funny part is the way the Cowboys are succeeding right now is exactly how they succeeded in 2014. Guess who was QB that season? If anything, Elliot is probably more dynamic than Demarco Murray was. Put Romo back into that offense and the running for Elliot probably gets easier and not harder.
Witten was classy in his response. Said Bennett was a great player and he thought he would succeed in New England. Didn't even respond to the part about Bennett saying he hated him.Note from Pat's fan --
Bennett is really weak taking a run at Jason Witten. Witten is a HOFer . Bennett is not. End of story.
Bennett -- you could not crack the lineup in Dallas. Get your own help.
Shouldn't be a controversy. Should be Dak's job going forward.Nice job again today. Now the Romo circus commences.
I think this is a bit harsh.My big takeaway from that game was that Prescott, for the first time all season, looked like a rookie. He put the ball on the ground twice - losing one - and threw a really bad interception. And yet they still won the game. Part of that may have been a function of Rodgers looking like garbage and missing wide open receivers all day but credit where credit is due: the defense forced four turnovers of their own.
If Romo were to be cleared to resume full activities next week -- with the Cowboys coming out of their bye -- it would still essentially rule him out for Week 9. Sources said there is no expectation Romo would be active even in a backup role for the Week 9 contest vs. the Eagles
Most of the insiders who cover the team seem to think that Romo is probably going to come back against the Browns. Probably the best game for him to shake any rust off.QB controversy delayed at least one more week
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/romo-making-progress-but-is-unlikely-to-return-to-practice-after-cowboys-bye/
Yep, it would have been anarchy if he was rusty against the Eagles and they lost in primetime national TV audience. If he doesn't play against the Browns, he isn't playing at all this season (minus an injury to Dak Prescott). There's zero reason to hold him out beyond Cleveland if they were planning on playing him. All reports are that he is healed...he just needs to "officially" get back to practice now, and that is something they didn't want to do until he is named the starter and taking snaps with the first team. So they have to wait until after Philly to do that.Yeah, that's the game that makes the most sense. Low pressure, crappy opponent and it removes any semblance of the dreaded "trap game" due to the emphasis on ensuring Romo knocks off the rust.
If Romo is to play this season, independent of an injury necessitating it, this game is it. If he doesn't play against Cleveland, I'm comfortable in officially declaring the Wally Pipping of Romo.
Brian Baldinger is so stupid it hurts. He is everything that is wrong with "I played the game!!!" football commentators and this is just another huge data point in support of that hypothesis.So Brian Baldinger calls a Philly radio show and suggests that the Eagles should put a bounty out on Elliott. Kidding or not, that's a really fucking stupid thing to say.
http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2016/10/28/nfl-analyst-former-cowboy-brian-baldinger-says-philly-put-bounty-ezekiel-elliott
He's gotta be rusty as fuck, though. He hasn't played any meaningful amount of time in over a year. Even Cleveland would have been somewhat unreasonable.
Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens.