Eagles - Cowboys Notes

> OK folks, it's not the whole season on the line, but it sure feels like it. Here we go...

> After a touchback -- this stadium seems to inspire the kickers for some reason -- it's Dallas QB Tony Romo to TE Jason Witten, and I'm hoping like hell we don't read that all day. Then RB Marion Barber channels 2005 for 32 yards, and he was actually turning the corner on the secondary and not looking at all washed up. Not good all over. Blue has the odious RT Leonard Davis move for a flag, and then Barber rolls through another big damn hole for eight; no awareness from the DL on the draw, which is sad, since Dallas runs more draws than any other team in the league. A batted ball sets up third and long, and the refs throw a pretty bad flag for PI on a high slant to WR Miles Austin. The WR is in the chuck zone, the ball is tipped and uncatachable, but CB Sheldon Brown gets flagged anyway. GAHHH.

> Romo fixates on Austin for a possible pick, but the play isn't made by the LB, because LBs generally don't ever make that play, really. Barber gets another nice hole to the right as Joe Buck climaxes -- you wonder why Philly Fan hates Fox? -- for the first. Austin for a screen gets six yards, and then DL Trent Cole eats RB Felix Jones on another draw. Another big third down from the gun for Blue sees Romo find Witten for a way too easy touchdown, and Lord, I'm hating this defense. Regular fans of the laundry will note how the defense against tight ends is less than thrilling? Blue 7, Green 0 after 4.5 minutes, and there was absolutely nothing about that drive that was encouraging.

> After another touchback, it's WR DeSean Jackson around end for six yards, then a middle give to RB Brian Westbrook that goes nowhere. Perhaps not the best place to run, given how Dallas NT Jay Ratliff is going to the Pro Bowl, and Eagles C Nick Cole is only there due to injury. On third, QB Donovan McNabb is overwhelmed on a blitz, and that's a three and out. Yah and Hoo. A good punt by Sav Rocca goes to the Blue 31 without a return. This game is 10% over, and Green has won, I think, three plays.

> Can the defense keep the hole from growing? Not on first, where an easy out to backup TE John Philips sets up a short second down, and Jones has an easy hole on a delay for 11. You'd think the defense might have scouted the delay. Jones runs through arm tackles up the middle for eight more yards, and there's no evidence so far that the Eagles want a home game and a bye. From the gun, Romo flips to Jones for a first down and it's all sunshine and smiles for the home team. Dallas commits its second false start of the day -- really, the Eagles best defense so far. Troy Aikman shocks the national television audience by nothing that penalties hurt. Glad I was sitting down for that. Jones for another easy six yards on a semi draw, then adds four more to get it to the 35. The third down play is a field goal or more on the table, and from the gun, Romo finds Austin for the first. Absolutely no resistance so far; no pressure on Romo at all.

> Barber is met by Cole at the line, who falls backwards for three yards on what is one of the defense's better plays so far. Austin is inexplicably covered by a linebacker; shockingly, this means he is open for 11 yards and another first down. It's 8 to 0 in that stat so far. Barber gets two on the first goal to go play. From the gun, Romo throws to Barber in the flat, but LB Will Witherspoon is there to force an incomplete, and if this was last year, it's a fumble that Brian Dawkins takes to the house. I miss last year. On third from the gun, Romo forces for slot WR Patrick Crayton that CB Asante Samuel tips into the air, and nickel CB Joselio Hanson collects the pick for a game-changing play. Phew. Hanson takes it to the 14, and Hope Enters The Room. Hello, Hope! Sit for a spell and make yourself comfy. The offense is coming on the field.

> From the gun on first, McNabb knocks RB Leonard Weaver on a screen for a loss of four. Again from the gun on second, Don finds WR Jeremy Maclin for a quick out and seven yards; a big third down to keep the defense off the field here. Don has time, then improvises to TE Brent Celek, who picks up Green's first first down of the game. Don seems to miss that the clock is ticking down, and that's the first quarter; a fast one. Blue 7, Green 0.

