We beat ourselves

[Stash]

Then you watched a different game than I did. They beat Dallas fair and square. They stopped the offense which protects the defense by blitzing Romo.

I saw a running back who averaged 7 yards per carry get only 19 attempts. That's internal stupidity, not anything the Commanders stopped us from doing.

Self-inflicted.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I saw a running back who averaged 7 yards per carry get only 19 attempts. That's internal stupidity, not anything the Commanders stopped us from doing.

Self-inflicted.

I also saw a team getting blitzed like never before and only one screen play, but that doesn't change the fact their players beat our players at our game in our house.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I blame the offensive coaches for not adjusting to the blitz. I blame the defense for playing horrible, but they were on the field longer than usual. We need a pass rush. Opposing QBs are never stressed against us and it costed us dearly last night.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This is we beat ourselves in this game.

In so many ways it just makes me sick to think about it.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Dallas totally beat themselves no ifs and or butts about it.

 

[Stash]

I also saw a team getting blitzed like never before and only one screen play, but that doesn't change the fact their players beat our players at our game in our house.

Because they were put in position to do so, not because they were better players.

Again, Murray averaged 7 yards per carry and only got 19 of them, including none with the game on the line. That's self-inflicted stupidity, not anything Washington stopped.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Play calling was bad. They have fallen into throwing on second down almost every time now even when it's short yardage.

My thinking also, it look like they were out thinking themselves.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

It was a bad night for Scott calling plays. But let's be fair to the system right now. It was his first bad game thus far calling plays out of 8 tries. You're not going to have him call amazing games every week.

Let's just hope he gets it back to where he had been previous.


One thing I think that got him, and has gotten Dallas for years, is when they come into games where a team has a seriously bad secondary, like Washington, and they just become bull headed that they're going to exploit that with down the field passing. Dallas has had this problem for years where they just act like they're going to force the issue and run these longer routes, and plays, and wind up getting themselves in trouble with it.

Play to your own strengths and don't worry about what the strengths or weakness of the opposing team is. Let the game come to you, and take what they're going to give. Last night Washington was going to give up the running game, and could have given up big plays with screens and quick slants, and Dallas simply never went to those quicker passing options. They stayed hard headed trying to hit big plays on the secondary which were simply not necessary to win last night.

 

[Seven]

We beat ourselves.

Murray has to hold on to the ball. 2 hands please when your about to make contact. Fumble on the 10 cost us points.

Murray gets us down to the goal on a bibig run after Romo goes out and we can score a TD. Can settle for FGs when your that close. I would have liked to see us run there on 2nd and goal. Also Dez has to make that catch in the end zone.

The playing calling when the Commanders were sending the all out blitz. Where is the added protection? Where is the screen to Dunbar or Murray? Quick out to Witten?

This is we beat ourselves in this game.

The play calling was very suspect as well, IMO.

It may have been a balanced attack, I don't know for sure, but it was crap timing. All night.

Long, drawn out pass plays when they're bringing the house............not smart.

We should've NEVER seen an empty backfield.

Romo should send Linehan a package..............that's ticking.

 

[Staubacher]

My thinking also, it look like they were out thinking themselves.

Linehan even said after the game he will probably regret the second down pass in OT.

They had something work for 6 weeks and developed hubris about it despite the evidence.

 

[kevm3]

What washington DID stop was us tossing the ball down the field and getting big gains. They utilized a defensive strategy that shut our offense down and limited us to 17 points. Give them our props. They beat us fair and square.

 

[HankC]

I agree we beat ourselves. Here are some of my observations:

The team seemed not to be psychologically prepared to give maximum effort. Every part of the Cowboys' game was off.

Linehan should have prepared quick-release passes to be used when the 'Skins lined up in all-out blitz defense if they came, with safe alternatives if they did not.

Romo should have been prepared to watch for the free rusher when they sent more than we could block. Should have released the ball more quickly.

Defense tackled poorly. Lack of focus, commitment.

