A Touch of Hostility... Week 11

[Hostile]

Normally the first thing my eyes would travel to would be the NFC East standings. Indeed first place in the NFC East still looks favorable, as does the 2-1 record in the Division. What doesn't look favorable right now is the Offensive performance.

Welcome to over reaction time, 7-6 over a woeful Commanders team just isn't good enough of a showing. Not for this Offense anyway.

On the positive side for the Offense, people got the offensive balance they were screaming for after last week. It's too bad that didn't lead to the points that they swore were there if we just would stick with the run.

Let's be honest about scoring right now, everyone is struggling. Right down to the FG Kicker we had been calling "Money" up until recently. The entire scoring contingent is in a horrible funk and at the wrong time of the year.

I don't see anything that is not fixable. The question is, how hard will they work to fix it? Whereas I felt we needed the ugly win against the Eagles, the only good thing about this ugly win is that it was a win. I don't think the team can feel too good about the future if things don't change a little.

One thing that doesn't need to change is the way the Defense is performing. I would love to see more sacks and takeaways, but I will take the points allowed the last 3 games any time. The reason we are 2-1 over the last 3 games is directly proportional to the efforts of this Defense. I tip my hat to them.

Okay, I said the ills seem to be fixable. I will be honest, I think we need to look for Jason Witten a lot more than we have been. Not just on little 8 and 9 yard passes either. We need some 20+ yard variety. There are too many defenders near the LOS for this Offense to be wide open. Okay, so I will admit I am a huge fan of his and want to see more, but there is such a thing as too balanced. Sometimes you have to exploit the mismatches and no one matches up with Jason. On top of that he seems to fire up this team.

I was pleased with the running attack today overall. I just wish they would have been more explosive in the red zone. I think controlling the football with the run and passes to the TEs brings the deep stuff to Austin and Williams and Crayton back.

As dissatisfied as I am with the performance, the win salves that dissatisfaction a little. I promised myself not to have huge emotion swings this year. Keeping my eye on the prize I want, an NFC East Championship and a playoff win, was to be my focus. That focus goes blurry sometimes, but it can't disappear.

An ugly win? Absolutely. Was an ugly win needed like against the Eagles? I can't say it was. I think we needed a blowout win. Ultimately, I have promised to take the wins regardless of how they happen. I'll take it.

 

[Rampage]

what's your opinion on the 45 million dollar wr who has asthma?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

what's your opinion on the 45 million dollar wr who has asthma?

oh boy

 

[utrunner07]

what's your opinion on the 45 million dollar wr who has asthma?

More productive than Joey Galloway. A couple more trades like this and Jerry might start to figure things out.

 

[TheCount]

On the positive side for the Offense, people got the offensive balance they were screaming for after last week. It's too bad that didn't lead to the points that they swore were there if we just would stick with the run..

I believe what ppeople were asking for is balance. If the passing offense fails to show up for 3 and a half quarters, running alone wont get it done but considering that Romo almost had 2 more picks, Id say running is actually what kept the game manageable.

Let's be honest about scoring right now, everyone is struggling. Right down to the FG Kicker we had been calling "Money" up until recently. The entire scoring contingent is in a horrible funk and at the wrong time of the year.

Not everyone, Barber looked his healthiest in weeks and Felix looked more explosive.

But yes, the Defense has been playing great. Wade is doing his job, Garrett needs to step up.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I will be honest, I think we need to look for Jason Witten a lot more than we have been. Not just on little 8 and 9 yard passes either. We need some 20+ yard variety. There are too many defenders near the LOS for this Offense to be wide open. Okay, so I will admit I am a huge fan of his and want to see more, but there is such a thing as too balanced. Sometimes you have to exploit the mismatches and no one matches up with Jason. On top of that he seems to fire up this team.

When Witten shows emotion, it pumps up the players and the fans alike. That first down at Philly where he high-fived Phillips and that first down today where he popped up and pumped his fist (or whatever that was) are the type of plays that illustrate what I mean. After Witten's show of emotion today, I felt more confident of our chance of scoring on that drive.

 

[Biggems]

Hos, you know in the history of this rivalry, very few wins by either team can be deemed as pretty wins. Yes, there have been some blowouts.....but more often than not, and especially in recent years.....these games are very ugly and very tight, regardless of which team is the better team.

 

[Bleu Star]

what's your opinion on the 45 million dollar wr who has asthma?

Why do you have to ruin such a strong post by Hos?

Good post Hos... Seriously. My opinions are well documented but the bottom line is we needed the win and we got it. Thank goodness for that. I think I might have had to pop about 20 Rolaids if we had lost that game. I was in a sports bar with about 30 Cowboys fans and about 15 Skins fans sprinkled in amongst the crowd. That place was loud with HTTR chants for a bit there in the 4th Q. (I almost hurled) Then the drive happened and "Let's go Cowboys" could be heard over and over again from a block away. There's still plenty of work to do but it's another W in the books.

