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[size=-1]Web Posted: 09/21/2005 12:00 AM CDT [/size]
[size=-1]Stephen Hawkins
Associated press [/size]
IRVING — Explaining how the Dallas Cowboys lost was the easy part for Bill Parcells. Knowing how it will affect the rest of their season is a little more uncertain for the coach. "Now these losses like this can carry over if you let them," Parcells said after the Cowboys went from seemingly certain victory to a 14-13 loss when Washington scored two touchdowns in the final 3:46 late Monday night.
"It's very disappointing. We gave up two big plays. It is simple to explain," Parcells said. "You've got to finish, and we didn't finish."
The Cowboys were on the winning side of another Week2 Monday night thriller between NFC East rivals two years ago in Parcells' first season.
And the coach surely remembers what happened after the Cowboys won on the road in overtime against the New York Giants. Dallas tied that game on the final play of regulation, just 11 seconds after New York took the lead.
That started a five-game winning streak and was the springboard to a 10-victory season that got Dallas back in the playoffs. The Giants were denied a 2-0 start and went on to win only four games, costing coach Jim Fassel his job.
So which way will the Cowboys go after being on the wrong side of a comeback?
"I don't know; we will see," Parcells said. "We have a short week, and I haven't got time to dwell on it too much, but that was a tough one."
Parcells, who wasn't available to the media Tuesday, can't be sure what to expect. He has 10 rookies and 14 other players with only one or two years of NFL experience on his roster. Many play significant roles.
"Like for most rookies, this is a learning experience," said linebacker DeMarcus Ware, one of the team's two first-round draft picks this year. "A 13-0 lead is not enough. There is never enough."
After being held in check for more than 3 1/2 quarters, Commanders quarterback Mark Brunell hit Santana Moss for TDs of 39 and 70 yards just 1:11 apart. Those were the first touchdowns Washington scored this season, and they kept Dallas from its first 2-0 start since 1999.
"I think this team is mentally strong enough to overcome it. We have to," said cornerback Aaron Glenn, who was unable to knock down the second scoring pass.
"This is by no stretch of the imagination the end," defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said. "But we have to correct our mistakes quickly, learn from it, get this one out of our system and then move on to the next one."
The Cowboys, who won their season opener by scoring in the final minute against San Diego, play their next two games at San Francisco and Oakland.
Dallas led the Commanders 13-0 after Jose Cortez, who missed a 41-yard field goal on the game's opening drive, made a 33-yarder with 5:58 left. Never before had a Parcells-coached team lost when leading by at least 13 points in the fourth quarter.
"I do think at times, particularly with a young team, we are going to try to make this a positive situation and get the team in practice to address the things we need to do," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe, still without an interception — in the exhibition or regular seasons. "We need to play 60 minutes."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/nfl/cowboys/stories/MYSA092105.1C.FBNcowboys.parcells.127c71f2.html
[size=-1]Stephen Hawkins
Associated press [/size]
IRVING — Explaining how the Dallas Cowboys lost was the easy part for Bill Parcells. Knowing how it will affect the rest of their season is a little more uncertain for the coach. "Now these losses like this can carry over if you let them," Parcells said after the Cowboys went from seemingly certain victory to a 14-13 loss when Washington scored two touchdowns in the final 3:46 late Monday night.
"It's very disappointing. We gave up two big plays. It is simple to explain," Parcells said. "You've got to finish, and we didn't finish."
The Cowboys were on the winning side of another Week2 Monday night thriller between NFC East rivals two years ago in Parcells' first season.
And the coach surely remembers what happened after the Cowboys won on the road in overtime against the New York Giants. Dallas tied that game on the final play of regulation, just 11 seconds after New York took the lead.
That started a five-game winning streak and was the springboard to a 10-victory season that got Dallas back in the playoffs. The Giants were denied a 2-0 start and went on to win only four games, costing coach Jim Fassel his job.
So which way will the Cowboys go after being on the wrong side of a comeback?
"I don't know; we will see," Parcells said. "We have a short week, and I haven't got time to dwell on it too much, but that was a tough one."
Parcells, who wasn't available to the media Tuesday, can't be sure what to expect. He has 10 rookies and 14 other players with only one or two years of NFL experience on his roster. Many play significant roles.
"Like for most rookies, this is a learning experience," said linebacker DeMarcus Ware, one of the team's two first-round draft picks this year. "A 13-0 lead is not enough. There is never enough."
After being held in check for more than 3 1/2 quarters, Commanders quarterback Mark Brunell hit Santana Moss for TDs of 39 and 70 yards just 1:11 apart. Those were the first touchdowns Washington scored this season, and they kept Dallas from its first 2-0 start since 1999.
"I think this team is mentally strong enough to overcome it. We have to," said cornerback Aaron Glenn, who was unable to knock down the second scoring pass.
"This is by no stretch of the imagination the end," defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said. "But we have to correct our mistakes quickly, learn from it, get this one out of our system and then move on to the next one."
The Cowboys, who won their season opener by scoring in the final minute against San Diego, play their next two games at San Francisco and Oakland.
Dallas led the Commanders 13-0 after Jose Cortez, who missed a 41-yard field goal on the game's opening drive, made a 33-yarder with 5:58 left. Never before had a Parcells-coached team lost when leading by at least 13 points in the fourth quarter.
"I do think at times, particularly with a young team, we are going to try to make this a positive situation and get the team in practice to address the things we need to do," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe, still without an interception — in the exhibition or regular seasons. "We need to play 60 minutes."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/nfl/cowboys/stories/MYSA092105.1C.FBNcowboys.parcells.127c71f2.html
