Sunday, December 25, 2005
Dallas Cowboys...............................24
Carolina Panthers............................20
I will say this for the Cowboys, they don't quit. After the shellacking they took against the Redskins last week, beating the Panthers at home - in a game Carolina needed to win - proved to me that the Washington debacle was the exception and not the norm.
It was great to see.
I could sit here and list the things the Cowboys need in order to reach the next level, but now I can delay it for at least another week. In fact, I truly believe that the eight NFC teams that still have playoff aspirations are very equal. Judging by their games against the Giants, Seahawks, Redskins and Panthers, the 'Boys were all but but one of those games until the end.
However, when it comes to post-season play, home-field advantage is huge. Although, oddly enough, the last time the both conference first-seeds went to the Super Bowl was in 1993, when Dallas beat Buffalo the second time.
Now, for the Cowboys to even have a chance to go, they must receive help from other teams. The Bears must win one of their games (against 3-11 Green Bay or 8-6 Minnesota) and Washington or Carolina loses (9-6 Washington plays at 5-10 Philadelphia and 10-5 Carolina goes to 8-7 Atlanta). Of course, none of it matters if Dallas loses to the 5-10 St. Louis Rams.
Cowboys Report Card
Passing Offense: B
Drew Bledsoe showed what poise and leadership mean at the quarterback position. Although sacked 5 times (three by Julius Peppers), he had a very good game. He audibled at the line on his TD pass to Terry Glenn (who severely injured his thumb earlier in the game) for the winning score. Keyshawn Johnson also played a big role.
Rushing Offense: A
Welcome back Julius Jones! After sufferering a high ankle sprain that had slowed him all season long, the second-year back returned to his 2004 excellence. He no longer ran tentatively and ran for a career-best 194 yards. His total is the third-highest in team history. Plus, he did all this against a defense that had only yielded an average of 87.5 yards a game.
Passing Defense: C+
The Cowboys did a great job of shutting down Steve Smith, but let up two big completions to ancient receiver Ricky Proehl (who beat the Cowboys with a winning catch for the Cardinals in Troy Aikman's rookie season). On the other hand, DeMarcus Ware woke up with a vengeance after a number of quiet games. Ware totaled 3 sacks, three forced fumbles and 9 tackles. Roy Williams had a key 4th quarter interception.
Rushing Defense: A
The Cowboys stopped their three-game string of allowing an opposing runner a 100+ yard game, by giving up just 71 yards (less than 3 yards per carry) to Deshaun Foster and company. Bradie James totaled 7 tackles for Dallas.
Special Teams: C-
It seems that the 56-yard field goal Billy Cundiff kicked a few weeks ago was just a fluke. Since then, he missed a possible game winner against Denver, a terrible miss against Washington and two short misses yesterday. Although the season is just about over, it would not surprise me if Parcells releases him. Matt McBriar's punts weren't beautiful, but they were effective averaging 48.6 yards per quick. Tyson Thompson fumbled his first kickoff return of the season, but made amends by returning his last kick 40 yards to set up the winning drive.
Special Teams: A
The team could have come in this game shell-shocked. But instead of letting the Redskin game destroy their season, they responded by beating a very tough Carolina team on the road. Credit must go to Parcells for getting his team up for this game, as well as to both Mike Zimmer - for figuring out how to shut down Smith - and Sean Payton - for the teams surprising running efficiency.
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Carolina Panthers............................20
I will say this for the Cowboys, they don't quit. After the shellacking they took against the Redskins last week, beating the Panthers at home - in a game Carolina needed to win - proved to me that the Washington debacle was the exception and not the norm.
It was great to see.
I could sit here and list the things the Cowboys need in order to reach the next level, but now I can delay it for at least another week. In fact, I truly believe that the eight NFC teams that still have playoff aspirations are very equal. Judging by their games against the Giants, Seahawks, Redskins and Panthers, the 'Boys were all but but one of those games until the end.
However, when it comes to post-season play, home-field advantage is huge. Although, oddly enough, the last time the both conference first-seeds went to the Super Bowl was in 1993, when Dallas beat Buffalo the second time.
Now, for the Cowboys to even have a chance to go, they must receive help from other teams. The Bears must win one of their games (against 3-11 Green Bay or 8-6 Minnesota) and Washington or Carolina loses (9-6 Washington plays at 5-10 Philadelphia and 10-5 Carolina goes to 8-7 Atlanta). Of course, none of it matters if Dallas loses to the 5-10 St. Louis Rams.
Cowboys Report Card
Passing Offense: B
Drew Bledsoe showed what poise and leadership mean at the quarterback position. Although sacked 5 times (three by Julius Peppers), he had a very good game. He audibled at the line on his TD pass to Terry Glenn (who severely injured his thumb earlier in the game) for the winning score. Keyshawn Johnson also played a big role.
Rushing Offense: A
Welcome back Julius Jones! After sufferering a high ankle sprain that had slowed him all season long, the second-year back returned to his 2004 excellence. He no longer ran tentatively and ran for a career-best 194 yards. His total is the third-highest in team history. Plus, he did all this against a defense that had only yielded an average of 87.5 yards a game.
Passing Defense: C+
The Cowboys did a great job of shutting down Steve Smith, but let up two big completions to ancient receiver Ricky Proehl (who beat the Cowboys with a winning catch for the Cardinals in Troy Aikman's rookie season). On the other hand, DeMarcus Ware woke up with a vengeance after a number of quiet games. Ware totaled 3 sacks, three forced fumbles and 9 tackles. Roy Williams had a key 4th quarter interception.
Rushing Defense: A
The Cowboys stopped their three-game string of allowing an opposing runner a 100+ yard game, by giving up just 71 yards (less than 3 yards per carry) to Deshaun Foster and company. Bradie James totaled 7 tackles for Dallas.
Special Teams: C-
It seems that the 56-yard field goal Billy Cundiff kicked a few weeks ago was just a fluke. Since then, he missed a possible game winner against Denver, a terrible miss against Washington and two short misses yesterday. Although the season is just about over, it would not surprise me if Parcells releases him. Matt McBriar's punts weren't beautiful, but they were effective averaging 48.6 yards per quick. Tyson Thompson fumbled his first kickoff return of the season, but made amends by returning his last kick 40 yards to set up the winning drive.
Special Teams: A
The team could have come in this game shell-shocked. But instead of letting the Redskin game destroy their season, they responded by beating a very tough Carolina team on the road. Credit must go to Parcells for getting his team up for this game, as well as to both Mike Zimmer - for figuring out how to shut down Smith - and Sean Payton - for the teams surprising running efficiency.
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