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Cowboys finally coming together at the right time
By Michael Lombardi | NFL.com
The week preceding a 1986 playoff game against the New York Giants, while I was working for the San Francisco 49ers, I watched Bill Walsh brilliantly present the keys to victory. It was a convincing speech, and all week I felt confident that we would win. After all, we played the Giants just one month earlier and had a 17-0 halftime lead, only to fall apart in the third quarter, surrendering 21 points. Without the bad third quarter, we were the best team ... or were we?
On the first series of the game, 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice caught a pass and was streaking towards the end zone for a sure touchdown, before he lost a fumble. The rest of the day went from bad to worse for the Niners. From the second half of the first game to the end of the second game, the Giants became the dominant team, not only in the game, but in the league, as they went on to win Super Bowl XXI.
Behind a power running attack, an effective passing game and a dominating defense, the Giants took over the league and created their own legacy.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys might be like that Giants team in terms of finding themselves and having a defining moment in a December game. When they dominated the Saints, they showed the rest of the league and themselves, they are for real. They have not looked back since.
Beating the Eagles soundly in consecutive weeks proves they have peaked at the right time. Even more importantly, they proved they have the right makeup of a potential Super Bowl champion. Behind a great pass rush, a strong offensive line and a pass defense that proved it can run and cover the best in the league, the Cowboys can play any style of game and win.
Once the monkey of not being able to win in December came off their back, they have been destroying everything in their path. They very well might be creating their own legacy as the 1986 Giants did.
Sunday's best
» Kurt Warner has proven that, in his case, getting older does mean getting better. He was incredible in the Cardinals' thrilling win against the Packers. There is not one single solitary doubt that he is destined to be in Canton. His play, his statistics, but most importantly his winning, assures him that he will be wearing a gold jacket five years from the day he officially retires.
» Coach Ken Whisenhunt's play-calling was amazing for Arizona. Warner's execution makes Whisenhunt's job smoother and easier, but the creative game plan enhanced the quarterback's ability to execute. This is highlighted by the fact the Cardinals faced third down only five times in the entire game and never went for it on fourth down. They played as if they were in the CFL, gaining 25 of their 30 first downs on two or fewer downs.
» To win on the road at anytime during the season requires an offensive line that can control the line of scrimmage and the Jets have been doing that all season. In Cincinnati, the line proved to be the difference for New York as it created running lanes and allowed rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to have an effective day on limited throws.
» Speaking of offensive lines, the Ravens dominated the Patriots from the first play. Running back Ray Rice looked like he could never be tackled by any one member of the Patriots. The Ravens had 268 yards of total offense and Rice had 159 of those yards.
» Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware was sensational in creating problems for Donovan McNabb on nearly every throw. He left me wondering how Eagles left tackle Jason Peters got to the Pro Bowl? If Peters is a Pro Bowler, what is Ware -- a premier Pro Bowler?
» Jets CB Darrelle Revis keeps pitching shut outs against all the receivers he has faced this year. He single handily took Chad Ochocinco out of the game for the second week in a row, this time on a perfect surface for Ochocinco at Paul Brown Stadium. No excuses, Chad, Revis had your number.
Sunday funnies
» Bengals coach Marvin Lewis might want to hire someone to help him with challenges. He made two key mistakes in the first quarter on challenges that seemed clear to everyone watching. Lewis hurt his team's chances by placing the game in the hands of the officials for three quarters. He must find ways to rectify this situation next year.
» The Patriots had one of their worst days ever and Tom Brady never looked right. He had his worst postseason game as the Ravens seemed to be one step ahead of him all day. New England is in a transitional state in every phase of the team, from players to scheme. Based on the loss, the Patriots might have to recreate their offense.
» Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers rushed his approach so much that he gave himself no chance to make a potential winning kick at the end of regulation against the Packers. He looked like he just wanted to go as fast as he could to get it over with, but at pressure times, slower is always better. Lucky for Rackers, Arizona's defense prevailed.
» The Bengals must find a passing game this offseason. They never demonstrated one against top level competition. The Bengals must determine if injuries and lack of consistent receiver play held Carson Palmer and the passing game back, or if Palmer has lost his touch.
We might have seen the last of ...
» Linebacker Adalius Thomas in a Patriots uniform. He didn't play well this season and there will be many changes coming in New England. Also, this has to be the final time we see Junior Seau in any uniform.
» Brian Westbrook in an Eagles uniform. He wants to keep playing, but injuries and declining skills might force the team to head in another direction. Even when he was healthy, Westbrook was not the same player he once was for Philadelphia.
» Mike Zimmer coaching Cincinnati's defense. Zimmer's contract will expire one week from Monday and he is a very hot defensive coordinator candidate around the league, especially in Washington. The Commanders have been known to pay huge money for assistant coaches, something not common in Cincinnati.
If I were ...
