Recap Cowboys vs Redskins

Romo's hot streak came to an end Sunday night, along with the playoffs. Romo had 2 touchdown passes on the night but had 3 interceptions including one on their final drive that could have tied the game or even won them the game. The Cowboys scored first with a Romo to Witten touchdown pass. Morris and RGIII then got a rushing touchdown a piece. Bailey made a 48 yard field goal followed by another touchdown run by Morris. The Cowboys were then in a position to make yet another comeback. Romo hooked up with Ogletree for a touchdown and then to Harris for the 2 point conversion. The Cowboys then got the ball back and all they needed was a field goal to tie the game at least, but then came Romo's interception. Setting up another Morris run and ending the game.

What went wrong is too obvious, turnovers, and the run defense.
The front 7 of this defensive unit was missing 5 starters and Ware was in a shoulder brace for the whole game. RGIII and Morris were able to get 263 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. The Cowboys did great in stopping the pass, holding RGIII to just 100 yards. But with all of the injuries up front the Cowboys were not able to stop the Redskins.

Romo matched his interception total for the last 8 games, he is the difference maker, if Romo throws more then 2 interceptions then the Cowboys will lose. He needed to stay perfect in this game in order for the Cowboys to win, and he messed up on the final drive.

Other than those 2 things everything else went well for the Cowboys.
They were 7-13 on third down conversions, they had 100 rushing yards, only allowed 2 sacks, were 2-2 in the red zone and only had 1 penalty for 6 yards in the entire game. Dan Bailey's 48 yard field goal was his 28th out of 30 on the season. Making that one kept Bailey perfect inside 50 yards. Looking at these stats and seeing that RGIII only threw for 100 yards looks like the Cowboys are the winners right? Proving just how much the turnovers and injuries can make a difference.

This type of loss is good for the Cowboys in my opinion. Last year the Cowboys did not seem ready to make the playoffs. This year many thought they were and so did the Cowboys. This loss will provide much fuel to the Cowboys fire. They will be angry at this loss and work to be so much better next year.

 Go Cowboys!

Injury Update

In the last game of the regular the season the defense may be with out yet another player. Line Backer Ernie Sims is questionable with a concussion. Back ups will really need to step up in this game because containing RGIII will be very tricky.

Ware, like Dez, will be playing through his injury to help make a push for the playoffs. He will be wearing a shoulder brace during the game. He is much needed for this game. Fully healthy or not he is a great leader for all of these young backups who have had to step up in recent weeks because of injuries.

Dez Bryant will be playing through his broken finger again and Demarco Murray and Jason Hatcher are both probable for this game. Hatcher will play a key role in stopping the run game and Murray and Dez are both valuable assets to this offense.

Go Cowboys!

Preview NFC East

The NFC East is the only division that does not have a team secured in the playoffs. The 2 games that feature all of the NFC East games will decide it all. Here is what to look for in the Giants game.

New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles

Not only do the Giants need to win, but they need the Cowboys, Vikings, and Bears to lose in order to get the final wild card. So much for defending super bowl champions. The Vikings play the Packers so they can probably get a loss from the Vikings. But the Bears play the Lions which could really go either way but the Bears have the edge in that game, and the Cowboys play the Redskins. Having all 3 of those teams lose is not very likely and the Giants might not even win this game. Vick is back in for the Eagles and we all know how he and Eli can be spectacular or terrible. In this game you could say that both are under a lot of pressure. Eli needs to win the game in order for his team to have a chance to get into the playoffs. And there are some rumors that Vick will be dropped from the Eagles roster, meaning that this game can be some what of an audition for other teams. In this case I think Eli and the Giants will not be able to pull it off. Vick will show some of his former self and shine in this game. And the Giants will not make the playoffs after winning the super bowl last year.

Prediction - Eagles Win 17-13

And I have already talked about the Cowboys and how I predict them to beat the Redskins and make the playoffs. But the Redskins will still not be out of contention for a wild card. If both the Vikings and Bears lose they would then get that last wild card spot. 

Once the playoffs are set many will be looking at the bracket and see that the NFC East teams are the 4th seed and 6th seed (If a team gets a wild card). But winning the super bowl is still very likely for any NFC East team. The NFC East can be argued as one of the best divisions in the NFC. They have 3 playoff contenders while the North and West only have 2 (I am not counting the Vikings for 6 of their wins have come against teams with losing records and they have to beat the Packers in order to get in) and the South only having 1. Meaning the Cowboys, Redskins, and Giants all play very tough teams and are more prepared heading into the playoffs. So just because they are a low seed does not mean they can not win the super bowl this year.

Go Cowboys!

NFC East Championship

The Cowboys are back in the same position as last year, win and they are in. And the Cowboys have what I think the best winning mind set heading into this game. After their 3-5 start the Cowboys have had a huge turn around and are already back at 8-7 with a chance to get into the playoffs. Through all this winning the Cowboys have dealt with many injuries on defense along with Jerry Brown's tragic car crash. The Cowboys have gotten through must win games and the pressure from this game will not effect them at all. Here is what the Cowboys need to do in order to win.

