Dallas wins wild shootout in Big D!!
September 16, 2008 by Glenn Stants
Filed under Cowboys, NFL Football
How do I start a blog after a game like that last night? I will try my best. Last night I was comfortable on my couch watching what I will call a great pre-game put on by ESPN covered by TSN here in Canada. ESPN hyped the game out like it was for the Super Bowl which I just loved from start to finish.
So we all know by now that the Dallas Cowboys won 41-37 over the Philadelphia Eagles in the last Monday night game ever in Texas Stadium.  First off,  I really thought the game was as close as the score showed. When Dallas floundered at times but so did the Eagles and back and forth the score went.
I am not going to key in on stats for the re-cap blog on this game but more focus will be on what the Cowboys did in sealing the win. I will call it key notes to the Cowboys victory.
–RB, Marion Barber, sore ribs, where? He played with every amount of intensity last night and was KEY to the Cowboy victory.
–RB Return Specialis Felix Jones, showed some signs of greatness in his 98 yard kick-off run back for a TD but also blundered a kick-off which could have been a lot worse than it was.
–QB Tony Romo, everyone is going to start to call this guy ‘wonderboy’, he does what he has to do to win the game. He took responsibility of his INT and fumble while leading the Cowboys back to get the win when it mattered most. He got the job done which is putting Romo in the elite as far as NFL QB’s go.
–WR  Terrell Owens, played great and even though he was a non-factor in the 2nd half, he was a huge factor in the end result which is the score. Congrats also to TO for passing Chris Carter for 2nd all time on the TD reception list.
–TE  Jason Witten, well we all know he is my favourite and he continues to catch key passes, block and show why he is among one of the best tight ends in the league today. Witten left at one point during the game and still comes in with 7 receptions and over 100 yards receiving, hmmm……..not too bad if I say so myself.
Although the Cowboys were praising their defence, I am going to do the opposite before I praise them. Sure the Cowboys put 41 points on the board, they won which is the ultimate praise but: McNabb and Westbrook moved the ball at times with ease. Where I will praise the Dallas D is they shut down the Eagles when it mattered most which was in the red zone and in the 4th quarter. Nothing negative against the Dallas D but there are holes which have to be looked at in the event the Dallas Offense takes a game off.
Philadelphia really should be proud of themselves and although I am NOT a Philly fan, if the Eagles stay healthy they should be able to get themselves into the post-season and give themselves a legit chance to contend in the playoffs.Â
Something I want to comment on from last nights game and this is out of a Cowboy / Philly comment but as a whole and I will hope some of you give your suggestions on this.  We all saw Philly WR DeShean Jackson drop the ball before he reached the end zone, yes we all know he wanted to gloat on his way to his first professional TD. The whistle blew, one official signalled a TD which now gives no Cowboy any reason to go and grab the ball, touch the ball. Dallas challenges the play, they win and as a result no TD but it ends up being Philly ball at the Dallas 1 yard line and well we all know the result which was a Westbrook TD. Here is where I want some input. I say, due to the whistle and TD signal, Jackson should have been given a 15 yard penalty for un-sportsmanlike and Philly could of got the ball at the Dallas 15 yard line. Once they replaced the ball at the one yard line, they might as well of given Philly the original TD. Is there a rule?  If so I would like to know and or any other suggestions on what the NFL could of done in that situation as giving the ball to Philly at the one yard line was not what I thought was the right decision. Questions, what if Dallas did pick up the ball? Possibly run it back for a Dallas TD?  Hmmm, it makes you wonder.
Other official mistakes last night and again, some comments on this is encouraged. As an official, if you cannot clearly see a pass interference penalty then don’t call it, end of story. NFL teams have a play I am sure they call “lets get an interference call by throwing the ball up for grabs” and it happens even though the play I am talking about was clearly holding on the Philly WR. I will admit to the officials missing two clear face-masking calls on the Cowboys which should have been two 15 yard penalties against the Cowboys. I know football is one of the hardest sports to officiate but even with instant replay, lets try to get it right. It would make the game that much better!.
Adam Jones is still showing some signs of rust after being away from football for so long. So far in the two Cowboy wins this year, I will go as far as saying A. Jones has been a non-factor.Â
Cowboy draft choice Mike Jenkins made an awesome defensive play clearly saving a TD by getting his hand on a bomb which should get him some extra playing time and now especially with Roy Williams out a month or so with an arm injury.
Comments, questions, concerns and input is always encouraged!
‘Stantsy’
Dallas in Favre-less Green Bay, Lambeau field Sunday night, see ya later on in the week.
