| This site created and maintained by Jeremy Dunklin. cowboy-fan.com is in no way affiliated with the NFL or the Dallas Cowboys. All material on this site is copyrighted 2007 cowboys-fan.com |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Latest News
!-- Begin Poll4You.com Html Code -->
2007 SCHEDULE
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
| Cowboy's Trivia Question of the Week! Who is the oldest player on the Cowboys' roster? Last Week's Answer: Danny White |
Cowboys vs. Giants Part Three Preview
I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for this game. I'm
getting so tired of hearing the build up for this game. Judging by
the experts, Dallas might as well not even show up Sunday. We are
going to be overwhelmed by a superior Giants team.
Sarcasm aside, does all this Cowboys bashing sound familiar. It
should. This is the same things we heard before our second
meeting. The Giants were coming in riding a six game winning
streak after losing their first two games. Most media analysts had
them beating the Cowboys and staking claim as the best team in the
NFC. We heard for a week about how we were playing a different
team with an improved defense.
Their defense was better allowing 31 points instead of 45. The
problem, our defense was even better allowing only 20 points. It is
pretty clear after two games who the better team is.
I would go on to argue that the only team that can beat the
Cowboys this weekend are the Cowboys. The Giants can't do it.
They've proved it this season. Those two games weren't flukes.
Now obviously if we come out flat against the Giants and play badly
on offense we could lose, but it isn't anything the Giants can do. If
Owens doesn't play that could change, but he is playing. He
practiced today with a slight limp. Plaxico Burress didn't practice all
season because of a sprained ankle and he hasn't missed a game.
I don't think our offense will have any problems against the Giants
as long as Terrell Owens plays. I don't buy the notion that our
offense will struggle. We looked great against Carolina before
Owens injury. That game was well on its way to being a blowout.
That performance showed the Philly game was just a bad one for
Romo and the Washington game was meaningless. I expect our
offense to come out and score big points.
I'm just ready for this game. I'm annoyed with all the media
coverage so I know the players have to be. They looked flat
against Washington, but I doubt they will have problems getting up
for the first home play-off game in Dallas in eleven years. You
would think the Giants a team who was 0-2 against Dallas, 5-5 in
their last ten games, and 1-2 in their last three games was the
second coming of the Patriots if you have been listening to the
media this week. They have the momentum. They lost to the Pats
and beat a sorry Tampa Bay team with a worse record. Tampa has
the worst offensive line and passing game I've seen in a play-off
team in awhile. That isn't momentum and even if it was, Washington
carried its momentum real far in the play-offs. Perceived
momentum can be a curse as those teams are usually mentally and
physically exhausted.
The Jessica Simpson Mexico thing is ridiculous. Mexico is an hour
and a half from Dallas. He went there with Jason Witten and Bobby
Carpenter. Wade wanted his players to sit back and watch the
play-off games. There is no difference between that and going
home to Wisconsin for Romo as Mexico is actually closer.
I'm not going into great detail about the individual match ups like I
often do for big games. Like I said earlier, we are the better team it
is just a matter of executing. On paper we are clearly the better
team.
On offense, we will torch the New York Giants in the passing game.
They stop opposing offenses with their great front four. They can
take over a game with their fearsome rushers. Problem is, they
can't get a hand on Tony Romo. He is too slippery and our
offensive line is too good. Their defense relies on that pressure to
have average pass defense and without it they get torched.
They played the Pats tough, but they still allowed 38 points. We will
put 30 on them for the third time this season. They key will be
running the ball. We have struggled to run the ball down the stretch
and that has to change. This is the play-offs so no more getting
cute splitting the carries. Marion Barber has had success against
the Giants and he needs to have more success Sunday. We aren't
going to run all over them, but we need over 100 yards rushing if we
want to win the game.
On defense, we match up well against the Giants. Eli played well
against us this season so even if he is improved (he isn't) it doesn't
matter because he played well against us to begin with. It isn't like
we won both games because he threw a bunch of interceptions.
