Hostile
The Duke
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Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote a poem called "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" wherein in an old sailor tells a story of how an albatross saved his ship and then was killed with a crossbow and as a result horrible perils followed the ship and crew. The other sailors, choking mad with thirst, force the old mariner to wear the dead albatross around his neck as a reminder of their suffering because of his act. Since that time there has been a saying about "an albatross hanging around his neck."
Tonight, we got rid of the albatross.
The monkey is off the backs of the Dallas Cowboys. Oh my gosh I never dreamed it could feel so good. In some ways it is like finally taking off a backpack filled with rocks. The whole world just feels lighter right now. My back isn't bowed with the unnecessary weight we have all felt because of 13 years of folly. We knew we had their number, and yet we were all so stigmatized by the failures of the past that we could not dare ourselves to feel giddy until it was finally over. Tabla rasa. A clean slate is ours. The demons have been exorcised.
For the first time in the History of the Dallas Cowboys they completed a three game sweep of a Division rival. On two previous occasions, 1998 against the Cardinals, and 2007 against the Giants the brooms got left in the pantry. Tonight they are out. To any Cowboys fans who have obnoxious Eagles fans for friends I suggest you mimic a sweeping motion every time they flap their gums for the coming year. Either that or walk up to them and pretend to pick your teeth and say, "tastes like chicken."
If last week was a dominant performance, what do you call this week? I call it the next step. The journey isn't through, but the foul, smelly bird is no longer wrapped around our necks and storm clouds are not above our heads. In the decade that we are completing this Post Season the Eagles held a 13-7 advantage against us coming into tonight's playoff matchup. I would not trade places with them. Not for all the trips they made deep into the playoffs. That is how good this feels and how dominant the Cowboys looked tonight.
I actually fear for Trent Dilfer. He is either incredibly brave, or has an iron clad contract. Maybe he has embarrassing photos of someone high up at ESPN. He is giving us way too much love. Marshall Faulk, Jamie Dukes, Rod Woodson, and Rodney Harrison may need to go get drunk together to forget this day. I get the feeling Dilfer wishes it was Bill Murray's odyssey in Groundhog Day. I'm right there with him.
Here is a stat to absolutely make you smile. Last week, we held the ball 40 minutes and 23 seconds. Tonight we nearly matched that unthinkable stat. 39 minutes and 34 seconds. If you add up our Time of Possession the last 2 weeks and the Eagles Time of Possession here is the chasm. 1 hour 19 minutes and 57 seconds for the Cowboys. 40 minutes 3 seconds for the Eagles.
Folks, that is 6 seconds short of a 40 minute Time of Possession advantage against a team that many called the hottest in the NFC at year's end until they came to our house. This was the highest scoring Eagles team of all time and we held them to 30 points in three games all season. We did it by simply running them into the ground by keeping the football.
Fellow Cowboys fans, what we did was stomp a mud hole in their hides and then we walked that sucker dry. We snatched the hair off of their heads and then whooped 'em for being bald. We took them to the woodshed. Not once, but in back to back weeks. We told them to assume the position and then when they asked us "thank you sir, may I have another?" We obliged and swung the paddle again.
Man it feels good. It's like getting a drink of water after a really long dry spell. This one lasted 13 years and 13 days. Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. Today, we drank. We took big gulps and felt the soothing coolness quench our parched throats. Water is life, and because of today's win we are very much alive.
As dominant as the outcome was there is still a lot to fix. There were way too many penalties. On both teams. 14 for 112 yards by Dallas. We rolled up 434 yards of total Offense. Had we not had times of going backwards by yellow flags we could have topped 500. We did have a turnover, but luckily for us it happened on a play where we took it away first and we had four takeaways on the night. In the biggest game of the season our season long inability to take away the ball disappeared.
We almost had a 2nd turnover courtesy of an Interception deep in our own territory. I thought Wade was nuts to challenge the call. He was right. I was wrong. I think Wade has earned his job in 2010 Jerry. I am Jason Garrett's most loyal fan, but give the man his extension Jerry. He really has earned it.