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Last post (s) by Glenn Stants
- Here we go again-----Cowboy season over!! - December 30th, 2008
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- Dallas gobbles on some Thanksgiving Seahawk - November 28th, 2008
- Dallas to feast on some bird, Seahawk style - November 27th, 2008
- Back to back wins for the Cowboys - November 25th, 2008
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September 16th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Nice detailed blog Glenn!
As for Dallas, I am not sold on this team at all. I have said this over and over, the clubhouse atmosphere in Dallas will catch up to them.
Their defense has massive holes and quite honestly will get eaten up by the AFC stronger teams.
September 17th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Glenn, that shouldn’t result in a 15 yard penalty because they all thought it was a touchdown and when the whistle blew thus making the play done when that happened. Unless he went to a Chad Johnson type dance or celebration it won’t result in a penalty ever.
Your walking a fine line there. As per NFL rules which I suggested on the Denver blog once the whistle is blown it is dead right then and there and anything that happens after does not matter. That it is a rule that will be looked at but as far as them find a way to tweak it for what Jackson did will be hard to do.
I think Jackson should watch Marvin Harrison when he scores. Just hand the ball to the ref and move on to the next play.
September 17th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Thanks James. I agree that it will be difficult to look at any type of penalty and Jackson should take a page out of Harrison/Rice as to what to do after you score (all great WR’s). I guess out of frustration I was looking for what others thought and input as to if there ever could be a tweek if something like that ever happens again and we know it will. Certainly the Denver senerio is harsher as to final outcome as clearly that was Charger ball which I think last night the officiating crew agreed to. I know the officials have one of the hardest jobs out there on the field but they also have the resources to make the right decision. Anyway, NFL season if off to a great start.
September 17th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I never mind a player celebrating if say it’s a game winning play or wins you the division, conference, or super bowl. Not in the 2nd quarter of the 2nd game of the year. At that point there was so much game left to be played to be doing all that.
Yes he has amazed even people in Philly with how he has done in the 2 games so far but he is for sure not in the mold of players that have been under Andy Reid.
I am sure the NFL will also look into doing something in regards to the Jackson situation if the end result of a play looks as if it is a touchdown. Maybe they do as you suggest flag them for 15 yards and still let them keep the ball.
My guess is to the Chargers/Broncos game is the refs again will be told to let the plays happen especially in the last 2 minutes when a team can’t challenge anything and say that if its clearly a fumble that it will be allowed to be over turned or something.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:24 am
What an exciting game ! Defence must get better.. 37 points is too much to be giving up to McNabb and his backup receivers!
There were more flags in that game than a boy scout parade.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:26 am
As much as I and many people in Philly can’t stand them not having a legit #1 receiver they continue to show me that they and other teams can get by just fine if they use what they have in the right situations and in the right offense.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Well Glenn. It looks like a mirror image of last seasons defence!! NOT VERY GOOD!!! When it really counts,they will see the same result! Close but no Super bowl appearance! You do have some exellent points!! GO Toronto Bills!!!!!!
September 17th, 2008 at 11:27 am
comments, questions, concerns, I like the input from everyone although no mention of the officiating from those that watched the game and perticular the Eagles, D. Jackson dropping the ball on the one. I see a Toronto Bills fan has ’stepped to the plate’, welcome to Dallas spags……Go Cowboys….certainly as James says and maybe linking to this comment, the Cowboys have so many weapons right now on offence that stopping them week after week is going to be real tough….
September 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I agree budsgal and well I would like to see the Cowboys defense get a little stronger although if the boys are going to continue to score 40+ points per game, the D did show up when it counted and they did get the W.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:41 am
At one point I thought Dallas was going to have to beat the refs as well, with that lousy shirt holding call … but like you said Dallas had that face mask holding incident that went uncalled … Glenn, you have an “Eagle” eye!
September 17th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
You can mention the refs damn near every game Glenn, It’s almost if not already like beating a dead horse.
There will always be questionable calls, bad calls, and missed calls.
And Budsgal they missed 2 face mask calls on Dallas alone when they tackled Westbrook. But bottom line is you either make plays when you have to or you don’t, the Cowboys did that when it mattered the most and the Eagles didn’t.
Glenn no worries, let’s not forget the Giants gave up 40 points in each of their first 2 games last year and got it together and won the super bowl so it is possible for things to be addressed and worked out.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
agreed and I really do appreciate the officiating in professional sports with the games/sports getting faster and faster almost daily.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I just hope they don’t give any superstar treatment and let things slide more if one does something that is not considered a superstar.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:42 am
It was an exciting game I agree but Dallas is going NO WHERE with the deffence they have and mcNab had all day to throw. Against a better defence they would have lost this game.