SPORTSDAY

Posted by Sim Narasimhan @ 8:13 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Cowboys lacked discipline for the big game.

Posted by Sim Narasimhan @ 8:13 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Cowboys lacked discipline for the big game.

Posted by 1real @ 8:19 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

I still think your a huge Pats fan Breer, but your right. They choked and it seems pretty lame to me for him to come up with numbers. I still haven't heard anyone say "I didn't have them prepared" that would make me feel a little better. I hate it that he reaches for his stupid numbers like his wonderful 13-3. It meant nothing then and it really means nothing now. I didn;t perceive him to be a side stepper, being a Texan and all. I thought they didn't pull any punches. His reactions strike me as a person who just doesn't have a real answer, and stumbles to the only thing he knows, numbers. keep ripping them albert, they deserve it.Don'tcut them any slack

Posted by Karl A. @ 8:34 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

They used to say that long drives wore down the defensive line. Not here. The long drives wore down the offensive line. That was very apparent in the 4th quarter. They couldn't block paper.

Posted by Paulov @ 8:42 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Phillips needs to be sent packing. Let him find a job as a defensive coordinator whose team gets bounced in the playoffs just like Denver, Buffalo, San Diego, and unfortunately our Cowboys. Allowing Garrett to leave now would be a colossal mistake. Ever wonder why Wade is SO defensive after a loss? He is incapable of accepting responsibility for his lack of discipline and poor game preparation.

Posted by tee @ 8:43 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

It would have been nice if Phillips would have just told the truth. The team was not ready to play. He could have admitted responsibility and promised to fix the problems so that this would not happen again. Instead, he comes across as a weak, two faced moron, throwing numbers around as if they mean something. Makes me think there will be very little difference at the next playoff game.

Posted by Wasafan @ 8:45 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Check out Romo's last two games @ East Illinois. Killed by Kansas State, wiped by West Illinois. Read coaches comments Not a leader. Similar ratings to Sunday. Explains why he was not drafted. Why did we give this guy the big $$$? We are in for a long couple of years.

Posted by riggins @ 8:46 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Adding insult to injury was TO's crying jag after the game. Cowboys don't cry, unless they're from Brokeback Mountain....

Posted by Cowboy Fans @ 9:03 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

First off: F riggins. But, I'm not gonna rip on him too hard, b/c I know I go to the Washington Post and other boards and and crack on them when we kick their ass (got writer's cramp during that 14 out of 15 game winning streak).

Jerry, Wade has to go. HE is NOT, repeat, NOT a winner. WTF? Stats? Give me a f'ing break!! This league and the playoffs are about RESULTS. Seriously, Jerry, you have to think about the team you have and who can get them over the top. Not, this Mr. Fix-it. Do you want to go back to more 5-11 seasons? How would that work in the new stadium when there are no fans to buy your merchandise and concessions? Think strategically.

Posted by Dave @ 9:05 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Wade Phillips did what he's always done: FAILED in a playoff game. Meanwhile, the guy that MOST of us thought would be the Head Coach at Dallas still has his team in the hunt. Time for Jerry to admit he made ANOTHER mistake, cut his losses, and NOT let Jason Garrett end up coaching the Ravens.

Posted by Mooreman @ 9:12 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Wade inablility to take an honest look at the players and coaching will continue to dog this team. Being a "players coach" is fine, but there are times he's got to take better control. Instead of acknowledging poor play and bad decisions (Roy's horse collar) he is busy making excuses and pointing to W/L record. It was obvious this team was struggling down the stretch but Wade would get defensive anytime it was brought up. It wasn't suprising to see this team come out flat for the Redskin game with nothing to play for, but that should have been his perfect opportunity to come down hard on his team and demand more of them. Instead he just roles over, no big deal. If some strong internal leadership doesn't develop in that locker room over this off season we can count on another year without a playoff victory

Posted by letsgoto @ 9:25 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

It does not get any better then getting home field being the #1 seed and what did they do, whoever was responsible wasted a big chance that does not come often, nice going!!!

Posted by Dan @ 9:30 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Wade is the HEAD Coach.

He doesn't micromanage the offense.

That's the job of the offensive coordinator, which happens to be Garrett.

Why so many comments ripping the offense, ripping Wade, BUT sparing Garrett.

Garrett called the plays.

Garrett was the one who threw a running attack at a team with a weak secondary.

Garrett chose to highlight Barber instead of getting the ball to our playmaker.