Speaking of earning it, a tip of my hat to Jason Garrett as well. Anyone who does not realize how crushing the Offense is playing simply has their head in a horrible place to put it. I hope it's not wedged up there too tightly. They might suffocate.
This team had not won a post season game in the entire time Flozell Adams has been here. I don't miss Greg Ellis, but I do feel bad for him tonight. He may never have that feeling, and he didn't deserve to never win a post season game. As much as I can say that about Greg, I am smiling thinking about Terrell Owens going through the same thing.
Jerry Jones took so much heat from Owen's buddies who played here and now sit behind microphones and analyze every move. I don't know how many times I have seen the claims this team is run by morons. Jerry took heat from the fans and media for waiving Owens, even though the media did everything they possibly could to get Owens gone.
Does anyone still think distractions and chemistry do not matter? Probably the same guys I mentioned suffocating above. No matter what anyone says, it was addition by subtraction and a truly gutsy move worked. Thank you Stephen Jones for convincing your Father it had to be done.
I don't want to single out any poster, but one poster on here met Tony Romo in the off season at a Florida night spot. Tony swore to that man that this team would be good. Thank you Tony Romo. You are the biggest reason why. It is impossible to deny that. Tony is leading a balanced and dangerous football team right now. He protects the ball. He spreads it around. He makes good decisions at every turn. His weapons all can produce.
There is not a player on the Offense who doesn't deserve a mention for how well they are playing. Not one. Miles Austin, Felix Jones, and Jason Witten may get the majority of the accolades from fans, but Davis has been as productive as any weapon has, and right now we have three OTs who can flat out overpower pass rushers. Do people realize how good our Fullback is on lead blocks and blitz pickups? How about our 3rd TE on lead blocks? Unsung heroes are absolutely fueling this team every bit as much as stars are shining. Did you see Miles Austin pancake block his man tonight? People here think WRs blocking is a small thing. I tell you it is an under rated aspect of a winning team and we have guys who do it great. For all the heat he takes, Martellus Bennett is a vital cog in this machine.
You can say the same types of things for the Defense, but I am going to single out one player for sure right now. That player is DeMarcus Ware. A little known fact is that Ware has forced more fumbles than any player in Cowboys History since that stat has been kept. Tonight was number 24. It was about as dominant a sack and forced fumble as you could ask for. He also sniffed out a screen pass, stopped upfield pursuit on a dime and stuffed the screen for a loss. He is without a doubt the best Defensive player in the NFL right now.
He might not be the most dominant player in his own huddle right now though thanks to the progression of Anthony Spencer. Right now I can only think of one OLB duo in a 3-4 scheme who were ever as dominant as Ware and Spencer are playing right now. That would be Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. Not even LT and Carl Banks were playing like this. Did you see Spencer drop and cover Desean "Tweet This" Jackson? They are great bookends. Spencer is one of the biggest difference makers on this team right now. How sweet was it that he, Ware, and Ratliff all met at McNabb on tha one sack? Him patting McNabb's helmet had me smiling ear to ear.
I feel bad for Mike Jenkins. One bad attempted lateral and people are not going to remember how great he played today. Truly he has become our best DB and is someone going forward that we are all going to trust to do his job. He has to protect that ball. He has to stay on Maclin on that one long TD he had. Other than those 1 and a half plays (don't forget he did pick off the ball) he was outstanding. His diving pass deflect is becoming a weekly highlight. We got similar ones tonight from Sensabaugh and Newman. Jenkins will unfairly take some heat for those one and a half plays. Let me remind people of one thing about this kid. We dat.
I suppose if I have a big gripe tonight other than the penalties, it would have to be our Kick Return game. Once again they are receiving the ball and then jogging until the coverage gets there. I want them to field the kick and hit the gas pedal immediately. I want them to be at full speed long before the 20 yard line. I want them to play with the kind of passion that the Offense and Defense are playing with. If we get Special Teams on par with what the Offense and Defense are doing, the sky is the limit and the storm clouds are long gone.
