Hostile
The Duke
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So I was at church yesterday afternoon and a good friend came up to me and asked me this question. "Do you think Jason Garrett was sabotaging Wade Phillips?" He has a droid phone. I knew right then that Dallas had won. As to his question, of course not. Dallas two main problems to be so awful this season were a lack of discipline and some downright bad luck. Strangely enough the two go hand in hand.
Here's a strange bit of information for you. Coming into yesterday's game the 2-7 Lions had scored more points (215) than they had allowed (202). Prior to yesterday the Lions worst points loss on the season was 14 to the Vikings. The rest of their losses were all by single digits. This is a very good clue that this team is very close to breaking out of their losing ways. A huge key to that will be Calvin Johnson. And I mean huge. He towered over our CBs. To our guys credit, they played him fairly well.
You've got to love that this team did two things. One, started the game with a 98 yard drive. Two, battled back from adversity. After the Felix Jones fumble to end the half, the near pick by Newman instead resulting in a Burleson score, and the Safety this team was down. They fought back and they did it by sticking to their game plan. This will build confidence.
You've got to love Brian McCann's speed. I know I do. His first kickoff return convinced me that he is the best guy we've had in quite a while. Then his hustle on the Punt Return was spectacular. I especially love dhim giving Coach D the credit for drilling into them that once the Punting Team has touched the ball it cannot be given back to them if we turn it over. McCann knew he had nothing to lose and it resulted in yet another big play for the kid.
Next I want to talk about our top 2 rookies. Bryant didn't get targeted like last week, but his TD over the Lions defender was magnificent. Truly a thing of beauty. You get the sense with this kid that it is just a matter of time before he is going to simply be dominant. Much like Calvin Johnson on the Lions, he simply towers over DBs. Johnson looks taller to me. Dez looks wider and more muscular. He certainly plays the game violent as Jon Kitna noted last week.
On Hatcher's fumble recovery to keep momentum going our way, Sean Lee stripped that ball from his knees. That is heads up football. I think going forward you will see more and more of that from Mr. Lee. He's proving to be simply what the hype about him had said, a pure instincts football player.
I would like to say welcome back to Tashard Choice, Mike Jenkins, Miles Austin, and David Buehler. Tashard hasn't been as maligned as the other three lately by some fans, but he proved yet again that he is a weapon. Miles had almost been completely replaced in the fan's hearts by Dez Bryant. Mike Jenkins was suddenly a penalty and screw up machine. And Buehler had been written off as useless since he could not put kickoffs into the endzone and had missed another FG. They showed yet again why this team has faith in them.
It looked like Detroit had regained momentum after Calvin Johnson's TD and impersonation of TO on the endzone star. I still do not understand how that is not taunting. I love the fact that karma slapped the Lions down after that and they never scored again.
Jon Kitna, thank you for the crow you've now forced me to eat. I have mocked you. I have disliked you. I have doubted you. You have shut me up. Except for this. Thank you for not only how well you have played but for your commentary to the press about knowing your role here and loving this team. You are a class act, and I am now a fan. Please don't get me wrong, I will never say you are better than Tony Romo the same as I would never say Beuerlein was better than Aikman. What I will say is that we are winning largely because of your example and your play. Thank you.
I've been saying for 2 years that we need Felix Jones on screen passes in open space because he is dangerous. For the second week in a row he has has thrilled my constantly making teams pay when he catches the ball. He ran well again this week and the Offensive Line is again making me feel better about the job they are doing.
I especially loved seeing Free once again out on the edge leading the way on Kitna's touchdown. I thought we'd kick the FG on 4th and 1. I thought Barber would try and pound it up the middle. A naked bootleg by a 38 year old QB? Gotta admit, I never saw that one coming.
I loved seeing Kitna keeping that football after it was knocked out of his hands by exuberant teammates. I loved Jason Garrett's smile on the sideline. I loved seeing Dez run out to celebrate with the team and to see the players on the sidelines coming to celebrate with Kitna. I love the sense of joy back with this team. I loved the sense of relief that the game was put away. Even though I already knew they had won because of a question at Church.
It seems fitting to me that once again, a maligned secondary intercepted a pass late to slam the door shut and that they all played within themselves. Unless I am mistaken, none of our 6 penalties were on our secondary. I don't remember a false start either. It seems strange. Good but strange.
Only 3 coaches in Dallas History have started at least 2-0. Barry Switzer in 1994, Wade Phillips in 2007, and Jason Garrett in 2010. Barry's 94 team lost their 3rd game to the Lions. Wade's team won 5 in a row before running into the Patriots juggernaut. How far can Jason Garrett's team go before they lose a game and the fans turn against him again?
