Heartbroken, but extremely encouraged

[robjgrif]

Outstanding post!!!!:clap2:

Ya great post. Please post it again when the season is over and the Cowboys are watching the playoffs on TV!

 

[dirt]

amen
at one time Eli Manning was about to be run out of New York and that was about 13 months ago!
How quick they forget 3 games with Brad Johnson

 

[jeff]

Ya great post. Please post it again when the season is over and the Cowboys are watching the playoffs on TV!

:laugh2:

 

[TNCowboy]

Who gives a **** about how teams look in preseason. The lions were undefeated in preseason, look at them now.

The team is not questioning Romo, listen to the postgame stuff. The people questioning romo are fair-weather fans.

"(The Cowboys) are a sloppy, sloppy football team. Their fundamentals are poor. They should have been practicing the fundamentals in training camp rather than being TV stars for Hard Knocks." - Jimmy Johnson

You can bet that some of the players are starting to privately question Romo. This is 3 Decembers in a row we've seen his choke-job artistry taken to a new level.

 

[Chuck 54]

no, it's not a great post....

This is not an aberation from Romo - especially not in December and not in big games. And if you're encouraged by this game - you only want to squeek into the play-offs - never win a SB.

I hate to disappoint you, but unless you think the Giants were going to lose every game, squeaking into the playoffs was our only option. The team played great today...you can't deny that. Tony Romo sucked and is the only reason we lost. Usually, he's been the only reason we've won. Can you deny that?

 

[topdog]

Great post, the offense let's us down, but they had an off day, they played even with a excellent Steeler team and the int return was the difference in the game!!


However, the I have a feeling the team will play flat once again in the playoffs if they make it!!!

Talented team but not like the great teams of the '90 or the Staubach years!!!

 

[BAT]

Excellent post w/great points. Yet the message may be lost due to the "timing", people are still emotional right now to think rationally.

The only thing that keeps me from being as positive is the ST coaching/execution. O and D are fixable, not so sure about the ST. At least not this season.

 

[kramskoi]

Unlike some here, I'm not pinning this loss on Tony. He had a bad game, but there were other issues as well, such as the repeated miscommunications between him and his receivers, which are baffling in and of themselves given that we're currently in December.

However, I don't find anything particularly "encouraging" about this game. The Cowboys are making the same mistakes and self-inflicted wounds that have plagued them for the past 12 years.

i'm beginning to wonder if it ain't an eternally optimistic, meddling owner in cahoots with a susie-sunshine coach thats hurting a team as talented as any in football but lacking in attention to detail, killer instinct, perserverance, will to win and preparedness.

His bad games seem to always come at times when the rubber meets the road. Eli Manning figured out this defense, Peyton Manning figured out this defense, Donovan McNabb figured out this defense but Romo, the highest rated passer in the NFL?...no...all the above-mentioned quartebacks have one thing in common...they've all won championships.

Roethlisberger, another championship quarterback, got out of his own way today and came good at the end...Romo? 3 ints.

Thats his measuring stick and we can gloss over his deficiencies and apologize for his decision-making but it won't change the fact.

 

[Chuck 54]

Nothing positive to take from this loss. Nothing. We choked. Again.

You're usually pretty realistic Hitta, but "nothing Positive...we choked" can't even be defended.

Did the defense choke because they held Pitt to 13 points despite all the bad situations they were put into?

Did the OL choke? Did Choice choke? Did TO choke?

Who choked besides the special teams and Tony? The special teams horrid play didn't cost us much thanks to a magnificent defense.

Tony choked...no two ways around that.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I'm sorry but I cannot be encouraged by the fact that we absolutely DOMINATED a team and then folded like a lawn chair when we needed to make a stand.

There is absolutely NOTHING encouraging about that. We're 8-5, and one loss away from this season being meaningless. This game makes me sick to my stomach. The game was OURS. No other reg season loss in recent memory stings like this.

Man...

 

[NextGenBoys]

You're usually pretty realistic Hitta, but "nothing Positive...we choked" can't even be defended.

Did the defense choke because they held Pitt to 13 points despite all the bad situations they were put into?

Did the OL choke? Did Choice choke? Did TO choke?

Who choked besides the special teams and Tony? The special teams horrid play didn't cost us much thanks to a magnificent defense.