Tonight, we got rid of the albatross.
The monkey is off the backs of the Dallas Cowboys. Oh my gosh I never dreamed it could feel so good. In some ways it is like finally taking off a backpack filled with rocks. The whole world just feels lighter right now. My back isn't bowed with the unnecessary weight we have all felt because of 13 years of folly. We knew we had their number, and yet we were all so stigmatized by the failures of the past that we could not dare ourselves to feel giddy until it was finally over. Tabla rasa. A clean slate is ours. The demons have been exorcised.
For the first time in the History of the Dallas Cowboys they completed a three game sweep of a Division rival. On two previous occasions, 1998 against the Cardinals, and 2007 against the Giants the brooms got left in the pantry. Tonight they are out. To any Cowboys fans who have obnoxious Eagles fans for friends I suggest you mimic a sweeping motion every time they flap their gums for the coming year. Either that or walk up to them and pretend to pick your teeth and say, "tastes like chicken."
If last week was a dominant performance, what do you call this week? I call it the next step. The journey isn't through, but the foul, smelly bird is no longer wrapped around our necks and storm clouds are not above our heads. In the decade that we are completing this Post Season the Eagles held a 13-7 advantage against us coming into tonight's playoff matchup. I would not trade places with them. Not for all the trips they made deep into the playoffs. That is how good this feels and how dominant the Cowboys looked tonight.
I actually fear for Trent Dilfer. He is either incredibly brave, or has an iron clad contract. Maybe he has embarrassing photos of someone high up at ESPN. He is giving us way too much love. Marshall Faulk, Jamie Dukes, Rod Woodson, and Rodney Harrison may need to go get drunk together to forget this day. I get the feeling Dilfer wishes it was Bill Murray's odyssey in Groundhog Day. I'm right there with him.
Here is a stat to absolutely make you smile. Last week, we held the ball 40 minutes and 23 seconds. Tonight we nearly matched that unthinkable stat. 39 minutes and 34 seconds. If you add up our Time of Possession the last 2 weeks and the Eagles Time of Possession here is the chasm. 1 hour 19 minutes and 57 seconds for the Cowboys. 40 minutes 3 seconds for the Eagles.
Folks, that is 6 seconds short of a 40 minute Time of Possession advantage against a team that many called the hottest in the NFC at year's end until they came to our house. This was the highest scoring Eagles team of all time and we held them to 30 points in three games all season. We did it by simply running them into the ground by keeping the football.
Fellow Cowboys fans, what we did was stomp a mud hole in their hides and then we walked that sucker dry. We snatched the hair off of their heads and then whooped 'em for being bald. We took them to the woodshed. Not once, but in back to back weeks. We told them to assume the position and then when they asked us "thank you sir, may I have another?" We obliged and swung the paddle again.
Man it feels good. It's like getting a drink of water after a really long dry spell. This one lasted 13 years and 13 days. Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. Today, we drank. We took big gulps and felt the soothing coolness quench our parched throats. Water is life, and because of today's win we are very much alive.
As dominant as the outcome was there is still a lot to fix. There were way too many penalties. On both teams. 14 for 112 yards by Dallas. We rolled up 434 yards of total Offense. Had we not had times of going backwards by yellow flags we could have topped 500. We did have a turnover, but luckily for us it happened on a play where we took it away first and we had four takeaways on the night. In the biggest game of the season our season long inability to take away the ball disappeared.
We almost had a 2nd turnover courtesy of an Interception deep in our own territory. I thought Wade was nuts to challenge the call. He was right. I was wrong. I think Wade has earned his job in 2010 Jerry. I am Jason Garrett's most loyal fan, but give the man his extension Jerry. He really has earned it.