Next up is the defending World Champions. Bring on the Saints. Bring on the dead bird, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Here's a strange bit of information for you. Coming into yesterday's game the 2-7 Lions had scored more points (215) than they had allowed (202). Prior to yesterday the Lions worst points loss on the season was 14 to the Vikings. The rest of their losses were all by single digits. This is a very good clue that this team is very close to breaking out of their losing ways. A huge key to that will be Calvin Johnson. And I mean huge. He towered over our CBs. To our guys credit, they played him fairly well.
You've got to love that this team did two things. One, started the game with a 98 yard drive. Two, battled back from adversity. After the Felix Jones fumble to end the half, the near pick by Newman instead resulting in a Burleson score, and the Safety this team was down. They fought back and they did it by sticking to their game plan. This will build confidence.
You've got to love Brian McCann's speed. I know I do. His first kickoff return convinced me that he is the best guy we've had in quite a while. Then his hustle on the Punt Return was spectacular. I especially love dhim giving Coach D the credit for drilling into them that once the Punting Team has touched the ball it cannot be given back to them if we turn it over. McCann knew he had nothing to lose and it resulted in yet another big play for the kid.
Next I want to talk about our top 2 rookies. Bryant didn't get targeted like last week, but his TD over the Lions defender was magnificent. Truly a thing of beauty. You get the sense with this kid that it is just a matter of time before he is going to simply be dominant. Much like Calvin Johnson on the Lions, he simply towers over DBs. Johnson looks taller to me. Dez looks wider and more muscular. He certainly plays the game violent as Jon Kitna noted last week.
On Hatcher's fumble recovery to keep momentum going our way, Sean Lee stripped that ball from his knees. That is heads up football. I think going forward you will see more and more of that from Mr. Lee. He's proving to be simply what the hype about him had said, a pure instincts football player.
I would like to say welcome back to Tashard Choice, Mike Jenkins, Miles Austin, and David Buehler. Tashard hasn't been as maligned as the other three lately by some fans, but he proved yet again that he is a weapon. Miles had almost been completely replaced in the fan's hearts by Dez Bryant. Mike Jenkins was suddenly a penalty and screw up machine. And Buehler had been written off as useless since he could not put kickoffs into the endzone and had missed another FG. They showed yet again why this team has faith in them.
It looked like Detroit had regained momentum after Calvin Johnson's TD and impersonation of TO on the endzone star. I still do not understand how that is not taunting. I love the fact that karma slapped the Lions down after that and they never scored again.
Jon Kitna, thank you for the crow you've now forced me to eat. I have mocked you. I have disliked you. I have doubted you. You have shut me up. Except for this. Thank you for not only how well you have played but for your commentary to the press about knowing your role here and loving this team. You are a class act, and I am now a fan. Please don't get me wrong, I will never say you are better than Tony Romo the same as I would never say Beuerlein was better than Aikman. What I will say is that we are winning largely because of your example and your play. Thank you.
I've been saying for 2 years that we need Felix Jones on screen passes in open space because he is dangerous. For the second week in a row he has has thrilled my constantly making teams pay when he catches the ball. He ran well again this week and the Offensive Line is again making me feel better about the job they are doing.
I especially loved seeing Free once again out on the edge leading the way on Kitna's touchdown. I thought we'd kick the FG on 4th and 1. I thought Barber would try and pound it up the middle. A naked bootleg by a 38 year old QB? Gotta admit, I never saw that one coming.
I loved seeing Kitna keeping that football after it was knocked out of his hands by exuberant teammates. I loved Jason Garrett's smile on the sideline. I loved seeing Dez run out to celebrate with the team and to see the players on the sidelines coming to celebrate with Kitna. I love the sense of joy back with this team. I loved the sense of relief that the game was put away. Even though I already knew they had won because of a question at Church.
It seems fitting to me that once again, a maligned secondary intercepted a pass late to slam the door shut and that they all played within themselves. Unless I am mistaken, none of our 6 penalties were on our secondary. I don't remember a false start either. It seems strange. Good but strange.
Only 3 coaches in Dallas History have started at least 2-0. Barry Switzer in 1994, Wade Phillips in 2007, and Jason Garrett in 2010. Barry's 94 team lost their 3rd game to the Lions. Wade's team won 5 in a row before running into the Patriots juggernaut. How far can Jason Garrett's team go before they lose a game and the fans turn against him again?
Next up is the defending World Champions. Bring on the Saints. Bring on the dead bird, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
:starspin