Do not allow RGIII to get too far ahead
RGIII along with Alfred Morris have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. The Cowboys front 7 will really need to be on their toes all game. They will need to be able to contain RGIII, stop Morris, and also watch out for the deep ball. RGIII caught the Cowboys secondary by surprise last time with a couple of big touchdown passes. Romo also needs to do his part, on Thanksgiving the Cowboys were down by a lot at half time and some how managed to fight their way back. But they just fell a little bit short. This time Romo needs to either get the Cowboys up early, or stay with RGIII. Romo has recently become very good at scoring in key moments and if the Cowboys either get up by a lot or just stay with in reach of RGIII they will have no problem winning this game.

Turnovers
Romo has been flawless since mid season and has really been the main reason why the Cowboys are in the position they are in right now. He has stopped the turnovers and has become clutch when the game is on the line. So he needs to continue not producing turnovers and the rest of the team also has to be clean. Last week the reason why the Cowboys got so far down can be pointed to Murray's fumble at their own 2 yard line. Him and the rest of the Cowboys just need to secure the ball and get down field with it. The defense also needs to make RGIII mess up. Pressure will be very key for this Cowboys defense, RGIII only has 5 interceptions all year so forcing him to make bad throws will be a huge factor in this game. Also RGIII has 12 fumbles on the year. The Cowboys pass rushers should realize that they shouldn't just go for the sack but also try and force him to fumble the ball. They could easily get a turnover off of that.

Penalties
The Cowboys need to be clean for this game. I am mainly looking at the secondary, if RGIII is going to take shots down the field the defense can not get pass interference and allow huge chunks of yardage.

I am not going to emphasize the balanced offense too much for this game. The Redskins have one of the best run defenses but one of the worst pass defenses. With Romo currently on a hot streak he could pick apart the Redskins secondary with ease.

I predict that the Cowboys will go to the playoffs and win the division. RGIII will put up a good fight but the Cowboys will hold on and get the win 28-20.

Go Cowboys!

The Pro Bowl

Jason Witten and Demarcus Ware will be going to the pro bowl yet again in their very successful careers and they have really earned it.

Jason Witten after not doing much in his first two games of the season since he was still recovering from a Spleen injury, burst on to the scene and has had a career season. He has the record for most receptions in a season by a tight end with 1 game left. And is on pace for a 1,000 yard receiving season.  He is not starting in the pro bowl but that could simply be because of his lack of the end zone. Tony Gonzalez who has less yards and receptions then Witten simply has more touchdowns there for more popularity. Witten is a for sure hall of fame player. Year after year he his Romo's go to guy, Romo can always count on him to get open and make plays for a first down.

Demarcus Ware is having yet another sack filled season, recording 11.5 sacks this season. This number may not look that amazing but he is still the leader to this defense. After Lee and Carter got hurt he has really had to step up his game to help fill in for them. Ware is one of the best pass rushers in the league, he has had this status for years, meaning that offensive lines game plan for him. They double cover him and Ware is still able to get to the Quarterback.

But 2 players from the Cowboys did not make the pro bowl but should have definitely been invited.

Dez Bryant has been left out of this years pro bowl. He can still be a reserve but he should have really been one of those top 4 receivers for the NFC. In the NFC Dez is 4th in receiving yards and second in touchdowns. And he even got 3 of those touchdowns with a broken finger that requires surgery. Dez has earned Romo's trust over the past few weeks, he is making plays and finding the end zone consistently. Dez should definitely be a reserve and be there at the next pro bowl.

Anthony Spencer is the other Cowboy who has been left out. Everybody knows how Ware is such a good pass rusher but many have thought that he is the only one on the Cowboys who could. Well ever since Spencer has come back from his injury he has been the main show for the Cowboys. Week after week he has been making plays, sacking the quarterback, and getting tackles for loss. He will be a sure pick for next years pro bowl.

Recap Cowboys vs Saints

After all of the games today this game had no effect on the Cowboys playoff chances, due to the Redskins winning and the Giants losing the Cowboys will be in yet another NFC East championship game on the last week of the regular season.

The game started off well for the Cowboys, Romo had 2 strikes to Dez Bryant in the second quarter to make it 17-14 Saints at the half. Dan Bailey got a field goal to tie the game then the Saints marched down the field to go up by a touchdown. Later on the Cowboys got the Ball back at their own 2. And this was the play that cost them the game. Murray fumbled giving the Saints the ball at the 5 and they went up by 2 touchdowns. The Cowboys then got the ball back with 4:45 left on the clock. Romo then led a scoring strike to Harris to pull them with in a touchdown. The Saints were then forced to punt and Romo led the Cowboys down to the red zone again. Then hooking up with Austin to force overtime. Overtime was terrible for the Cowboys though, they got the ball first but couldn't do anything, then the Saints came marching down. They fumbled though, the ball rolled all they way to the Cowboys 2, there was a big scramble but unfortunately the Saints came up with it and kicked an easy game winning field goal.


The defense had really its worst game of the season. Drew Brees had 446 yards through the air and 3 touchdowns, while their run game had 116 yards combined. The defense did not sack Brees once in the entire game and only had 2 hits on Brees. Ware did miss most of the game due to injury but the Cowboys still needed to disrupt Brees in order to stop him. The one time the defense was good was when they forced the Saints to punt to allow the Cowboys offense to force overtime. But they just could not stop the Saints in overtime and lost.

Murray also had his worst game since coming back from his foot injury, to go with the fact that he fumbled, he only had 40 yards on 11 carries and was the only rusher for the Cowboys. Murray fumbling gave the Saints a lot of momentum to go up big in the 4th. Luckily Romo did not have any turnovers even after being force to throw so much. But the Cowboys still need to improve their run game and Murray can not make mistakes in key situations.