» Buffalo, I might call the Eagles to tempt them into trading me McNabb. It might cost them dearly, but the Bills need a quarterback badly and they need one that can revitalize the franchise. At 33, you say McNabb is too old, but just look how well Warner looked Sunday at 38. If not for McNabb's movement Saturday night, the Cowboys might have sacked him 10 times.
» Philadelphia, I would look long and hard at trading or signing Julius Peppers from the Panthers. The Eagles have only one top player in their front seven. To beat Dallas, they will need to improve their defense.
» Any team looking for a receiver, I'd call the Cardinals. After Early Doucet's performance and Arizona moving the ball at will through the air against Green Bay, Anquan Boldin might be available at a reduced price.
What I'm hearing
Coaching alerts this week will be in Jacksonville and Oakland. Both owners of those teams are not happy with their coaches and have meetings planned. In Jacksonville, Jack Del Rio is not well liked by many members of the organization. In Oakland, everything centers on trying to salvage JaMarcus Russell's career -- something coach Tom Cable didn't seem interested in doing. Stay tuned, as both teams could be looking for a coach as early as Wednesday.
Three-step dots ...
» Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sensational in a loss at Arizona. I get the feeling that he will be back in the playoffs next season and for many more to come. ...
» The Ravens looked faster, stronger and more powerful than the Patriots. New England knew Baltimore could only run the ball, but the Patriots were unable to stop the Ravens from doing so. ...
» Patriots LB Jerod Mayo did not look the same after injuring his knee earlier this season. He appeared sluggish and never resembled his 2008 form. He needs to get healthy to help the defense return to the glory days. ...
» I get the feeling that the Jets love running back Shonn Greene, and feel he is their best back right now. They like Thomas Jones as well, but seemed to put Greene in the game more and more as the season went along. ...
» Green Bay's Jermichael Finley might be the best tight end in football right now. He is so athletic and fast. He is a matchup nightmare for any team. ...
» Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan is an unsung hero. He has gotten New York's running game to be successful, but more importantly, he helped left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson to reach his full potential this season. ...
» Don't be surprised if Pete Carroll uses one of those two first-round picks awaiting him in Seattle on some player he recruited while at USC. He will know the top prospects in this draft class as he watched most of them in high school. ...
» The remaining playoff teams will not be allowed to spend money this offseason in free agency if there is an uncapped season. The final eight teams in that scenario are only allowed to replace players they lost, not just add new players. They will need to think of new ways to improve their rosters.
By Michael Lombardi | NFL.com
The week preceding a 1986 playoff game against the New York Giants, while I was working for the San Francisco 49ers, I watched Bill Walsh brilliantly present the keys to victory. It was a convincing speech, and all week I felt confident that we would win. After all, we played the Giants just one month earlier and had a 17-0 halftime lead, only to fall apart in the third quarter, surrendering 21 points. Without the bad third quarter, we were the best team ... or were we?
On the first series of the game, 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice caught a pass and was streaking towards the end zone for a sure touchdown, before he lost a fumble. The rest of the day went from bad to worse for the Niners. From the second half of the first game to the end of the second game, the Giants became the dominant team, not only in the game, but in the league, as they went on to win Super Bowl XXI.
Behind a power running attack, an effective passing game and a dominating defense, the Giants took over the league and created their own legacy.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys might be like that Giants team in terms of finding themselves and having a defining moment in a December game. When they dominated the Saints, they showed the rest of the league and themselves, they are for real. They have not looked back since.
Beating the Eagles soundly in consecutive weeks proves they have peaked at the right time. Even more importantly, they proved they have the right makeup of a potential Super Bowl champion. Behind a great pass rush, a strong offensive line and a pass defense that proved it can run and cover the best in the league, the Cowboys can play any style of game and win.
Once the monkey of not being able to win in December came off their back, they have been destroying everything in their path. They very well might be creating their own legacy as the 1986 Giants did.
Sunday's best
» Kurt Warner has proven that, in his case, getting older does mean getting better. He was incredible in the Cardinals' thrilling win against the Packers. There is not one single solitary doubt that he is destined to be in Canton. His play, his statistics, but most importantly his winning, assures him that he will be wearing a gold jacket five years from the day he officially retires.
» Coach Ken Whisenhunt's play-calling was amazing for Arizona. Warner's execution makes Whisenhunt's job smoother and easier, but the creative game plan enhanced the quarterback's ability to execute. This is highlighted by the fact the Cardinals faced third down only five times in the entire game and never went for it on fourth down. They played as if they were in the CFL, gaining 25 of their 30 first downs on two or fewer downs.
» To win on the road at anytime during the season requires an offensive line that can control the line of scrimmage and the Jets have been doing that all season. In Cincinnati, the line proved to be the difference for New York as it created running lanes and allowed rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to have an effective day on limited throws.
