10. The Cowboys have now won three straight in the month of September, something they haven’t done since 2008. Cowboys are 3-1 for first time in six years.
9. Best part of the unexpected blowout? Seeing all the anguish and none of the smugness on Rob Ryan’s face.
8. Sean Lee is certainly missed, but Bruce Carter’s athleticism (tipping an interception) and Rolando McClain’s violence (causing a fumble) is minimizing the void.
7. Look, the Saints are 1-3 and if you watched them vs. the Vikings last week you were wildly underwhelmed. Still, the Cowboys made them look like a JV team until garbage time. The 24-0 first half was Dallas’ most dominant first two quarters since they ambushed the Packers, 26-3, last December. Unlike like that game, however, the Cowboys sealed this deal. Saints made it interesting, but down just 14 points and facing 4th-and-9 midway through the fourth quarter Sean Payton inexplicably called for a fake punt.
6. Morris Claiborne left the game with a sprained knee, and a severely bruised ego.
5. On an almost perfect night I fully admit this is nit-picking. But why is it that Jason Garrett – and almost every NFL coach – emphatically raises a finger to signal “we’re going for one!” after a first-quarter touchdown? I mean, I can’t envision a scenario where the Cowboys would take the opening kickoff, drive for a touchdown, and then go for two.
4. On Dallas’ opening possession Tony Romo was at his agile, accurate best. I petition that – in order to maximize performance – from here on we all take Wednesdays off. Any takers?
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3. DeMarco Murray didn’t fumble. And, oh by the way, he’s off to a historic start. Murray gained another 149 against the hapless Saints, joining an exclusive club of Emmitt Smith, O.J. Simpson and Jim Brown as running backs to start the season with four consecutive season-opening games of 100+ yards and a touchdown. Murray leads the NFL in rushing by an eye-opening 156 yards.
2. Funny how everyone made a big fuss about how many 49ers fans invaded AT&T Stadium for the season opener. Sunday night there were tons of Saints fans in the crowd of 91,000. But, um, when the home team produces a rout it’s really not an issue, is it? “Who Dat?” barely made a peep. Cowboys, by the way, improved to 24-19 all-time in Arlington.
1. What a difference a year makes? Last November in New Orleans the Saints embarrassed the Cowboys 49-17, amassing 625 yards and an NFL-record 40 first downs. Tonight, it was the Cowboys doing the humiliating to the tune of 38 points, 448 yards and 24 first downs. Call it even? True dat!
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 lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
