There is no greater pressure on one team this December than with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys suffered another tough loss at the hands of the San Diego Chargers this weekend. Yet it has to be said that Tony Romo cannot be the one taking responsibility for what is looking more and more like another December collapse. Romo had a solid game against the Chargers, going 19/30 for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns. In his two December starts this season, Romo has thrown for 641 yards and 5 touchdowns with no interceptions. He is playing some of his best football right now and yet the Cowboys are still struggling. So what is the secret to their lack of success? How is it that Tony Romo is putting up these kinds of numbers but the Cowboys are unable to score some victories? The answer is simple: lack of leadership. The Cowboys have no heart to the way they approach the game. Their is no clear leader on that football team; not one athlete who will venture up and down the sidelines screaming at this teammates to make a play. And there is no one coach to motivate them either. Wade Phillips is such a lovable guy. But he is too nice for the National Football League. Case in point: when Demarcus Ware went down with his neck injury in the 4th quarter on Sunday, he went off the field holding up 4 fingers, which motivated the home crowd to cheer for America's team. How did the Cowboys defense respond? They allowed Philip Rivers to find Vincent Jackson along the sidelines for a 39-yard gain and then connect with Antonio Gates for a 14-yard strike across the left side of the end zone...are you serious? Momentum is in your favor and you can't make one stop. Don't you notice that whenever the Cowboys have momentum, they fail to hang on to it for long? And you wonder why they lose big games in December. Gates's TD would put the Chargers ahead for good as Nate Kaeding would give the Chargers a 10-point lead with just over 2 minutes to go in the game. Romo led his team down the field to cut the lead to 3, but once again the Cowboys were unable to cover the onside kick and went on to lose yet again. The Cowboys lack a certain swagger that prevents them from making the big play when it counts. There is no urgency with this football team; no feeling of confidence or sense of pride. They seem to be going through the motions every Sunday, never really finding that level which separates the good teams from the great teams. The Cowboys right now are a good football team with enough talent to one day be a great football team. Yet in order for that to happen, the Cowboys cannot simply go through the motions every Sunday. They need to play with the passion and the knowledge that they are better than everyone they encounter on the football field. If they don't believe that, then they are not going to transcend to that next level. They are not going to win playoff games and they certainly won't win the Super Bowl anytime soon. And for an organization that is supposed to represent America's team, that is not something you can be proud of. The Cowboys' schedule doesn't get any easier this week as they now face the undefeated New Orleans Saints. WR Roy Williams has already guaranteed a victory on Saturday night. He should have kept his mouth shut because the Saints are better than the Cowboys in all phases of the game. However, if the Cowboys do find a way to win on Saturday night, then we could begin to see something the likes of which could parallel the Giants' Super Bowl run two years ago. I'm not saying that if the Cowboys defeat the Saints, then they will go to the Super Bowl. However, such an idea wouldn't be totally out of the question if that were to happen.