Tony choked...no two ways around that.

Well, 2 of his three interceptions are due to receivers running wrong routes. Dont know how much of that is choking.

 

[wesleyc288]

Man, talk about over-reaction.

Fire Wade? Trade Tony? No heart or guts....idiotic.

I'm heartbroken, but there is only one reason we lost this game...make no mistake. It wasn't because TNew got burned on a long pass play...he's a great CB, and that big play didn't bear any serious result.

It wasn't Tony's overthrow of Roy in the endzone...he's being chased and can't throw it with his right arm, so he throws it lefthanded.

It certainly isn't the defense or Wade Phillips for gosh sakes.

The only reason we lost this game is because Tony had his worst game ever, even worse than the first half turnovers against Buffalo last season (because he came back and had a great half of ball that game. Today, he was pretty bad off and on all game long.

Encouraged?

Despite horrible special teams play where guys did nothing on punt coverage, very little on KO coverage, gave Pitt the ball on their own 40 when it was ours on their 30 if we just run off the field on a short punt, and our Kicker couldn't get the ball inside the 10 with the wind...despite all that, the defense bailed them out time and time again all game long.

Despite Tony Romo throwing 3 ints, one for a TD, and fumbling away another, missing receivers all game, stepping into defenders in the pocket like a rookie, etc., The defense was incredible. Our defense gave up 6 points for most of the game despite our other guys giving Pittsburgh the ball numberous times inside our own 30, 2-3 more times around the 50 or our 40, and putting them on the field extra with 5 turnovers.

To only give up 13 points, to have one of the greatest goal line stands in Cowboys history against a great power team, two downs from about the 6" line, I am encouraged. So they ran out of gas towards the end (I think that's obvious...the pass rush ran out of gas, guys started getting cramps...hard to make yourself hydrate on a bitterly cold night.

We also found a true starting caliber RB tonight, a rookie put in the toughest of situations in 19 degree weather against the best defense in the NFL, had a great game running, blocking, and receiving until one pass at the end bounced off his chest...this was a 3rd stringer.

The OL played better than I could have dreamed against that Pittsburg front...pass blocking and run blocking, and the offensive penalties were almost non-existant...unbelievable.

If Championships are won with defense, running the ball and stopping the run, then yes, I am very encouraged for the stretch run, despite the disappointment of this loss.

You can look at a few single plays or calls, but the only reason we lost was Tony Romo, who has proven this won't happen often.

Some have mentioned the 3rd and 6 draw call...I called that one to my friend because that play was open all game in pass situations...we had gashed them with it...once Choice had an easy first down and stumbled, falling 1 yard short...once he had an open field and was dragged down from behind by the blitzing Palomalu when Witten let him run right inside of him.

I thought the worst call Jason Garrett made all game was the fourth down and less than one when we sent Choice in motion and handed the ball to freakin' Anderson. We needed a few inches...you run the best play in football that almost never gets stopped for inches...the QB sneak behind Gurode and Davis...they both got a push, and if Anderson runs behind Davis instead of bending it back to the left of Center, it's a first down anyway....Romo gets it easily on a sneak...that was a horrible call where boy genius outthought himself.

Romo robbed us of many other opportunities to score with his foolish turnovers...he put Pitt. in great scoring positions with turnovers and horrible throws that made us punt...he was jittery and just didn't seem himself...maybe it was the 19 degrees and he'd never had to contend with the way the ball feels....or maybe he just picked a bad night to gag.

The bottom line is Romo is a great QB who has carried our team, and I find it ridiculous that some would still question his ability to win big games after seeing this year what he means to our success.

If I had to lose this game any other way, I'd pick this way because Romo is the least likely guy to play poorly again...I am very encouraged at how we played in this Dec game and how we'll finish Dec.

Sidenote...Witten also picked a horrible time to go brain dead...the pick six coming on some idiotic non-pattern when Romo threw it where he should have been with his big body between the defender and the ball. Then on 4th down, Romo rushes a throw under no pressure because 99 times out of a hundred Witten runs his pattern, realizes he's wide open in a dead zone of the defense and stops for what would have been the easiest 15 yards + of the game...instead the dufus runs right through the wide open space and turns to the post and the defender.

