Chuck 54
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This was our third game in a row playing against 3 of the best defenses in the NFL, all 3 better than most of the defenses we'd face in the first round of the playoffs. It was expected to be a close, hard fought game. Anyone who didn't expect our offense to struggle against a great defense was just being a little stupid.
Until all the weird stuff at the end, 17 points should have won this game on paper and in Texas Stadium.
Did we lose because Garrett called a horrible game? NO. There are always questionable calls with him, but that's not why we lost.
Did we lose because Wade is a terrible head coach? NO. Somehow he managed to turn a pathetic defense totally around in mid-season...check your history books to find out how many times that's been done. He called a good game last night.
Could both coaches be better? I say definitely on Garrett, certainly arguable on Wade Phillips. But for people to say we lost the game because we don't tackle during the week is assinine...it's the same defense that has played lights out down the stretch and the same defense that tackled fine all game until those two plays.
We lost this game because the players didn't get the job done.
We lost because the punt coverage team gave up big plays and returns that resulted in great field position and field goals...I can't stand Reid, but it's not his fault our punter who averaged 45 yards last week averaged 38 low ball yards this week. It's not his fault 3 guys ran right by the returner and didn't tackle him on the 20+ yard punt return of a short punt.
It's not Garrett's fault that Romo threw two lame duck INT's in the first half when the offense was in the middle of promising drives. It's not Garrett's fault that Tony overthrew Miles Austin for a sure TD when there was almost no pressure on him...nor was it Garrett's fault that Romo made a late decision to run with the ball when he had the first down easily in front of him, but his late choice came up a yard short resulting in a punt. It's not Garrett's fault that Choice, who had another great game for a rookie, took his eyes off the ball on a perfectly executed option for the easy first down, fumbled it, and we had to kick a FG. That's a lot of personal screw-ups in a close game against a top defense.
It's not Wade's fault that everyone played hard all game or that the defense played great all game until the final crazy two plays. The defense stayed aggressive, punished receivers and held the running game in check. The defense is the only reason we were in this game, coming up huge despite the Ravens having great field position again and again. The Ravens fumbled 5 times, but we only recovered 1 of them. It's not Wade's fault that the guy in charge of the special teams lined up in the same formation for every place kick until the Ravens took advantage of what they'd seen and ran the freakin' fake for a first down that led to a TD instead of a fg attempt.
It's not Wade's fault that when the situation seemed lined up to make this a game of destiny in which we'd win by a field goal down the stretch, the defense totally screwed up, individually. Everyone knew Baltimore was going to run the ball both times...they didn't throw much or take any chances all game in their territory...they played a safe game waiting for our mistakes and allowing their defense to win the game. We're in a perfect defense...they have only 1 receiver out...we have 9-10 guys playing the run...it's not on Wade that the runners turned both into TD's.
Hamlin took the blame, but go back and watch Zach Thomas on both plays. On the first TD, it looked like he simply tripped and fell down. We have 2 ILB's; McGayhee runs up the middle and neither guy seemed to even notice or react...neither LB ever touched him. On the second TD, Hamlin got owned, but Zach Thomas was decleated, knocked on his butt...sad.
Two strange plays like that cannot be put on the head coach in my opinion...how can any coach prepare his team in some way that those two plays don't happen? The defense was clearly prepared to play this game, and they played all 4 quarters except for 2 plays...call that not finishing; call it what you want. They weren't drives; they weren't bad calls; they were two freak plays on which guys who had been playing great all night didn't make plays.
Everyone has his/her own opinion, but I don't see anything Wade could have done better. I see things I have great concerns about regarding Garrett's offense, but we were playing a great defense, and we did have a chance to win the game despite Romo not having a great game by his standards.
I'll add this about the special teams. I was very happy with our kickoff return team which gave us the ball at the 30-35 all game, and Austin was about to turn in a great return until he fumbled moving the ball from one side to another in an attempt to protect it...again, who's fault is that?
The kickoff coverage team was incredible all game, even better on the two kickoffs before the two long runs....3:56 left, all our Timeouts, Ravens deep in own territory. The punt coverage team is our real issue right now, and I can't help blaming most of that on the punter.
I remember lots of people blaming Jimmy Johnson for Leon Lett's brain fart miscue in the snow against Miami...how could he not know the rules? wasn't it Jimmy's responsibility? Eventually people realized it was still on Lett.
Last night's loss will rank in infamy right there with losing to the Dolphins on that snowy Thanksgiving afternoon...games given away in the strangest of ways that will never be forgotten and probably never duplicated in NFL history.