The New York Giants aren't thinking about the Super Bowl right now. They are looking for a way to establish consistency on a weekly basis and are fighting a losing battle in the playoff race. They are currently sitting at one game behind the Cowboys and the Packers for that final playoff spot. And even though the schedule favors the Giants down the stretch, their odds of making the playoffs are currently standing on the edge of a knife. As Cate Blanchett said in The Fellowship of the Ring, "stray but a little and you will fail." The Giants' offense did everything they could to succeed last Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. They put 38 points on the scoreboard against a talented Eagles defense and amassed over 500 yards of total offense. When a team puts up those kind of numbers in a football game, that team is supposed to win the game and win it decisively. Yet the final score on Sunday night read 45-38 in favor of the Eagles. And the reason is due in large part to the ineffectiveness of the Giants defense. Ineffectiveness is too lenient a word to describe the Giants' defensive performance against the Eagles. A more appropriate word in this situation would be hideous. The Giants have given up 85 points to the Eagles over the course of their two meetings this season, which is absolutely horrible. Granted the Giants were very successful in containing LeSean McCoy and the Eagles running game this time around. Yet they were unable to get any kind of pressure on Donovan McNabb and were incapable of disrupting his throwing rhythm. As a result, the Giants secondary was picked apart with big play after big play after big play; the majority of which were hauled in by DeSean Jackson. It seemed like every time Jackson touched the ball on Sunday night, he could do no wrong. He was wide open on almost every play and the Giants secondary looked lost and insecure all night long. Jackson has been making big plays all season for the Eagles and is on his way to becoming a major superstar in this league. The ineptitude of the Giants defense on Sunday night completely offset their magnificent offensive performance. Every time it seemed like the Giants had the opportunity to pull away and steal this game, Philadelphia would come right back down the field and exercise their will all over the end zone. It was not a pretty game to watch if you're a defensive purist when it comes to football. However, it was an absolutely wild game from start to finish. What else would you expect from Eagles/Giants with the divison lead on the line? The Giants face an uphill battle the rest of this season with games against Washington, Carolina, and Minnesota. These will not be easy games for the Giants, especially since they cannot seem to solve their defensive problems. They will need help from the Cowboys or the Packers down the stretch if they are going to make the playoffs this season. But the Giants also have to do their part and win the games they are supposed to win. If they do that, then I think they will be fine. If not, then Big Blue will be having a blue blue blue Christmas.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been the cinderella team of the NFL this season. With a 9-3 record going into Minnesota, which included 6 victories against the AFC North division, the Bengals were looking to make a statement on Sunday against one of the league's very best teams. It turns out that they did not make a statement but rather fell flat on their faces. I had thought that the Bengals would be a tough matchup for the Vikings, especially since Cincinnati has played with such tenacity and such heart throughout the course of the season. The Bengals had grown accustomed to playing in big-game situations and had proven that they could win such games with 4 victories over the Ravens and the Steelers. The Bengals ran into a buzzsaw when they stepped into the frigid escapades of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings were coming off a terrible loss at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals, with some experts doubting their ability to finish well down the stretch. With a resounding 30-10 victory over the Bengals on Sunday, the Vikings have once again illustrated why they are one of the elite teams in the NFL right now. The Vikings won this game by grinding it out with Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 97 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. They limited the amount of throws Brett Favre had to make and were able to establish a good balance towards their offensive strategy. The Vikings also did a good job at maintaining control over the Bengals passing game. While Cedric Benson rushed for 96 yards on 16 carries, Carson Palmer was unable to find a rhythm with his receivers and the Bengals were unable to take advantage of the playaction pass. This means that receivers like Chad Ochocinco and Andre Caldwell only caused minor damage within the Vikings secondary as Palmer passed for just 94 yards and 1 touchdown. It was evident from the beginning that if the Bengals were going to win this game, then Carson Palmer would have to open up the aerial assault and expose the Vikings with big plays down the field. The Bengals were unable to do that on Sunday and proved why they don't deserve to be on the same field with the Vikings. There is no doubt that the Bengals have put together a great season; one that will most definitely be looked at as a season of tremendous progress for the organization. But they are not ready for these kinds of big-game situations. I know they have beaten the Ravens and the Steelers this season and have established their supremacy over the AFC North division. But they are still a very young and very inexperienced football team. Their veteran leadership and their coaching staff are not accustomed to winning in playoff atmospheres. This is uncharted territory for the Cincinnati Bengals right now; it is a territory that seems to frighten them because they are afraid of their own potential. The Bengals are a mystery right now, an unsolved mystery just waiting to be solved. We do not know what this team will be capable of come playoff time. However, the way they performed against the Vikings on Sunday seems like an indication that these Bengals are ready to be tamed.