The Cowboys actually did not do too bad with the penalties this game, only 5 were called for 32 yards. But the Cowboys still need to improve in this area, they gave the Saints 3 first downs from penalties. These need to stop.

The Cowboys also need to get better on converting on 3rd downs. They were only 2 for 10 which is terrible, the Cowboys need to find the end zone in key situations.

There were a few good parts of this game though. Romo had 416 yards and 3 touchdowns with no turnovers. And led his team to a touchdown with 15 seconds left to force overtime. Dez Bryant also continued to show us why he does not need surgery right now, he had 2 touchdowns to go with 224 yards receiving. And congratulations to Jason Witten, he broke the record for most catches in a single season by a tight end. He is such a great player to have on this team, Romo knows he can trust him and that is always good to have for a quarterback.

Next week is the NFC East championship game, the second in a row, the Cowboys do not want to mess up again and want revenge after losing against the Redskins on Thanksgiving.

Go Cowboys!

Offensive needs

There is all the talk about the offensive line needs and how bad it has been this year. I totally agree with this statement but people can not forget about the fact that the Cowboys do lack some depth on the rest of their offense.

The receiving corps is known for Austin, Bryant and Witten, some of the best receivers in the entire league. Bryant is already over 1,000 yards for the season and Witten and Austin could join him at this mark. Which is really amazing that one team could have 3, 1,000 yard receivers. Only a few teams have ever been able to accomplish this. You can look at this stat in a good way but then also in a bad way. Having 3, 1,000 yard receivers tells people that you have 3 very good receivers. But it also tells people that they are mainly the only people the quarter back throws too. After Austin who is at 898 yards, the next closest is Ogletree at 399. Meaning almost 70% of Romo's yards go to the top 3 receivers. Which yes if he trusts them, then why not? Well if Romo only throws to them defenses can easily defend the Cowboys against the pass. The can double coverage or and make sure they have their best guys on Austin, Bryant, and Witten. A good offense is a team that has at least 4 or 5 receivers that can go onto the field and make plays. At tight end I think the Cowboys are set, Witten only needs 6 receptions to break the record for receptions in a season by a tight end and already holds the record for receptions all time for Cowboys. There are also some quality back ups behind him that could fill in for him. But as for receiver the Cowboys should look to find another one in the draft, they could possibly pick one up in the second or third round, this would add much depth to their roster and make their receiving corps a lot better.

The run game also needs help. Murray has been very helpful to this offense and has proved he is the starter. But when he got hurt the Cowboys were hurt badly. Felix Jones was not able to do really anything for the Cowboys when Murray was out. Forcing them to rely on their passing attack which caused turn overs. The Cowboys should look to find a quality running back in the draft to take some of the load off of Murray and be able to step up when Murray gets hurt. Some backs stand out in the draft class that the Cowboys could pick up in the about the 3rd round of the draft, people like Montee Ball, or Stepfan Taylor would be great for this offense.

Over all the Cowboys have a lot to do in this draft, they need to get some solid offensive lineman, run stopping defensive lineman, and offensive weapons that can really step up.

4 Potential 1st Round Picks

As the season end comes closer and closer the Cowboys can start to see about where they will be in the 1st round of the NFL draft. The Cowboys will most likely be anywhere from the 18th spot and up. So who should the Cowboys start to look at? Here is my list of 1st round draft prospects the Cowboys could go for.

Biggest Reach - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Biggest reach is defined as the Cowboys jumping up spots to get a player that would have been picked before them had they stayed at their spot. Just like last year with Claiborne. Lewan is the second ranked offensive lineman in the draft. His ranking overall is 13th out of all the draft prospects. The Cowboys are in desperate needs of offensive lineman that can step in right away to start. Lewan would definitely be the man for the job, the only problem is that the Cowboys would have to jump up some spots to pick him. Yes there are some other offensive lineman later on in the top prospects but Lewan would be a great pick for the Cowboys.

Reasonable picks
These picks are ones that the Cowboys will be able to get with most likely not having to trade spots in the draft.

Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Fisher is 20th for top draft prospects, the Cowboys would be able to find a a solid offensive line man that would be able to start right away for the Cowboys. Yes he is not as good as Lewan but he is still 20th and the Cowboys would not have to trade anything so they could still have their second and third round picks which are also very useful.

Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
The Cowboys defense is full of injuries this year and back ups have really had to step up. The pass defense this year has really improved but the run defense has not been great. If you add Barr to the package of Ware, Carter, Lee, and Spencer. This defense would be crazy scary. The Cowboys would not only find a guy that could really step in if one of the Cowboys line backers got hurt, but he could also potentially start. Barr is listed as 22nd in this years draft so again it all depends on the Cowboys spot but they could definitely get him.

26 and up
If the Cowboys do go far into the playoffs and end up getting a pick higher then 26 one name stands out that the Cowboys could go for.
Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
I talked about the run game defense and how it hasn't been amazing this year, it could be because of the lack of a powerful defensive line. Spencer and Ware seem to be the only ones who are getting to the quarterback. Yes Ratliff is a very good player but there is not much past him. Adding Short would be a great help to the run defense, and the offensive line of opposing teams would also need to game plan for Ratliff, Spencer, Ware, and Short, making their life very difficult. Short is a pick that will mostly be there wherever the Cowboys end up, he is listed 28th overall and would be great for this defense.

