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October 23, 2009, 1:30 am
Are Cowboys Ready to Rejoin the Elite?
By George Bretherton
The Cowboys haven’t been the same since losing to the Giants in the 2007 playoffs. Dallas had been the N.F.C.’s No. 1 seed, with a 13-3 record, and Jerry Jones had all but handed out tickets for an N.F.C. championship matchup with Green Bay.
Since then? The Cowboys have been 12-9. And they missed the playoffs in 2008 after a season-ending 44-6 loss to Philadelphia.
Now let’s get to Miles Austin.
[youtube]CSFqgNjnSwg[/youtube]
Three weeks ago in Dallas’s loss at Denver, Austin looked lost. Miscommunication with quarterback Tony Romo was highlighted on a costly play early in the third quarter. With Dallas leading, 10-7, and threatening to score after a Broncos turnover, Romo looked to Austin near the Denver goal line. When Austin failed to make the same read as Romo, Champ Bailey intercepted at the 3-yard line. The threat squelched, Austin didn’t make another catch and the Cowboys failed to score again in a 17-10 loss.
It seemed Austin was destined for a spot in Romo’s doghouse. It didn’t happen. Romo said after the game: “In a perfect world, we’d both like to have it back. We’ll get it right and we’ll be better next time.”
Who would have guessed better would be record-breaking better?
In the Cowboys’ 26-20 victory over the Chiefs two weeks ago, Austin had a performance out of a video game. His 60-yard catch and run for a touchdown was the winner in overtime. His 10 catches for 250 yards broke Bob Hayes’s franchise record of 246 yards, which had stood since Nov. 13, 1966. Austin’s earlier touchdown went for 59 yards. Romo targeted him 15 times.
Teammate Bradie James said about Austin: “I don’t think anybody in this locker room would have told you that he’d break the all-time record for receiving yards with all the traditions, all the great players that were here.”
Austin, who has eased some of the pressure on Coach Wade Phillips, has been named a starter.
Coming off their bye week, the Cowboys (3-2) face a tough Atlanta team (4-1). Jones said this week that this is a credibility game because Dallas’s three wins (over Tampa Bay, Carolina and Kansas City) have come against teams with a combined 3-14 record.
Extra point With Austin helping to rev the offense, are the Cowboys ready to make the jump back to elite status in the N.F.C.?
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/are-cowboys-ready-to-rejoin-the-elite/
Are Cowboys Ready to Rejoin the Elite?
By George Bretherton
The Cowboys haven’t been the same since losing to the Giants in the 2007 playoffs. Dallas had been the N.F.C.’s No. 1 seed, with a 13-3 record, and Jerry Jones had all but handed out tickets for an N.F.C. championship matchup with Green Bay.
Since then? The Cowboys have been 12-9. And they missed the playoffs in 2008 after a season-ending 44-6 loss to Philadelphia.
Now let’s get to Miles Austin.
[youtube]CSFqgNjnSwg[/youtube]
Three weeks ago in Dallas’s loss at Denver, Austin looked lost. Miscommunication with quarterback Tony Romo was highlighted on a costly play early in the third quarter. With Dallas leading, 10-7, and threatening to score after a Broncos turnover, Romo looked to Austin near the Denver goal line. When Austin failed to make the same read as Romo, Champ Bailey intercepted at the 3-yard line. The threat squelched, Austin didn’t make another catch and the Cowboys failed to score again in a 17-10 loss.
It seemed Austin was destined for a spot in Romo’s doghouse. It didn’t happen. Romo said after the game: “In a perfect world, we’d both like to have it back. We’ll get it right and we’ll be better next time.”
Who would have guessed better would be record-breaking better?
In the Cowboys’ 26-20 victory over the Chiefs two weeks ago, Austin had a performance out of a video game. His 60-yard catch and run for a touchdown was the winner in overtime. His 10 catches for 250 yards broke Bob Hayes’s franchise record of 246 yards, which had stood since Nov. 13, 1966. Austin’s earlier touchdown went for 59 yards. Romo targeted him 15 times.
Teammate Bradie James said about Austin: “I don’t think anybody in this locker room would have told you that he’d break the all-time record for receiving yards with all the traditions, all the great players that were here.”
Austin, who has eased some of the pressure on Coach Wade Phillips, has been named a starter.
Coming off their bye week, the Cowboys (3-2) face a tough Atlanta team (4-1). Jones said this week that this is a credibility game because Dallas’s three wins (over Tampa Bay, Carolina and Kansas City) have come against teams with a combined 3-14 record.
Extra point With Austin helping to rev the offense, are the Cowboys ready to make the jump back to elite status in the N.F.C.?
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/are-cowboys-ready-to-rejoin-the-elite/