The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are two undefeated teams with two very different philosophies. The Colts have already clinched their division and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. But rather than go for the perfect regular season record, the Colts are apparently going to stand by their philosophy and rest their players in the final weeks of the season. If history tells us anything, it has proven that the Colts' strategy of resting their players is flawed at best. The Colts always appear to be very rusty in their first playoff game whenever they decide to rest their players. Peyton Manning is not as sharp as he usually is, throwing the ball erratically and failing to deliver the ball to his receivers. The Colts offense always gets off to a slow start simply because their strategy of resting players prevents them from authentic game experience for quite some time. And it is well-known that Peyton Manning's only Super Bowl victory came when he did not have rest. So then why are the Colts adamant about resting their players? Because Jim Caldwell is thoroughly devoted and adherent to the policies of his mentor Tony Dungy and does not want to compromise something that appears to be working well. In other words, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Colts could care less about perfection. To them, it would seem like a notable achievement on their way to a Super Bowl victory. And it appears as if they do not want the pressure of going 19-0 simply because there is enough pressure on them to win the Super Bowl already. The Colts survived a tough test from the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Broncos threw everything at Peyton Manning, even causing him to throw 3 interceptions. The other side of that coin is that Manning also dissected the Broncos for 4 touchdown passes. Despite the efforts of Kyle Orton and Brandon Marshall, who had an NFL-record 21 receptions for 200 yards on Sunday, the Broncos defense was simply worn down by Manning in the 4th quarter. The Colts took time off the clock by pounding the ball with Joseph Addai, which led t0 Manning's connection with Dallas Clark for a final touchdown. It was the knockout punch that sealed the division and the conference for the Colts. They will now begin to focus on a new task at hand; strolling through the playoffs and hoisting another Vince Lombardi trophy down in Miami. Perfection is secondary to a championship for the Colts, which I think is an admirable way to approach the situation.
The Saints are not thinking about a championship right now. That's a very scary thought for a team that is undefeated and are the indisputable frontrunners for the NFC crown. All they are thinking about right now is their quest to achieve perfection. They want to go 16-0 because they want their football team to be considered relevant. They want the city of New Orleans to stand out in all of its glory. They want to bring meaning to the question: Who Dat Say Day Gonna Beat Dem Saints? And they most definitely want their answer to be no one. But at what cost? As the Patriots proved two years ago, the quest to achieve complete perfection is not an easy task. There is a lot of pressure within the organization to accomplish such a feat. There is also tremendous pressure from the media, which is certainly not an advantage for a team that has all the tools necessary to win a championship this year. Do they want the distraction of going 16-0? The answer is a resounding YES for this team. They want to be recognized as the absolute best not just for the 2009 NFL Season, but in the entire history of the league. And they want this because they want legitimacy. But as I mentioned above, at what cost? What if the Saints accomplish 16-0 but then stumble on their way to capturing a Vince Lombardi trophy? The 2007 Patriots faltered under such pressure. Are the Saints about to repeat such disappointment? The measure of this football team will not be determined by if they manage to go 16-0 during the regular season. Should they go 16-0, they will be expected to perform well throughout the playoffs. And we shall find out soon if the Saints are up for all the hoopla and the craziness that will follow them in the coming weeks. Meantime, they are getting challenged from all-comers lately as the Falcons very nearly eeked out a victory with Chris Redman at the helm. That's right, Chris Redman almost beat dem Saints on Sunday afternoon, which leads me to thinking that if Chris Redman can very nearly pull off an upset of the Saints, whose to say that perfection is unconquerable. Redman made some big plays on Sunday, even connecting with Michael Jenkins for a 50-yard strike that tied the game at 16. But ultimately it was Drew Brees leading his team down the field, dumping off passes to Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas and moving the Saints into field goal range. Garrett Hartley nailed a 38-yard field goal, the Falcons would turn the ball over on downs with their final drive, and the Saints would remain undefeated. On Saturday night, the Saints will host the Cowboys in a game that is vital to Dallas's playoff chances. The Saints have appeared unbreakable in recent weeks; their vast amount of luck has contributed immensely to the salvation of their perfection. Will their luck continue against the Cowboys at home? Only time will tell...