Injury Report

The Cowboys are still missing a lot of starters on defense but luckily Claiborne is expected to make his return this Sunday against the Saints. This is a huge help for the Cowboys, the Saints are a pass first team, with Carr and Claiborne in the secondary they should do a good job in stopping Drew Brees. Also for the defense Ratliff is listed out for the game again but has still not been placed on the injured reserve list even after being out for the past few weeks.

On the offensive side, Murray did not participate in practice on Wednesday and Bryant was limited to practice but both are still expected to start. Ogletree is listed as questionable for the game but he has not been having any great games since week 1. This also gives other Cowboys receivers chances to really step up and create a competition for the #3 wide receiver.

None of the injuries this week will effect the team too badly, the defense is still missing a lot of players but have proved recently that they can still stop offenses.

Go Cowboys!

Preview NFC East

This week the playoff hopes for each of the 3 leaders in the East, can either be gone or increased. Here is what to look for in each of the NFC East games.

Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Redskins
With RGIII expected to make his return the chances of the Eagles beating the Redskins is not very high. RGIII is such a dominate player and this Eagles will have not have a chance in stopping him completely. What the Eagles need to do try and get their run game going for Foles. McCoy is expected to play so if the Eagles can get him going then pressure is taken off Foles to throw and he will make less mistakes. RGIII and the Redskins only have to make sure they do not make any mistakes, or else the Eagles might be able to capitalize on that. This will not be an easy win for the Redskins, the Eagles recently had a great comeback win against the Bucs and Foles might be able to pull of another upset. I think RGIII will not be as good after the knee injury and will mess up in this game. The Eagles will get a win in over time.
My Prediction - Eagles win 28-25 OT

New York Giants vs Baltimore Ravens
After a terrible loss to the Falcons the Giants have another big test. Manning will have to be in playoff form to win this game. So far this season Manning has had a few great games and then the rest of the team he has either been throwing interceptions or just not completing any passes. The defense also needs to really show up. Joe Flacco has not been consistent but he can really explode sometimes and the Giants will have to watch out. I think that the Giants will not be able to bounce back though, they will continue their slump and fall back in the race for the playoffs. Not making the playoffs after winning the super bowl.
My Prediction - Giants lose 21-14

And I already talked about how I predict the Cowboys to beat the Saints 24-14 and take the NFC East lead!

Go Cowboys!

Why Garrett's Job is Safe

There has been much talk around the league about Jason Garrett and how he might get fired for his bad play calling and his early losses. But I am here to tell you that Jason is here to stay.

6 weeks ago the Cowboys were at 3-5, the Giants were doing great and on top of the division, the Cowboys did not even think they could make the playoffs and talks about Garrett being fired were at its maximum. Romo was having multiple interception games and the Cowboys were down in the dumps. But then the Cowboys saw their schedule. The Cowboys knew they had what it takes to beat all of those teams left on their schedule and got their hopes back.

Garrett led the Cowboys to 2 straight wins before a disappointing loss to the Redskins on Thanksgiving. The talks then started up again about firing Garrett.

But Garrett rallied the team to a win against their biggest rivals the Eagles, and then tragedy struck. Jerry Brown, a practice squad member was killed in a car crash, the car was driven by Cowboy Josh Brent. The Cowboys learned about this on the plane ride to the game against the Bengals. Garrett said the best way to honor him was to play their hearts out. And Garrett really rallied the Cowboys to an emotional win.

The Cowboys then played the Steelers, who were struggling but are still a powerful football team. Once again Garrett rallied them to an overtime win.

And after all that, the talks of the firing of Garrett have slowed down a bit. Garrett has brought his 3-5 team all the way to 8-6, back in the race for the playoffs, in a tie for the NFC East lead, and lead the Cowboys through tragedy.

Which is why Garrett is here to stay.

Preview Cowboys vs Saints

As the end of the regular season comes closer the Cowboys road to the playoffs becomes harder and harder. This week the Cowboys play the Saints. Now the Cowboys can afford a loss and have other teams lose and their playoff hopes would still be alive. But the Cowboys can not hope for teams losing and they need this win. Here is what they need to do in order to get the win.

Winning the turnovers is the most important thing to focus on for this game. Both Drew Brees and Tony Romo have had interception problems this year. Who ever throws the least amount will win this game. Romo is coming in with a hot streak, while Brees has been inconsistent with his play. So Romo has a lot more confidence then Brees heading into this game. Claiborne is also expected to make his return after missing last weeks match up. With him and Carr in the secondary interceptions are sure to happen.

Romo also needs help though, luckily Dez is still planning to play and then Austin and Witten will also help him through the air. But Murray needs to also show up. So far Murray has been a huge help since his injury, he has gotten key first downs and touchdowns in the past few games. And with this Saints defense that has been struggling all year to stop just about every team, I think the Cowboys will succeed in their balanced offense attack.

The defense will play the biggest role in this game though. With the Saints defense not doing hot, their offense can still be amazing. Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Luckily the Cowboys have Ware and Spencer who have been spectacular the past few games and getting to Brees should be no problem. With this, Brees will throw under pressure and throw interceptions all game. Giving the Cowboys a huge advantage.

