I have to admit. I am curious as to how Coach Wade plans to spin Sunday’s 20-17 loss to San Diego.
Luckily, he gave a post-game preview.
“We did a lot of good things.”
“We’ve got three more games.”
“I’m disappointed.”
Anybody else not feeling like this is just the kick in the pants the Cowboys need to break the mind-hold December has on them? And December officially has become a problem, not simply a media creation.
While I try to figure out if a winless December is coming, here are 10 Cowboy Truths:
1. Failing to IR Nick Folk is why the Cowboys lost Sunday.
Or if that was an impossibility, failing to cut his butt is why the Cowboys lost.
This is not simply about him missing a 42-yard field goal 45 seconds before halftime, although those three points probably come in pretty handy in a 20-17 loss. Why Folk needed to be dealt with a couple of weeks ago is all about the message.
It sends the wrong message to your team when you have a guy costing you games and that fact does not cost him his job. It says that the bottom line is not the bottom line, that less-than-excellence is tolerated and that winning is not the most important thing.
We had an in-game chat fight about whether dumping Folk was prudent or not, with me coming down on the side of you have to deal with him. I understand the argument he has been good, and he may be needed next season, and who kicks? The bottom line is he is costing them games, two if we are talking specifics.
Of course, they will probably do something now. It will be too late.
Why cut him now? You have already lost two games and now, only now does Coach Wade see a problem. Excuse me, while I bang my head against a wall.
2. Dear Keith Brooking, to answer your question, about what Coach Wade should call you … out.
All of you, every single defensive player who was a part of the 39-yard pass play to Vincent Jackson.
On third-and-12.
Immediately after DeMarcus Ware had emotionally been removed by stretcher following a neck injury.
And in a Cover-2 meant to avoid just such a play.
In fact, don’t tell us how hard you will play for Coach Wade. Try actually playing hard for him. False bravado is one of the biggest downfalls of this team.
3. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has to be livid, fire-people livid.
A week ago, in the bowels of Giants Stadium, a couple of us talked to Owner Jones about his frustration level. And he seemed very calm, talking about how winning against the NYG was difficult, and how big that made Sunday against San Diego.
“I would like to be 9-3. Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “It puts that much more onus on us to play better and win.”
Owner Jones said all of the right things afterwards about bouncing back, et al. Only the naïve buy that. All you had to do was watch his reactions to San Diego’s game-sealing field goal and know the definition of onus to know he’s fuming. And Coach Wade’s days are numbered.
4. Anybody who thinks DeMarcus Ware is not having a good year, please note what the Cowboys did without him.
Oh. My. Ugly.
So next time anybody (and I include myself in this) wants to argue for Anthony Spencer, or Brooking, or even Jay Ratliff having a better year, remember what happened without Ware. They did not have anybody to make plays or anybody to draw guys to allow others to make plays.
The news on the injury is good but Saturday is seems unlikely. And if he doesn’t play in New Orleans, may God be with them.
5. Enough of this "Tony Romo played great" stuff.
He played OK, possibly bordering on good.
Until that final drive, he had 12 -- yes, 12 -- completions. He certainly was not good enough for the Cowboys to win. I am not saying he is to blame, merely that he is too good to be judged on the Coach Wade happy-happy curve. The standard for him is winning and Sunday he was not good enough.
6. If NYG coach Tom Coughlin were coaching here, there would not be a December problem.
The Football Night in America guys were gushing on him Sunday, talking about how he benched longtime starters and how he has been pushing any and all buttons trying to keep his team alive.
I do not know if the Giants are any good but they do not quit.
They just keep fighting through all kinds of crazy adversity and finding ways to reassert themselves into playoff talk. They take on the personality of their coach who is not afraid to make enemies, yell and bench underachievers.
BTW, did anybody who saw Philly-Giants think the Cowboys beat the Eagles on Jan. 3? Or either of them in the playoffs?
7. Next Cowboy player to over-celebrate while losing should have to buy the next round of cupcakes.
I’m talking to you, Igor.
How embarrassing is it, after San Diego drives for like seven minutes on you for the game-sealing score and he is bowing to the Chargers sideline after a meaningless stop?
Or Terence Newman doing his finger wag?
Or Keith Brooking going all crazy after tackles?
In fact, Coach Wade needs to lay down a mandate. The next celebration is after a win. Anything else will be fined.
8. The play calling was not the problem on the Cowboys goal-line debacle. Execution was.
Don’t believe me? Watch Giants-Philly from Sunday.
The Giants were at the goal line, had just failed to get in with Brandon Jacobs and everybody knew they were going to him again on fourth.
It didn’t matter. They were unstoppable.
The Giants line pancaked a path and Jacobs busted through easily. This was where the Cowboys failed, their line and Marion Barber. And with that little sequence can we please, please stop acting like Marion Barber is a) worth the money or b) starting back material?
That said, here’s a little hint: Jason Witten.
As in use Jason Witten on the goal line. He always delivers.
9. Your homework assignment was … so long ago, I forgot. So instead I’ll share my favorite post-San Diego Schadenfreude email from Sunday.
Dan Gabbert writes “You did it again. I see you created another December loss.”
10. Your turn: Get your butt on the record. Do the Cowboys win another game? Please remember to include your name and location for credit purposes. I am all about credit.
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