In a normal season, as in one that has not been over since week 1, this loss would have left me restless and irritated. However, with this season already long lost at sea, I actually think there are positives to be found in the dramatic 30-27 Thanksgiving Day loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The start of the game looked very similar to my Turkey Bowl game this year. Everyone on my team was sorely hungover as a result of too many encounters with Johnny Jameson. As a result, our stacked squad had a better chance of running to the sideline to puke than filling the endzone with heaps of touchdowns. The Cowboys looked like they went out hard on Wednesday night too because in the first half they looked like they were hurting bad.. High snaps, fumbles, a pick thrown to a 350lb lineman, 1 yard rushes...it looked like an old NFL follies film.
Drew Brees embarrassed the Cowboys secondary for most of the day and as per usual, the Cowboys brought their diet package of pressure. Still, one has to be impressed with the way this team responded under the adversity that they were presented with. Under Wade Phillips, this team would have mailed in the rest of the game, probably lost 72-3, and they'd be running down to the shake shack with Wade to rub his belly. Under Red Jesus, however, the shake shack is closed. The Cowboys proved to be resiliant and took control of the game in the second half. The defense even stiffened up a little. Not Viagara stiff but, close enough to let the boys climb back in.
The Cowboys got creative and found a way to utilize Miles Austins speed with an end around for a touchdown. Both Marion Barber and Tashard Choice ( whom most of you probably have forgotten about) punched in 1 yard touch down runs. (Despite this, Marion Barber is increasingly unimpressive from game to game). For the first time this season, Dez Bryant was visibly frustrated on the field and especially on the sidelines where he was seen squabbling with receivers coach Ray Sherman. The Saints did a good job of disguising coverages on him all day and were usually rolling two players to his side. You gotta love the fire and intensity that Dez plays with but you're a rookie, don't disrespect your coach like that. Just learn from this and deal with it boy. With the Saints focusing so much of their attention on Dez, Jon Kitna was able to utilize his trusty TE Jason Witten to drive the field. He also was able to find Roy Williams multiple times for big plays...
Oh! Speaking of Roy Williams. In case any of you missed it, he fumbled the ball on a long reception with only minutes to go in the game. Sound familiar? The Cowboys were up and as long as Roy would have fallen to the ground with the ball the game would have been sealed. 5 straight turkey day wins would have been in the books...The cowboys could have gotten in feast beast mode and concentrated on tearing up turkeys. Instead, Drew Brees and the Saints got one more go on our impotent defense and did what everyone expected them to do. Took our turkey and stuffed it right in our house.
Now I can't fully blame Roy Williams for this terrible play. He has made plays all year and he was making one here. He had been having a superb game and CB Malcom Jenkins made a hell of a play. Plus, the defense should have been able to stop the Saints from marching 80+ yards. Of course, this season, nothing has gone right, and this Roy Williams play epitomizes not only his career but the 2010 Cowboys season. Now Jason Garrett has to deal with his first real challenge: Getting this team motivated to play the defending AFC champion Colts coming off a huge loss. Now we will have a real chance to see what Garrett is made of.
