10. Thanks to the Eagles’ upset loss in Minnesota, the Cowboys are still alive and control their own destination in the NFC East. Beat the Redskins and Eagles and … NFC East Champs. And that’s it for the good news.
9. Tony Romo was bad today. Underthrows. Overthrows. Mind-boggling decisions. And, of course, the catastrophic climax. Two interceptions in his last three throws.
8. It’s obviously unrealistic to ask the Cowboys’ defense to make plays. After injuries to Ernie Sims and Justin Durant, they were counting on production in crunch-time from linebackers named Kyle Bosworth and DeVonte Holloman and Cameron Lawrence. Right, who?
7. On Romo’s last interception he led Cole Beasley when the receiver actually slowed his out-route. A miscommunication? In that situation? Inexcusable.
6. Under Romo the Cowboys have now blown second-half leads – at home, mind you – of 27-3 to the Lions and 26-3 to the Packers. Pretty sure his legacy is going to be different than Roger Staubach’s.
5. The Cowboys led by 23 points at halftime. In the third and fourth quarter they handed the ball off a combined eight times. Even if the Packers are playing nine men in the box, that’s just wrong. Just flat-out wrong. Green Bay only had one chance to win that game, and it was to somehow trick the Cowboys into continually throwing the ball.
4. The Cowboys’ defense gave up 34 points in the second half. To a quarterback not named Aaron Rodgers. Or Brett Favre. Or Bart Starr.
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3. Wanna see what a Pro Bowl left tackle looks like? Hope you watched Tyron Smith smother Clay Matthews into silent submission? The Packers’ linebacker had two tackles and .5 sack. Maybe Smith was still juiced by his 23rd birthday party on Friday night, at which he received gifts ranging from a 2003 bottle of Dom Perignon to a Justin Bieber calendar.
2. So the Cowboys are up 36-31 with 4:17 remaining. DeMarco Murray has already rushed for 130 yards. You run the ball and move the chains and make the Packers use their timeouts and – in theory – never get their hands on the ball again. Or, if you’re the Cowboys, you pass on three of the first plays before Romo threw a door-opening interception. Said a terse Garrett, “Bill (Callahan) calls the plays.”
1. I’ve been a staunch, stubborn defender of Romo. But this one’s on No. 9. I know the depleted defense makes Romo score 40+ points and almost be perfect, but – after a great escape from a sack – his decision to throw the ball was horrible and the actual throw on Dallas’ second-to-last drive was the stuff of amateurs. Romo not only audibled out of a running-play call, he made a high-risk pass that should’ve never left his right hand. “It’s a run call,” Romo said. “When you look back now, we should’ve run the ball.” No kidding.
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 currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
