Ending With a Thud
Woof.
That sucked.
I was thinking about ending my analysis of the ass-kicking the Dallas Cowboys received right there. And frankly, that probably would have sufficed.
Not a whole lot to say about this game, really. In-depth analysis is far from necessary. But keep reading for a few more thoughts on yet another Cowboys season that ends without a championship.
Let’s start at the top. Jerry Jones has a little bit of work to do to get this team where it needs to be. Not a lot. But some. A decision has to be made about Marion Barber. I would like to see what kind of trade value he has. A couple of draft picks, maybe 3rd round or so, would be perfect.
The offensive line has to get some help. This area of the team has been the lone group that has not been able to be improved by the draft. It’s not like the Dallas Cowboys haven’t spent draft picks on them – it’s just that none of them have panned out. Doug Free seems to be all right, but (I never ever, ever thought I would say this) Flozell Adams’ injury killed the Cowboys today. The rest of the line was a sieve as well, but Flozell’s injury was the back-breaker.
We said to start 2008 that this offensive line was old. It needs to get younger heading into 2010. No question about it.
Terence Newman also needs be traded. His performance on the first Vikings TD to Sidney Rice should be a fireable offense. “Terence. You’re cut. Right now. Turn in your uniform and just go.” (Plus about 15 expletives.)
Was this loss Wade’s fault? Not really. But COME ON. (Going all caps here – it’s the only point I can really get upset about.) WHY AREN’T YOU GOING FOR IT THERE?? We’re here to win, not settle for field goals!
Did you honestly think that the odds were better that Suisham would make that field goal than picking up the first down on fourth and less than a yard? His longest kick this season was from 48 yards! Is the game significantly different at that point if that field goal goes through? Ehhh. Maybe. At best. Going for it there also challenges your team, sets a tone for the game and tells the Vikings that you’re not going anywhere.
That’s a reflection of Wade Phillips’ lack of aggression, and it is why he should not be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys next year.
Wade has not been a horrible coach. He’s not the worst coach to ever coach the Dallas Cowboys. Far from it. But I just don’t think he has the chops to get this team to a Super Bowl. Focus on the defense. Be the defensive coordinator. But I think it’s time that someone else takes over the head coaching duties for this team. And no, that person is not Jason Garrett.
Other than that first call, it’s really hard to go into too much detail about this game. Before the game, I thought whoever got more pressure on the other team would win. And that’s exactly what happened. The Minnesota Vikings got more pressure on Tony Romo than the Dallas Cowboys got on Brett Favre. That’s why they won the game.
It also helped that the Minnesota Vikings are a better team and they were playing at home after basically taking two weeks off.
I just hope the expectations for the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been lowered too much. This franchise has won five Super Bowls. Please don’t tell me we’re going to start calling this a successful season because we won a playoff game for the first time in 13 years. It wasn’t. It was a nice year, but ultimately a failure.
Failure that needs to be rectified next year. Eleven straight years in the NFC, there’s been a different representative in the Super Bowl (including this year, no matter who wins next week’s contest).
None of those years have included the Dallas Cowboys. That needs to change.
Soon.
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