> McNabb rolls to Celek for two yards and a cloud of pain. From the gun again, Don misses DJ on a deep ball, and the man was open, but overthrown. Another long third down now from the gun, and the blitz is handled on another good chunk of yards to Celek. Kudos to LT Jason Peters for the seal block there. Weaver trips around end for a couple as Green goes no huddle. A slant to Maclin doesn't connect, and there was room to run if it had. From the gun again on third and eight, Blue jumps early; looks like Peters drew it with the move, but he gives it right back on the next play. Gahhh. On third and 8, Don misses a wide-open Maclin, who seemingly doesn't track a catachable ball for the incomplete. That was points left on the table. A very bad timeout happens as the punt team can't get organized, and this team just isn't as sharp as it needs to be right now. A flag would have just made life easier on Rocca anyway; the punt goes into the end zone, but a hold pushes Blue back to the 10. At least the defense got some rest, and the field position was changed, not that I'm thinking this matters as much as it might in a tighter game. (That's also me Not Loving The Defense.)

> Delay to Jones for three. What innovative play calling for Blue. From the gun, Romo finds Witten for a first, and This Is Not A Recording; Aikman can't understand why the TE is open, because Aikman clearly has not watched the Eagles before. As Aikman waxes rhapsodic about Romo and Witten's special rapport (I'm imagining spooning), C Andre Gurode commits Blue's third false start of the game, so maybe it's not just my laundry that isn't sharp. Romo then finds Crayton for 30 yards over the middle as S Macho Harris's bad game continues. Jones benefits from a hold for a long gain, and it comes back. Barber on a delay for three, and he ran through a tackle for a couple of those yards; not an uncommon sight today. Austin outfights Samuel in the air for the ball, and that's a big gain into the Eagles red zone. 70 yard drive already. Austin on a bubble screen gets some more as Aikman enjoys umpire abuse. Barber is stopped for a yard, and it's yet another third down to try to get off the field and/or limit the damage to three points... and Romo calls time.

> Before the play is snapped, it looks like Green doesn't have enough people on the left side of the field to cover the receivers. And it turns out they don't, as CB Sheldon Brown stares at Romo's fake for a kitteny-soft touchdown to Crayton. 14-0 Blue, and it looks like the team really want to travel to Phoenix (or, um, Dallas) next week. Won't that be fun? Couldn't be less fun than this, really.

> Aikman thinks that Blitzes Solve Everything. I'd also like to add in Actual Tackling, and a pass rush from the linemen, and maybe some covered from the secondary. Because when the entire damn team stinks, I'm not seeing it as All On The Coach, really...

> It's all on the offense, so Don hits Maclin on a sweet big middle chunk; it goes for 31. Dub gets the ball for four yards on Green's fourth rush against nine passes, and the good news continues as RT Winston Justice is down; luckily it seems minor. From the gun with the backup linemen, Don hits DJ for another blink dog slant; it goes for 32. And then, Utter Freaking Disaster, as the snap to McNabb is blown and Blue recovers. Good grief. What a time to play your worst game of the year.

> On the defense now to make it Not Comedy. Romo goes for the easy living of an out to the TE; this time it's Philips for seven yards, and that's All Day, really. Aikman all over the Blitz Issue as Barber gets a yard, and with under four minutes left in the half, it's essential that a stop happens here... which, well, does not happen in a big way, as Crayton collects an easy slant for 23 yards. No evidence we're going to have a game today. Romo misses a deep ball and gets a 15 yarder for roughing the passer, and at this point, I'd be thrilled to go into intermission *not* down by three touchdowns. Jones for a few, and the next Green face that looks like it cares about what's happening will be the first.

> Austin for five yards to set up third and two. From the gun, Green blizes as Romo airballs it in the same zip code as WR Roy Williams, who looks lost. Today, that counts as a Defensive Stop, really. Kicker Shawn Suisham hits the 44 yarder, and it's Blue 17, Green 0, with just over a minute left. The offense *has* to do something here to give us a game, really. The de rigeur touchback won't help matters.