The biggest weapon they have to use against us is Jeremy Shockey
and he is out for the year. Kevin Boss is decent, but he is no
Shockey. They have good receivers, but I think we have the
corners to limit their effectiveness of a hobbled Burress and an
aging Amani Toomer.
The only way the Giants will win is if they can run the ball on us. We
haven't seen Ahmad Bradshaw this season and he seems to give
them a good boost. The Giants ran effectively against us in both
games this season. We can handle effective, but we can't let them
run all over us. The Giants will need to use the running game to
stay in 3rd & short where they can convert via the pass. If we can
get them in 3rd & long they will really struggle with our rush.
I'm confident in this game. I think there will be an overwhelming
desire to prove everyone wrong. The three game sweep is hard to
do, but teams are 11-6 when attempting it. I expect us to come out
fresh and beat up on a team that is worn down from a month of
tough games. Cowboys 34, Giants 20.
I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for this game. I'm
getting so tired of hearing the build up for this game. Judging by
the experts, Dallas might as well not even show up Sunday. We are
going to be overwhelmed by a superior Giants team.
Sarcasm aside, does all this Cowboys bashing sound familiar. It
should. This is the same things we heard before our second
meeting. The Giants were coming in riding a six game winning
streak after losing their first two games. Most media analysts had
them beating the Cowboys and staking claim as the best team in the
NFC. We heard for a week about how we were playing a different
team with an improved defense.
Their defense was better allowing 31 points instead of 45. The
problem, our defense was even better allowing only 20 points. It is
pretty clear after two games who the better team is.
I would go on to argue that the only team that can beat the
Cowboys this weekend are the Cowboys. The Giants can't do it.
They've proved it this season. Those two games weren't flukes.
Now obviously if we come out flat against the Giants and play badly
on offense we could lose, but it isn't anything the Giants can do. If
Owens doesn't play that could change, but he is playing. He
practiced today with a slight limp. Plaxico Burress didn't practice all
season because of a sprained ankle and he hasn't missed a game.
I don't think our offense will have any problems against the Giants
as long as Terrell Owens plays. I don't buy the notion that our
offense will struggle. We looked great against Carolina before
Owens injury. That game was well on its way to being a blowout.
That performance showed the Philly game was just a bad one for
Romo and the Washington game was meaningless. I expect our
offense to come out and score big points.
I'm just ready for this game. I'm annoyed with all the media
coverage so I know the players have to be. They looked flat
against Washington, but I doubt they will have problems getting up
for the first home play-off game in Dallas in eleven years. You
would think the Giants a team who was 0-2 against Dallas, 5-5 in
their last ten games, and 1-2 in their last three games was the
second coming of the Patriots if you have been listening to the
media this week. They have the momentum. They lost to the Pats
and beat a sorry Tampa Bay team with a worse record. Tampa has
the worst offensive line and passing game I've seen in a play-off
team in awhile. That isn't momentum and even if it was, Washington
carried its momentum real far in the play-offs. Perceived
momentum can be a curse as those teams are usually mentally and
physically exhausted.
The Jessica Simpson Mexico thing is ridiculous. Mexico is an hour
and a half from Dallas. He went there with Jason Witten and Bobby
Carpenter. Wade wanted his players to sit back and watch the
play-off games. There is no difference between that and going
home to Wisconsin for Romo as Mexico is actually closer.
I'm not going into great detail about the individual match ups like I
often do for big games. Like I said earlier, we are the better team it
is just a matter of executing. On paper we are clearly the better
team.
On offense, we will torch the New York Giants in the passing game.
They stop opposing offenses with their great front four. They can
take over a game with their fearsome rushers. Problem is, they
can't get a hand on Tony Romo. He is too slippery and our
offensive line is too good. Their defense relies on that pressure to
have average pass defense and without it they get torched.
They played the Pats tough, but they still allowed 38 points. We will
put 30 on them for the third time this season. They key will be
running the ball. We have struggled to run the ball down the stretch
and that has to change. This is the play-offs so no more getting
cute splitting the carries. Marion Barber has had success against
the Giants and he needs to have more success Sunday. We aren't
going to run all over them, but we need over 100 yards rushing if we
want to win the game.