Romo and Witten are two of the most reliable guys we have...whether it had been in the first half or the 4th quarter as it was, the defense gave up only 13 points in what I see as an incredible effort under horrible field position conditions, thanks to Tony. Tony and Witten took care of the final 7 points when we should have been driving down for the game winning FG or overtime where you end up with the wind or the ball in OT.

It hurts, but if you didn't see an incredible effort by every facet of our team except special teams and a rock solid game plan on both sides of the ball, along with incredible personal efforts on the parts of guys like Ratliff, James, Pacman on defense, and Ware, the OL, Choice, etc. then you weren't watching. Blame Tony Romo for the worst game of his career in his first game below 32 degrees and his first game without the splint...it happens.

Blame the special teams for lousy freakin' coverage that should have killed us, but actually the defense bailed them out.

Overall, the rest of the defense and offense played their hearts out...If Tony even has a mediocre game, we win this one handily, imo.

It happens...there's a lot to build on. I think we win against the Giants at Home next week...I actually believe we can control their running game and pressure Manning. Heartbroken tonight, but encouraged by our team.

Best post ive read all night by far.

:starspin We can still get this together, C'mon Cowboys!:starspin

 

[wesleyc288]

At one time Peyton Manning couldn't win a big game either.

At one time Tom Landry could not lead the Cowboys to the title.

Anyone who thinks football is instant gratification and simple is a freaking moron.

I am satisfied with the progress being made for this team to end the playoff jinx. I don't care if I am alone in feeling that way.

Im with you Hostile

 

[Biggems]

Id be more encouraged if the Giants would have picked next week to lay an egg instead of this week....

 

[Chuck 54]

I have read it all... I agree this is a super talented team that tried very hard and should have won - but this stands out...

"Despite Tony Romo throwing 3 ints, one for a TD, and fumbling away another, missing receivers all game, stepping into defenders in the pocket like a rookie, etc."

That is a serious (not encouraging) problem....

Agreed....but I don't see Tony's play as a problem because it doesn't happen often...most of the time he's the only reason we win games.

I hate to lose like all these other guys, but I'd be more worried about our team if the OL had gotten Tony Killed and Choice had run for 18 yards. I'd be more worried if the defense had the ball run down their throats or if there'd been no QB pressure or they'd been torched regularly.

This isn't for your post, but for some of the others I've read:

If the remaining teams on our schedule and in the playoffs have to count on beating us by throwing at TNEw or by having Tony Romo play horribly in order to beat us, then I like our chances.

 

[Chuck 54]

a team that desperately needs discipline and order.

The Cowboys outplayed them all game long but Romo choked it away.

a little contradictory, I think, or I missed your point. My point was the whole team looked great today except special teams and Tony. Defense bailed out the special teams and Tony for most of the game...Tony made too many mistakes.

 

[BourbonBalz]

You're usually pretty realistic Hitta, but "nothing Positive...we choked" can't even be defended.

Did the defense choke because they held Pitt to 13 points despite all the bad situations they were put into?

Did the OL choke? Did Choice choke? Did TO choke?

Who choked besides the special teams and Tony? The special teams horrid play didn't cost us much thanks to a magnificent defense.

Tony choked...no two ways around that.

The coaching staff choked when we had a 10 point lead and quit doing what got us that lead.

 

[Chuck 54]

At one time Peyton Manning couldn't win a big game either.

At one time Tom Landry could not lead the Cowboys to the title.

Anyone who thinks football is instant gratification and simple is a freaking moron.

I am satisfied with the progress being made for this team to end the playoff jinx. I don't care if I am alone in feeling that way.

You're not alone, Hostile...I'm with you. If our defense and OL play this well every week, I don't think teams can count on Tony playing that bad regularly.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Me too. These Romo aberration games are incredibly frustrating, and this one leads me to think that there is still something wrong with Romo's pinky....but that was a well played game (sans one or two mental gaffs) against a strong team, in their house, and in 'their style of football'....and we should have won.

I'm a little worried about the mentality of the players after such a heartbreaking loss though.

not me, our boys are going to be pissed doubly, by the loss, and the fact that they all hate the Giants

I would be more worried heading into this game had we won today

great post btw, wayne

 

[tomson75]

not me, our boys are going to be pissed doubly, by the loss, and the fact that they all hate the Giants

I would be more worried heading into this game had we won today

great post btw, wayne

Well I certainly hope you're right.