I never said Romo was on par with the great Roger Staubach. Right now, I don’t think he is.
He has a long way to go to reach those rarified heights, and he may or may not ever achieve comparable numbers - it is up to him and the lineup around him over the next several years.
I have always liked Brees as a QB, and as a person, (based on the interviews I have seen) since he was with the Chargers, and despite his shoulder injury, I thought that cuting him loose was a significant mistake on the Chargers’ part. Phillip Rivers is good, but not at all as proficient as Brees. I often wished that Dallas had picked up Brees after S.D. cut him loose. Can you imagine a 1-2 punch like that?
That said, Brees had plenty of chances last night and I do not think it was on him for having an off night, but rather on Dallas’s defense for coming up big when it really counted. The Cowboys’ primary - and most obvious problem is that of playing consistently.
They have one of the top five defenses in the entire league, and if they would play to their full potential, game after game, almost no offense in the NFL could stay on the field for long against them. The Colts could, and perhaps the Vikes - the rest also seem to struggle with consistency.
Cowboys’ “O” suffers the same challenge - but in a unique way. Clock (mis)management is important.
Look at their five losses this season: only their loss to GB was by more than one score [17 to 7], while the total margin of their other four losses was 19 pts - an average of just less than 5 pts/game.
Contrast that with a total of 105 pts. higher output in their 9 wins - avg margin of victory of just over 11 pts.
Last week against S.D. - Dallas missed both a field goal at close range, and a red zone opportunity (after four successful rushing plays, they ought to have varied their game with passing, since Romo is highly effective in Red Zone passing. Shame on Garrett or Philips for bad play calling.); suffered the loss of DeMarcus Ware for almost half the game - and still lost by just a field goal. Screw-ups, or injuries (recall also in their last loss to NY, starting R tackle Marc Columbo went out in the first series with a broken ankle, and they lost wide rec. Martellus Bennett to a concussion) like that would have cost most squads far more points.
They have also hindered their own efforts with crucial penalties (again an issue of consistency on both sides of the ball) that stopped their own drives, and which advanced their opponents’ (eventual) scoring drives.
And, although they have an offense that produces rushing and passing yardage well (how many 300+ yard passing games has Romo had this season? Last night was yet another), they definitely need to focus on translating that into point production. Read: “Big” plays...game-breaking plays.
IMHO, those are the differences - the things which separate them from the 2 or 3 “elite” teams in the league.
First round and out - bank on it? No, not quite. They have the tools to go all the way to the S.B. - and if they use them properly, they can play with any team, and send most of them home.
If they don’t, they could lose by a field goal or a TD to the likes of the Vikings and Colts or the Browns and Seahawks...
I think it will end up hinging partially on matchups - how well they match up against their playoff opponent(s) in terms of playing style.
Two more regular season games and it will be time for the fans of post-season teams to play the “IF...” game, while the rest play the “wait ‘til next year” game!
Dallas has a game in DC against the ‘skins and a homestand closer against Philly. They beat Phil. by 4 points IN Philly, and survived by 1 pt in Dallas against the ‘Skins
Dallas cannot afford to mail it in. They need to win both games; if they do, the NFC East is theirs outright. Washington has kept circling the drain since their tilt with the ‘Boys, while the Eagles have fattened up on weak teams, and right now the 6 and 7 49ers are giving them all they can handle - in Philly, with the snow flying. Not exactly weather that favors S.F. Eagles face Denver next week - which will not be easy for them
I would LOVE to see Dallas in the Super Bowl this post-season; realistically, I don’t believe they are ready for a team like the Colts at this point, but I believe Dallas will end up winning the NFC East outright, and could contend strongly for the NFC title.
The Giants are all but out of it...same with Atlanta and S.F.
Vikes and Saints will get a first round bye, Dallas and Arizona will likely host the Packers and the Eagles, but who will go where? Probably Philly at AZ and GB at Dallas, though it could be Philly/Dall and GB/AZ.
Of course I would pick the ‘Boys either way.
Assume {for a moment}, GB/Dall, and Phil/AZ.
GB is 5-0 since playing Dallas, (but is now losing to the 6-7 Steelers, losers of 5 in a row) so they would be the toughest first round draw, but I think Dallas would pull it out by one score.
Ariz., OTOH - is 9-5, and has lost 3 home games, so that one is harder to call.
Question is, would Dallas draw the Saints or the Vikes in Round 2? They have proven they can (in spite of themselves) beat the Saints in NO. They have not played the Vikings at all this year (except a 4 pt home win in preseason).
And how will the 11-2 Vikings close out the season? Carolina tonight, then Chicago and then the NY Giants. The Vikes only 2 losses this reg. season were to Arizona and Pittsburgh...so AZ can beat them...
One could easily imagine both the Saints and Vikes playing 2nd round matches, each against one of the few teams to beat them in regular season...difference being, the Cards beat the Vikes in AZ, while the Boys took down the Saints in NO.
All anyone can ‘guarantee’ at this time is that it should be interesting. The AFC is less up in the air, IMO. It is basically the Colts, the Chargers, and then “the rest” of the conference - nobody else is riding anything more than a two game win “streak”. The only also-ran capable of generating a significant upset is probably the Patriots. The Bengals might have been able, but they have lost too much...
My two cents worth...
(donning asbestos jammies)
A.A.C.
Watching Brees last night, it was obvious his timing wasn't on. He was due an off night, and hope this is out of their system. No offense to your cowboys, but Romo just doesn't have the oomph to get their team deep in the playoffs. Choke factor?????