NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
IRVING – The Dallas Cowboys are no longer full of themselves.
For Brandon Carr, that’s the silver lining that came out of the painful 30-21 loss at San Diego, a game in which the Cowboys blew a double-digit second quarter lead.
“We still have that sickening feeling,” the cornerback said Monday. “…Guys are just kind of embarrassed with our play across the board.
“…The mood is back to being humble, so to speak. We’re humble people, but you take a loss like that, it kind of brings you back down to reality, back down to earth. That’s good for us.”
The Cowboys drilled St. Louis 31-7 in Week 2 to improve to 2-1. But instead of maintaining momentum, Dallas allowed the Chargers to score 20 unanswered points after gaining a 21-10 lead on a Sean Lee interception return for a touchdown.
The meltdown left the Cowboys, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2009 and haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season, with a 130-130 record in their last 260 games. Those are facts that beg the question: Why would Dallas be chesty about anything these days?
“We like to be consistent in our approach all the time,” Jason Garrett said, “regardless of what happened in the previous play, the previous series or the previous game, and that’s always what we preach as coaches.”
Considering how the Cowboys played in San Diego, all that preaching must be falling upon deaf ears.
In addition to allowing Philip Rivers to pass for 401 yards and three TDs, Dallas botched several opportunities in the second half.
Dez Bryant and Jason Witten had crucial third down drops. Ronald Leary’s holding penalty wiped out a first down. Rookie Terrance Williams fumbled at the goal line.
The Chargers, meanwhile, kept battling. When it was over, the Cowboys marveled at the masterful way Rivers outmaneuvered them.
“We were always a step too late,” Carr said. “They always checked into the right play to burn us.”
What happened at Qualcomm Stadium doesn’t bode well for a defense that now must match wits with Peyton Manning. In leading Denver to a 4-0 start, the NFL’s ultimate chess master has passed for 16 TDs without an interception while posting a scintillating 138.0 passer rating.
“He’s playing quarterback at maybe the highest level it’s ever been played,” Garrett said.
Denver has the league’s top-ranked offense in points, total yards, passing yards and is coming off a 52-20 plastering of Philadelphia. Dallas is near the bottom of the league in pass defense after allowing two passers to top 400 yards and has two defenders in cornerback Morris Claiborne and linebacker Bruce Carter that Manning probably can’t wait to target.
Claiborne has already lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick. Carter was benched in San Diego after twice getting burned twice for TDs by Danny Woodhead.
“It’s not time for feelings or anything political,” Carr said of Claiborne’s demotion. “It’s all just business and we are trying to put the best 11 out there to win ball games. The decision had been made and we are going to go with it.”
What they can’t continue to go with is the maddening roller-coaster win-one, lose-one ride they’ve been on the last three seasons, a stretch that includes 8-8 finishes the last two years.
“I don’t like roller coasters,” Carr said. “It makes your stomach hurt…This is not a good feeling. We have too good players, good coaches, overall a good program, good organization, that we should be winning these games.”
Until they do, they’d be wise to stay humble.
Continue reading...
For Brandon Carr, that’s the silver lining that came out of the painful 30-21 loss at San Diego, a game in which the Cowboys blew a double-digit second quarter lead.
“We still have that sickening feeling,” the cornerback said Monday. “…Guys are just kind of embarrassed with our play across the board.
“…The mood is back to being humble, so to speak. We’re humble people, but you take a loss like that, it kind of brings you back down to reality, back down to earth. That’s good for us.”
The Cowboys drilled St. Louis 31-7 in Week 2 to improve to 2-1. But instead of maintaining momentum, Dallas allowed the Chargers to score 20 unanswered points after gaining a 21-10 lead on a Sean Lee interception return for a touchdown.
The meltdown left the Cowboys, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2009 and haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season, with a 130-130 record in their last 260 games. Those are facts that beg the question: Why would Dallas be chesty about anything these days?
“We like to be consistent in our approach all the time,” Jason Garrett said, “regardless of what happened in the previous play, the previous series or the previous game, and that’s always what we preach as coaches.”
Considering how the Cowboys played in San Diego, all that preaching must be falling upon deaf ears.
In addition to allowing Philip Rivers to pass for 401 yards and three TDs, Dallas botched several opportunities in the second half.
Dez Bryant and Jason Witten had crucial third down drops. Ronald Leary’s holding penalty wiped out a first down. Rookie Terrance Williams fumbled at the goal line.
The Chargers, meanwhile, kept battling. When it was over, the Cowboys marveled at the masterful way Rivers outmaneuvered them.
“We were always a step too late,” Carr said. “They always checked into the right play to burn us.”
What happened at Qualcomm Stadium doesn’t bode well for a defense that now must match wits with Peyton Manning. In leading Denver to a 4-0 start, the NFL’s ultimate chess master has passed for 16 TDs without an interception while posting a scintillating 138.0 passer rating.
“He’s playing quarterback at maybe the highest level it’s ever been played,” Garrett said.
Denver has the league’s top-ranked offense in points, total yards, passing yards and is coming off a 52-20 plastering of Philadelphia. Dallas is near the bottom of the league in pass defense after allowing two passers to top 400 yards and has two defenders in cornerback Morris Claiborne and linebacker Bruce Carter that Manning probably can’t wait to target.
Claiborne has already lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick. Carter was benched in San Diego after twice getting burned twice for TDs by Danny Woodhead.
“It’s not time for feelings or anything political,” Carr said of Claiborne’s demotion. “It’s all just business and we are trying to put the best 11 out there to win ball games. The decision had been made and we are going to go with it.”
What they can’t continue to go with is the maddening roller-coaster win-one, lose-one ride they’ve been on the last three seasons, a stretch that includes 8-8 finishes the last two years.
“I don’t like roller coasters,” Carr said. “It makes your stomach hurt…This is not a good feeling. We have too good players, good coaches, overall a good program, good organization, that we should be winning these games.”
Until they do, they’d be wise to stay humble.
Continue reading...