It kept them in first place. It came just days after his boss gave him a vote of confidence. It happened in a scenario where his team had failed in the past. And it occurred away from Arlington.
No doubt about it, Sunday’s 24-21 over the New York Giants was one of the biggest road wins of the Cowboys’ Jason Garrett Era.
The Cowboys are now 6-5, and firmly positioned for a playoff berth. Garrett’s approval rating got a much-needed boost from a restless fan base. And the Cowboys proved that their quarterback could produce and that they could prevail in a hostile environment, just when the walls appeared to be crashing down in crunch time.
As I mentioned last week, the Cowboys just needed one road win – along with home wins over Oakland and Green Bay – to turn their Dec. 29 finale against the Eagles into an NFC East Championship Game. They’ve already got it, thanks to one of the five biggest road wins under Garrett:
5. 11.14.10: Cowboys 33, at Giants 20 – After team quit in a loss at Green Bay the week before, their new interim coach leads them to an upset win in New York in a dazzling debut.
4. 11.20.11: Cowboys 27, at Redskins 24 – Tony Romo to Dez Bryant in overtime sets up Dan Bailey’s game-winning FG to help Garrett a 4-game winning streak, longest of his tenure.
3. 11.24.13: Cowboys 24, at Giants 21 – Two weeks after being humiliated by the Saints and with their 15-point lead evaporated in frigid New York, Romo produces a clutch 14-play drive to set up a climactic game-winning field goal.
2. 12.17.11: Cowboys 31, at Buccaneers 15 – Bounce-back victory after heart-breaking loss to Giants sets up Dallas at 8-6 and with a clear path to NFC East which, ultimately, they fail to travel.
Sports Connection
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1. 12.9.12: Cowboys 20, at Bengals 19 – One day after Josh Brent’s drunk-driving accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown, Dallas wins on Bailey’s dramatic FG as time expires.
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.