The Miami Dolphins passed a crucial test with a road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Ricky Williams rushed for 108 yards and that proved to be the difference in the football game. Both teams struggled to put points on the scoreboard as their defenses proved to be very prolific when they had to be. However, the Dolphins defense would sack Garrard in the backfield late to preserve a Miami win and catapult them to 7-6 on the season. The Dolphins now face another crucial road test against a surging Titans team. Should they survive that showdown, don't be surprised if the Dolphins end up clinching the 2nd Wild Card seed at season's end. The New England Patriots played an ugly game against the Carolina Panthers but still managed to emerge victorious. Tom Brady passed for a measly 192 yards with a touchdown pass. However, the Patriots were able to control the ground game and move the ball with Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk. In the end, the Patriots amassed 185 yards on the ground, which included a touchdown run by Faulk. Two Stephen Gostkowski field goals in the 4th quarter proved to be the difference in the game as the Patriots defeated the Panthers 20-10. This does not concern me because everyone knew the Patriots would bounce back with a victory last weekend. What concerns me is the accusations of Randy Moss not hustling and slowing it down as the game wore on. I understand that Moss has always taken plays off during his illustrious career. However, it is no coincidence that such accusations emerge a few days after Moss was sent home for being late to a meeting. Moss may be one of the best receivers in the game. Hell, he is one of the best receivers in NFL history. However, the last time I checked, there is no I in team. Football is not a one-man game. Games are won collectively as a team and not by one individual. Granted Randy Moss is a large and important piece of the Patriots' offensive success. Yet he is still part of a team and as such, he should not place himself on any kind of pedestal. The last time he tried to do that, he was banished to the NFL wasteland out there in Oakland. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have come to Moss's defense when Panthers CB Chris Gamble called him out for his lack of effort. We shall see how Moss responds to this kind of support. Will he continue to be a Foxboro malcontent or will he be a Patriot hero? Certainly something to watch out for as the Patriots finish up their regular season. The Jets and the Ravens went home with 7-6 records on Sunday with lopsided victories over the Lions and the Bucs. No surprise there as the aforementioned teams are currently in rebuilding mode and couldn't possibly offer a significant challenge to teams fighting for their playoff lives. Look for a tight race down the stretch between the Dolphins, Jets, Jaguars, and Ravens. One thing is for certain: this playoff mess won't be cleaned up for another few weeks. Also, I don't really know what to make of the Cardinals' loss to the 49ers on Monday night. After such an impressive victory over the Vikings the week before, I was thoroughly convinced that the Cardinals were going to make another statement with a sound defeat over what is now their arch-nemesis in the division. The Niners have the Cardinals number as their defense got pressure on Warner all night long and forced 7 turnovers (count em' seven turnovers) from that high-powered offense. Alex Smith managed the game really well for San Francisco and was supported in large part by Frank Gore and his power running attack. It was a surprising victory for the 49ers on Monday night and a bad loss for the Cardinals. One wonders what ramifications this kind of loss will have for their confidence going down the stretch. Will the defending NFC Champions have any say in who goes to the Super Bowl this season? That all depends on how well they finish the season and what kind of momentum they'll have going into the playoffs.
And one more thing...RIP Chris Henry. It really is a shame because it looked like Henry was about to turn his life around and make a comeback for a contending Bengals team. However, a broken arm shelved him for the rest of the season, which was a crippling blow to the Bengals offense because of Henry's overall production. But to put this into perspective for a second, I would just like to say that this is another sad tragedy for the NFL. Henry was a very shy and very private guy during his time spent within the Bengals organization. He did not catch a lot of breaks early on in his career and often found himself in trouble with the law. There were many extenuating circumstances that prevented Henry from emerging as a true NFL superstar. And it really did look as if he was going to turn things around and become a premier receiver in this league. Unfortunately, we will never know what Henry would have become. It really is just a sad day for the NFL, for the Cincinnati Bengals, and for Chris Henry's family and friends. So RIP Chris Henry. You shall be missed.
That's it for now. Stay tuned later this week for Part I of my College Bowl Predictions and an NFL Week 15 preview. Til then...
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