Garrett chose to wear down them, but in the process, wore down our guys.

Garrett is the one to be asked questions, and to be rigorously questioned.

Posted by KY @ 9:32 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

It's time to send Wade on his way...

His statement today about how "the best team didn't win" was disgusting. I'm a Cowboys fan, and it's obvious to me the Giants were a better team...perhaps not as talented, but they were clearly more disciplined and prepared for Sunday's game.

I've been a huge Jerry backer, but his act is also tiring. Fans can look forward to the Super Bowl in Arlington, but I believe it will be a while before the Cowboys get back to a Super Bowl. Try winning a freaking playoff game...

Posted by Bigblueben @ 9:41 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Love this hope you are all suffering. Cowgirls choke again!! Cant wait to see what happends next year!! GO BIG BLUE

Posted by Pokes @ 9:42 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

we lost ...end of story....time to move on

Posted by J @ 9:42 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

At this very moment, Jerry is aware that either Garrett is accepting an offer to be the Ravens Head Coach or that he is coming back to Jerry for his market value. Honestly, I felt Sparano was gone but now I'm concerned that we'll be in the third offensive system for a young QB desperately needing some coaching continuity. Garrett appears to be gone. Meaning, Jerry has sold his soul to a coach that cannot win the big one and continues to defend this tragic loss with regular season crap. This is the same coach who will probably be in charge of hiring more mediocre coaches. So, while we need young, smart, killer-instinct coaching; we're being set up for old and state with a winning postseason record equal to Charlie Brown. Jerry, why?

Posted by Pokes @ 9:44 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

oh.... by the way bigblueben is a romophobe

Posted by BLUEMAN @ 9:44 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Cowboy tickets $125
Plane tix's NY - Dallas $800

Jerry Jones face on the sidelines.... Priceless!!

GO GIANTS

Posted by Will @ 9:44 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Quite simple - nobody made a play. To quote Joey Porter: big players make big plays in big games. Did any Cowboy do that? No. They lost. See you at minicamp.

Posted by ptm @ 9:58 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

bigblueben
Hey bro! Crack all you want. We certainly deserve it, heck were beating them down as much as we can, and they deserve it. But, you do have two more games to win, and even if you make it to the superbowl, you have to win, and rest assured it will be the unbeatable Pats that will be there. I hope if you guys make it, you beat the tar out of them, cause I can't stand there arrogant butts. If you don't win though, your still a loser like the rest of us, but the first best loser

Posted by LarryL @ 10:00 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Bollox. Two Giants scores were gifts courtesy of drive-extending penalties on the Cowboys defense. The third was set up by a mind-numbing series of mistakes by the offense (penalty negating first down, dropped pass). The ensuing punt from the goal line was returned deep into Cowboys territory, right in point-blank range. It's easy to be efficient when you're playing against the brain-dead.

The 'Boys could not have made it any easier for an inferior Giants team to take away their playoff run.

Posted by SN320 @ 10:01 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

The scary part about Wade is that Ted Cotrell took the same defense in San Diego and gave two playoff wins using exceptional defense. And every one knows Mr.Cotrell is not known to be the sharpest tool in the shed and got fired at a few places as the defense coordinator. So os Wade's success more a result of the talent in San Diego than his exotic schemes? If so, we are in deep shi$, having this albatross around the team's neck for a couple of years atleast.

Posted by wereall2ndbest @ 10:11 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

y'all traded big tuna for a big pu55y; phillips was just part of the bargain. your team wasn't ready: lacked discipline and couldn't pull the trigger. ya got out coached - an Army of TOs wouldn't have changed a thing... parcells is 11-8 in the POs; phillips, 0-5.

the giants and eagles will be back in the POs next year, you will not. big deal, pats will win SB XLIII, too.

Posted by chris @ 10:17 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

This is a good football team, but needed to be at full strength to beat other good teams.
The real season starts NOW, will the current staff make good use of the draft and will they keep the key individuals that need to be kept? And then add to the overall talent level to the roster, that is the only question now, the season ended yesterday,
By the way I have never seen Jason Garrett as a head coach, he could be great or could he have the same lack of success as another great coordinator Wannstedt?

Posted by Lance @ 10:32 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

If only Wade was as good at motivating his team for playoff games as he is at spewing out stats. Last week it was we are 13-3 and there are no problems. Yeah right.

