Jason Garrett Immediately Sets a New Tone

If you haven't watched Jason Garrett's Monday introductory press conference I highly recommend you check it out. You will immediately notice that Jason Garrett has a presence about him that has been missing from the head coach for about three and a half years. Garrett is direct and makes his statements with conviction. He seems like a natural leader.

What I like the most about the tone Jason Garrett is setting is the message he has given the team. "Be great today" sums up his philosophy. And if the players really take that message to heart the Cowboys might be able to begin picking up the pieces and get the team moving back in a positive direction before the season ends.

Garrett's first practice as a head coach was a practice in full pads. Wade Phillips never held a full pad practice in his entire time as head coach of the Cowboys. Maybe that doesn't mean anything but it does make you realize right away that Jason Garrett is going to make changes and he is going to run the team his way.

At practice today Garrett was reportedly yelling at the players to hustle between drills and was constantly stressing tempo during practice. That is a far cry from the laid back approach that Wade Phillips had that allowed the team to slowly unravel this season. And Jason Garrett laid down the law in his first team meeting letting the team know that things are changing right now.

I know there isn't any reason to have hope for the playoffs. I have accepted that fact. But I am honestly excited about seeing what Garrett can do with the team. I don't expect immediate results against the Giants this week but I do expect to see a team showing promise for next year by the time the season wraps up. There is something about the way that Garrett talks that makes me believe he is ready to turn this team around.

Garrett says the best players will play. I hope that is true. And he says there will be lineup changes but isn't ready to let everyone know what those are yet. I have to believe the changes involve benching Alan Ball. And I hope that anyone who is seen giving less than their best effort will be immediately pulled from the game.

I hope the fans that aren't happy with Jason Garrett running the team will give him a shot before they say he can't do the job. It seems like Garrett is was ready to take over and is fully capable of running the team. Give him a chance to show what he can do. The season is a lost cause anyway so if Garrett can turn things around we will be watching the beginning of a new era for the Dallas Cowboys.

Jerry Finally Makes the Right Call

I was hoping Jerry Jones would make the move after the 2008 season ended in disaster. So I've sat watching the Cowboys for another season and a half knowing the Cowboys were fighting a losing battle with Wade running the show. I was shocked that Jerry didn't fire Wade after the embarrassing showing against the Jaguars last week. But the worst game I have ever watched as a fan of the Dallas Cowboys finally convinced Jerry that the time had come.

I know all of the problems with the Dallas Cowboys aren't leaving with Wade Phillips. But something had to be done. Wade didn't show any fire and it seems like his players followed his lead. When the Packers picked up the non-fumble on the kickoff return in the second quarter last night and ran it back for a bogus touchdown I was livid about the missed call. But Wade...he just stood there emotionless as usual. How can he not get angry and at least yell at the officials in that situation? I almost punched a hole in the wall and I'm not a violent person.

I really do think Wade Phillips is a very nice man. But he lost his team a long time ago. Like I've said before, I believe the Cowboys won last season in spite of Wade Phillips as opposed to because of him. And the playoff win last season created a mirage that convinced Jerry Jones that things were heading in the right direction. But Wade's laid back approach has allowed a talented, promising team to unravel into the joke of the NFL.

So now Jason Garrett gets to try to clean up the mess. And it is fitting that he takes over. Jason has been part of the problem over the last few years. If things have been too lackadaisical with the team approach you have to give Garrett part of the blame. He has had complete control over the offensive side of the ball and the offense has become sloppy and undisciplined slowly but surely over the last two seasons.

I'm not saying I don't think Jason Garrett can get the job done. He is very smart and organized. And from what I have witnessed watching him coach in training camp and on Hard Knocks he seems like a hands on guy who will voice his displeasure with his players. Maybe without Wade there Jason will be more willing and able to crack down on the sloppy, undisciplined play. Things certainly can't get any worse.

I know a lot of people aren't happy with Jerry's choice for interim head coach. But I think handled it exactly right. If Jason Garrett can't get the job done at least we will find out in a setting where there is nothing to lose. And if he does manage to turn the team around we will know that he is the man for the job. It is the perfect job interview. I'm going to hope that Jason Garrett can get the job done. And if he can't we can go after a new coach in the offseason.

Still Hoping for a Win

I'm certainly not expecting an upset win this weekend. In fact, I would be fooling myself if I tried to say I have any realistic expectation of the Cowboys winning the game against the Packers on Sunday night.

But that doesn't mean I can't hope. The Cowboys have lost four straight games and the negativity has become demoralizing. I'm sick of the bad jokes being directed at the team and at me specifically. I know one win won't stop that from happening any more this season but it will at least quiet it down.

I can't simply throw in the towel and start hoping for the #1 pick in the draft. Giving up is just simply not in my DNA. And I hope the Cowboys players feel the same way. Last week didn't indicate that the players are still trying but maybe they will show some pride this week.

Like Roy Williams said, the season isn't completely over until the Cowboys are mathematically eliminated. They still could technically win 9 straight games and make the playoffs. It isn't likely, but there is still a chance. And I won't give up on that tiny glimmer of hope until it is completely gone.

With that said, I am still expecting a loss. I think the players will give a better showing this week, but beating the Packers at Green Bay is too much to ask of this team this season. I predict a 27-17 loss for the Cowboys but I hope I am wrong.

Time For Some Finger Pointing

Over the first few weeks of the season and really, for me, up until the moment I found out that Tony Romo was out with a broken clavicle I still believed the Cowboys were just off to a bad start. Now it has become obvious that there are much bigger problems with the team than just bad luck and untimely penalties. I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with this team since early in the season.

It blows my mind that a team can go from a dominating playoff win, an NFC East championship and an 11 win season to what they have become this year. In order for the Cowboys to fall so far so fast there have to be multiple problems with the team and the organization. Here is what I am thinking is the root of the problem. You will notice that the list is long. And you can't pinpoint one specific reason for the downward spiral.