What's a fan, team, owner to do?
Get ready to play the Eagles...what else?
Until all the weird stuff at the end, 17 points should have won this game on paper and in Texas Stadium.
Did we lose because Garrett called a horrible game? NO. There are always questionable calls with him, but that's not why we lost.
Did we lose because Wade is a terrible head coach? NO. Somehow he managed to turn a pathetic defense totally around in mid-season...check your history books to find out how many times that's been done. He called a good game last night.
Could both coaches be better? I say definitely on Garrett, certainly arguable on Wade Phillips. But for people to say we lost the game because we don't tackle during the week is assinine...it's the same defense that has played lights out down the stretch and the same defense that tackled fine all game until those two plays.
We lost this game because the players didn't get the job done.
We lost because the punt coverage team gave up big plays and returns that resulted in great field position and field goals...I can't stand Reid, but it's not his fault our punter who averaged 45 yards last week averaged 38 low ball yards this week. It's not his fault 3 guys ran right by the returner and didn't tackle him on the 20+ yard punt return of a short punt.
It's not Garrett's fault that Romo threw two lame duck INT's in the first half when the offense was in the middle of promising drives. It's not Garrett's fault that Tony overthrew Miles Austin for a sure TD when there was almost no pressure on him...nor was it Garrett's fault that Romo made a late decision to run with the ball when he had the first down easily in front of him, but his late choice came up a yard short resulting in a punt. It's not Garrett's fault that Choice, who had another great game for a rookie, took his eyes off the ball on a perfectly executed option for the easy first down, fumbled it, and we had to kick a FG. That's a lot of personal screw-ups in a close game against a top defense.
It's not Wade's fault that everyone played hard all game or that the defense played great all game until the final crazy two plays. The defense stayed aggressive, punished receivers and held the running game in check. The defense is the only reason we were in this game, coming up huge despite the Ravens having great field position again and again. The Ravens fumbled 5 times, but we only recovered 1 of them. It's not Wade's fault that the guy in charge of the special teams lined up in the same formation for every place kick until the Ravens took advantage of what they'd seen and ran the freakin' fake for a first down that led to a TD instead of a fg attempt.
It's not Wade's fault that when the situation seemed lined up to make this a game of destiny in which we'd win by a field goal down the stretch, the defense totally screwed up, individually. Everyone knew Baltimore was going to run the ball both times...they didn't throw much or take any chances all game in their territory...they played a safe game waiting for our mistakes and allowing their defense to win the game. We're in a perfect defense...they have only 1 receiver out...we have 9-10 guys playing the run...it's not on Wade that the runners turned both into TD's.
Hamlin took the blame, but go back and watch Zach Thomas on both plays. On the first TD, it looked like he simply tripped and fell down. We have 2 ILB's; McGayhee runs up the middle and neither guy seemed to even notice or react...neither LB ever touched him. On the second TD, Hamlin got owned, but Zach Thomas was decleated, knocked on his butt...sad.
Two strange plays like that cannot be put on the head coach in my opinion...how can any coach prepare his team in some way that those two plays don't happen? The defense was clearly prepared to play this game, and they played all 4 quarters except for 2 plays...call that not finishing; call it what you want. They weren't drives; they weren't bad calls; they were two freak plays on which guys who had been playing great all night didn't make plays.
Everyone has his/her own opinion, but I don't see anything Wade could have done better. I see things I have great concerns about regarding Garrett's offense, but we were playing a great defense, and we did have a chance to win the game despite Romo not having a great game by his standards.
I'll add this about the special teams. I was very happy with our kickoff return team which gave us the ball at the 30-35 all game, and Austin was about to turn in a great return until he fumbled moving the ball from one side to another in an attempt to protect it...again, who's fault is that?
The kickoff coverage team was incredible all game, even better on the two kickoffs before the two long runs....3:56 left, all our Timeouts, Ravens deep in own territory. The punt coverage team is our real issue right now, and I can't help blaming most of that on the punter.
I remember lots of people blaming Jimmy Johnson for Leon Lett's brain fart miscue in the snow against Miami...how could he not know the rules? wasn't it Jimmy's responsibility? Eventually people realized it was still on Lett.
Last night's loss will rank in infamy right there with losing to the Dolphins on that snowy Thanksgiving afternoon...games given away in the strangest of ways that will never be forgotten and probably never duplicated in NFL history.
What's a fan, team, owner to do?
Get ready to play the Eagles...what else?