On defense, we match up well against the Giants. Eli played well
against us this season so even if he is improved (he isn't) it doesn't
matter because he played well against us to begin with. It isn't like
we won both games because he threw a bunch of interceptions.
The biggest weapon they have to use against us is Jeremy Shockey
and he is out for the year. Kevin Boss is decent, but he is no
Shockey. They have good receivers, but I think we have the
corners to limit their effectiveness of a hobbled Burress and an
aging Amani Toomer.
The only way the Giants will win is if they can run the ball on us. We
haven't seen Ahmad Bradshaw this season and he seems to give
them a good boost. The Giants ran effectively against us in both
games this season. We can handle effective, but we can't let them
run all over us. The Giants will need to use the running game to
stay in 3rd & short where they can convert via the pass. If we can
get them in 3rd & long they will really struggle with our rush.
I'm confident in this game. I think there will be an overwhelming
desire to prove everyone wrong. The three game sweep is hard to
do, but teams are 11-6 when attempting it. I expect us to come out
fresh and beat up on a team that is worn down from a month of
tough games. Cowboys 34, Giants 20.
2007 Season Ends In Heartbreak
Wow, I can't believe it ended like it did. We made more plays than
the Giants did, but they played mistake free football and we didn't.
This was a team loss. You can't blame it on just Tony Romo, and
you can't blame it just on the defense. In the first half, the offense
carried us and the defense let us down by allowing that TD drive
with under a minute to go. The offense let us down in the 2nd half
scoring only 3 points. The defense didn't play great, but they made
stops when they needed to in the 4th quarter. They allowed 21
points which is pretty close to their season average of 20.2. The
bottom line was, we needed to score more points.
Patrick Crayton had his worst game of the season dropping two
passes. One drop on a magnificent escape by Romo ended a
promising drive. His worst play came on the last drive of the game.
He did a great job of beating Corey Webster on a go route. He had
four yards of separation and he slowed down for some reason.
Romo threw the ball about two yards out in front of him. Romo put
the ball where it was supposed to be. Crayton just quit running.
The offensive line fell apart when we needed them most. The
Giants hurried Romo the entire 2nd half. It wasn't Romo's best
game, but at times it felt like in the 2nd half he was out there all by
himself. Guys were committing dumb penalties backing him up,
receivers were dropping passes, and his lineman were letting guys
get past them way to quickly.
The one play Romo missed on was the 3rd down play where he
missed an open Terrell Owens. He felt pressure and the ball sailed
past Owens. The play would have been a first down and maybe a
touchdown. Don't forget though this came two plays after Anthony
Fasano dropped a pass in the endzone. The four points left on the
board by these two plays were the difference.
Did anyone see T.O. after the game. Him crying was one of the
funniest things I've seen in awhile. I love the fact that he likes Romo
and seems to have matured, but it was funny nonetheless.
Penalties killed us in this game. This is a trend from the whole
season and it came back to bite us. Romo's intentional grounding
hurt. Two offsides penalties gave the Giants new life when they
would have been forced to punt, one of these instances led to their
first touchdown. False start penalties stalled an anemic 2nd half
offense.
The only head I'm calling for is special teams coach Bruce Read.
We have had consistently poor coverage and return units all year
long. They haven't cost us a game yet, but R.W. McQuarters 25
yard punt return set up a touchdown and a 45 yard kick-off return
set up another.
Other than that, expect the same team to come back next season.
We don't need to make big changes to the roster. We have the
talent to play with anyone other than the Patriots, we just have to
execute. We will probably have the same starting 22 next season if
we are able to re-sign Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin.
Are two areas of weakness are cornerback and to a much lesser
extent wide receiver. Jacques Reeves is terrible. He gave up 67 of
the yards on the late 2nd quarter touchdown drive. We basically
have two quality corners. Expect us to bring in at least two quality
corners this off-season. Free agency is a possibility, but I think we
will fill that need in the draft although that is tricky because corners
often struggle as rookies. My latest mock draft has us taking a
corner in both the 1st and 2nd round. This team has few
weaknesses so we need to really go after the ones we do have.