> From the gun, Don has time to find DJ, but it's ruled a drop. No replay, of course. Thanks, Fox! Celek rolls for a first on a screen, but it's mitigated by Peters getting nailed for a dumb unsportsmanlike flag. Don to Avant gets eight, wastes clock, and nearly gets the WR killed. Such a bad half of football, my laundry is playing...

> With 30 seconds left on second and two, DJ drops another one, and that's probably a plus, but Don's getting bent. On third, it's Celek again for the first, and the TE now has 5 for 66 as the designated Bright Spot. Dub gets out for a short gain. Another short one to Dub can't get out of bounds, and that's the end to the worst half of football my laundry has played in many a month. Blue 17, Green 0, and Dallas has 291 yards of offense to 156, and is just 30 minutes away from being back here next week.

> The halftime stats: 22 minutes to 8 on time of possession, nearly 300 yards of offense for Blue. Cheery! The obligatory touchback starts things, then Don finds Maclin for 9 on a slant. CB Terence Newman limps off, which helps matters. On second and one, Don audibles to the gun to give to Dub for the first down. A modified hurry-up offense for Green. Blue blitzes to no effect, and Celek makes a nice grab for 25 more down the middle; no end of big plays, just no closure. DJ fights off a bad pick, as it looks like the route was blown. Dub from the shotgun handoff gets eight. On a big third and two from the gun outside of field goal range, Celek can't hold on in traffic. Oddly, they try a 53 yard kick from Akers, and I can't see this connecting... and it doesn't, missing by about five feet. Gahhhh. Tempting to put that into You Crap, but he didn't miss it by much, and maybe he has hitting those in warm-ups; it didn't lack for distance or miss by much. But now Dallas will take over on their own 43, and I'm starting to wonder when Reid will pull the starters to not show his hand for next week. Because this weeks' game plan was so strong!

> DT Mike Patterson eats Jones for a loss; nice penetration. Jones then takes a screen for 22 that looked like it was aided by a hold; it comes back from Gurode's treachery. On 2nd and 18 from the gun, Romo misses Crayton, who was also covered. 3rd and 18 from the gun is a screen to Barber that LB Tracy White destroys, and that's the first Blue three and out all day. Better body language for Green, and Hope... ah, screw Hope. The punt from Mat McBriar is taken by DJ, who can't get free, and that's a big turn for the special teams.

> DJ's hurt, and I'm not feeling very good myself. Two for Dub inside. Guard Max Jean-Gillies jumps to back them up. DJ comes back in. From the gun, McNabb misses an open Maclin, and that's just another first down that's blown. Celek leaves with an injury, and the inevitable three-and-out ends on QB pressure. Just nothing worthwhile in this game. The also highly predictable bad Rocca punt sets up Dallas at midfield; this game is a score away from pulling starters.

> Kill shot time for Blue? Barber goes for four yards as Fox fellates LB Jeremiah Trotter for a desperation trip as the HD feed fails. Romo misfires to TE Martellus Bennett. On third and six, a money down, Romo fails to get the snap off before the clock fires, due to pre-snap blitz rumors. Third and 11 sees Romo throw it away in the flat to Witten as Aikman credits The Blitz Genie, despite the fact that the QB was under no pressure. Blitz Genie Fixes Everything! McBriar punts it into the endzone, and if the offense wants to make this a game, Now Would Be Nice.

> McCoy for four, then a terrible screen that doesn't connect with Weaver. What a terrible game this offense is playing; I get that Blue is playing good defense and all, but still. McNabb's throw is batted on third, ruled a fumble, and bounces back to the QB for luck, assuming you can call a three and out luck. Rocca's best punt is answered by Crayton's best return; funny how that works. We're 22 minutes away from this being over, and I, for one, can't wait.

> Romo to Barber for a first down, who takes a big hit from Trotter and decides to pose afterwards. From midfield, Jones delivers the killshot on a toss sweep that showed, in dramatic relief, how the defense (among many, S Quentin Mikell, who has really struggled for the second half of 2009) just cant get off blocks in space, and That Should Be That. Kevin Kolb, anyone? Perhaps some Reggie Brown, and Eldra Buckley.

