10. Last time you experienced a Cowboys’ losing streak (6) this long the quarterback was a rookie named … Troy Aikman. Yep, 1989.
9. Much as I want Tony Romo to return Nov. 22 and save the season, it ain’t happening. The Cowboys needed to merely stay afloat without their star quarterback. But, alas, they have drowned. Best they can be when he comes back is 3-6. Which means, essentially, they’d have to win out to have a chance at the playoffs.
8. The Cowboys’ running backs are just a mess. Apparently now Cristine Michael is in the doghouse. He played no snaps against the Eagles, leaving some major playing time to Rod Smith, whose been with the team less than a month.
7. Blame this wasted season on Romo’s injury. But No. 2 at fault is Jordan Hicks, the former University of Texas linebacker who broke Romo’s collarbone in September and then scored on an interception last night. Third on the list is the defense, which vaporizes at the worst times. The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL with 0 fourth-quarter sacks and they have only four takeaways all season. Once upon a time Monte Kiffin was hired to fix that problem. Remember?
6. Sean Lee with another concussion. That’s two in six weeks. Each time he walks off the field into the locker room we start to wonder if he’ll ever come back.
5. Cowboys got a breakout game by Cole Beasley, the most exciting 18-yard Hail Mary ever from Dez Bryant, lots of favorable calls from the referees and a lucky carom off the goalpost on Dan Bailey’s game-tying field goal … and still couldn’t beat the Eagles.
4. As good as he was last season, Rolando McClain is a liability this year. I know he wasn’t trying to, but tonight he inadvertently caused Lee’s concussion and Anthony Hitchens’ sprained ankle, and later ran into Byron Jones for a pick that sprang a big Eagles’ gain.
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3. Romo took over as the starting quarterback midway in 2006. Since then the Cowboys are 77-48 when he starts and 6-15 when he doesn’t. Yeah, it’s that simple.
2. Painful enough to lose six consecutive games. Even more tortuous is the manner in which they’ve lost. Blew a 14-point lead against the Falcons. Lost in overtime at New Orleans. Lost in New York on a 100-yard kick-off return. Lost to the Seahawks by one point. And tonight they wilt on a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime. Can’t recall an NFL team ever losing two overtime games in one season on touchdown passes. And, no less, of 80 and 41 yards. In the words of NBC’s Al Michaels, “Those are killers.”
1. Bottom line: Without Romo the Cowboys are forced to play with a minuscule margin for error. Tonight’s culprit was Cassel’s pick 6. A team without its best player just can’t overcome monumental mistakes.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