Our roster is so solid that I don't think more than five draft picks will
even make the team. Cornerback has two or three open spots so
why not draft a bunch of them? You could take an offensive or
defensive lineman just for diversity, but the guy would struggle to
even make the team.
Terry Glenn has likely played his last game. He was nothing special
yesterday catching two passes for 30 yards. We had an explosive
offense most of the season, but our receivers aren't great. Owens
is amazing and Crayton is solid, but we don't have much depth.
Sam Hurd is solid as well, but he and Crayton don't give you any
explosive plays. Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback have that ability,
but they are unproven. Austin got actually got open on a deep
route in the 4th quarter, but Romo couldn't find him because the
rush flushed him out of the pocket. Look for us to take a receiver
within our first three picks. We need an infusion of speed and youth
at that position. Terrell Owens is great and we will ride him into the
grave, but he won't be around forever. We won't be able to replace
him as he is too good, but we have to try and prepare for when he
isn't around as well as getting better for next year.
Marion Barber showed that he isn't just a 4th quarter wonder
starting and running for 101 yards in the first half. The offensive
line was opening up holes and he was running with a passion. He
put Antonio Pierce on of the best middle linebackers in the NFL on
his back when they met in the hole. The holes closed up in the 2nd
half and Jason Garrett got away from the run due in part to all the
penalties putting us in long distance situations.
Roy Williams needs to take a step back and look at himself. The
guy isn't the most athletic guy in the world so he will get beat in
coverage from time to time. What I can't live with is his seemingly
half-hearted effort. All he has had is his aggressiveness and that is
gone. Rodney Harrison is slower than Roy, and he will get beat in
coverage. However, Harrison is a playmaker who makes an impact.
He is aggressive and is always looking to make an impact. That is
how Roy used to play and he needs to get back to that. If he
doesn't improve we will have to look into getting rid of him because
he is really holding our secondary back.
Our front seven struggled to stop the run in the first half. We shut it
down in the 2nd half, but the damage was done. We recorded
three sacks, but we didn't have consistent pressure. Those three
sacks seemed like the only time we got close to Manning.
It was a good season, but it ended miserably. I don't think we had
enough to beat the Packers and even if we did the Patriots would
have dismantled us, but it would have nice to have gotten a first
play-off win in 11 years. It would also have been nice to get Phillips
and Romo their first play-off win. We just didn't have the momentum
going into the play-offs and it showed. We played our best football
the first three months of the season. We won't win 13 games again
next year, but we could win 11 and make it to the Super Bowl. We
have to get a little better, but don't get down, we have one of the
best young rosters in the NFL and we will be competitive for years
to come.
Wow, I can't believe it ended like it did. We made more plays than
the Giants did, but they played mistake free football and we didn't.
This was a team loss. You can't blame it on just Tony Romo, and
you can't blame it just on the defense. In the first half, the offense
carried us and the defense let us down by allowing that TD drive
with under a minute to go. The offense let us down in the 2nd half
scoring only 3 points. The defense didn't play great, but they made
stops when they needed to in the 4th quarter. They allowed 21
points which is pretty close to their season average of 20.2. The
bottom line was, we needed to score more points.
Patrick Crayton had his worst game of the season dropping two
passes. One drop on a magnificent escape by Romo ended a
promising drive. His worst play came on the last drive of the game.
He did a great job of beating Corey Webster on a go route. He had
four yards of separation and he slowed down for some reason.
Romo threw the ball about two yards out in front of him. Romo put
the ball where it was supposed to be. Crayton just quit running.
The offensive line fell apart when we needed them most. The
Giants hurried Romo the entire 2nd half. It wasn't Romo's best
game, but at times it felt like in the 2nd half he was out there all by
himself. Guys were committing dumb penalties backing him up,
receivers were dropping passes, and his lineman were letting guys
get past them way to quickly.
The one play Romo missed on was the 3rd down play where he
missed an open Terrell Owens. He felt pressure and the ball sailed
past Owens. The play would have been a first down and maybe a
touchdown. Don't forget though this came two plays after Anthony
Fasano dropped a pass in the endzone. The four points left on the
board by these two plays were the difference.