Speaking of earning it, a tip of my hat to Jason Garrett as well. Anyone who does not realize how crushing the Offense is playing simply has their head in a horrible place to put it. I hope it's not wedged up there too tightly. They might suffocate.
This team had not won a post season game in the entire time Flozell Adams has been here. I don't miss Greg Ellis, but I do feel bad for him tonight. He may never have that feeling, and he didn't deserve to never win a post season game. As much as I can say that about Greg, I am smiling thinking about Terrell Owens going through the same thing.
Jerry Jones took so much heat from Owen's buddies who played here and now sit behind microphones and analyze every move. I don't know how many times I have seen the claims this team is run by morons. Jerry took heat from the fans and media for waiving Owens, even though the media did everything they possibly could to get Owens gone.
Does anyone still think distractions and chemistry do not matter? Probably the same guys I mentioned suffocating above. No matter what anyone says, it was addition by subtraction and a truly gutsy move worked. Thank you Stephen Jones for convincing your Father it had to be done.
I don't want to single out any poster, but one poster on here met Tony Romo in the off season at a Florida night spot. Tony swore to that man that this team would be good. Thank you Tony Romo. You are the biggest reason why. It is impossible to deny that. Tony is leading a balanced and dangerous football team right now. He protects the ball. He spreads it around. He makes good decisions at every turn. His weapons all can produce.
There is not a player on the Offense who doesn't deserve a mention for how well they are playing. Not one. Miles Austin, Felix Jones, and Jason Witten may get the majority of the accolades from fans, but Davis has been as productive as any weapon has, and right now we have three OTs who can flat out overpower pass rushers. Do people realize how good our Fullback is on lead blocks and blitz pickups? How about our 3rd TE on lead blocks? Unsung heroes are absolutely fueling this team every bit as much as stars are shining. Did you see Miles Austin pancake block his man tonight? People here think WRs blocking is a small thing. I tell you it is an under rated aspect of a winning team and we have guys who do it great. For all the heat he takes, Martellus Bennett is a vital cog in this machine.
You can say the same types of things for the Defense, but I am going to single out one player for sure right now. That player is DeMarcus Ware. A little known fact is that Ware has forced more fumbles than any player in Cowboys History since that stat has been kept. Tonight was number 24. It was about as dominant a sack and forced fumble as you could ask for. He also sniffed out a screen pass, stopped upfield pursuit on a dime and stuffed the screen for a loss. He is without a doubt the best Defensive player in the NFL right now.
He might not be the most dominant player in his own huddle right now though thanks to the progression of Anthony Spencer. Right now I can only think of one OLB duo in a 3-4 scheme who were ever as dominant as Ware and Spencer are playing right now. That would be Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. Not even LT and Carl Banks were playing like this. Did you see Spencer drop and cover Desean "Tweet This" Jackson? They are great bookends. Spencer is one of the biggest difference makers on this team right now. How sweet was it that he, Ware, and Ratliff all met at McNabb on tha one sack? Him patting McNabb's helmet had me smiling ear to ear.
I feel bad for Mike Jenkins. One bad attempted lateral and people are not going to remember how great he played today. Truly he has become our best DB and is someone going forward that we are all going to trust to do his job. He has to protect that ball. He has to stay on Maclin on that one long TD he had. Other than those 1 and a half plays (don't forget he did pick off the ball) he was outstanding. His diving pass deflect is becoming a weekly highlight. We got similar ones tonight from Sensabaugh and Newman. Jenkins will unfairly take some heat for those one and a half plays. Let me remind people of one thing about this kid. We dat.
I suppose if I have a big gripe tonight other than the penalties, it would have to be our Kick Return game. Once again they are receiving the ball and then jogging until the coverage gets there. I want them to field the kick and hit the gas pedal immediately. I want them to be at full speed long before the 20 yard line. I want them to play with the kind of passion that the Offense and Defense are playing with. If we get Special Teams on par with what the Offense and Defense are doing, the sky is the limit and the storm clouds are long gone.
