by William C. Walker Jr.
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Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) is crunched by Washington Redskins inside linebacker Keenan Robinson (52) and is injured in the third quarter during the Washington Redskins vs. the Dallas Cowboys NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2014. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)
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October 28, 2014
While my initial following the results of Monday night's game between the Cowboys and Redskins was an all consuming rage. I had to take a breath calm down and look at the big picture. If you had told me at the start of the season at Week 8 these Dallas Cowboys would be sitting in first place in the NFC East with a record of 6-2, I would've thought you were crazy and over-joyed. After finishing 8-8 for 3 straight years with a chance to win the division on the final game, and coming up short. This team got off to a blistering 6-1 start, while that was shocking it was still shocking that Dallas was beaten by Washington. So here's my 5 points from the Cowboys vs Redskins.
5. Taste of their own medicine: Washington's game plan was the same one that's been utilized by Dallas during their 6 game winning streak. Control the time of possession keep your defense rested and win on 3rd down. Washington led by 3rd string Colt McCoy played keep away, and while they may not have generated a ton of points, they owned the ball. Dallas was beat in the TOP by 10 minutes. That's what Dallas did to their opponents, and while the defense held serve in terms of their season average of giving up only 20 points per game, their failure to get the offense the ball, led to their limited amount of scoring opportunities.
4. Romo's Back: Tony Romo is a better QB than Brandon Weeden. That's not up for debate, but I don't think I'm crazy when I say Weeden could've closed that game out better than Romo. For one I was terrified that Romo could've been lost for the season. It was just last year when Romo was injured against these Redskins, opted to finish the game only to find out he needed season ending surgery to repair a herniated disk. So as Romo writhed on the ground for 4 minutes following a Washington sack. My thought was live to fight another day, besides it's not like Weeden stunk up the joint. He actually led the Cowboys to two consecutive scoring drives more than what Romo did all night. I also tend to think that maybe with Weeden in play they would've stuck with riding DeMarco Murray in the end, as opposed to asking Romo to do it all and save the day.
3. Boys lose on 3rd Down: All year Dallas has been dominant on 3rd downs. Going into the game Dallas was on pace that if the season ended to set an NFL record 3rd down conversion rate at 57.5%. Like I touched on earlier their were beat at their own game. Neither on offense or defense did the Cowboys win on 3rd down. Dallas went 5 for 17 on 3rd down a far cry from their dominance. Washington brought the blitz all night especially on 3rd down, and Garrett & Co had no answer.
2. Trust Murray: I get it Murray has been fumbling. That's 5 fumbles all which have been lost by your star running-back. But that's just it Murray is your star! During the first 7 games the Cowboys have easily established that they're a power running team. For some reason in Monday Night's OT when you have to score, the Cowboys forgot this fact. You currently have the number 1 leading rusher on pace to set an all-time franchise record potentially NFL record. You're running behind one of the best offensive lines in the game right now. On first down in OT you get an 8 yard run. There is no rush, you've got 10 minutes and at least 3 downs to pick up 2 yards. Now everyone complains why didn't you run it on 2nd down? I agree, but okay so you tried play-action on 2nd and lost a yard. On 3rd & 3 why didn't you just RUN THE BALL!? I think I CAN TRUST A BACK AVERAGING 7 YARDS A CARRY TO PICK UP 3 YARDS IN TWO PLAYS!
1. Blitzed: Romo was 9 for 19 last night against the blitz. This is the 4th straight year Garrett and Romo have faced a Jim Haslett coached Redskin defense. However they didn't seem to remember or realize that Haslett was going to call sellout blitzes. No hot routes were called, no quick slants, check downs or even screens! Romo looked like a deer in headlights with no concept of what to do when blitzed. After Weeden led you on 2 straight scoring drives Romo comes back into the game even in spite of the fact he spent the majority of the 2nd half in the locker room. Once again on the blitz he's sacked and fumbles. On 3rd and short at the end of regulation he draws an intentional grounding call throwing to no-one to avoid the blitz. Washington blitzed so much to when it was 3rd and 3 in the OT when they faked the blitz Romo completely ignores a BUTT NAKED Dez Bryant waving for the ball at the sideline, because his man was 10 yards off of him. Romo is so sure they're blitzing he fires a quick pass to Witten that's well covered. So of course on 4th and 3 Romo is blitzed steps up and instead of picking up the first with his legs he throws an incomplete pass. Dallas for whatever the reason never adjusted to beat the blitz and in the end the blitz beat them.
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