Remember at the beginning of the season when we were all convinced that the Cowboys were the best team in the NFL? Remember when we all were wondering if this was they year they would put it together in the playoffs (not to mention the naysayers saying they'd blow it again)?
That team may not get into the postseason. The Baltimore Ravens went into Texas Stadium and beat the Cowboys, 33-24.
The loss damages Dallas' playoff hopes, but it isn't a death knell. Now they need to win next week in Philadelphia and have Tampa Bay or Atlanta lose one more time, which is a realistic possibility. Still, the Cowboys cannot feel good about themselves after their pitiful performance last night.
You had Tony Romo slinging bombs that were picked off by the typically rabid Ravens secondary. I mean, he does know that Ed Reed is lurking out there, right? There was also a confusing option call on a 3rd-and-1 deep in Baltimore territory. They were fooled on a fake field goal. And it was yet another penalty-filled game by Dallas.
However, the most gut-wrenching moments came late via a defense that allowed two huge touchdown runs that stomped out the comeback fire. Right after a Terrell Owens touchdown grab got the Cowboys within two points, the defense watched Willis McGahee run straight up the middle for a 77-yard score. Then after Dallas got it to two points again, Le'Ron McClain popped off an 82-yard TD run. Both runs were aided by poor tackling.
Dallas' loss just lent credence to those naysayers' predictions that they just cannot get the job done in crunch time. Since 2002, the Cowboys are just 11-21 in December and January.
Give the Ravens a ton of credit: they are legit. This team is now 10-5 and is playing its best football. If not for the controversial loss to Pittsburgh last week, they'd be looking at a first round bye right now. Still, they are a win over the Jaguars away from locking in a playoff berth.
Ravens 33, Cowboys 24: Dallas' Dream Season Falling Fast originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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