During the pregame show on NFL Network I heard Deion Sanders talking about how the Cowboys can't win in December. He said, "But it's not all Wade Phillips' fault. People like Tony Romo have to take responsibility for winning big games like this..." (I didn't really hear the rest of what he thought because I was busy calling him an idiot.)
As I've pointed out before, Romo had played two unbelievable December games prior tonight. Tonight, by the way, made three straight.
Further evidence that coaching is the numero uno problemo in Dallas: The Cowboys are OBVIOUSLY a talented team, with the ability to beat even the best teams. But sometimes, they just don't show up. They act like they're not a talented team, or like winning games isn't that important. You will NEVER see stuff like that happen with coaches like Bill Belichick. If his team is the best on the field, they win pretty much 9 times out of ten. With Dallas and they're coco-puff aw-shucks slow-talking cup-cake coach, Wade Phillips, they often get wins by virtue of the other team being awful (witness this year's Redskins win... which wouldn't have been a win against anyone else in the league).
Jason Garrett called a pretty good game. There was a solid balance between passes and runs. The strengths of all of the offensive players seemed to be put to good use.
It couldn't have been clearer who the true #1 Cowboys receiver is. Miles Austin caught a 49-yard touchdown pass to finish up Dallas's opening drive. In the fourth quarter after a New Orleans touchdown (bringing them within 14), the Cowboys faced a 3rd and 4. A slant route pass to Roy Williams went right through his hands. Dallas had to punt, and the Saints drove right down the field to score again and bring themselves within a touchdown. On the ensuing Cowboys possession, they faced a 3rd and 7. Romo hit Austin on a short route, and Miles turned it into a 34-yard gain, sustaining the Cowboys drive, taking more time off the clock, and effectively winning the game.
Nick Folk is as good a kicker as my left foot wrapped in aluminum foil. He should have been fired at halftime of last week's game. Now he'll definitely be fired after this one. And I don't really care who replaces him. Can't be any worse.
Players of the game: Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Anthony Spencer, DeMarcus Ware (6 days ago he was being taken out of Cowboys Stadium on a stretcher... tonight he had two sacks, and two forced-fumbles -- the guy's an animal).
Dallas is now in a decent place to make the playoffs (something I didn't think was going to happen prior to tonight's matchup). They'll still have to win at least one of the next two (both against division rivals), and could very possibly have to win 'em both.
This is actually right where Dallas stood a year ago. They were 9-5, had to beat the Ravens to keep themselves in good shape for the playoffs, and fell apart in the fourth quarter of the last game ever at Texas Stadium. After some other favorable games kept Dallas in the hunt, they went to Philadelphia for a winner-makes-the-playoffs battle, and got humiliated 44-6, showing no heart or effort at all. That could happen this year too! Let's see...
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