Giants 31, Cowboys 14: My Top 10 CBS Contemplations
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - 10. The margin for error was just too slim to absorb and survive mistakes by veteran captains Tony Romo and DeMarcus Ware. Romo set an ominous tone by badly overthrowing an open Dez Bryant on the game's first possession. And Ware? His 1.5 sacks were harmless and continually jumping offside is mind-boggling.
9. Legit teams just don't have knuckleheads like Alan Ball on the roster. After somehow failing to recover a fumbled punt at the Giants' 30 in the first quarter, he later grabbed a Giants' receiver's jersey for a penalty and then ran out of bounds on punt coverage and was the first to touch the ball for another obvious penalty. I'll say it again – and hopefully I won't have to repeat it again next year – the next positive play Ball makes will be his first.
8. In two do-or-die, regular-season finales on the road the last four years the Cowboys have been outscored 75-20.
7. Eli Manning gets credit for avoiding semi-pressure and keeping the play alive, but his throw on the game's biggest play was essentially a prayerful punt totally up for grabs. Orlando Scandrick had decent coverage, but Victor Cruz outfought him for the ball to transform a crucial 3rd-and-7 in a 7-point game into a back-breaking 44-yard gain.
6. Romo had a so-so game to end a superb season. The overthrow of Bryant, the penalty for running over the line of scrimmage, and the interception to Antrel Rolle notwithstanding, Romo was much better than an 8-8 quarterback. 4,000 yards. 31 touchdowns. Quarterback Rating behind only Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Cowboys got 99 problems, but the quarterback ain't one.
5. Watching Sammy Morris trying to find holes behind the middle of an offensive line that consisted of Derrick Dockery, Phil Costa and Kevin Kowalski, it's impossible to claim the Cowboys' offense – which finished 11th overall – underachieved this season.
4. This one's on Rob Ryan and his defense. While the offense dealt with injuries along the line (including Kyle Kosier leaving in the third quarter with a torn knee ligament) and the loss of DeMarco Murray, the defense on Sunday night had every player available that Ryan was counting on leaving San Antonio's training camp back in August. The result? They were confused, once burning a timeout that led to Anthony Spencer jumping offside on the ensuing play. They got zero pressure on Manning. And they again proved they aren't playmakers. Sadly, it's a veteran group. And a crappy group. It was Ryan's job – one he promised again and again to fulfill – to coach up the defense. He failed. Miserably. The Cowboys finished 19th overall, allowed 347 points (15th most in the NFL) and were twice shredded by Eli Manning with the division on the line. In the end, Ryan was all style with zilch substance.
3. Silver lining? At 21-0 I felt like we were headed for another 44-6 shellacking as in Philly to end 2008. The Cowboys didn't display a lot of execution, but particularly in the second half we witnessed tons of effort.
2. Terence Newman's last game as a Cowboy was an embarrassing doozy. Hurdled twice by bumbling, anonymous Giants named Bear Pascoe and Henry Hynoski in between getting beat by Victor Cruz on a 5-yard route that turned into a 74-yard touchdown. It was the worst half of football by a Cowboys' cornerback. Ever. Newman's post-game assessment: "It wasn't the greatest." Good riddance. The former No. 5 overall pick's career has been one grand flop. With the 14th overall pick in April's draft the Cowboys most certainly will draft a cornerback.
1. Disappointing? Sure. Surprising? Nope. I didn't think the Cowboys would beat a better, healthier Giants team. But I did think they'd finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs. In the final autopsy the Cowboys lost four of their last five and died of natural causes because they were an average, flawed team from the start. Their 2011 route that started and ended with losses at MetLife Stadium was entertaining and at times teasing, but there should be nothing shocking about Dallas' destination.