1. Jerry Jones was overconfident in the offseason. He made essentially no moves to fill the obvious holes in the roster at safety, kicker and offensive line depth. I don't know if Jerry was trying to save money or if he really believed that all of his young players were ready to step up but obviously the offseason was a disaster. I don't think you can say that unloading Flozell Adams was a bad move, but just about every other move was suspect.

2. Wade Phillips has lost his effectiveness as a defensive coordinator. It seems as though the opposing teams know exactly what they Cowboys are doing with their defensive schemes. It is almost as if teams have studied the tendencies in Wade's play calling for the last three seasons and now know exactly what is coming. That makes sense since the fans can tell what is going to happen with the defense before the snap just as easily as the opposing quarterback and offensive coordinator.

3. Wade Phillips was never a good head coach to begin with. I truly believe the Cowboys have won in spite of the "leadership" of Wade Phillips over the last three seasons. Now that things are going downhill Wade lacks the skills to motivate his players and turn things around.

4. Jason Garrett's play calling is extremely predictable. Once again, the fans know what is coming as soon as the Cowboys line up. 99% of the time the quarterback calls "kill, kill, kill" the play changes to a run up the middle. And based on down a distance I know about 8 out of 10 times what play will be called. You can get away with that if your offense is dominant, but the Cowboys aren't good enough on the offensive line to succeed when the defense knows what is coming.

5. The offensive line is a disaster. Marc Colombo is obviously playing hurt and it shows. Leonard Davis is either having a terrible season or he is declining in ability rapidly as he ages. Kyle Kosier can't say healthy. Andre Gurode can't seem to adjust his blocking techniques to avoid holding calls now that there is an extra official watching the offensive line from behind. And Doug Free is not a very good run blocker even though he is a very good pass blocker.

6. Miles Austin is having major drop issues. I don't know what is going on with Miles but he is good for a drop or two every game over the last few games. That isn't what we should expect from Miles after he was awarded a huge contract extension.

7. Dez Bryant was hurt in training camp and just recently started practicing regularly. The injuries have drastically limited the offensive impact that Dez could have had early in the season. Dez could have been a difference maker when the season was still salvageable had he been able to practice and learn the offense. It is very apparent that he is going to be a special player for years to come.

8. Martellus Bennett is never going to develop into a dynamic playmaker. I don't know if Marty B. gained weight to help his blocking but it has really hurt his speed and quickness. He looks like just an average tight end now that he looks like he is carrying an extra 15 pounds on his frame.

9. Jason Witten is committing too many penalties. It pains me to criticize Jason because he is my favorite Cowboy of all time. But his false starts are getting ridiculous. He is good for one a game this season.

10. The middle linebackers have both regressed. It seems like the Cowboys kept Keith Brooking for one year too long. Brooking was a good player last year but he seems a little late to react on nearly every play this season. And Bradie James has gone from average to below average. I think these two guys are the main problem with the run defense. Hopefully Sean Lee will help correct this problem but his injuries have slowed his development.

11. Alan Ball is terrible.

12. Orlando Scandrick is awful this season. It appeared early in Scandrick's career that he would develop into a starter. Now he'll be lucky if he isn't flat out released in the offseason.

13. Mike Jenkins has regressed. I think Jenkins still has ability but he has been hit with so many pass interference penalties that he has lost his aggressiveness. Without his intensity and tenacity Jenkins has become a liability in coverage.

14. Anthony Spencer is not playing good football. I don't understand why his habit of jumping around blocks is not being corrected by the coaches. His jump to the outside at the snap is opening up huge running lanes. And Spencer's pass rush has been nearly non-existent.

15. David Beuhler has been inconsistent. I think the Cowboys would have two more wins right now if Beuhler had not missed crucial kicks in the first few games of the season. He may turn out to be a good kicker in the long term but he hurt the team badly while he struggled early on.

16. Tony Romo's turnovers were crippling. I don't think the majority of the interceptions Romo threw were his fault. But the interceptions came at the worst possible moments in the game against the Titans and the Vikings.

17. The special teams punt and kick coverage has been inconsistent. Big kick and punt returns have cost the Cowboys games. Kick returns have been flat out terrible. Maybe they Cowboys should try Dez out there on kick returns.

18. Jay Ratliff is not dominating the middle of the line. In the past Ratliff would split the double team and blow up plays. Now he is getting dominated by double team blocking. His ability to disrupt the middle of the line is the key to the defense.

I could continue this list for at least 10 more items if I really wanted to nitpick. I didn't even get into the bad draft picks we've seen over the last few seasons. But I think the point has been made. The Cowboys have a giant mess to clean up. Hopefully they can fix these problems before next season so we don't have to live through another dreadful season.

Wade Has To Go

I really don't hate Wade Phillips. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. But he is no longer an effective head coach for the Dallas Cowboys if he ever was at all. I wanted him fired after the 2008 season. I thought he had lost the team at that point. And I still believe they won in spite of him rather than because of him last season. At least the defense was still effective in 2008 and 2009 even if he wasn't doing a good job leading the team.

But things are worse now than ever. The defense stinks. The offense can't stop making mistakes. The special teams play is inconsistent. And Wade seems to do nothing to fix the problems that are consistently showing up week to week. And now the team is simply giving up when the chips are down against inferior talent. The Cowboys can't be called anything but a disaster at this point. And Wade is the man leading the downward spiral.

I said it last week and it is even more obvious now. This team isn't going to turn things around this year. Romo or no Romo, the Cowboys have too many problems to put together a winning streak that would save the season now. So when Jerry Jones says he wants to keep Wade Phillips through the end of the season because it sets the team back to switch to a new coach now I get very confused.

What does Jerry think he is going to save by keeping continuity in the coaching staff now? The season is lost and we can all see it. Things are so bad that some of the knee jerk "fans" are wearing bags on their heads at the game to make their point. While I think the paper bag over your head is a little extreme considering the team won a playoff game last year I think Jerry should see that there is a lot of truth in what his fans are telling him. The team is an embarrassment. And Jerry even admitted as such and apologized to the fans after the game.

But then in the next breath he essentially said that things are going to remain status quo for the rest of the season. I just don't understand what that accomplishes. I think he should give Jason Garrett a shot if he really believes that Garrett can still be the next head coach. Paul Pasqualoni has served as a defensive coordinator of a 3-4 defense before so he can take over the defensive play calling. It isn't like Wade has done a stellar job in the last few games running the defense so it couldn't hurt to try something new. It would be a perfect opportunity to give Jason Garrett a test run as head coach with nothing to lose.

I don't think that people are asking Jerry to change the coach just to make a change like Jerry talked about after the game. It is painfully obvious that Wade Phillips has lost his ability to lead the team. Wade essentially admitted that fact in his post game press conference. But still Jerry stands defiantly behind his coach.

I'm sure the contract extension that Jerry gave to Wade looms large in the current decision making process. Jerry was fooled by the success of last season into thinking that the Cowboys won because of Wade Phillips rather than in spite of him. And now if Jerry fires Wade he'll have to pay out Wade's contract. What I don't think Jerry is considering is how many fans he is losing while he tries to save a buck by waiting until the end of the season. Jerry will lose more money in the long run from his fan base than he is going to save by keeping Wade around.

The bottom line is that Wade needs to go. Not at the end of the year. Now. I don't think Jerry is going to actually pull the trigger which is sad. I hope we don't have to see more performances like the Jaguars game to convince Jerry that Wade is no longer effective as the head coach.

The Season Keeps Rolling On

As much as the season has the feeling of a lost cause at this point the Cowboys still have a game to play on Sunday. I can't fool myself into thinking the Cowboys have any realistic shot of turning the season around without Tony Romo running the offense. Even with Romo making something out of this season would have been a challenge.

But technically there is still a chance. And the Cowboys still have to show up on Sunday to play the Jaguars so they might as well go out there and give it everything they have. And if the Cowboys had to play any team without their top offensive player it might as well be a team that has major problems with its defense.

It is going to be interesting to see how the offense changes with Kitna running the show. I don't think the Giants game was really a good representation of what he is capable of considering his lack of practice reps over the last two seasons. But with a full week practicing with the starters he shouldn't come out rusty like he did against the Giants. I'm assuming that Kitna is going to start at least until the Cowboys are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs so I'm going to throw all of my support behind him. He has a monumental task in front of him over the next few weeks.

Speaking of monumental tasks, the Cowboys defense has got to take their game to another level. The defense was actually pretty good up until the Giants game. So I am hoping they can crank it up a few notches to make up for the fact that they offense is probably going to be a lot less explosive with Kitna at quarterback. I think the defense can dominate the Jaguars offense, but I'll believe it when I see it. Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff need to start making game changing plays if the Cowboys are going to win some of their games without Romo.

The performance from the special teams last week needs to continue. Kick returns were actually pretty good and Dez Bryant had the best punt return I have ever seen from a Cowboys player. And the kick and punt coverage both did a good job controlling the Giants return game last week. Again, with the offense running at less than full steam the special teams needs to pick up the slack.

The bottom line is I know the Cowboys can beat the Jaguars this week. The key word there is that they CAN beat the Jaguars. The question is whether they actually go out and get the job done. I've made a fool of myself picking the Cowboys to win every week this year. And I guess I'm a glutton for punishment because I think they'll get it done this week. I think the Cowboys come out fired up to make up for their missing quarterback. I'm picking the Cowboys to win the game 27-14.

Romo's Injury Ends Any Hope

Tony Romo's broken left collarbone may not knock him out for the season but it might as well. It would be one thing if the Cowboys were sitting at 5-0 and could afford to lose a few games while they wait for Romo to return. But with a 1-5 record it is obvious that Jon Kitna and/or Stephen McGee won't be able to turn the season around.

I don't even know what to say. It is just sad. The season started with so many expectations and hopes and it is essentially over after six games. I'm going to have to sit back and digest this one for a few days before I figure out how I'm going to get through the rest of the season. It is worse than watching preseason football in a lot of ways.

My one hope is that the rest of the players on the team show some pride. They certainly didn't in the second half of the Giants game after finding out that Romo was out. I expected the defense to come out fired up but they just seemed to quit. The only guy who still seemed to be playing hard was Demarcus Ware. Hopefully the Cowboys will change their attitude this week and come out fired up against Jacksonville.

So does the injury to Romo save Wade Phillips' job? The Cowboys were 1-4 anyway, but I thought Wade would be safe if the Cowboys could find a way to make the playoffs. I wonder if Jerry Jones disregards the record this year and brings Wade back for another season. I certainly hope that isn't the case.

Note: The Cowboys did show a little life late in the 4th quarter and nearly came back to steal the game from the Giants thanks to some sloppy play from the Giants to close out the game. And Dez Bryant showed some phenomenal athletic ability throughout the game.

The NFC Is Wide Open

As the Cowboys sit around Sunday waiting for their Monday night match up with the Giants the NFC leaders continue to struggle. With both the Saints and Eagles losing on Sunday the NFC seems pretty weak this year. There are several teams with only two losses, but it seems like the NFC is going to be a scramble for the #1 seed all season long.

So even with the Cowboys sitting at 1-4 in terrible shape they still have a very realistic opportunity to not only get back in the playoff race but also get back into contention for the #1 seed. It just might be one of those season where 10-6 or 11-5 gets you one of the top 2 seeds in the conference.

Of course all of that is completely meaningless if the Cowboys can't beat the Giants on Monday night. Not only that, but the Cowboys need to get on a decent winning streak to talk about anything other than getting their record to .500 right now. But it is nice to know that they haven't played themselves out of the NFC race yet.

The Impossible Turnaround Scenario

As far as the "experts" on ESPN and the NFL Network are concerned the Cowboys might as well forfeit the rest of the games on their schedule because they have no chance to turn their season around. It seems like the majority of people who call themselves Cowboys fans are so discouraged by what they have seen from the Cowboys that they are giving up on the season as well.

But all hope is not lost yet. I keep saying this and I'll keep saying it. The Cowboys do have the ability to turn the season around...even at 1-4.

I have laid out a scenario here where not only do the Cowboys find a way to qualify for the playoffs but also still find a way to win the NFC East. Obviously this is completely based on my blind faith that the team will find a way to reduce their ill-timed and numerous penalties, reduce turnovers, and revamp their kickoff coverage.

Cowboys vs. Giants (Monday, October 25): If things are going to turn around it has to start with this game. The Cowboys and Giants have gone back and forth over the last 5 years so there is no reason to believe the Cowboys can't win this game. I think they squeak this one out to keep their slim chance alive. Result - Win (Record 2-4)

Cowboys vs. Jaguars (Sunday, October 31): The Cowboys can't afford to lose winnable games left on the schedule like this one. They will win handily but no one will notice because beating Jacksonville should be the expected outcome. Result - Win (Record 3-4)

Cowboys @ Packers (Sunday, November 7): If the Cowboys can win this game they will really have the start of something. The Packers have been devastated by injuries on both sides of the ball so this game is not as tough as you might initially believe. I think the Cowboys win this one to pull to .500 at the midway point of the season. Result - Win (Record 4-4)

Cowboys @ Giants (Sunday, November 14): The Cowboys are starting to play with a little swagger again at this point. They will need it because beating the Giants at their stadium won't be easy. I think the Cowboys pull the upset to sweep the Giants for the season. Result - Win (Record 5-4)

Cowboys vs. Lions (Sunday, November 21): Another game the Cowboys have to win to complete their improbable turnaround. The Cowboys win but not as easily as they should. But with their 5th straight victory fans are starting to jump back on the bandwagon. Result - Win (Record 6-4)

Cowboys vs. Saints (Thursday, November 25): This is a tough one for the Cowboys. But last season proved that the Cowboys match up well with the high powered Saints offense. I think the Cowboys pull this one out as well and now the train is really rolling. Result - Win (Record 7-4)

Cowboys @ Colts (Sunday, December 5): This is where the streak comes to an end. The Cowboys come into the game on a six game winning streak but Peyton Manning and the crowd noise take down the Cowboys. Result - Loss (Record 7-5)

Cowboys vs. Eagles (Sunday, December 12): The Cowboys are on the ropes now but get a shot at the NFC East leading Eagles. Just like last season the Cowboys have the answer for the speedy Eagles offense. The Cowboys win to keep their hopes alive. Result - Win (Record 8-5)

Cowboys vs. Redskins (Sunday, December 19): The first time the Cowboys played it appeared they won the game on the final play only to have a penalty wipe the win away. Things are different this time around as the Cowboys win easily. The playoff hopes are very alive now. Result - Win (Record 9-5)

Cowboys @ Arizona (Saturday, December 25): Playing on Christmas is no gift to the fans or the players. But playing on the road is actually an advantage in this situation since the players can focus solely on the game. The Cowboys win easily and clinch a wild card birth. The NFC East is up for grabs heading into the season finale for the second season in a row. Result - Win (Record 10-5)

Cowboys @ Eagles (Sunday, January 2): A rematch of last year's season finale for the NFC East crown. The Cowboys and Eagles play close down to the wire but the Cowboys are rolling and have the confidence and belief in themselves to pull out the game in the 4th quarter. The victory also clinches the #2 seed in the playoffs for the playoffs. Result - Win (Record 11-5)

Is this a likely scenario? Absolutely not. But is there really any team on the schedule that you don't think the Cowboys can beat if they play up to their abilities? I don't think so. Every year there is a team that has been left for dead that turns their season around. Why not the Cowboys? They certainly have the players to do it.

The Cowboys Can't Be This Bad

I think I am starting to live in denial. The Cowboys found a way to lose another winnable game against the Vikings. But I still can't believe my eyes. And I still can't give up on the Cowboys this season.

There is no getting around the fact that the Cowboys are 1-4. They have shown that they play sloppy football. The Cowboys commit too many penalties, they turn the ball over too much and they have terrible special teams. They haven't shown anything outside of the game against the Houston Texans that would show they are a decent team.

But 1-4 bad? That is just ridiculous. This isn't the Quincy Carter led version of the team from 2005. The Cowboys have a good quarterback no matter what some of the "fans" who have jumped ship will tell you. The Cowboys have a good defense. The Cowboys have great receivers. And they have three good running backs. Admittedly the kicker is terrible. But that shouldn't make a team go from 11-5 to cellar dwellers in one offseason.

Things just don't make sense here. It might be too late for the Cowboys to turn this season around. But they do still have a chance even with a 1-4 record. If the penalties can be cut down and the kickoff coverage can be improved that would probably be enough to turn the close losses into victories. And if the turnovers can be minimized on top of that we would see a team that could beat anyone.

There is no indication that anything will change from this point forward. But I know this team is better than 1-4 and they are better than a 5-11 or 6-10 team like the teams we lived through in the early 2000's. There is no way the Cowboys have gone from winning 9, 13, 9, and 11 games over the last four seasons with the same core group of players to an absolutely horrible team.

That said, I have zero confidence that the Cowboys are going to beat the Giants on Monday night. But this team does have a history of playing its best football when its backs are against the wall. Well, the Cowboys will have their backs against the wall for the rest of the season. I can only hope in the face of the evidence telling me I'm wrong that the Cowboys will find a way to get it done in the last 11 games.

One thing I will tell you is I will never give up on my team. I'm probably living in denial thinking this team will turn it around. But what fun is it to give up on the season only 5 games into the season. It is certainly your right if you decide to give up on the season. But if the Cowboys miraculously turn it around I don't want to hear that those people that they are the biggest fans in the world and they have been here all along. I'm taking notes on all the "fans" around me who are jumping ship. Because I want to remember either this season or next season or ten years from now who the real fans are.

Will the Cowboys End Favre or Will Favre End the Cowboys?

Here we go again. Back to the Metrodome to revisit the Cowboys house of horrors. The last time the Cowboys visited Minnesota we all know how things ended. 34-3...the game wasn't as bad as the score indicates since the Vikings ran up the score but it was a dominant win for the Vikings.

So what is different this time around? Not really much for the Cowboys except for the fact that they come into the game with no confidence as opposed to being filled with confidence coming off their blowout over Philadelphia last season. The Cowboys still have problems at safety and they still have problems on the offensive line and a kicker who's ability can best be described as questionable.

The Vikings last season were also a team brimming with confidence. Brett Favre was at his best and the defensive line was tough to deal with. This year Favre looks like a man who stayed one year too long. The Viking offense hasn't been good all year and the defense is nothing like what we saw last season.

It is amazing how different this matchup appears this week compared to what we thought it would be when the schedule came out. This was supposed to be the clash of the NFC titans. Instead we essentially have the NFC toilet bowl.

But something has got to give here. Both of these teams are better than they have shown up to this point. And the Vikings have added Randy Moss who seemed to have put a little spark back into their offense last week. The Cowboys haven't shown anything that would make you believe they are ready to turn the corner but they do have possibly the most dynamic offense in the NFL.

It is difficult to predict how this game will play out. If the Cowboys can get some early points they might be able to keep the crowd from becoming such a big factor this time around. And maybe the Cowboys can establish more of a running game this time around to keep the Vikings from rushing the quarterback relentlessly like they did the last time around.

But on the flip side, Randy Moss is like kryptonite to the Cowboys defense. He has always burned them for big plays nearly every time he has face them. And the Cowboys have struggled with allowing big plays in the passing game this season. So that matchup could be a big problem.

I think the game will come down to what happens with Brett Favre. Favre has a tendency to turn the ball over when he faces the Cowboys. And he will be pressing this week and playing with a bad elbow. It seems as though he is one big hit away from the end of his career. But if he comes out hot the Vikings will be very tough to beat.

There is really nothing coming out of Valley Ranch this week that leads me to believe they will win this game. But I just can't allow myself to give up on the season yet. I pick this game with no confidence but my heart tells me the Cowboys will win the game 31-20.

The Cowboys Have to Prove They Aren't a Bad Team

Let me start by prefacing what I am about to say with a few remarks. I have not given up on the team. I still believe the Cowboys can achieve every goal they had set before the game started this year. Every game remaining on the schedule is a winnable game.

With that said, the Cowboys are not a good team right now. In fact they aren't even an average team right now. They are flat out bad. They put up great offensive numbers but they don't score enough points off of all the yards they gain. The defense hasn't been anything to brag about all year. And the special teams have been bad in nearly every game.

They are a 1-3 team. It is really embarrassing to even admit that they have such a terrible record. You can search high and low for answers but the problems of the Dallas Cowboys are a complicated riddle. Here is a brief list of what ails the team: penalties, turnovers by the offense, lack of turnovers forced by the defense, poor tackling, missed field goals, poor kick coverage, big plays allowed by the defense, poor pass protection by the offensive line, missed throws by the quarterback, dropped passes and inconsistent results in the running game. And I could keep going.

There is no way I can sit here and say the Cowboys are really close to being a good team right now. There are way too many problems to correct. They are going to have to improve in every category if they expect to not only win one game but win several games in a row to claw their way back into the NFC playoff picture.

I don't care what anyone wants to say about the Cowboys right now. They do have talent on the roster. That is no mirage. But they don't play as a cohesive unit and they don't fire on all cylinders with any consistency. Until that changes the Cowboys are just a collection of talented players. Look at the players individually and most of them look very good, but the performance of the team is currently less than the sum of the individual talent on the roster.

I have reached the point that I have lowered my expectations for the Cowboys. They are going to have to prove to me that they are a good team. Obviously they haven't been a good team up to this point, but Sunday can be the start of a turnaround.

One win won't convince me that the Cowboys have cleaned up their act. I was fooled by one decent performance in the Houston game and then felt like a sucker watching the game last week against the Titans. It is going to take 3 or 4 good team performances in a row before I start to believe all of the hype that surrounded this team heading into the season.

The Cowboys can't prove they've turned it all around against the Vikings. But they can begin to right the ship. I am a firm believer in the idea that winning is a habit just like losing can become a habit. The Cowboys are in danger of becoming habitual losers this season. The more they lose games the easier it becomes to accept those losses. I think the Cowboys have enough backbone to refuse to go down that losing road. I hope I'm not fooling myself again.

The Cowboys Should Be Embarrassed

This is getting ridiculous. How in the world can the Cowboys continue to be so sloppy in every phase of the game? Too many penalties, mental errors, dropped passes, turnovers, missed tackles and on and on. It is quite honestly hard to watch the Cowboys play right now.

They'll make plays that will get you excited. They'll make plays that will have you believing they could be the best team in the NFL. But for every one of those good plays there are two bad plays that erase the gains made. I know all of the fans are sick of it. I think the players are tired of it. But I don't get the sense that Wade Phillips completely grasps the enormity of the problem.

At this point I'm not going to just start pointing fingers and say any one person or player is the root of the problem. But I do think it is appropriate to identify the problems with the team. As I just mentioned, I think the passive approach of the head coach is one of the major issues.

Alan Ball is hurting the team on defense. Ken Hamlin may not have made any plays on the ball in the passing game, but the defense rarely gave up a long pass when he was back there. The deep ball has become a major problem this season. The only change in the secondary is Alan Ball so it is pretty clear that he is at least part of the problem.

Mike Jenkins has not been very good this season. Jenkins was absolutely terrible against the Titans but he has struggled all year long.

The offensive line is wildly inconsistent. There have been good games and bad games for the offensive line. The Titans game was good and bad all in one game. The first quarter of the game was a complete joke. And the funny thing to me is how I got to listen to fans at the game complain about Romo in the first quarter when he spent more time on his back than he did upright. Romo is only going to be as good as the line allows him to be.

The penalties are completely embarrassing. I don't understand how the Cowboys can consistently commit so many penalties. And what is more irritating is the way Wade Phillips responds to the penalties. He very rarely even seems annoyed or bothered in the least bit by the endless penalties. And today he didn't seem concerned at all when asked about the number of penalties in the game. The players aren't going to worry about penalties if the coach doesn't either.

The stadium atmosphere in Cowboys Stadium is part of the problem as well. It honestly feels like a three ring circus in that place during the game. There is so much going on that it makes it hard to concentrate on the actual game play. I'm sure all of the extra stuff going on around the game isn't helping the team focus. I realize the Titans are dealing with the same thing but it isn't their faces that are flashing up on the giant screen during the game.

The bottom line at this point is that the Cowboys are what they are. Their record says they are 1-3. And they feel like a 1-3 team. I'm certainly not saying they can't turn it around, but until the Cowboys go out and show they can play with fewer mistakes and penalties on a regular basis I won't have high expectations. I just hope the players and coaches are as upset by what is going on as all of the fans are.

Cowboys vs. Titans

It sure seems like it has been a long time since the Cowboys beat the Texans. Nearly two weeks since the last game and it feels like the season is almost starting over again. Sure, the Cowboys are sitting at 1-2 and still have a hole to dig out of. But they are only 1/2 game out of first place in the NFC East. So a win this week could be another big step in righting the ship. And the expectation for the Cowboys this week should be a victory.

But the Titans are a dangerous team. Their offense doesn't have much of a passing attack but Chris Johnson is the most explosive running back in the NFL. Any time he touches the ball there is a real chance he will take it all the way for a touchdown. And Vince Young can really hurt you with his legs if you don't force him to stay in the pocket.

Defensively the Titans are a pretty decent unit. But what makes them tough is their relentless pass rush and their tendency to push the limits of the officiating crew. You can bet that Tony Romo will have to move around in the pocket and scramble away from the pass rush during the game. And you can bet even more that the Titans will hit the Cowboys after the whistle and do anything they can to get a rise out of the players on the offense.

The game plan for beating the Titans seems pretty simple. The offense needs to score points early and often to force the Titans to become a passing team. And the defense needs to stop the running of Chris Johnson and Vince Young at all costs. If the Titans are forced to win behind the arm of Vince Young the odds will be stacked in the Cowboys favor.

The concern I have for the game is a slow start coming off of the bye week. If the Cowboys allow the Titans to hang around in the game then Chris Johnson will be a threat all game long. And the longer they hang around the more likely it will be that Johnson will break off a long run for a touchdown. I hope the game plan for Jason Garrett is to strike early with the offense. Early points are they key to making this a one-sided game.

Another big advantage the Cowboys could have is actually in the penalty category this week. The Titans commit penalties at a high rate just like the Cowboys. But the Titans also tend to give the opposition a lot of free yards on personal foul penalties. Courtland Finnegan is the most likely Titan to do something that will cross the line. If the Cowboys can keep themselves under control they will get a few easy 15 yard gains on penalties.

I hope the Cowboys are still feeling the desperation they felt heading into the Texans game. They are still only 1-2 and have a long way to go before they can be happy with their record. And the players have all seemed to understand that in talking with the media this week.

I think the Cowboys will win this game fairly easily given the extra week to prepare for the Titans. I expect the Cowboys to jump out early and control the game from that point on. I predict a 27-13 victory for the Cowboys.

Back from the Bye Weekend

The Cowboys seem to have a caught a little bit of a break with the timing of the bye week. Kyle Kosier and Jason Witten look like they will both be back for the game this weekend against the Titans. And, even better, the Eagles lost this weekend allowing the Cowboys to move within one half game of first place in the NFC East. The Cowboys are also alone in last place in the NFC East but it sounds a lot better to say they are a half game out of the lead in the division.

So what should we expect from the Cowboys coming off the bye? Well, as you have probably read, we should expect to see the Cowboys reel off a few wins in a row over the next few weeks. The Cowboys have put together three game winning streaks coming off the bye for the last three seasons in a row.

That doesn't mean it is a lock for the Cowboys to roll, but it really felt like the Cowboys found their groove against the Texans. The bye week unfortunately may cause the Cowboys to need a few series to get back in rhythm but the gains on the injury front probably outweigh the loss of momentum.

The Titans are going to present a tough challenge regardless of what the records or the statistics indicate. It seems like the type of season where every week is going to be a crap shoot. We don't know which Cowboys team will show up this week and we don't know which version of Vince Young is going to show up either.

The Cowboys are definitely going to be prepared for the Titans from a strategic standpoint. An extra week to dissect the Titans tendencies on both sides of the ball should give the Cowboys an advantage. But they still have to make sure they keep Chris Johnson under control on every play during the game. And the Titans seem to have mastered the art of pushing the buttons of their opponents.

You can bet that there will be a few scuffles after the play during the game due to some cheap shots and offensive comments by the Titans. They key is that the Cowboys will need to avoid allowing themselves to get drawn into the mind games of the Titans. Avoiding dumb personal foul penalties will undoubtedly be a challenge.

The Cowboys got in some good work last week and they got an extra day of practice in on Monday. They will be prepared. And they still need to dig out of the hole they dug for themselves in the first two games of the season.

The Cowboys Need the Bye Week

After finally finding a way to win a game on Sunday you would think the Cowboys would need to get back on the field as soon as possible to keep the momentum going. And as much as I would have liked to have seen the Cowboys in action this weekend I think they are overdue for a break. It has been a long grind for the team from the start of training camp up to this point.

I think it will be good for the players to get a real chance to get their bodies back to as close to 100% as they can right now. Kyle Kosier and Jason Witten clearly need the break considering they are both nursing knee injuries. I'm sure Witten would have played either way this week but now he can rest his knee for a week so his minor knee injury doesn't linger all season long. And hopefully Kosier can get back in time for the Titans game since he gets basically two weeks to recover.

And it isn't just injuries that make me happy for the bye week. The Cowboys need a break mentally and physically. They started training camp before anyone else. Only the Cowboys and the Bengals had five preseason games. And the Cowboys play under a media spotlight that few teams can match.

Not every team has people like Ed Werder and the rest of the ESPN "writers" hounding them every day trying to stir up a controversy. And losing the first two games had to make things very tense around Valley Ranch. Wade Phillips snapped at the media several times last week which almost never happens. When Wade is stressed out you know the team has to be under tremendous pressure.

I think it will be good for the Cowboys to have the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders for a few days. And winning decisively against the Texans allowed that to happen. The Cowboys were reminded how hard they have to work to win against any team in the NFL. And now they can watch the other teams and spend more time thinking about the fact that they are sitting at 1-2 in last place but also only 1 game out of first place in the NFC East.

The players, the coaches, and the owner all said immediately after the Texans game that winning was great but they have only started digging out of their 0-2 hole. The team needs to get itself healthy and mentally prepared for the grind ahead. It is going to take 4 or 5 more wins in a row before anyone will be able to feel like the Cowboys are really back on track.

And recent history suggest the Cowboys will come out of the bye on a high note. They have won every game after the bye since 2006. With extra time to prepare for the Titans the Cowboys have a great chance to get themselves back to .500. They have a big hole to dig out of but the bye lets them recharge their batteries to hopefully allow for a streak of wins that will last for a long time.

The Real Cowboys Finally Show Up

We have spent all offseason and the first two weeks wondering what in the world happened to the Dallas Cowboys. Things finally changed on Sunday in Houston as the Cowboys went into a frenzied stadium in Houston's version of the Super Bowl. All the Cowboys did was shut down the league's #1 offense and put up 27 points of their own on the way to a dominant victory.

So what was different this week? The most noticeable change to me was the offensive scheme. The Cowboys seemed to have simplified their game plan and also made a concerted effort to make the running game a big part of the attack. The offense started out slow and looked the same as they did in the first two weeks but then finally found their rhythm and moved the ball with ease from the second quarter on.

The defense got back to pressuring the quarterback and the secondary did a great job stifling the Houston passing attack. Arian Foster did break off several nice runs but the Cowboys made some adjustments to the defense at the half that really seemed to slow Foster down in the second half. Demarcus Ware posted three sacks and the defense had four overall. They also forced three turnovers.

The special teams even looked better. They limited Jacoby Jones on his punt returns and did a great job covering on kickoffs. David Buehler was 2 for 2 on field goals and hit a big 49 yard field goal going into the half that really seemed to put a charge into the team.

Tony Romo had a drive in the third quarter that may have been the best of his career. He hit Sam Hurd on a perfect pass to convert a third down early in the drive. Then he hit Dez Bryant for a big gain down the left sideline on another perfect pass. And the drive ended on a touchdown to Roy Williams on another beautiful pass into the endzone that Roy snagged for a touchdown. In short, Romo was the exact opposite of what he was last week. His accuracy was nearly perfect all day long.

The Cowboys do still have some work to do. They are committing way too many penalties and they need to improve. But the difference this week is that the penalties weren't negating every big play the offense made. There were a few big plays that came back for the offense as a result of penalties, but they didn't have the big red zone penalties that cost the team points.

As nice as the win was the Cowboys have only started the process of digging out of the hole they created in the first two weeks of the season. The Cowboys have a bye next week so they can savor this one for a few days before getting back to work on the Titans. Hopefully this win will be the start of a winning streak because the Cowboys need to reel off a few wins.

But beating a talented Houston team decisively was a great start to a turnaround. And it sure was nice to go give the Texans and their fans a reality check. The Cowboys are still the #1 team in Texas. And one game may not make up for the last two years, but Roy Williams looked like the guy the Cowboys thought they were getting when they traded for him. Isn't it amazing how everything falls into place when the team wins?

How the Cowboys Can Win the "Superbowl" in Houston

Doesn't this game have the same feeling as the Saints game late last season? The Texans are riding high and their offense seems unstoppable. The Cowboys are in disarray and don't seem to stand much of a chance based on their performance in the first two weeks of the season. And you know the Houston crowd is going to be in a complete frenzy from the opening kickoff until the clock hits triple zero at the end of the game.

Let's be honest. The Cowboys really do have the odds stacked against them this week. They are on the road. Their offense can't score points. The kicker can't make field goals. And the defense hasn't forced a turnover all season.

But somehow I find myself convinced the Cowboys are going to win. And it has nothing to do with the Houston Texans. I really don't care who the opponent is this week. The Cowboys are too talented to be 0-3.

They have made a fool of me in the first two games. I really thought they would find a way to beat the Redskins despite the injuries on the offensive line. And I couldn't picture the Bears flat out beating the Cowboys in every phase of the game like they did last week.

I hope I'm not fooling myself again. I just think there is too much on the line for the Cowboys to lay another egg this week. The Texans might feel like they have a big game on their hands. But the Cowboys in a lot of ways have their season on the line. Can you imagine what the bye week is going to be like if the Cowboys can't find a way to win this game?

The Texans have an explosive offense. The Cowboys will have to come out firing on offense if they expect to win the game. But on the flip side, the Texans defense will let you move the ball. So I expect the game to be fairly high scoring.

Again, think of the Saints game last season. The Cowboys knew they needed to put points on the board and they came out firing on offense instead of easing into the game like usual. I think we'll see the same thing this week. The Cowboys have to come out fast or the crowd will get so loud it might be a rerun of the Metrodome last season.

I think the Cowboys will come out fast. And I think the defense is good enough to keep the scoring of the Texans down to a reasonable level. By no means to I think the Cowboys are going to dominate this game. The Texans are a very good team this year. But the Cowboys are desperate and they play better when their backs are against the wall. I know it sounds a little crazy but I think the Cowboys will win this game 31-27.

The Cowboys Are Backed Into a Corner

I've been searching for something positive to say about the Cowboys for a couple of days. Positive news is hard to come by right now and when you are 0-2 there really shouldn't be much to say that is positive.

"Fans" are breaking both legs jumping off the bandwagon. That is absolutely fine with me. Isn't it amazing that the "fans" of the Cowboys who are loud and obnoxious and give all the real fans a bad reputation are the same ones who give up on the team at the drop of a hat? The only thing I have to say to those people is don't try to act like you've been faithful all along when the Cowboys break out of this funk.

Yes, I said it. The Cowboys will break out of this funk. They are a talented team. They have looked awful for the last two games but I just cannot believe that they are really this bad. A team doesn't go from what they were last season to absolutely awful in one offseason. The Cowboys are too talented to keep losing. They will start winning and I expect them to start performing up to their potential on Sunday.

You can criticize the coaching. It has been bad. You can criticize the players. Most of them have been inconsistent. But, again, did the Cowboys really go from one of the top teams in the NFL last season to one of the worst so fast? They way they have played says yes, but watching them you can see they are capable of so much more. The Cowboys just need to get out of their own way.

The turnovers need to stop. The penalties need to stop coming at key moments. The inconsistent playcalling on offense needs to be simplified. And the defense needs to play more aggressively. And the kicker...he just needs to make his field goals.

By digging an 0-2 hole the Cowboys have been forced to take a hard look in the mirror. It is obvious that Jason Garrett is trying to do too much offensively. Jason Garrett needs to stop trying to run every play in the playbook every game. Get rid of the stupid wildcat if you are only going to run one play out of it. Run what is working and throw out the plays that aren't no matter how good they look on paper.

And the defense needs to force a turnover already. The defense had the exact same problem at the start of the season last year. I know the forced turnovers are limited by Wade Phillips' bend but don't break defensive philosophy. This team needs momentum changing plays from the defense and they needs them now. Wade got scared off by the Bears last week because they burned the defense on a few blitzes. The defense is built to blitz. Bring the heat on the quarterback!

The Cowboys are like a wounded dog backed into a corner. I don't think you want to play a team with their talent level when they have their backs against the wall. The last time the Cowboys were in a situation like this all they did was go out and end the Saints undefeated season last year. I think you will see that team this week.

And if we don't see that team...well, I can't let myself go there right now. My mind and my heart are in agreement this week. The Cowboys are too talented and experienced to let the season slip away already. The Texans better be ready for the real Dallas Cowboys this week.

Another Loss

I'm shocked that the Cowboys now find themselves in an 0-2 hole. I had no doubt in my mind that the Cowboys would come out and dominate the Bears. But the didn't and they found news ways to lose a game this week. Turnovers and missed field goals destroyed any chance at winning the game.

Tony Romo had decent stats for the game but he was a little off all day long. The offensive line did a great job giving him time to throw but several of his passes were just a little off target. He didn't play horribly but his passes that were a little off came in big moments. Both passes that were tipped for interceptions came on balls where Romo missed his target by a few feet. And the ball on the play right before the missed Buehler field goal missed Tashard Choice down the sideline for a probable first down.

But Tony Romo didn't lose the game all by himself. The defense was not very good. They started out on fire and were hitting Cutler so hard and so often I didn't think he would finish the game. But then everything changed and they suddenly couldn't get pressure any more. Part of it was the fact that Cutler beat the defense on a few blitzes in a row and Wade Phillips backed off on the blitz calls from that point forward.

And David Buehler had a shot to tie the game up in the 4th quarter with a 44 yard field goal but he pulled it left. I think it is fair to question whether the Cowboys need to find a new kicker. If the coaches have to change the way they call the game because they don't trust the kicker then a change needs to be made. I think we have reached that point.

0-2 is horrible but I'm not jumping ship. I know this is a talented team. The Cowboys just don't seem to have any continuity on either side of the ball right now. The offense can't get the ball into the end zone nearly enough and the defense still has not forced a turnover this season. And obviously the special teams needs work despite the great return by Dez Bryant.

Next week is a pivotal moment for this team. If they win heading into the bye I can see the team regrouping and getting back into position to win their division and make a playoff run. If they lose I think they might dig a hole so deep they can't get out of it without an unprecedented turnaround. The Cowboys have to beat the Texans. They have the talent but they have to put it all together before it is too late.

**On a side note, I know Jason Witten probably did have a concussion in the 4th quarter. But I love how badly he wanted to get back in the game to help his team. If more players on the team had his desire the Cowboys wouldn't be 0-2 right now.