Now even though the Cowboys can lose and still make the playoffs, I am saying this is a must win game for the Cowboys. The Cowboys have won 5 of the last 6 and a loss would really bring this team down. Plus if they do lose they will not have much confidence heading into their rematch against the Redskins, which is a must win. But the Cowboys right now have much more confidence than the Saints. The Saints have lost 3 of the last 4. The opposite of the Cowboys. Not to mention the Cowboys have home field advantage to give them even more confidence.

My prediction is the Cowboys will win this game, it will not be as close as the past few but it will also not be a blow out. Brees will put up a fight but will choke and throw too many interceptions and the Cowboys will win 24-14.

Go Cowboys!

Recap Cowboys vs Steelers

Now this, was a big win for the Cowboys. In a game that would either send the Cowboys home or keep their playoff hopes alive, they delivered big. Romo was able to hook up with his favorite target Witten for the Cowboys first touchdown. Then Bryant got a touchdown catch in the third. Murray then got a touchdown in the 4th quarter to send the game into overtime, then Carr picked off Big Bens pass and returned it to the 1 were Bailey easily kicked the game winner. Here is what went well for the Cowboys.

Balanced offense
This was the one thing the Cowboys had to get right in order to win this game. The Steelers have the best defense in the league, ranked 1st against the pass. So making sure Romo did not have to throw the ball too much was very key. And the Cowboys succeeded in doing so. Murray had 81 yards on the ground while adding that touchdown score. Then Romo had 341 yards in the air with no turnovers at all. Romo was also only sacked once in the entire game. All of this showing how the offensive line has been improving for the Cowboys.

Defense
The Cowboys did great with getting to Big Ben and disrupting the pass. The defense had 4 sacks and 8 QB hits. Also the game winning play with Carr intercepting Big Ben in over time and returning it to the 1 yard line to set up Bailey. This was great for the Cowboys defense, especially since they are missing 6 people from their starting line up. Just imagine how good they will be when every one is healthy again. Also Anthony Spencer has continued his hot streak recording 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 tackle for loss. He has been such a great force along side Ware for this really hurt defense.

Turnovers
With the balanced offense Romo did not have to throw as much so he did not make any bad decisions with the ball. Murray did have a fumble but the Cowboys were still positive in take aways which really helped them to get the win.

The one thing the Cowboys still need to work on is penalties. They are still having way too much. Penalties can give the other team good field position and take away your field position. The Cowboys really need to work on them in practice if they want to keep winning.

And yes I was wrong about Dez Bryant. He caught 4 balls for 59 yards and 1 touchdown, so yes he was very helpful for the team, but I just don't want him hurt for life. Dez just needs to know when enough is enough and I think he can make that call.

Up next is the struggling Saints, who have lost the last 3 out of 4, and the Cowboys will try and continue their playoff run at home.

Playoff News

The Redskins have just decided they will not be playing RGIII in the game today. That means Kirk Cousins who lead a touchdown drive to help win their game last week will start. But we have not seen much of Kirk, only some glimpses of him. If he is not able to produce then this will be huge for the Cowboys. A Redskins loss wold take them out of contention for the playoffs, which means the Cowboys would then have to win the rest of their games and hope the Giants mess up. Which is likely since they have a very hard schedule remaining. Pieces seem to be falling into place for the Cowboys, but can they produce?

Injury Report

This week there has been even more injuries to add to the growing list of injured players. Dez Bryant of course the obvious injury, and right now he is saying that he wants to play for the playoffs, and wouldn't be if the Cowboys were out of the race. Which is good because he is showing he cares for the team but he still could injure him self more which would be terrible.

Apart from Dez, 2 key injuries on defense which will make the defense even more hurt, Demarcus Ware and Morris Claiborne are both listed as questionable for the game. Both did not practice Friday but luckily Ware plans to play Friday. Which would be great for this defense. Ratliff is out and the Cowboys need Ware and Carr to step up to lead all of these back ups to have a good solid performance.

Murray is on the probable list after a limited practice Thursday, he should be good for the game though. The Cowboys need him on this one, the Cowboys will need a run game to get past the number one pass defense.

Preview NFC East

As the race for the playoffs keeps tightening up, any simple slip up by any of the top 3 teams in the East can take them out. Here is what to look for in the NFC East.

New York Giants vs Atlanta Falcons
This is the game that could make all 3 teams leading the East be in a tie. The New York Giants are leading the East by one game but play one of the best teams in the league, the Falcons. The Falcons are one of the best because they do such a good job at the balanced offense along with a solid defense. Matt Ryan has 2 of the best receivers in the league along with 2 great running backs. Eli will have to have a great game if he wants to win, he can not be mediocre this week. That also goes for the Giants defense, the Falcons are known for the big plays and they can not give up too many if they want the win. But I think Eli will choke in this game, the Falcons will win by a touchdown and the race for the playoffs will become closer in the NFC East.
My prediction - Giants Lose 24-17

Washington Redskins vs Cleveland Browns
This simply looks like a game where the Redskins will totally destroy and take a share of the division lead. The Redskins have a great offense and an improving defense as they try to make a push for the playoffs. But the Browns could surprise them. The Browns have been able to hang in there with a lot of great teams, they were just not able to finish it in the end. The Redskins just need to stay consistent through out the game to get this victory. As for the Browns, the defense needs to be able to get off the field quick and Weeden needs to stay perfect for the whole game. This game will not be a blow out, but I think the Redskins will be able to hang in there to get a share of the East lead.
My prediction - Redskins Win 28-27

The Eagles played last night and got blown out by the Bengals, including 6 turnovers. While also blocking their own punt. This game just adds to the terrible season the Eagles are having. My advice is to maybe look for another QB in the draft. Vick seems to already be out of question and Foles has only produced one win this season, it might be time for another change.