Posted by Cowboys Fan @ 10:47 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Wade got too much credit for the team that Parcells built, just as Switzer won a 3rd SB with Johnson's team. Wade is not a leader. Parcells would've taken them to SB if he stayed. Wade's true skills will show the next 2 seasons. 3 Points in the 2nd half !!! Are you kidding? Would a Parcells, Belichek, Cower, or any other disciplined winner ever fail to make halftime adjustments and fail so miserably when it counts? So much talent, so much promise, so much disappointment. Unfortunately, it will be 2009 before Jerry responds with leadership changes.

Posted by Holy Cow! @ 10:52 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Holy Cow Wade! The best team on the field this past Sunday did win! Now, I don't know what the outcome would be if they played the best two out of three....I would probably bet on the Cowboys... but the best team on the field this past Sunday won.

It's as simple as that....what else can you say!

Posted by question romo @ 10:55 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

When Wade gives stats and the "how well we played in the regular season" questions his ability as a coach. This is the most pathetic response I have ever heard. It like saying the Dolphins can brag that they won one game and ignore losing 15 games.

Posted by ? Romo @ 11:05 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Now on Romo, he responds with him going to Mexico, "Well I could of went to Vegas and got drunk." What an excuse and also immature response that was. He is playing the most prolific position in American and to place himself with the most unliked woman in America? Also he could of STAYED HOME! Now I don't believe taking a vacation can effect his performance. HOWEVER, he has been struggling the last month and for him to place himself in a hotspot only leaves him more criticism if he does not perform as he did in the regular season. HE BLEW IT AGAIN!

Posted by ? Romo @ 11:09 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Is Cleveland still thinking about trading Brady Quinn?

Posted by Dan @ 11:26 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

As a big giants fan I don't know why I actually feel bad for the cowboys and their fans. You had a great season and may have been the best team in football for at least a couple weeks during the season. I don't think that you can blame Tony Romo. I think that he played a great game despite the constant pressure put on him. If you want to direct blame on anyone I would have to say whomever continues to allow a center who can't even snap the ball to your quarterback and the mouth Patrick Creighton who dropped two HUGE passes should be the skape goats. Your lucky to have Romo, Whitten and Barber and you should be good for years to come. The hungrier (not neccesarily the better team) won the game. No doubt I would have rooted for you guys against the pats. We'd love the same support.

Posted by psycha @ 11:41 PM Mon, Jan 14, 2008

It has nothing to do w/Wade. 84 dropped 2 crucial passes. The plays that should have gone over the middle were not called. Jason called some questionable offensive plays. Running Barber on first downs instead of a quick slant or over the middle then call Barber's #. Penalties at some of the most wrong times. Ugh. Center needs not to panic.

Posted by Drew @ 12:13 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Thanks Dan for the comment. I have been bummed for the last 24 hours or more , but life goes on. I didn't think that the Boys would actually be in the SB this year. I think they need another season to
get it together. I could see them next year or they could have a season like their Decembers. I hope the Giants do well this weekend, but I don't see how they can beat the Packs up there in Green Bay. I doubt if the Cowboys could beat the Packs again even at Texas Stadium. Cowboys do have alot of talent, but something is definitely wrong with somewhere.

Posted by Bell Paul @ 1:41 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Hindsight is 20-20, but it looks to me that the success that the team had in a span of 10 days over thanksgiving (wins over Washington, Jets, Pac) did them in. With seattle losing on the morning of 12/15, the 'boys had the bye even before the philly game and really had nothing to play for and took things for granted. That's a receipe for disaster and as luck would have it we had to face a fired up Giants team. I wish we had the #2 seed - we could have extended the season atleast by a week. Seattle would have been a cakewalk. Well, life isn't fair...