» Speaking of offensive lines, the Ravens dominated the Patriots from the first play. Running back Ray Rice looked like he could never be tackled by any one member of the Patriots. The Ravens had 268 yards of total offense and Rice had 159 of those yards.
» Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware was sensational in creating problems for Donovan McNabb on nearly every throw. He left me wondering how Eagles left tackle Jason Peters got to the Pro Bowl? If Peters is a Pro Bowler, what is Ware -- a premier Pro Bowler?
» Jets CB Darrelle Revis keeps pitching shut outs against all the receivers he has faced this year. He single handily took Chad Ochocinco out of the game for the second week in a row, this time on a perfect surface for Ochocinco at Paul Brown Stadium. No excuses, Chad, Revis had your number.
Sunday funnies
» Bengals coach Marvin Lewis might want to hire someone to help him with challenges. He made two key mistakes in the first quarter on challenges that seemed clear to everyone watching. Lewis hurt his team's chances by placing the game in the hands of the officials for three quarters. He must find ways to rectify this situation next year.
» The Patriots had one of their worst days ever and Tom Brady never looked right. He had his worst postseason game as the Ravens seemed to be one step ahead of him all day. New England is in a transitional state in every phase of the team, from players to scheme. Based on the loss, the Patriots might have to recreate their offense.
» Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers rushed his approach so much that he gave himself no chance to make a potential winning kick at the end of regulation against the Packers. He looked like he just wanted to go as fast as he could to get it over with, but at pressure times, slower is always better. Lucky for Rackers, Arizona's defense prevailed.
» The Bengals must find a passing game this offseason. They never demonstrated one against top level competition. The Bengals must determine if injuries and lack of consistent receiver play held Carson Palmer and the passing game back, or if Palmer has lost his touch.
We might have seen the last of ...
» Linebacker Adalius Thomas in a Patriots uniform. He didn't play well this season and there will be many changes coming in New England. Also, this has to be the final time we see Junior Seau in any uniform.
» Brian Westbrook in an Eagles uniform. He wants to keep playing, but injuries and declining skills might force the team to head in another direction. Even when he was healthy, Westbrook was not the same player he once was for Philadelphia.
» Mike Zimmer coaching Cincinnati's defense. Zimmer's contract will expire one week from Monday and he is a very hot defensive coordinator candidate around the league, especially in Washington. The Commanders have been known to pay huge money for assistant coaches, something not common in Cincinnati.
If I were ...
» Buffalo, I might call the Eagles to tempt them into trading me McNabb. It might cost them dearly, but the Bills need a quarterback badly and they need one that can revitalize the franchise. At 33, you say McNabb is too old, but just look how well Warner looked Sunday at 38. If not for McNabb's movement Saturday night, the Cowboys might have sacked him 10 times.
» Philadelphia, I would look long and hard at trading or signing Julius Peppers from the Panthers. The Eagles have only one top player in their front seven. To beat Dallas, they will need to improve their defense.
» Any team looking for a receiver, I'd call the Cardinals. After Early Doucet's performance and Arizona moving the ball at will through the air against Green Bay, Anquan Boldin might be available at a reduced price.
What I'm hearing
Coaching alerts this week will be in Jacksonville and Oakland. Both owners of those teams are not happy with their coaches and have meetings planned. In Jacksonville, Jack Del Rio is not well liked by many members of the organization. In Oakland, everything centers on trying to salvage JaMarcus Russell's career -- something coach Tom Cable didn't seem interested in doing. Stay tuned, as both teams could be looking for a coach as early as Wednesday.
Three-step dots ...
» Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sensational in a loss at Arizona. I get the feeling that he will be back in the playoffs next season and for many more to come. ...
» The Ravens looked faster, stronger and more powerful than the Patriots. New England knew Baltimore could only run the ball, but the Patriots were unable to stop the Ravens from doing so. ...
» Patriots LB Jerod Mayo did not look the same after injuring his knee earlier this season. He appeared sluggish and never resembled his 2008 form. He needs to get healthy to help the defense return to the glory days. ...
» I get the feeling that the Jets love running back Shonn Greene, and feel he is their best back right now. They like Thomas Jones as well, but seemed to put Greene in the game more and more as the season went along. ...
» Green Bay's Jermichael Finley might be the best tight end in football right now. He is so athletic and fast. He is a matchup nightmare for any team. ...
» Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan is an unsung hero. He has gotten New York's running game to be successful, but more importantly, he helped left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson to reach his full potential this season. ...
» Don't be surprised if Pete Carroll uses one of those two first-round picks awaiting him in Seattle on some player he recruited while at USC. He will know the top prospects in this draft class as he watched most of them in high school. ...
» The remaining playoff teams will not be allowed to spend money this offseason in free agency if there is an uncapped season. The final eight teams in that scenario are only allowed to replace players they lost, not just add new players. They will need to think of new ways to improve their rosters.