And I already talked about how I predict the Cowboys to beat the Steelers 20-17.

So after this week I am predicting each of the top teams in the East will be 8-6 to make the race for the playoffs even closer.

Go Cowboys!

Dez News

Jerry Jones has said that the decision on wether or not Dez will play sunday is all up to him.

Horrible decision Jerry, because Dez says he will play.

Dez Bryant has yes been red hot, has yes been a great impact for the team, and has yes gotten some key catches to help win games. And yes he could help win this game and help the Cowboys get even closer to the playoffs, but is it worth his future?

Dez has fractured his finger and it requires surgery, if Dez plays he could hurt it even more and maybe make it so it is less capable then it use to be and ultimately take him out of the game for life. This would be terrible for Dez, he is a super star, becoming a monster in the game.

So please Dez, just say no.

I have already talked about how this is a great opportunity for Beasely and Harris. Dez sitting would not even make a huge impact. Miles Austin is still a great receiver, and Jason Witten is the most trusted by Tony Romo.

I am begging you Dez, sit this one out. Yes you have reached the 1,000 yard mark, could make the pro bowl and make a name for yourself, but if you get hurt more, it could mean your career.

Preview Cowboys vs Steelers

Another week, another make or break game to the playoffs. This week the Cowboys play the struggling Steelers who have lost 3 of the past 4. While the Cowboys have recently been on fire winning the last 4 out of 5. Here is what the Cowboys need to do in order to win.

The defense needs to step up and take advantage of Big Ben and his sloppy play. Last week he just come back from an injury and couldn't get a win against the lowly Chargers. The Dallas defense needs to create chaos in the secondary. They need to get some early interceptions and not allow the Steelers to get in front. Last week the defense did a great job in shutting down A.J. Green. The Steelers have a wide range of targets and the Cowboys need to make sure they cover everybody. Claiborne might not make this game but the secondary should still be able to cause trouble for Big Ben.

The offense will be very important in this match up. Everything is going to have to be clicking for the Cowboys. The Steelers have the best defense in the league for passing yards and is 5th in rushing yards allowed. The offensive line needs to be there, they have to stop committing penalties, block for Murray, and block for Romo. Murray also needs to get going quick to take some of the pressure off Romo. Romo will play a huge role in this matchup. He needs to be smart with the ball, he can not force the throw he needs to make sure he can jump start the Cowboys offense early. Romo is in the top 5 quarterbacks this season to lead his team to comeback victories. Romo has also been in games this season that has ended with a loss because they could not finish the comeback. Romo needs to be perfect and get the Cowboys up early so that they do not have to fight hard for a come back.

The Cowboys need to take advantage of home field. They are only 3 and 3, this stat could look like away games records. But unfortunately the Cowboys have let their fans down too much in Dallas. What the Cowboys need is a huge win against their long time rivals the Steelers. This would really boost their fans spirits, playoff hopes, and how they are thought of by other people.

Another note is maybe the Steelers are truly in a slump. The Chargers have only scored over 34 twice and the fact that they got that much against the number 1 defense may be a sign of the Steelers slowing down. Will they continue this slump?

My prediction is they will not, but the Cowboys will still win. Over the past 5 weeks Romo has really been making up for his many multiple interception games in the beginning of the season, he is showing he is ready for the playoffs and I think the Cowboys will win this one 20-17.

Go Cowboys!

Dez Bryant

Over the past few weeks Dez Bryant has shown us that he is the true number one wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. He has had 7 touchdowns in the past five games and in 4 of those games he has add over 80 yards receiving. Also getting him to his first 1,000 plus yard receiving year of his career. He has even been proving himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

And now he may be out for the season. As soon as he was becoming a super star, he gets a injury. In last Sundays win over the Bengals, Bryant apparently broke his finger. He is now listed as doubtful for the game on Sunday and may even have to get surgery on it which would take him out for the season.

The real question is, do the Cowboys really need him?
Everybody knows he is a play maker. He can always make defenders miss and can make great catches. Ever since his rookie year when he returned his first punt for a touchdown he has had high standards. So yes he is great, but I do not think he is needed that much. The Cowboys still have Miles Austin and Jason Witten, and Romo always trusts them when he is throwing the ball. But is there much past that? Kevin Ogletree had a break out game in the very first game of the season. But since then he hasn't grabbed anybodies attention. If Romo decides to throw to him a lot he may be good or he may not. Also receivers Harris and Beasely have been making some noise the past few weeks. So there is talent there, that is not the question, but can they step up?

I think if Dez needs to get surgery or his finger is still broken by Sunday the Cowboys should not try and play him. If they inject him with some pain medication and have Dez suck up the pain and play, yes he could be helpful, but he could also hurt his finger more. The Cowboys should trust there talent this game and rest Dez so that he can be fully healthy for the last few games an the playoffs.