Did anyone see T.O. after the game. Him crying was one of the
funniest things I've seen in awhile. I love the fact that he likes Romo
and seems to have matured, but it was funny nonetheless.
Penalties killed us in this game. This is a trend from the whole
season and it came back to bite us. Romo's intentional grounding
hurt. Two offsides penalties gave the Giants new life when they
would have been forced to punt, one of these instances led to their
first touchdown. False start penalties stalled an anemic 2nd half
offense.
The only head I'm calling for is special teams coach Bruce Read.
We have had consistently poor coverage and return units all year
long. They haven't cost us a game yet, but R.W. McQuarters 25
yard punt return set up a touchdown and a 45 yard kick-off return
set up another.
Other than that, expect the same team to come back next season.
We don't need to make big changes to the roster. We have the
talent to play with anyone other than the Patriots, we just have to
execute. We will probably have the same starting 22 next season if
we are able to re-sign Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin.
Are two areas of weakness are cornerback and to a much lesser
extent wide receiver. Jacques Reeves is terrible. He gave up 67 of
the yards on the late 2nd quarter touchdown drive. We basically
have two quality corners. Expect us to bring in at least two quality
corners this off-season. Free agency is a possibility, but I think we
will fill that need in the draft although that is tricky because corners
often struggle as rookies. My latest mock draft has us taking a
corner in both the 1st and 2nd round. This team has few
weaknesses so we need to really go after the ones we do have.
Our roster is so solid that I don't think more than five draft picks will
even make the team. Cornerback has two or three open spots so
why not draft a bunch of them? You could take an offensive or
defensive lineman just for diversity, but the guy would struggle to
even make the team.
Terry Glenn has likely played his last game. He was nothing special
yesterday catching two passes for 30 yards. We had an explosive
offense most of the season, but our receivers aren't great. Owens
is amazing and Crayton is solid, but we don't have much depth.
Sam Hurd is solid as well, but he and Crayton don't give you any
explosive plays. Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback have that ability,
but they are unproven. Austin got actually got open on a deep
route in the 4th quarter, but Romo couldn't find him because the
rush flushed him out of the pocket. Look for us to take a receiver
within our first three picks. We need an infusion of speed and youth
at that position. Terrell Owens is great and we will ride him into the
grave, but he won't be around forever. We won't be able to replace
him as he is too good, but we have to try and prepare for when he
isn't around as well as getting better for next year.
Marion Barber showed that he isn't just a 4th quarter wonder
starting and running for 101 yards in the first half. The offensive
line was opening up holes and he was running with a passion. He
put Antonio Pierce on of the best middle linebackers in the NFL on
his back when they met in the hole. The holes closed up in the 2nd
half and Jason Garrett got away from the run due in part to all the
penalties putting us in long distance situations.
Roy Williams needs to take a step back and look at himself. The
guy isn't the most athletic guy in the world so he will get beat in
coverage from time to time. What I can't live with is his seemingly
half-hearted effort. All he has had is his aggressiveness and that is
gone. Rodney Harrison is slower than Roy, and he will get beat in
coverage. However, Harrison is a playmaker who makes an impact.
He is aggressive and is always looking to make an impact. That is
how Roy used to play and he needs to get back to that. If he
doesn't improve we will have to look into getting rid of him because
he is really holding our secondary back.
Our front seven struggled to stop the run in the first half. We shut it
down in the 2nd half, but the damage was done. We recorded
three sacks, but we didn't have consistent pressure. Those three
sacks seemed like the only time we got close to Manning.
It was a good season, but it ended miserably. I don't think we had
enough to beat the Packers and even if we did the Patriots would
have dismantled us, but it would have nice to have gotten a first
play-off win in 11 years. It would also have been nice to get Phillips
and Romo their first play-off win. We just didn't have the momentum
going into the play-offs and it showed. We played our best football
the first three months of the season. We won't win 13 games again
next year, but we could win 11 and make it to the Super Bowl. We
have to get a little better, but don't get down, we have one of the
best young rosters in the NFL and we will be competitive for years
to come.