Heartbreak

Saturday night's loss to Baltimore in the last game the Cowboys will ever play in Texas Stadium broke my heart. How, with 3:42 to play having just pulled within two points in the last game ever at Texas Stadium and desperately needing a win to boost your playoff chances, and with a defense that has stood solid in about 7 straight games, do you watch Willie McGahee run 77 yards for a touchdown on the Ravens' first play from scrimmage? And apparently, that wasn't bad enough. The offense came right back and put the ball in the endzone, once again pulling your team to within two points with 1:42 and ALL THREE TIMEOUTS left. How do you let LeRon McClain do the same thing, only on an even longer run? Just heartbreaking for a diehard fan like myself. I couldn't believe it.

I think it's true that Romo has not looked his best since returning from his pinkie injury. I think it's still bothering him. I also think that Saturday night he was still feeling the back injury from last week's Giants game. Even with those things, though, this Cowboys team is a good team. Romo hasn't looked great, but they've still won four of their last six.

Fortunately for the 'Boys, teams like Philadelphia and Tampa Bay got beat this weekend too, leaving them in control of their own destiny. A win at Philly this Sunday gives them a wildcard berth and a chance to get their first postseason win in 12 years. Philadelphia isn't actually completely out of the hunt yet either, but they would need some help, and their fate could easily be sealed by game time, because the three other teams who would impact their playoff chances play the early game (along with a win over Dallas, Philly would need Tampa Bay and either Chicago or Minnesota to lose). My prediction is that Tampa Bay will win, and that will be obvious before kickoff in Philadelphia (Tampa is home against Oakland), and the Eagles will be playing for pride, which won't be enough to hold off the desperate Cowboys. If the Bucs and either the Bears or Vikings lose, the Eagles will come out in force, and the game will be a fight to the finish between two teams scraping to make a playoff appearance... and Dallas still wins. (I'm ever the optimist, aren't I?)