Recap Cowboys vs Bengals

This win was even more needed after the events of yesterday. Josh Brent was drunk driving and killed practice squad member Jerry Brown in a car accident. The Cowboys team was informed of this on the plane ride to Cincinnati. Garrett told the team that the best way to honor him was to play their best. Some Cowboys were tearing up, but they knew this game was a very key game to stay in the playoffs, and they went out and got the win for Jerry Brown. The Cowboys lead with a field goal earl on, then Dalton lead a touchdown drive, and then a field goal drive. The Cowboys marched down to the 1 yard line and Murray punched it in for the touchdown to tie it up in the second. The Bengals then got 3 field goals to go up 19-10. Romo then came alive, he lead a touchdown drive that ended with a 27 yard catch from Dez Bryant. And then led the Cowboys on the games final drive to set up Dan Bailey's 40 yard field goal to win the game. Bailey is perfect inside 50 yards this year. Here is what went well.

The balanced offense was not amazing the entire game, it was just amazing when it counted most. Murray only had 53 yards on 21 carries. But on the final drive of the game Murray converted on huge 3rd downs to help set up good field position for Dan Bailey. With him in it took some of the pressure off Romo to throw who had only 1 interception. The offensive line still needs to improve though if they want this offense to really get going. Romo was only sacked 3 times. But was hit 9 times after the throw. And even though the player does not have the ball, they can still get hurt.

Dan Bailey deserves some recognition. Not many people talk about the kicker but he can still win the games. He has been great for the Cowboys, the only 2 misses he has this year out of 25 attempts have come on kicks longer than 50 yards. The Cowboys are lucky to have such a good kicker that is reliable in these type of situations.

The Cowboys 3rd down efficiency has also gotten better. They were 11-19 on the day which is great because they are key for keeping drives alive to win the games.

The defense was not amazing but they were still good. After the Bengals first touchdown, they were able to get into the red zone 3 more times, each time the Cowboys defense came up with great stops to force field goals. Those were key so that the offense did not get too far behind. The defense recorder 5 sacks and a monster game from Spencer, he had 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and one tackle for a loss. He is becoming a great pass rusher to go with Ware that the Cowboys have been looking for.

The Cowboys still need to work on penalties though. They had 5 on the day, which yes is better then the past few weeks but they still need to improve. They hurt the chances of keeping the drive alive.

Next up is the Steelers, they have lost 3 of the last 4. Including a loss with Big Ben in against the Chargers. The Cowboys will look to continue their playoff run at home with another win.

Go Cowboys!

Preview NFC East

This week could determine a new NFC East leader or even a 3 way tie for 1st place in the NFC East. But no body can really tell who will get that top spot at the end of this week, each of the top 3 teams play tough games and will be close ones. Here is what to watch.

Philadelphia Eagles vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This game has no effect on the NFC East what so ever. The Eagles haven't won a game since week 4 and that streak may continue. Foles has not won a game yet since taking over for Vick after he got a concussion. The turnovers have kept coming and so have the losses. The Eagles don't even have a .01% chance of making the playoffs, another year being called the dream team, and another year of failure. And the chances of winning this game are not so good. The Bucs have found a bit of a groove lately. They have won 5 of the last 8 and look to make it 6. Rookie Doug Martin has been on fire and shows no sign of slowing down, while Freeman has also been hot. If the Eagles want to even think about coming close, making sure they do not turn the ball over is the most essential thing.
My Prediction - Eagles lose 28-14

New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints
Now the games start to get interesting. The Giants are leading the division by 1 game but have lost 3 of the last 4. While Drew Brees and the Saints have been making a comeback since starting 0-4. This game will be a huge offensive show down. Both defenses have been giving up a ton of yards this season, and with Manning and Brees at QB, this will be a high scoring game. This will really come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes. Who ever does not turn the ball over the most and can convert on third downs and in the red zone. I think that the Giants will continue their slump though, Manning will be inconsistent and not be of any help.
My Prediction - Giants lose 32-21

Washington Redskins vs Baltimore Ravens
This game will definitely be a good one. Both teams have struggling defenses, but powerful offenses. Now the Ravens can be powerful, but are sometimes inconsistent. Joe Flacco needs time to throw and Ray Rice needs good blocks in order to get going. Luckily for them they play one of the worst defenses. As for the Redskins they have the best rushing attack thanks to Morris and RGIII. The Ravens defense will have to really try and get interceptions because stopping the run game is not going to be easy. This game will be a close one, Rice and Flacco need to step up, and RGIII can not make mistakes through the air. And the Ravens are familiar with close games. 7 of their games this year have been decided by 3 points or less, 5 of those were wins.
My Prediction - Redskins lose 35-32

And I already talked about how I predict the Cowboys to get the win over the Bengals 20-17, and move up to have a share of the East lead with the Giants.

Go Cowboys!

Injury Report

This week the offense looks to be in good shape. Miles Austin and Demarco Murray are expected to start. These two are both great players the Cowboys are happy to have on the offense. Austin is one of the best receivers on the team, and Murray is key for a balanced offense.

As for the defense there are a fey key injuries. Orlando Scandrick was placed on the IR and Jay Raliff has been ruled out for the game. Both of them have played key roles in this defense, Orlando not as much but both will be missed. The Cowboys really need to rely on Spencer and Ware to disrupt the pass now.

Preview Cowboys vs Bengals

This game will be the first test on the road to the playoffs. Andy Dalton and the Bengals are also looking to try and battle into the playoffs. This game for both teams is can make or break the season. Here is what the Cowboys need to do in order to win the game.