Secondary was not prepared to cover deep threats. Come on! This was the Commanders.

We went to the pass too often after halftime.

Receivers could not beat back up corners (who played well).

Front seven neglected gap responsibilities.

Weeden played well. Perhaps someone else did, but I didn't see it.

 

[VACowboy]

This is what I keep coming back to. Say what you want to about not being able to handle the blitz for crap all damn night, but if we don't fumble the ball twice, we're winning that game. If Dez holds onto an easy throw in the endzone, we win.

Murray and Randle have to hold onto the ball better, but those weren't freak fumbles. Washington players knocked those balls out.

I hate the Skins at least as much as anybody, but they flat beat us last night. IMHO, Garrett and Linehan were out-coached. The Skins beat us with a 3rd-string QB and a coupla 3rd-string corners. A rookie made Dez look lost. The inability to adjust protections and/or throw a slant or a screen or something is just silly. This debacle is on Garrett, Lineehan and Romo. I don't blame the defense, either. They gave up 17 points in regulation, despite two turnovers and a punt return that set Washington up in Dallas territory.

Second and goal at the three. You're running the ball well. Turn around and hand the ball to Murray, right?

Hell no!

Second and two in OT. Now you're really gashing them on the ground. Four downs to get two yards. Turn around and hand the ball to Murray, right?

Hell no!

Beats me.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

Like you folks said it was a overall team loss.

 

[silver]

The Commanders came to play. Colt McCoy seized the moment. Next week RG3 is back, who knows when he'll be able to play again. I dont buy the we beat ourselves argument. They caught a runaway Murray from behind. They brokeup passes in key situations. They converted third downs on key situations. Nah, they beat us.

 

[Givincer]

Murray doesn't fumble on the 10 that's atleast 3 points. We win. If dez catches that TD that's 4 more points. We win

That assumes everything that happened afterward would have the exact same, had there not been a fumble, which is a fallacy.

 

[supercowboy8]

That assumes everything that happened afterward would have the exact same, had there not been a fumble, which is a fallacy.

If you fumble the ball on the 10 yard line that is a Damn good chance you took points off the board.

 

[Zman5]

It was a bad night for Scott calling plays. But let's be fair to the system right now. It was his first bad game thus far calling plays out of 8 tries. You're not going to have him call amazing games every week.

Let's just hope he gets it back to where he had been previous.


One thing I think that got him, and has gotten Dallas for years, is when they come into games where a team has a seriously bad secondary, like Washington, and they just become bull headed that they're going to exploit that with down the field passing. Dallas has had this problem for years where they just act like they're going to force the issue and run these longer routes, and plays, and wind up getting themselves in trouble with it.

Play to your own strengths and don't worry about what the strengths or weakness of the opposing team is. Let the game come to you, and take what they're going to give. Last night Washington was going to give up the running game, and could have given up big plays with screens and quick slants, and Dallas simply never went to those quicker passing options. They stayed hard headed trying to hit big plays on the secondary which were simply not necessary to win last night.

This goes back to my biggest complaint about JG.

Instead of taking what the defense gives you, we should play to our strength and take what we want.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Linehan even said after the game he will probably regret the second down pass in OT.

3rd down wasn't any better.

 

[slogriff]

I haven't seen a single comment about our last drive in regulation where we on 2nd down complete a pass (forget to whom) and the ball is placed right at the 1st down marker. The ball is firmly on the TV yellow line for a first down. The announcers don't relay if it is a first and I don't realize it is called 3rd down until the next snap. Which Romo promptly throws it away for intentional grounding and we have to punt.
Why didn't someone (coaching staff / Romo) asked the refs for a measurement? At a minimum, it would have stopped the clock, allow us to settle down and hopefully would have avoided that 3rd down abortion and punt on next play. We likely would have got the first down and additional plays even with a subsequent grounding.
Anyone have clarification on procedures to get refs to measure for a 1st and if it is different in the last minute of half/game?