Before you call me crazy or argue my extreme bias for a franchise that has made a career of breaking hearts, give me the chance to convince you why the Dallas Cowboys aren’t out of this thing yet.
With nine games played against some of the league’s best teams, things are anything but over in the high profile NFC East. Dallas won Sunday in an unfamiliar fashion. Three touchdowns by the defense and special teams were more than enough to fly past the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, starting a stretch of favorable matchups for Dallas heading into the second half of the season.
Dallas held the second hardest schedule in the NFL over the first eight games, but that is over and things begin to get much easier. Yes we will must travel to Cincinnati and host the Saints and Steelers, but those are very winnable games. We also play two games against a struggling Washington Redskins team and another home game against an Eagles team that is at the brink of total destruction. The Giants have left the window open, and yes I will say it. The Cowboys will be tied with the division lead two weeks from today.
That probably seems all but impossible just a week after many proclaimed the season as lost, but back to back losses by the Giants heading into a bye week speaks differently. A win over struggling Cleveland Sunday puts Dallas just a game back of first, with a Thanksgiving matchup with Washington following.
The Giants on the other hand get a week to talk about this losing streak and what they will do when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers show up the following Sunday night to possibly tie the division once again. Sure I am probably sugar coating things way too much, as most know the Cowboys are the best around at breaking hearts late in the seasons, while the Giants pose as the typical Cinderella story each December, but things are different this season. Cowboys fans are used to blown leads and offensive let downs in the past, but the 2012 Cowboys are different, they play defense.
Now speculation usually does one of two things, makes one look very smart or oh so dumb, and we will know soon enough which side I fall on. Being a Cowboys fan enables me the ability to believe every year we are title contenders, and this year is no differently in a league with so much parity. The Cowboys will also bring back a much needed running back in Demarko Murray, which will hopefully lead to a sustained running game now that Tony Romo has slowed down with the turnovers and is playing a more conventional type of quarterback.
Last night’s 19-26 with 206 yards and two touchdowns is exactly what the Cowboys need when they are playing this type of defense. In the past Romo was needed to win the game, but this season simply making the right throws and staying out of trouble gives Dallas the chance to win any ball game. Jones also had success running the ball last night, going 71 yards on 16 carries, sporting an average of about 4.5 yards/carry. Jason Garrett is also beginning to improve as a game manager, although going any direction but up was almost inevitable.
The entire team is beginning to look more like a team to be contended with in the NFC, but much will need to be proved with 7 games left. I’m not calling championships or Super Bowl appearances, I’m just saying look out for the Cowboys down the stretch in this anything but conventional NFL season.
Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed
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