Last time we played the Browns...

[KJJ]

Originally Posted by dallasfan4lizife

Romo really hasn't improved much since 2008....

Part of that is the team hasn't improved any. The OL certainly hasn't gotten any better since 08.

[JohnsKey19]

Originally Posted by aikemirv

Not just to you but everyone else marveling at THAT Oline.

It was the same one that failed miserably in the 2007 and 2009 playoffs!!!!

That 2007-2008 OL was much better than what we have now. They were just wildly inconsistent. Before Columbo started breaking down physically, that OL had about 3-4 guys who could physically maul their opponent. Again, their problem was not being consistent game-to-game or even half-to-half. For instance, as dominant as we were in the 1st half of the NYG 2007 season playoff game, in the 2nd half of the same game the wheels completely fell off.

[jgboys1]

Originally Posted by 187beatdown

Yeah, the O-line that cut our probable run to the Superbowl short against the Giants. Boy was that second half ever embarrassing.

It was a tale of 2 halfs, for the O-line. 1st half we were running it down there throats and in the 2nd half Romo was running for his life.
I remember saying to myself, what the hell happened to the O-line during halftime.

[KJJ]

Originally Posted by jgboys1

It was a tale of 2 halfs, for the O-line. 1st half we were running it down there throats and in the 2nd half Romo was running for his life.
I remember saying to myself, what the hell happened to the O-line during halftime.

It wasn't as much the OL as it was Barber running out of gas in the second half. That was his first start that season he wasn't use to starting out the game carrying the load. He had a career high of 27 attempts that day. Only once that season did he carry the ball more than 20 times. Most of his carries came in the 3rd and 4th quarter of games.

He was used mostly as a closer against tired defenses now he was being used to pound against a fresh defense in a playoff game. Go back and review that Giants game and look at the "pop" Barber had in the first half. He didn't have that same pop in the second half he was going down much easier you could see he was wearing down plus the Giants were determined to stop him.

[KJJ]

Originally Posted by jgboys1

It was a tale of 2 halfs, for the O-line. 1st half we were running it down there throats and in the 2nd half Romo was running for his life.
I remember saying to myself, what the hell happened to the O-line during halftime.

When Barber was fresh he was crashing through the Giants defense like we see Marshawn Lynch today but he wore down by halftime. Barbers legs going dead is what happened to the OL. This forced Romo to have to put it up against a Giants pass rush that was coming on like gang busters late that season. It was their improving pass rush that caused the Cowboys to come out running the ball in the first place.

Romo's game had come apart so the Cowboys changed their approach against the Giants from what they did in the first 2 meetings. Romo shredded the Giants in the first 2 games in 07 with 8 TD passes but his TD's were being replaced by turnovers the final month of the season. This caused the Cowboys to take a page out of the Bill Parcells play not to get beat book.

The Cowboys controlled the first half by running the ball but it only led to 14 points. They kept the Giants in the game which enabled Eli to manage his offense and avoid turnovers. Once Romo's game went in the toilet late that season it was over for the Cowboys. He went from throwing TD's to turning the ball over. It forced the team to start Barber and pound him rather than save him for later in the game and it backfired. Barber was never an effective starter he was a closer this is why his career faded so quickly once he became the starter.

[StylisticS]

Originally Posted by Neverhood

I hope you meant Romo got HIT hard, or you were just looking very closely at the highlights.

Lol I meant he got hit pretty hard. Typing too fast on my phone.

[Dodger]

Romo might just sling it around the yard again this time. Word I'm hearing is that Joe Haden may not play on Sunday, and if that's the case, the Browns will be playing without their regular two starting corners.

Dez might have a career game.

[hutch1254]

I know it's...."the broooownnns" but I really don't under estimate anyone anymore. Cleveland has been in every game they've played this year to some extent. Worst loss is only by 10 points. This isn't the Browns team that loses by 25-30.

I think we handle this team and win, but we need to play like we're playing one of the best teams in the league. Execute, limit the mistakes that would give any kind of day light to the team like the Browns. The Browns have nothing to lose. Playing Dallas and Pittsburgh are their playoff games this year to them. Step on their throat and don't let off till you see 00:00.

[demdcowboys#1]

O Line play was phenomenal that day. Too bad it has gone in the gutter.