 

[theebs]

When Witten shows emotion, it pumps up the players and the fans alike. That first down at Philly where he high-fived Phillips and that first down today where he popped up and pumped his fist (or whatever that was) are the type of plays that illustrate what I mean. After Witten's show of emotion today, I felt more confident of our chance of scoring on that drive.

the building erupted after that from witten today. It was as if after witten did that you knew everything would be alright.

the game plan was definitely to pound it and get it to the tight ends and make them change what they were doing....we just were not effective enough all day.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I appreciated Bennett converting his opportunities. If he wants more, he has to catch the balls that go his way.

 

[dbair1967]

Normally the first thing my eyes would travel to would be the NFC East standings. Indeed first place in the NFC East still looks favorable, as does the 2-1 record in the Division. What doesn't look favorable right now is the Offensive performance.

7-3, I guess that a positive.

Welcome to over reaction time, 7-6 over a woeful Commanders team just isn't good enough of a showing. Not for this Offense anyway.

I dont think its overreacting anymore. That was a pathetic display of football against a team that very much reminded me of the Scabskins that beat us during the strike of 1987.

On the positive side for the Offense, people got the offensive balance they were screaming for after last week. It's too bad that didn't lead to the points that they swore were there if we just would stick with the run.

Liked most of what we did in the run game. But not picking up several short yardage plays (including one by Choice, who was stoned) was pretty lousy, especially considering the other team didnt have their premier DT.

Let's be honest about scoring right now, everyone is struggling. Right down to the FG Kicker we had been calling "Money" up until recently. The entire scoring contingent is in a horrible funk and at the wrong time of the year.

The offense looks lost to me. It isnt one guy either. Its not bad calls, or not running this play or that play. These guys take turns being keystone cops or captain F/U from series to series and game to game. Romo looked utterly useless until the last drive of the game. RW looked lost. The OL played ok, but then at times got manhandled too. Barber totally blew a great drive with a lame fumble. There were more untimely penalties again too.

I don't see anything that is not fixable. The question is, how hard will they work to fix it? Whereas I felt we needed the ugly win against the Eagles, the only good thing about this ugly win is that it was a win. I don't think the team can feel too good about the future if things don't change a little.

Honestly, they should hang their heads in shame over these last two offensive performances.

One thing that doesn't need to change is the way the Defense is performing. I would love to see more sacks and takeaways, but I will take the points allowed the last 3 games any time. The reason we are 2-1 over the last 3 games is directly proportional to the efforts of this Defense. I tip my hat to them.

I honestly wasnt impressed with the defense today. They allowed one of the more inconsistent, mediocre QB's in the league to complete virtually every 3rd down pass he tried (wasnt it 13/13?) The pass rush, despite playing against a totally outmanned OL (that even lost another starter during the game) did next to nothing most of the game. And they were back to missing a ton of tackles again today too. If we had played almost anyone other than the totally impotent Commanders, we'd have been blown out.

Okay, I said the ills seem to be fixable. I will be honest, I think we need to look for Jason Witten a lot more than we have been. Not just on little 8 and 9 yard passes either. We need some 20+ yard variety. There are too many defenders near the LOS for this Offense to be wide open. Okay, so I will admit I am a huge fan of his and want to see more, but there is such a thing as too balanced. Sometimes you have to exploit the mismatches and no one matches up with Jason. On top of that he seems to fire up this team.

I think getting Witten and Bennett involved depper in the middle of the field is critical at this point.

I was pleased with the running attack today overall. I just wish they would have been more explosive in the red zone. I think controlling the football with the run and passes to the TEs brings the deep stuff to Austin and Williams and Crayton back.

On the other hand, despite a ton of success running the football, I dont recall one play action pass that actually worked. Which is just amazing.

As dissatisfied as I am with the performance, the win salves that dissatisfaction a little. I promised myself not to have huge emotion swings this year. Keeping my eye on the prize I want, an NFC East Championship and a playoff win, was to be my focus. That focus goes blurry sometimes, but it can't disappear.

Yeah, its a win. But to say this team is badly limping along here is an understatement. They have an awful lot of talent and I guess anything can happen, but I dont see how this team wins a single game in the postseason, if they get there.

An ugly win? Absolutely. Was an ugly win needed like against the Eagles? I can't say it was. I think we needed a blowout win. Ultimately, I have promised to take the wins regardless of how they happen. I'll take it.

Yeah, its a "w". Cant say much mroe than that. They absolutely deserved to lose today however and something is really wrong with them. Forget about December and the postseason, I have very little confidence in them even beating the lowly Raiders Thursday.

