10. Call it passion. Call it a hissy fit. Whatever. Don’t remember ever seeing so much dramatic sideline anger from players (Dez Bryant and Orlando Scandrick come to mind) on a team that scored 41 points and won by two touchdowns. Both players say they were merely attempting to curtail a late lapse that might have fueled a Bears’ comeback, but to the naked TV eye their language and body language appeared much more negative and angry than positive and encouraging.
9. Yes, the Bears are awful. But give the Cowboys credit. Tied at 7-7 they stuck to running the football and protecting the football. We’ve seen Cowboys’ teams lose games like this in recent years.
8. The Cowboys are now 6-0 on the road. If you saw that coming you could have made a ton of cash in Vegas. At 9-4 Dallas will have a winning record in 2014. Haven’t been able to say that since 2009.
7. Don‘t know which is more amazing, that DeMarco Murray had 41 touches Thursday night (only Emmitt Smith has ever had more in Cowboys’ history). Or that Murray allegedly was sexting with a former OU teammate’s wife in October and that she had his phone number secretly saved under the name “Spray Tan.”
6. We knew Cole Beasley was quick. But against the Giants we learned he was fast, and last night we realized he’s got a little strength as well. The 5 foot 8, 165-pounder came within inches of three-touchdown night.
5. After Bears’ receiver Brandon Marshall left the game with a rib injury after a catch, he Tweeted #MindOverMatter. I’m not suggesting his injury wasn’t real, but I am suggesting he’s clueless about the old axiom. See, if Marshall was truly exhibiting “Mind Over Matter” he would’ve mentally powered through his physical injury instead of leaving the stadium in an ambulance. “Mind Over Matter” signifies that I’m using my will power to overcome adversity. “Mind Over Matter” shouldn’t signify that I’m sitting out the second half. That, in fact, is #MatterOverMind.
4. Speaking of ribs, it now comes out that Tony Romo has been playing with a fractured one for more than two months. If that’s true, shouldn’t he have been listed on the official injury report? By the way, other than an early overthrow of Jason Witten the quarterback was sharp. The touch on his second touchdown pass to Beasley was vintage Romo.
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3. With an 8.0 overnight TV rating sure to escalate when all markets are counted today, Cowboys-Bears could very well wind up as the highest-rated game ever on NFL Network. Even when they’re playing the Bears, the Cowboys are still America’s (Most-Watched) Team.
2. Love that Jason Garrett went for it on 4th-and-goal from 1 in the second quarter. You’ve got Murray and three Pro Bowl offensive linemen against that putrid defense and you should be able to gain a yard. But a lot of conservative coaches would’ve ensured points and kicked a field goal. Props to the head coach for sending a message.
1. Needing only 167 yards in final three games, Murray is going to break Smith’s single-season franchise rushing record. He’s also the first player in NFL history with 1,600 rushing yards and 50 catches through 13 games. But – maybe it’s just me – doesn’t it seem like he blatantly misses a hole or two or three each week? I’m not saying his season isn’t fantastic and historic, I’m saying it could be even better.
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.
