We Dem Boyz! My 5 Points

My 5 Points: Cowboys vs. Eagles
by William C. Walker Jr.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dwayne Harris (17) celebrates a touchdown after Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) scored in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of play at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on Sunday, December 14, 2014. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)

December 15, 2014

As painful and agonizing was the loss to the Eagles on Thanksgiving, tonight it was just as equally euphoric and joyous! I hate the Eagles, hate them with a passion so deep it's beyond subterranean.  So going into this game 17 days after the Eagles win, I was so fired up.  Fired up because the loser of this game was going to need serious help to get into the playoffs.  So before I explode here are my 5 POINTS ON THE COWBOYS WIN OVER THE EAGLES!

5. A Perfect Start: From the opening kickoff you couldn't have asked for a better start if you're a Cowboys fan.  The Eagles have the best special teams in the league 10 touchdowns this season on returns.  So it's not surprising that Dallas would try to limit the Eagles chances, but the very first kickoff goes so short that Dallas actually recovered the ball.  Next a great pass to Dez Bryant who is a MAN amongst boys, Dallas 7-0.  Next the defense forces a 3 & out boom Dallas 14-0, next another 3 and out Dallas 21-0.  Dallas came out to dominate and that's what they did early.

4. TRASH THE ZONE: Look the defense put in a great performance to start the game.  They also put up a great defensive performance at the end of the game.  But in-between it was flat out awful, and it started with the ZONE!!! Look the Cowboys can't play zone they don't have the personnel for it plain and simple.  Once Dallas went up by 21 they had the Eagles in a 3rd & 7 next Eagles tight-end Brent Celek found a hole in the zone coverage and got a big first down.  Mark Sanchez with no pressure was able to pick apart the zone easily finding wide open receivers.  Going forward Dallas either needs to seriously repair their zone coverage or dump all together. I vote for the latter.

3. The Real Mark Sanchez Stood Up: Now once Dallas realized the zone was not working after they gave up 24 unanswered points.  The Cowboys offense re-took the lead at 28-24.  Next the defense re-emerged thanks to the help of Mark Butt Fumble Sanchez.  The Eagles lead the league in turnovers.  I don't care how fast your offense score, if you're turning the ball over you will lose.  That's what Mark Sanchez does best.  After Dallas scored and took the lead at the end of the 3rd Quarter Sanchez throws a horrible pass that gets picked off by safety J.J. Wilcox.  Holding the ball to long once Dallas switched to Man lead to Sanchez eating the turf over and over again.  Finally with the game on the line down by 8 what's next for Mr. Sanchez another pick to Bruce Carter to end the game.  That made the 4th turnover of the game which Dallas was able to get 17 points from!

2. The Road Warriors: Dallas is the only team in the NFL that is now undefeated on the road!  With the win in Philly this team moves to 7-0.  There's a toughness to this team that hasn't been there in years past.  Even after blowing a 21-0 lead giving up 24 unanswered, last year this would've been another example of Dallas pathetically snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  But this team rose up reloaded and "Finished The Fight" which has been head coach Jason Garrett's mantra this year. Tony Romo has now thrown 21 TD to 1 interception while on the road!  With play like that at the QB position there's no wonder your team is 7-0 on the road.  Now if they can bottle the effort and execution that they display on the road to use at home this team can make some noise!

1. DEZ BRYANT!!!: With the Eagles D keying on DeMarco Murray all night long Dez Bryant stepped up in a huge way.  Six catches 114 yards and 3 touchdowns!  Dez Bryant beat Eagles corner back Brandon Fletcher like a runaway slave!  When the Cowboys were down it was big plays to Dez Bryant that got the Cowboys back into the game.  Dez sent a message tonight to the entire league.  If you want to load up the box and try to stop DeMarco Murray he will burn you over the top.  Single coverage is nowhere near enough to stop this man!  Bryant now has 13 touchdowns on the season a career high.  Without a doubt a new contract is on the way!  Dez has established himself as the clear number two wide receiver in the league behind only Detroit's Calvin Johnson, but look out Calvin.  DEZ IS COMING!

Bonus Point: 2-0 IN DECEMBER: The Cowboys are 2 wins or 1 win and 1 Eagles loss away from clinching the NFC East!  After the last 3 years of 8-8 and collapsing in the month of December.  The Cowboys are now 2-0 in the month with 2 games to go.  The thing is after losing to Philly on Thanksgiving they had to win out to get in the playoffs.  One can hope the injury to RT Doug Free isn't too serious, because finally this team is healthy for the final stretch.  So the Cowboys have 2 more games in December and hopefully will lead to some games in January!