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By Andy Newberry
Posted October 20, 2009 at 1 a.m
Sunday was one of the best game days Wade Phillips has enjoyed this season. Ditto for Jason Garrett.
The Dallas Cowboys coach didn’t have one awkward moment to explain, and his offensive coordinator didn’t even have to call one goal-line fade route.
Nope, the Cowboys just sat home and watched the rest of their NFC East division mates implode.
First up, the mighty Giants and their No. 1-ranked pass defense got lit up early and often by Drew Brees in a 48-27 loss at New Orleans. And it wasn’t really that close as the Saints scored more points than all three NFC East teams combined on Sunday.
Unless the Cowboys really turn it on and become consistent that result won’t be that big as I still expect the Giants to finish around 12-4.
The really good news came a little later in the day in Oakland as the woeful Raiders beat Philadelphia, 13-9. That’s the same Oakland team that Dallas will feast on Thanksgiving Day.
The loss knocks the Eagles into a tie with Dallas at 3-2. Those two figure to be neck-and-neck in the wild card standings all year as they were until the Philly blowout in Week 17 last season.
The 2-4 Commanders shouldn’t be a part of the playoff conversation, but their home loss to the previously winless Chiefs (14-6) had to make Phillips laugh. Or at least breathe a sigh of relief that it was Jim Zorn and not him that lost to the Chiefs and immediately started losing his power. Shoot, by the time this ink is dry Zorn could be a former head coach in Washington.
The bad news is that this isn’t the BCS or college football. There are no more bye weeks or chances to improve in the standings just by watching TV.
I think it’s safe to say the Cowboys are looking up at the Saints, Giants and Vikings in the NFC. Dallas has a chance to state its case as the fourth-best team in the conference this week when it plays host to the 4-1 Atlanta Falcons.
If the Cowboys lose at home to Atlanta, 15-6 since the start of 2008, then they go back to being a .500 team that likely misses the playoffs.
Unlike Sunday, the Cowboys will have to expend energy if they want to move up in the standings. But for one day, the rest of the NFC East did their best to pull Phillips and Co. up a notch on the ladder.
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/oct/20/cowboys-had-to-enjoy-misery-in-nfc-east/
Posted October 20, 2009 at 1 a.m
Sunday was one of the best game days Wade Phillips has enjoyed this season. Ditto for Jason Garrett.
The Dallas Cowboys coach didn’t have one awkward moment to explain, and his offensive coordinator didn’t even have to call one goal-line fade route.
Nope, the Cowboys just sat home and watched the rest of their NFC East division mates implode.
First up, the mighty Giants and their No. 1-ranked pass defense got lit up early and often by Drew Brees in a 48-27 loss at New Orleans. And it wasn’t really that close as the Saints scored more points than all three NFC East teams combined on Sunday.
Unless the Cowboys really turn it on and become consistent that result won’t be that big as I still expect the Giants to finish around 12-4.
The really good news came a little later in the day in Oakland as the woeful Raiders beat Philadelphia, 13-9. That’s the same Oakland team that Dallas will feast on Thanksgiving Day.
The loss knocks the Eagles into a tie with Dallas at 3-2. Those two figure to be neck-and-neck in the wild card standings all year as they were until the Philly blowout in Week 17 last season.
The 2-4 Commanders shouldn’t be a part of the playoff conversation, but their home loss to the previously winless Chiefs (14-6) had to make Phillips laugh. Or at least breathe a sigh of relief that it was Jim Zorn and not him that lost to the Chiefs and immediately started losing his power. Shoot, by the time this ink is dry Zorn could be a former head coach in Washington.
The bad news is that this isn’t the BCS or college football. There are no more bye weeks or chances to improve in the standings just by watching TV.
I think it’s safe to say the Cowboys are looking up at the Saints, Giants and Vikings in the NFC. Dallas has a chance to state its case as the fourth-best team in the conference this week when it plays host to the 4-1 Atlanta Falcons.
If the Cowboys lose at home to Atlanta, 15-6 since the start of 2008, then they go back to being a .500 team that likely misses the playoffs.
Unlike Sunday, the Cowboys will have to expend energy if they want to move up in the standings. But for one day, the rest of the NFC East did their best to pull Phillips and Co. up a notch on the ladder.
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/oct/20/cowboys-had-to-enjoy-misery-in-nfc-east/