A frigid blast of arctic air surged into the U.S. just in time for a slew of late-November NFL games yesterday. The games most impacted:
New England - Denver
Green Bay - Minnesota
Dallas - New York
Jets - Baltimore
Pitt-Cleveland
The effect of such weather makes the ball hard to grasp for both quarterbacks and receivers. Numbing chill can take away some of the important sensitivity that a quarterback relies on to get that proper feel and appropriately squeeze the ball. Meanwhile the wind...and its inevitable variability...can literally toy with a passing game.
Unexpectedly some of the quarterbacking results were ugly, particularly for the quarterbacks who enjoyed the doubly dubious distinction of having to play in inclement battles...on the road.
Peyton Manning could only lead his team to 150 passing yards, despite 36 passing attempts. And he was also responsible for two fumbles and an INT. His team went down for a loss despite being gifted with 17 early turnover-related points.
And if the the road and the elements weren't enough Tony was also greeted by a New York team willing to raise it's thuggery to felon-beast mode. The Giants were a wounded team in the most dangerous position in sports: in the corner of desperation but fanned with the confidence that comes after a 4-game winning streak. Yes, and the revenge factor was also at play after the Game 1 loss in Dallas.
The stadium's fans behaved like something from Rome's Colleseum. Blood lust filled the stadium and fire the Giant defenders into a frenzy at times.
After a slow start and some ugly bobbles by his receivers....Romo became increasingly effective. The Cowboys could have likely pulled away entirely if it weren't for two things:
-The Giants pass rush
-Dez's repeated penchant of running laterally rather than vertically...and more distressingly...repeatedly bobbling and dropping balls.
-Numerous occasions of poor field position
But when it mattered most, Romo led a positively scintillating drive...draining every second of clock and every breath of hope that the G-men had left. Not only was Dez vindicated in the final drive, but Tony turned to Miles Austin for a key completion, despite an ugly Austin drop the play before. The only incompletions in the final drive were drops by receivers.
Romo wasn't even derailed by a ridiculous referee crew. The Cowboys were robbed of a pass inside the ten to Dez Bryant. But on the very next play Tony delivered a dart to the diminutive Cole Beasley. And the game was one.