> Touchback, of course. From the gun, Blue jumps looking for Fun Time Sacks. Dub takes a cross for 10 yards. Fox runs a graphic of how 429 points this year sets a team record. None today, of course! Jailbreak sack on McNabb, and I'm serious about seeing Kolb; the loss is 10. Don scrambles for seven to set up the long third down. Fox's iso on DJ allows Aikman to speculate about him dogging it. Joy! A crappy checkdown gets yet another three and out, and we're done. If Green scores today, I'll be surprised. Rocca punts, Crayton moves not out of bounds, and it's a sad statement of affairs that the flag is expected when he's actually hit.

> Well, if Romo wants to throw a TAInt, maybe the team can score. Other than that, not expecting much. Barber starts killing clock for a yard, and Trotter is down, because that's just what happens to Green this year. On second, Romo has time to dance around, sing a song, then connect with reserve WR Kevin Ogletree for the first. This could not have been any easier today. Barber for a few, then Romo to Trotter and if I were not blogging, we'd be watching Raiders v. Ravens. Witten again as the third quarter ends, and I'm looking harder at other games as a way to avoid rage and disgust. Not that it really works, of course. Blue 24, Green 0.

> The fourth begins with Jones having two painful plays, including a screen that Witherspoon launches him for a loss. On third and long, Romo from the gun gives to Barber, who gets 12 while embarrassing Harris. I get that he's a rookie, but he still looks terrible far too often. Suisam misses the 30 yard figgie, and it stays Blue 24, Green 0.

> McNabb to DJ for four as he can't shed the coverage. From the gun, Don avoids the sack to run into another, and there's holding on the play as well. There's your game in microcosm right there. An underthrown deep ball to Maclin ends the series, and Rocca's punt to Crayton is long and aided by a flag. 11 minutes to over.

> Jones for nothing as Buck and Aikman speculate on Benchings. Patterson with the first Green sack of the day to set up third and long. A screen nearly goes for a TAInt as Romo limps off the turf, and if that doesn't end his day, I'm not sure what does, really. Surprising lack of flag, really. DJ takes the punt to midfield.

> McNabb hurried into an incompletion, Dub can't get free on a screen, third down is high and off to Avant for the three and out. I can't count how many three and outs that is. Rocca's punt is Who Cares.

> Romo stays in to hand off to Barber, who gets three, then throws to Austin for a first as the Cowboys tempt the Injury Gods. Jones loses three to Mickell as the defense tries to pile up some positive tape. Barber again gets a few with a hold on Gurode. Witten for a few as Green continues to take shots on Romo, sensibly, then it's Romo to Crayton for 32 yards as Blue breaks out the confetti buckets. Jones for a couple as Blue moves closer to 200 yards rushing; Jones with more as the clock, mercifully, gets closer to done. Barber stopped on third as the video screens die for a second, giving Fox an opportunity to show it. Gosh, Fox comedy! Romo takes a silly sack on fourth to give Green the ball near midfield, and McNabb will attempt to avoid the shutout.

> Maclin for 10. McNabb avoids a sack, watches Avant drop an easy pass, and it's holding anyway. One more microcosm moment, that. McCoy for eight at the two minute warning. Back to back incompletes, the latter a bad one by Celek, sets up the coup de grace fourth down play, which is Don from the gun to Maclin in the end zone, and the WR seems to have chosen self-preservation over the catch, as he just takes his eyes off the ball entirely. Todd Pinkston-esque, Jeremy. End to a perfect day. Romo kneels to end the season, and That Is That.

Had you told me that Blue was going to win this game, I would not have been surprised; they have been on a roll, Green is erratic, and truth be told, the Eagles match up better (much, much) with the Giants than the Cowboys.

But had you told me the offense would be shut out, QB Tony Romo would never have an anxious moment, and that the game would never encounter so much as five minutes of doubt, with the chance at a #2 seed in the NFC? No, really not seeing that. Just unspeakably gutless.

Next week, they'll be back in Dallas to play this exact same game, and if they don't win, you have to assume that Big Changes Would Happen... but that's not how this organization works. They are young, they were hurt, and they will stay patient even as everyone in town goes crazy.

Me, well, included. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go find a wall to hurt with my head.