 

[TheCount]

Why exactly did they deserve to lose?

 

[dbair1967]

Why exactly did they deserve to lose?

Did you watch the game? Were you impressed?

We needed the other teams FG kicker, who had been perfect this yr to miss two in a dome to outlast a team that was totally outmatched from a talent standpoint. They're down to 6-7-8-9 type guys on the OL. They were down to their 3rd and 4th RB. They were missing their best receving weapon (Cooley). Their QB was benched a couple weeks ago because he was so medicore. They were missing their best defensive player.

Like I said, the Cowboys deserved to lose. We are incredibly fortunate to be 7-3 right now.

 

[links18]

Hos, you know in the history of this rivalry, very few wins by either team can be deemed as pretty wins. Yes, there have been some blowouts.....but more often than not, and especially in recent years.....these games are very ugly and very tight, regardless of which team is the better team.

Not sure that is an excuse for the offensive performance 2 weeks in a row....

 

[TheCount]

Did you watch the game? Were you impressed?

We needed the other teams FG kicker, who had been perfect this yr to miss two in a dome to outlast a team that was totally outmatched from a talent standpoint. They're down to 6-7-8-9 type guys on the OL. They were down to their 3rd and 4th RB. They were missing their best receving weapon (Cooley). Their QB was benched a couple weeks ago because he was so medicore. They were missing their best defensive player.

Like I said, the Cowboys deserved to lose. We are incredibly fortunate to be 7-3 right now.

So we DESERVED to lose because it wasn't impressive?

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Wow you know it's bad when Dbair is being a sad sac.

 

[hutch1254]

I'll take the ugly Win. I'm not blinded by the fact we have work to do...we've had improvements to make all year. I think we continued to improve each week but now we're regressing a bit. Time to get back on the horse. I really agree with Hos on the Witten thoughts. Things I saw today.

• Romo getting it done with a late drive despite all the shortcomings all game.
• Barber's fumble was discouraging. Not because he fumbled but because it came early, in the redzone. I think if we score early there this game is way different. We were blowing them off the LOS scrimmage regardless of who was in the back field.
• Spencer just seems be solid in most areas, improving...gawd I wish he would get a sack finally. But he's progressing.
• Ware going to Romo on the bench encouraging him. "Hey man, we're holding it down for you...go out there and get them I know you can" is what if felt like visually to me.
• 3-11 on third down conversions...and it's not like we had a lot of third and longs today, maybe I'm wrong. That has got to get better.
• Good job exploiting the middle with the run, taking advantage of Fat Albert being out.
• Folk is annoying me.
• Doug Free did a nice job today. Thank you.
• Campo's fire on the sideline was awesome. Need more of that.
• I did not like bringing Tashard in on the one play, I think it was a 3rd and 2. It was his first run of the game. We were killing them with MB3 and FJ...why change for that down and distance. That bothered me.
• I love beating a divisional opponent, especially the Skins. The Skins have a different level of hatred for me compared to the Beagles and Gints. Ever since Roger threw to Tony Hill for the 35-34 victory I have loved beating the Deadskins. I was 8 years old...my hate is 30 years old today. VICTORY.

 

[28 Joker]

Washington has the 4th rated defense.

They have the number one pass defense, statistically.

They have the number two scoring defense.

Dallas is number 1 in scoring defense.

You guys that are upset with a beautiful 7-6 win, probably will not like

the 14-10 or 10-7 or 9-6 or 16-14 game they play the next time.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I agree with Witten. We seem to be using him in the Sean Payton fashion...a safety valve. I want him more used in longer passes giving LB's fits and forcing safeties to pay attention to him. And when a team like GB has the gall to put a CB on him, then run right at them.

I think that running the ball was a good if not GREAT thing. We ran the ball really well and that is a strength of ours. The problem is that our QB needs to be on his game when the running game is going well. And for the love of all that is holy, how about a play action pass once in awhile? Y'know...something that makes the QB's job a bit easy and opens itself to a big play because the running game is working so well.

What really hurt the offense was Romo had a poor game. I'm also a believer that it effects his reads because it seems when he's accurate, receivers also get open. When he struggles with accuracy, he can't find anybody.

However, we saw this about 6 weeks ago and he came back and played well. And hey, I WILL ALWAYS TAKE A WIN OVER THE Commanders. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS. 'Moral Victories' are for losers.





YAKUZA

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I dont think its overreacting anymore. That was a pathetic display of football ...

It’s always an overreaction in the sun-shine world. I don’t think forcing more passes to Witten is the key. Teams have decided to take him away on 3rd downs. We need more production from the WRs...namely the man that wasn’t mentioned in the original post. Until he can contribute...i don’t think this offense can work. Maybe benching him would?