Posted by Tim Burns @ 2:00 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

AB, what is "situational football"? And wouldn't one of those "situations" be 3rd down conversions? It's a real vague definition of a second half of football filled with mistakes. The Cowboys lost because of penalties and dropped passes, fatigue, horrible coverage on special teams and predictable play calling. You act like Wade was playing Coughlin in Madden '08! You obviously continue to have it out for Phillips and you can come on here and stir up mindless "fans", but if Jerry listened to these knee-jerks, he'd have already fired half the coaches and most of the team.
If Dallas played NYG 10 times, the Cowboys might win 8 of 'em. This was the worst executed 2nd half of football in Cowboys playoff history and we're still in a position to win at the end! It's a painful loss for fans. But the better team did not win Sunday! One extra completion instead of a drop, one penalty not committed, one tackle made, and we're not sitting here castrating Wade or Romo. This blog is becoming an ugly place, where every day the league's worst fans eat up your spoon-fed manure because it fuels their insane opinions.
I visit other blogs too. Do you think Indy fans are trying to blow up their team? Remarkably similar situation in '07, no? A team with Pro Bowlers at QB/RB/TE/WR/OL and a first round bye. A team with a great regular season record. They tried to shoehorn Harrison into a playoff game after being out most of the year & we did the same with Glenn. AND they lost to an inferior team with a 3rd tier quarterback. Their fans are offering thoughtful, constructive criticism and looking forward to free agency and the draft. We're throwing everybody including the towel boy under the bus for losing a playoff game that we should have won. I see so many ridiculous comments...Parcells would have taken this team further? Fire Wade after one season? Let Garrett go, he's a bum?
Ok, this is too simple. I'll break it down for you. There were a lot of really bad NFL teams in '07. As many as I can ever remember. Look at the NFC South. The Rams, Niners, Jets or Dolphins. Dallas was a good team that padded their stats and record against bottom-feeders. This was a 10 or 11 win team at best that had a lucky schedule. I still felt we were a year or two away starting the year with a new HC and OC, and with Romo starting for his first full season. But they did go 13-3 because you can only play who's on your schedule, right? Go back & look at all of the preseason picks by the "experts" and you'll see most picked Dallas as a wildcard playoff team, if at all. But 13-3 DID mean something because it raised expectations to unrealistic levels. This season was going to end in a loss, whether it was last Sunday or not. Super Bowl or Bust ? How about neither? Dallas took another step in '07, playoff loss aside. Fans that are in this for the long haul realize this. Sure, it's a "win-now" league, if you have all of the pieces in place, but Dallas was probably the 5th or 6th best team in football at the end of the season, not the 2nd best, directly behind New England, as some believe. If they played 2 perfect games at home, they could've advanced, I agree. Then anything could've happened in Arizona. But it's just as stupid to want to make wholesale changes as it would be to want to stand with this hand. The Cowboys are going to look different next year already and we're not going to get better by subtraction. Barber/Jones ran for 1500 yards this year, Jones isn't coming back and Barber's not a 25 carry back. Who are our WR's, other than Owens and Crayton? What are we going to do with that secondary?
Look, I know the wound is still fresh, but for all of the "data" these guys give on this blog, AB especially is guilty of being biased against Wade for some reason. When you come here and pile on because of something this guy has written, remember that we'll be here pulling for this team long after he's gone to Boston or wherever guys like him go next. He doesn't have your best interest at heart, he's here to get hits on a blog.

Posted by MikeInUkraine @ 2:54 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Right on Tim Burns. The fact is you take away the drops alone and it would have been at least a two score DALLAS WIN. I am sorry, I can't fault the coach for Fasano pulling a Jackie Smith in the end zone on the first drive of the second half. Romo may have missed T.O. but he had already hit Fasano in the chest. That's 4 more points. Twice Crayton dropped balls that would have led to other points.

So, even with the penalties and what not left in the game, you take away the mistakes by the hands people on this team and its another 10 point winning margin.

The Giants dodged a huge bullet in the last 2 minutes and you know they were sweating it those last two plays of the game. All it would have taken was for either of those last two plays to connect for a TD and what would everyone be saying today? Never has so tiny a difference produced so much BS expert analysis and second guessing from the media.

This loss is going to build character in this young team and maybe that's what they needed. It is human to become complacent when it comes as seemingly easy as it did for this team this season. I like the fact that the players feel as bad for failing their coach as for failing themselves. That tells me all I need to know about Wade Phillips ability to lead this team. What's 4 losses in the playoffs? Bud Grant lost 4 superbowls, so did Marv Levy. How many did Dan Reeves lose? How many did Tom Landry lose? When he loses 4 at one stop I will start to worry about a coaching change. Anyone that talks about it after one 13-4 season is an unreasonable idiot.

Posted by jtt @ 5:06 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Tim,

You can criticize the messenger all you want friend, but THIS (or a semblance thereof) team will never win 13 games again under Phillips...players' coaches all end up the same way, losing the respect of their players particularly when the losing becomes more frequent, and it does/will.

Been a devoted fan since the mid-sixty losses to GB, and after 40 years of watching not only our Cowboys, the script holds true 99% of the time with these type of coaches...particularly when they immediately succceed a strong personality/leader like Parcells.

The issue here is that every player in that locker room knows who the real coach is when you have a weak leader on the bench and outsized ego as the GM/owner (same sort of deal we have here in No Cal with Darth Davis and the Raiders.) If we lose all the assistants mentioned today on this website to the Ravens and Dolphins, it is screaming out the fact that most of the Lieutenants want no part of this circus......if WP and Jones are such great leaders why are so many seriously considering jumping ship with all "the great talent right in our backyard"? Both the Miami and Ravens posts are significant rebuilding jobs, yet one can already see just how revered and respected Bill Parcells is from the people that know him intimately.

If Jason Garrett leaves (and Troy A. has been telling us that for at least one month if not longer, which tells me that he was already unhappy despite the 11-1 start), it would speak volumes about the working environment at Valley Ranch from a coaching perspective (and he is no Tuna loyalist). Who in their right mind would leave a Tony Romo at this stage of his career, if not another more ominous and discouraging force is at play??

Losses of this magnitude seldom build character, mostly undermine confidence and breed discontent amongst the troops when you have the superior talent and lose badly (the mental mistakes, poor game planning, wasted timeouts, and penalties all can be laid a the feet of the coaching staff directly)....Announcing that MB III would be starting the previuos evening was a clue on how insecure the coaches felt about their chances on Sunday............... and it showed that they were right on with that concern.

When the Packers overwhelm the NY team this coming Sunday, we will be able to calibrate just how bad a loss this was...........nothing is comparable unless you go back to the late sixties when Landry's first great team got booted from the playoffs by the Cleveland Browns in 68 or 69 after losing close games to Lombardi's champs in 66 and 67.

Unless the owner changes his stripes (demotes the the GM) this will become another gradual but definite unraveling............

Painful to watch and be a witness to, the 49Whiner fans were just so gleeful to have us eat crow once
again especially with TO's public meltdown.

Keep drinking the Kool-aid from Jerry's punch-bowl and watch where they end up......the Chicago Cubs of football!!

Posted by Kevin @ 6:09 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Ditto what Dan said

Posted by Jeff Marchese @ 8:59 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Anyone looking for the main reasons which caused the historic Cowboys loss on Sunday need to look no further than Monday's press conference by the coach.

The body language, spoken words, litany of excuses, and overall lack of anger speak volumes enough. Although he may be a nice guy, Wade Phillps has a "loser's mentality." He needs to be fired, now.

Posted by Tim Burns @ 10:06 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

jtt,

You had me sucked in for a minute. I do appreciate your history for the this team and the game. I go back almost as far, although any memory of those Browns losses are from stories I heard my dad tell. My first disappointing loss was Super Bowl V, another day when we had the better team and lost.

I'm not shooting the messenger, but I'd like to. That's for another time. I don't want to just nitpick your complete arguement and shoot it down in flames. There are a few generalizations that you made though that, while sounding feasible to some fans, just aren't true. Your dislike of "players coaches" is obvious, but their record of being 99% ineffective, especially after following a "strong leader" (cough) like Parcells, is ridiculous. You made that up and some moronic reader will quote you on it later...You pulled that completely out of your behind... It carries across all sports, where a strict disciplinarian is replaced by a "players coach" and is successful with basically the same core talent. Then it works in reverse too, where a "players coach" has lost a team and it takes a stricter guy to coach them back up to winning. +
Coughlin completely lost his team in Jacksonville because he was such a hard-a88ed jerk. They started off great, but hadn't been to the playoffs since 1999. Del Rio, a players coach, comes along in '03 and they're competitive again by 2005. In the NHL, Mike Keenan made a career out of following players coaches and taking teams to the playoffs. Unfortunately, he almost always burnt them out and turned the team against him before quitting or getting fired.

Now this isn't directed at you, but there are plenty of people here talking out of both sides of their head where Big Bill Parcells is concerned. All I can say is, Parcells won as many playoff games for Dallas as Wade Phillips has to this point. Then he quit like he always does, with a 34-32 record and no playoff wins. The team that lost to the Giants looked like a Parcells coached team though...Conservative on offense...Penalties galore...Yeah, I had to make sure Tuna wasn't wearing a headset...According to your post, "the mental mistakes, poor game planning, wasted timeouts, and penalties all can be laid a the feet of the coaching staff directly". Hmmm...I remember a HC here that said, "I don't coach penalties". But the team sure piled 'em up every year under his leadership. Look, I'm not going to go back & forth with other fans on this. It serves no purpose. This team "outkicked its coverage", winning more than anyone expected in the regular season. With a good draft and a free agent or two, they'll be better in 2008.
Your other topics? Garrett will leave for a head coaching job or he won't. There aren't very many of them & I wouldn't read so much into it if he leaves. Sparano is already gone, as are some position coaches. We'll replace them. Tony Wise isn't married to the Jets, as it just came out Sunday that he's being considered for the vacant offensive line coaching job at the University of Pittsburgh. Coming back to Dallas could be more attractive. Hudson Houck? Says he's staying retired after being fired with Cam Cameron's staff in Miami, but you never know.
And speaking of coaches: Norv Turner had a terrible coaching record until this year...Now everybody wants to point to two playoff wins and say WE made a a bad hire. NOBODY wanted Norv around here! The fans were all up in arms about him just being a Jerry "puppet" and his horrible record as a HC...

I'm not drinking anybody's Kool Aid. There are players in place that will make this a good team for years. We'll add to that over the next few months. Romo now has ONE full season under his belt. Lots of decisions to make, including extending the contracts of a bunch of guys. (Or not, in Julius Jones' case). This can be a productive offseason, without all of the jumping out of windows by Cowboys fans.

Posted by LL from Austin @ 10:33 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Garrett and Phillips blew it by throwing inside the 5 at the end of the 1st half...they should have run and made the Giants use thier timeouts or eaten the clock so they had little to no chance to run a 1 minute offense...Crayton he of the drops and half-ass route running...poor clock management at the end of both halves

Brady gets hit, reams out his line, he's a firey leader...Romo realizes the line is choking in the clutch, reams them out, be is losing his cool...

Posted by Chris J. @ 11:06 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

There's enough blame to go around, but the bottom line is guys didn't make plays when they needed to. And that's a trend that goes back 4-5 years, the last two especially. Serious upgrades are needed to compete at the highest level of the game: wide receiver(Crayton and Glenn for different reasons), secondary (Jones, Reeves, Williams for the same reason), and special teams (terrible covering kicks all season). You could also include the o-line as well for inconsistency (unless you're talking about false start penalties which were consistent).

Posted by Darius @ 11:08 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Dallas and Giants switched roles in this game. In the previous to games that the 'Boys won, it was the Giants that got into Dallas territory and the red zone and could not get touchdowns/points. This game it was Dallas. Good analysis, Albert.

Posted by JohnW @ 11:32 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Another fan since the 60's here. I have to say I saw this coming a month ago, like many others. That gave me time to get prepared for the abrupt ending. Still smarts, though.

I can see some truth in the 'outkicked our coverage' analogy. When you look at the glaring weaknesses that were exposed in the latter part of the season, it does seem that we won more than we ordinarily would expect with this set of players. Teams with a weak secondary and a sporadic running game usually don't go 13-3. That got the fan's expectations unrealistically high and the players got complacent.

As for Phillips, it does bother me that he never acknowledged (much less addressed) a problem with the loss of focus in the last month, instead repeatedly citing the win-loss record as if nothing else mattered. Nobody's that stupid, or are they?

My fear is that he's unable to think beyond his experience. Never having coached a team with this much talent, the ultimate prize has always been just a fantasy to him - nothing he's ever had to actually contemplate. Maybe that's why he's never won a playoff game, because the only realistic target he's ever known is to have a good win-loss record.

I recall him complaining publicly that his last firing was unjustified - after all, he went 29-19 and got to the playoffs once. He considered that a great success story. That's a scary insight into his thinking. It's reinforced by his post-game comments about how we really won the game on paper (yardage, possession times, etc). I don't know if he's just incapable of admitting problems and mistakes, or if he's a fool. In any event, he hasn't said or done anything to make me think he's learned anything from this season.

I won't even get into Jones' overblown ego and how that has negatively impacted the franchise ever since he fired Jimmie Johnson so he could get more of the spotlight on himself.

Posted by JD @ 11:55 AM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

There is precedence for dumping softy Wade. Marty was fired after a 14-2 record (one more regular season win, Wade). Look what Norv is doing this year. Won the game as a home team (novel concept) and an unexpected win on the road. His team played with a lot of passion and had to fight through a lot of crappy calls from the zebras. Even though they have immature players (Rivers, LT) they got it done. PLAYOFF WINS, WADE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. F' THE REGULAR SEASON!!!

Crayton is a b*tch; CAPTCHA sucks (and Crayton too).

Posted by jb @ 12:12 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

giants were a less talented team but were better at exploiting cowboys weaknesses than the other way around. the second half was a dismal showcase of offensive incompetence. this game will be remember for a long time as david - goliath game and how the underdog giants whooped up on mercedes and jaguar driving millionaire cowboys.

romo - you should have been studying film and training yourself mentally for the challenge cuz you were terrible in the second half. garrett - you're still a rookie and you got owned by the giants offense. wade - you're out of touch if you think the season record and game stats can compensate for the horrible loss on sunday. crayton - you're not good enuf to win with style so stick with the fundamentals: catch, tuck, run.

this team has lots of problems and reminds me of past talented teams that couldnt win big games - remember those great oakland teams which got nowhere? he he.

Posted by Dennis NJ @ 12:47 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

If excuses were touchdowns the Cowgirls would have won by 100. Can you say outcoached???

Posted by Dennis NJ @ 12:50 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

its about EXECUTION not EXCUSES. Who cares about the regular season. You're stuck with Wade.....good luck...LOL
pass the popcorn

Posted by Cesar @ 1:01 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

As always, Mr. Breer, I agree. No team (not even the Baltimore Ravens) should expect to win a playoff game by scoring only 17 points. I would also add to your assessment that the defense was largely to blame for the Giant's ability to score. Many of the plays on those scoring drives (particularly the one at the end of the first half) were short passes that turned into sizable gains because of poor tackling or players being out of position.

Posted by Marie CA @ 3:34 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

yes Dennis NJ, you are right. it IS about execution. Wade made a lot of excuses. We won, they lost. And we won without some key players, we won with injuries and a 2nd and 3rd string secondary. We won with execution and teamwork. Now, someone pass the popcorn and I play that ol' Paul Anka favorite, Put Your Head on My Shoulder, Tony, let me whisper in your ear, and I bet she did just that in Cabo! Thanks Jessica. Job well done. GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by sayitaintso @ 3:55 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

A twinkie like Wade has nothing to do with it. Until Jerry Jones is gone and Steven sells the team, there will be constant upheaval. An unbridled egotist who wants to micromanage the team cannot possibly win consistently. Jones ran off the only two coaches (Johnson and Parcells) he has had since buying the team because they could not put up with his idiotic decisions and micromanagement. By the way, that frozen faced, lip biting, 1000 yard stare by Jones as the seconds ran down was as they say, preceless.

Posted by jtt @ 5:25 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Tim,

Meant no disrespect by the Kool-Aid comment, you are astutue and well spoken; my 99% comment reflects my frustration with Jones since he fired Jimmy (wrote him a personal letter with return receipt in Dec 1995) for he has never had an appreciation/understanding of how difficult it is to maintain a dynasty; that is what is at stake with this franchise, just like the Yankees and Lakers attempt to do year-in and year- out......will repeat it because it is fact:
football players/athletes always respect and react better to coaches with strong disciplinary approaches versus not over a sustained period of time.........are there exceptions? Of course, and Coughlin is an example, as was Dungy last year the other way (but his teams have underachieved both in Tampa and at Indy).

Parcells was delicately forced out by Jones last year (read Cowlishaw's column closely yesterday where he pleads for Wade's coaching life). Parcells in his heart knew what he had assembled here (Romo, Witten, TNew, Keith Davis, Crayton {u think that did not influence Jones to give him 14 mil immediately after Bill's hire in Miami?} were his babies), but could not live with the TO signing or his meddling in personnel matters (again see TO's drama on Sunday, "I was brought here to deliver a Super Bowl and we failed").....my take, the owner chose ME over Bill and we blew it..........and I will never see 13-3 ever again as a player and this train has left the station.

Bill, while imperfect as a talent evaluator, is right more times than not. Jerry while perfect, is more wrong than NOT.....his coaching hires are there for all to study, since we can never be 100% sure of the draft day decisions and who made the influential "call". But we have access to Mr Jones coaching hire history.

He has employed two of the best coaches of this generation (excellent hires) and lost them both(terrible moves)....at his behest. We should have won four Super Bowls in the mid-nineties (most knowledgeable people agree with that) and now had a chance at another very good run in a weak NFC.

It is imploding as I write this, Garrett is being hired in Baltimore and he wants Cameron and Capers for cordinators.....it seems like a done deal unless Jerry fires Wade, and he is not likely to eat this much crow so soon. Sparano will take several key assistants to Miami; this organization has been gutted in less than a year. 10-6 records do not excite me (nor Jerry for he seeks what we seek, championship banners). Yet he cannot help himself, he will not emulate a Bob Craft, he wants to be a sophisticated Al Davis.........in fact it occurs to me that he would rather be the GM of this team than the owner of it..........he desperately needs, wants validation as a football mind/man.......it does not seem to be in the cards after almost 20 years of trying......Most, including me, rate him as outstanding owner/promoter/business entity, but it just does not seem to be enough for him......maybe some us can relate to that hunger and validation; he is his own worst enemy.

Way too much time doing this, will close with Bill since you mentioned him extensively......high energy, principled, demanding, knows "people", motivator, extreme ego, impatient and at times totally inflexible.........he realized after Seattle that maybe his offensive/defensive approaches were no longer relevant and would have loved to become the GM here in Dallas, for Jones is not stingy with his dough......but not in the cards yet, maybe never........thus he moves upstairs with a Jones clone in Miami (as far as far spending the bucks) is concerned......they will succeed down there, mark my words....in three years time when we play the Fish again the teams will have totally different expectations.

Only divine intervention can alter another swoon!!

Posted by Tim Burns @ 8:54 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

jtt,
I'll catch up with you on another post, but you have my attention. I fear the worst. And the "worst" may be worse than the casual fan has thought about.
I still believe that with the right players added, the right coaching hires, Dallas could be a better team in '08 and beyond. (Even with Wade at the helm.) My fear would be that you're onto something about Jerry. I really thought after 3 X 5-11, he realized his shortcomings, so he reached out for Parcells. Now he's going to be faced with some of the toughest challenges he's faced since buying the team. If he doesn't hire the right people, all of this current talent will go to waste. That is the worst case scenario. Waking up 5 years from now with 5 SB trophies collecting dust and talent equal to the Campo era. (Note: Dave Campo is one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He never had a chance.) So it's going to be interesting to see who we replace all of these coaches with, (understated), plus we have a draft in 90 days. And we have our own players to evaluate, sign or let go.
Who's gone? Sparano was a given and now it looks like Garrett is going to the Ravens or Falcons. I'll take it for granted that Julius Jones will get more from another team than we'd offer to keep him. Are Ferguson and Tank coming back? If not, where's our depth at NT? We need to pick up a WR, RB, CB and safety that can contribute in '08. Can we trade Julius and "something" other than one of our 1st rounders for the Lions WR Roy Williams? Then we could draft the best players by position at RB/CB on the first day. If not, how about going after the SD RB Turner?
As I stated earlier, there are a couple of great OL coaches out there, but OC is another story. (Norm Chow is out of work.) And we have to think about replacing Bowles and how many others?
A lot to chew on and accomplish in a very narrow time frame and no room for error. I wouldn't want to be in Jerry's shoes tonight.

Posted by larry giusti @ 9:45 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Albert, ALL of Wade's arguments are irrelevant, just like his postseason record: "0-4", "0-4", "0-4"!!!

Posted by larry giusti @ 10:06 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

JohnW, "As for Phillips, it does bother me that he never acknowledged(much less addressed) a problem with the loss of focus in the last month, instead repeatedly citing the win-loss record as if nothing else mattered. Nobody's that stupid, or are they"? Yes, JohnW, Wade and Tim Burns and Vox, and kameleon and all the other cheerleaders on this here Blog are. "13-4","13-4", "0-2", "0-4"!!!

Posted by larry giusti @ 10:14 PM Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Tim Burns, "I FEAR THE WORST". Damn, Tim, you sound like a "Chicken Little" "The Sky Is Falling", "Glass Half Empty" kind of guy!!!

Posted by jtt @ 3:25 AM Wed, Jan 16, 2008

Tim, John, Larry, sayitaint, et all,

Great observations and thoughtful commentary; cannot alter the team's short-term direction, the die is cast with the impending coaching changes but a pleasure reading your insights......will post in one of the "Player Signings" threads on my take on the personnel moves ahead....BP can be very vindictive and may make a move on MB III, which would finally bring to the surface the truth on what went down last February before he resigned.....both BP and JJ have made it a point to be extremely gracious towards one another post divorce, but not sure I ever bought into that much civility.