The Cowboys spent as much time this week talking down the rumors of dissension as the media spent touting the infighting. The team certainly played like it was fighting as one, and much of the thanks goes to the Dallas defense. The Cowboys recorded eight sacks on Eli Manning, and the Giants otherwise struggled to move the ball anywhere.
Terence Newman had an outstanding game, locking up Domenik Hixon for much of the game and recording two interceptions. DeMarcus Ware continued to play like a monster, recording a sack on the Giants’ first offensive play of the game and getting to Manning two other times. Greg Ellis, Bradie James, and Anthony Spencer also came through with sacks. The Giants had trouble running the ball at all, as the Dallas rush defense continues to improve.
For more than three quarters, it looked as if the Dallas defense might give the Cowboys the win on its own.
Stupid Playcalling Leads to a Safety
Notwithstanding the defensive effort, it also appeared that the Cowboys might find a way to give away another game in which they dominated. Holding a 14-3 lead with 7:20 remaining in the game, center Andre Gurode snapped the ball to the surprise of the left side of the line and quarterback Tony Romo. Romo was sacked in the end zone, cutting the Giant lead to 14-5.
The playcalling at that point was simply baffling. The Cowboys tried one running play, but were then backed up due to a penalty. On second down, Romo tried to go deep to Terrell Owens but missed badly. The safety took place on third down.
Less than a minute and a half after the safety, the Giants cut the lead to 14-8 on a 47-yard field goal by John Carney.
Choice Bails Out the Cowboys
With 5:37 left in the game, the offense that couldn’t put the Steelers away a week ago had to try to put together a drive with Romo hobbled by a bad back and Marion Barber running at less than full speed. On first down, Martellus Bennett was called for holding, moving the ball back to the 24 and giving the Cowboys a 1st-and-20.
On 2nd-and-20, backup running back Tashard Choice ran a draw out of the shotgun and gained 17 yards. Barber then came in to give the Cowboys a first down with 4:20 left in the game.
Another holding penalty– this time on Jason Witten two plays later– moved the ball back to the Dallas 37, where the Cowboys faced a 2nd-and-23. Choice once again came through, gaining 14 yards to set up a 3rd-and-9 play. Romo and Witten game through on third down, with Witten bulldozing his way to a first down.
One play later, Choice made his third huge play of the drive, bursting up the middle for 38 yards and a touchdown with 2:24 remaining. Although the Cowboys could not convert the two-point conversion, the Giants could not cut the score. Newman intercepted Manning’s final pass with seven seconds remaining in the game.
Defensive Prowess
It has been many years since the Cowboys’ defense was referred to as Doomsday. The team will have a ways to go before it earns that title again, but consider the past five games:
vs. Washington: 228 total yards allowed; 136 net yards passing allowed; 3 sacks
vs. San Francisco: 304 total yards allowed; 26 net rushing yards allowed; 4 sacks
vs. Seattle: 322 total yards allowed; 7 sacks
vs. Pittsburgh: 238 total yards allowed; 168 net yards passing allowed; 5 sacks
vs. N.Y. Giants: 218 total yards allowed; 146 net yards passing allowed; 8 sacks
That’s 27 sacks in five games. By comparison, the 2006 Cowboys had 34 sacks in 16 games. Going back a bit further, none of the terrible teams in 2000, 2001, or 2002 had as many as 27 sacks during the entire season.
Post-Game Interviews
NBC’s Andrea Kraemer interviewed Romo, Owens, and Witten after the game. Moreover, NBC caught the three speaking on the sidelines during the game.
The nutshell version of the interviews:
Witten: No idea how my name got thrown into this, but is a better player with Romo and Owens on the offense.
Owens: Blames ESPN’s Ed Werder for causing some of the problems.
Romo: Thanked Witten and Owens for “drumming up” the controversy.
Here’s the funny-looking feud in action:
