Sunday's 34-14 loss to the St. Louis Rams went beyond the wildest dreams of any fan or detractor. With injuries to key players like quarterback Tony Romo, safety Roy Williams and cornerback Terence Newman, many figured it would be tough for America's team to win many games in the immediate future. However, Sunday's outing appeared more putrid than anything.
Even though a 1-yard Marion Barber plunge gave them an early 7-0 lead, the Cowboys quickly gave up 21 first-quarter points to a team that failed to score 20 points in any prior game. Despite their injuries and enough off-the-field drama to make the Cincinnati Bengals blush, Dallas was universally pegged to win this matchup. Teams don't play on paper for a reason.
"I am definitely disappointed," Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner and general manager, told The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram. "I didn't expect this. Nobody expected this."
What they did expect was for the team to beat the NFC's cellar dwellers. Instead, players, management and fans got a harsh wake-up call.
Dallas Defense Needs Work
Dallas defensive backs were often unprepared for the Rams' big plays. Quarterback Marc Bulger best showcased that with a 42-yard bomb to wide receiver Donnie Avery. He also connected with Torry Holt three times for 51 yards, something double teams have prevented them from doing for most of this season.
The front seven sacked Bulger five times, with linebacker DeMarcus Ware earning three of them. Nobody else left much of a defensive imprint.
The linebackers and defensive line repeatedly got driven down the field and opened large holes for St. Louis running back Stephen Jackson. The former Oregon State sensation scored three touchdowns and netted 160 yards on 25 carries, a healthy 6.4-yard average.
For Dallas, Jackson's performance has to be the most disappointing aspect of the loss. Backup quarterback Brad Johnson may have thrown three interceptions, but the Cowboys run defense had been considered a strength of the team. It was something the coaches likely expected to hang their hats on, especially since the front seven withstood the injuries that have plagued the secondary.
"Ever since the game against Cincinnati two weeks ago, we thought everything was going to come easy," linebacker Zach Thomas said. "It hasn't. We just haven’t got better, including myself. The second half was awful. Just awful. You can’t cry about it. If you’ve got pride, you have to keep working. … We have a lot of problems we have to fix."
Cowboys Season Outlook
Some ownership regimes and fanbases will accept injuries as an excuse for a lackluster season, but Dallas has never fit that description. The team has publically acknowledged that their main objective is winning a Super Bowl. To accomplish that feat, the 'Boys need to right the ship immediately. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit next week, and Dallas will then travel east to take on the defending champion New York Giants.
Romo's injury could be healed in time for a critical matchup with the Washington Redskins. Two more key players, Newman and first-round draft pick Felix Jones, should also return by then.
If Dallas can at least split the next two games, it should enter the bye week still in the thick of tense NFC East and playoff races. If they repeat Sunday's effort, though, the season could nearly come to an end. Remember that is no way for Jones to begin next season at his new, prized $650 million-plus stadium.
 |
