Same Old Song and Dance: Cowboys lose 20-17

I love movies. I’m nowhere close to a film expert, but I can glean some form of enjoyment out of most trips to the theater or Blockbuster.

Just this week I watched WALL-E, The Dark Knight and The Rocker. Combined viewings: somewhere around 15. (Quite a combo, huh?)

What I don’t love: Watching this movie about the Dallas Cowboys anymore. Every year December comes around and I hope it’s going to be different.

But the last few years? It’s like watching Rush Hour 3 over and over again.Before we get to the review of the last few seasons, let’s put Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers to bed. First of all, the Chargers are really good. Three games left for them: Cincinnati, @Tennessee, Washington. I expect them to win all of those three, finish 13-3 and earn the 2nd seed in the AFC. That team has a very good chance to win the Super Bowl; in my book, they’re the quiet favorites.

And the Dallas Cowboys should have been in a position to beat them.

Should they have won? No. I can’t go that far. But 10 points were left on the field. Take out the last garbage touchdown, and that game’s tied.

Now, obviously the game is different if Barber gets in. The game is different. It’s 10-10. 2nd and goal from the 1 and you get stopped three straight times. With Marion Barber. One of the “best” short-yardage backs in the NFL. Supposedly.

So Rivers is picked off, and Nick Folk misses a 42 yard field goal. Indoors. At home. With a perfect snap and hold. This is bordering on Vanderjagt territory. Or at least Ben Stein territory. (Buehler? Buehler?)

Obviously if the Cowboys score the TD, Rivers probably doesn’t throw the interception. Still, time was running out then. So let’s say the defense holds, and it’s 10-10 going into the half. That’s a whole different kettle of fish than being down 10-3 going through the restaurant club into the locker room.

(I’m pretty sure that expression is older than Joseph “Live and Let” Addai. TAKE THAT, BERMAN!)

The biggest stat of the day is this: 5-12 on 3rd down conversions today for the Chargers. Whenever they needed to pick up a third down, they got it. Dallas Cowboys? 1-8 on 3rd downs. When they needed a big play, they didn’t get it. Simple as that.

Of all the conversions, the biggest one is the one I’m seeing again right now on SportsCenter. Right after the horrifying injury to DeMarcus Ware (and godspeed to him on his recovery. Lord knows the Dallas Cowboys need him back as soon as he’s 100% healthy.), Vincent Jackson gets free on the sideline and the Chargers pick up a 3rd and 12 en route to the lead they would never relinquish.

Terence Newman. What are you doing on that play? I know you just had one of your teammates get carted off, but this was a HUGE play. Focus! Stop the Bolts there and you get the ball back with a chance to take the lead. I would say he expected to get coverage help, but I’m not even sure of that. There was no help to be seen, as Sensabaugh was forced to cover the slot receiver running straight down the middle of the field.

But if he was expecting help, wouldn’t he have tried to bust Jackson off his route at the line of scrimmage? What’s the point of just running within five yards of him? It’s not like Vincent Jackson had beaten him – Terence was pretty much parallel with him, just not close enough to make a play. SO WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING THERE TERENCE??? YOU ARE A WASTE OF A MAN ON THIS PLAY.

Gahhhhh.

But this team has to play perfect to win. And that, my friends, is something they seem incapable of doing.

A review of the last few seasons? That’s not considered torture in the United Nations? All right. But not tonight.

I don’t want to see this movie any more.

Newman pic: http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/terence-newman/

Berman pic: http://thesportshernia.typepad.com/blog/2007/02/its_11am_which_.html