If I was Jason Garrett, right now I would be telling my team to do a lot of the same things that they did last week against the Eagles. Last week many things went right and the Cowboys need everything clicking again to beat the Bengals.

Offensive line
The whole of this offense relies on this offensive line. It is a whole chain reaction that starts with this offensive line. If the good blocks are there then the run game is there, if the run game is there than the pressure is off Romo to throw so he will not make mistakes, if the blocks are there period Romo has time to throw so then he won't make mistakes. I can not stress enough how badly the blocks need to be there, with out them this team will go no where.

Turnovers
Just like last week the Cowboys need to be positive in the turnover margin. The Giants were turnover prone when they lost to the Bengals which is why they got blown out. Romo needs to make smart decisions and the defense needs to apply pressure on second year QB Dalton to force him to throw a bad pass.

Defense
The pass defense really needs to show up in this game. A.J. Green is having a great season and is said to be one of the best wide receivers in the league in only his second year. Dalton loves to use the deep ball with Green and the Cowboys will really have to make sure he does not get even the slightest bit open because he will be able to make great catches all day.

Then for the little things Murray needs to do exactly what he did last time, he was great last week, helping the Cowboys build a balanced offense. He needs to be productive again in order for the Cowboys to win. Dez Bryant also needs to stay consistent. He has been great this year and has really been on fire the past few weeks. He needs to be able to get some great plays in to help the Cowboys win.

My prediction is this one will come down to the wire. The Cowboys need to make sure they don't get to far behind and get the lead early on.
My prediction Cowboys win 20-17

Recap Cowboys vs Eagles

This game is one the Cowboys needed badly. It was essential for the Cowboys to stay in the playoff race, and they had a great game. This game will definitely give the Cowboys a boost for the next few games. Here is what went well.

The balanced offense is something the Cowboys haven't been able to accomplish since Murray got hurt. And with him back the Cowboys have seemed to have found it. Murray rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown. While the Cowboys totaled 123 rush yards. And then Romo went 22-27 for 303 yards and 3 touchdowns. The offense was great, they only punted it 3 times while going 9-14 on third downs and 1-1 on fourth downs. With Murray back he is a huge help to this offense and will be very important to help beat some big opponents coming up.

The turnover battle is very important for this game. Both teams have had trouble with them so who ever won that battle would win the game, which is what the Cowboys did. Almost everything was clicking for the offense. The offensive line did not do too bad, they got good blocks for Murray and Romo was only sacked twice. With those blocks Murray could get going, taking the pressure off of Romo to throw the ball a lot, and no turnovers were produced by the Cowboys. Then Claiborne was able to get a touchdown out of the Eagles only turnover. This is how the Cowboys always have to play, a balanced offense so that Romo is not forced to throw too much.

Now yes the defense was not amazing. They allowed a lot of yards on the ground, and even allowed a punt return in the fourth quarter. But they were still able to hang in there in the fourth quarter to help get a huge win for the Cowboys. But this defense still needs to get better, hopefully a lot of key players will be back from injuries in time for when the Cowboys play some great teams.

The one thing the Cowboys really have to work on, is penalties. Every game this year the Cowboys are getting so many penalties. They can give the other team first downs and take away your first downs. They need to stop they are hurting the chances of winning easily.

Next up is the red hot Bengals in Cincinnati. The Cowboys will look to end their 4 game win streak and hopefully get even with the Giants in the race for the playoffs.

Go Cowboys!

Preview Cowboys vs Eagles

Even though the Eagles are doing terrible with Foles at QB the Cowboys can not screw this game up. The Cowboys need to win every game left on the schedule in order to make the playoffs, and they need a huge win tonight to help get them through those games. Here is what the Cowboys need to do in order to win the game.

Just like last time the Cowboys need to win the turnover battle. That is exactly what they did a few weeks ago and if they can do it again they will win this game. Foles has not been what the Eagles have hoped for, he is inconsistent and produces turnovers. The Cowboys have to take advantage of him, they can not ease off and take him lightly. If they work hard and get good field position it will make the offenses job a lot easier to get into the end zone.

This game can also be a door to the balanced offense that has been absent this whole season. Murray finally looks to be healthy and with him the Cowboys can finally try and figure out an offense that works. Romo shouldn't have to throw it a lot now which means he will make less mistakes. And with Murray back the Cowboys can finally have a decent run game after doing terrible with out him. The Cowboys are second in the league in passing and yet last in rushing. Think of how good they will be if Murray can get his grove back. And coming back to play the Eagles is great for Murray. The Eagles defense has recently been doing terrible, Murray should get a good confidence boost from this game and hope fully it will carry onto to the last few games. He is key and the Cowboys are happy to have him back.

But with Murray back it doesn't mean Romo isn't going to turn the ball over for sure, the offensive line still needs to preform. They need to provide good blocks for Murray and make sure Romo has time to throw. Yes some stats may show that Romo hasn't been sacked a whole lot in the past few games but he is still consistently having to leave the pocket to throw. And throwing on the run is always a risk and can easily lead to turnovers.

All the defense has to do in this game is apply constant pressure to Foles. If they do that it will force him to make bad throws, interceptions, and fumble the ball. Like I said the Cowboys just can't hold back they need to make Foles life terrible.

My prediction is that the Cowboys will get the win and get a good boost of confidence to start a run for the playoffs.
Cowboys win 35-13

Go Cowboys!