Cowboys in ruins after defeat from Giants
Category: NFL Published on Tuesday, 26 October 2010 06:58 Written by Janó Hits: 135
Hope was already fleeting heading into Monday's game against the New York Giants. Still, the true believers kept the faith that a miraculous revival was possible. But that was before the nightmare on Randol Mill Road -- a 41-35 blowout loss to the Giants and the loss of quarterback Tony Romo possibly for the season with a fractured left clavicle.
"We seemed to have a big letdown when Tony went out. We kept fighting," coach Wade Phillips said. "We had a heck of a start, but we didn't finish it. I think their effort was great, but the final score is what counts."
After taking a 20-7 lead in the second quarter, the Cowboys watched the Giants score 31 consecutive points between the last 5 minutes of the second quarter and the last 5 minutes of the third.
A downtrodden cast of 91,375 fans at Cowboys Stadium began heading for the exits -- a stark contrast to the celebration down the road a few nights earlier when Texas Rangers fans partied into the wee hours after the team beat the Yankees at the Ballpark to clinch their first trip to the World Series. Some fans were chanting "Let's Go Rangers!" as they departed.
There was no party Monday night, just bewilderment over how the Cowboys got blown out of a game in which they forced five turnovers and had a punt return for a touchdown.
At 1-5, there is likely no longer any need to worry about the Cowboys realizing owner Jerry Jones' dream of becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl at their own stadium. Super Bowl XLV is at Cowboys Stadium in February.
Since 1990, no NFL team has rebounded from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs.
"We have the highest payroll in the NFL. I'm disappointed. Right now I'm more concerned about the health of Tony Romo," Jones said. "We have 10 games left. I just want to go out and play our best for 10 games."
The questions now turn to how low do the Cowboys go from here and the future of embattled coach Wade Phillips.
The Cowboys, who have lost three consecutive games, have the highest payroll in the NFL. This is the worst record for the Cowboys to start a season since 1989 when they opened 0-8 en route to 1-15. This is also the first season since 1989 that they have opened the season with three consecutive losses at home.
The sad part for the Cowboys is the exciting way it began on Monday night.
The Cowboys picked off Giants quarterback Eli Manning on the first two possessions of the game. Cornerback Terence Newman returned the first one 30 yards to the 5-yard line, setting up a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten.
The Cowboys turned an interception by safety Gerald Sensabaugh into a field goal and a 10-0 lead.
The lead grew to 13-7 in the second quarter when linebacker Bradie James forced a fumble, setting up a 41-yard field goal.
Romo was injured during the next series when linebacker Michael Boley blitzed untouched.
For a brief moment, the Cowboys looked like they would continue the revival. Rookie receiver Dez Bryant electrified the crowd with a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. It was the second-longest punt return in franchise history. The record is 98 yards by Dennis Morgan against St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.
It was the Cowboys' final hurrah before being engulfed by a barrage of Giants points.
The Giants ended the half with 17 consecutive points on touchdown receptions of 8 and 14 yards to Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith and a 53-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes following a fumble by Witten.
They scored the first two times they touched the ball in the third quarter, giving them scores on five consecutive possessions. The last two were simply embarrassing for the Cowboys' defense.
Receiver Mario Manningham made the Cowboys look foolish on a 25-yard touchdown reception. The defense had trouble tackling on a 30-yard touchdown run from Brandon Jacobs.
Manning completed 25 of 35 passes for 306 yards while matching a career high with four touchdown passes.
Kitna, rusty or too old, was bad in place of Romo. He completed 16 of 33 passes for 187 yards in his first game action since Oct. 5, 2008, when the 38-year old was cast aside by the Detroit Lions.
The Cowboys have 10 games left.
They might not have to worry about the playoffs. This season appears dead.
| Regular Season - Week 7 |
|
| Dallas Cowboys–New York Giants | 35–41 |
| Seattle Seahawks–Arizona Cardinals |
22–10 |
| San Diego Chargers–New England Patriots |
20–23 |
| Denver Broncos–Oakland Raiders | 14–59 |
| Green Bay Packers–Minnesota Vikings | 28–24 |
| KORÁBBAN | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers–St. Louis Rams | 18–17 |
| Miami Dolphins–Pittsburgh Steelers | 22–23 |
| Carolina Panthers–San Francisco 49ers | 23–20 |
| Chicago Bears–Washington Redskins | 14–17 |
| New Orleans Saints–Cleveland Browns | 17–30 |
| Baltimore Ravens–Buffalo Bills | 37–34 – e. t. |
| Tennessee Titans–Philadelphia Eagles | 37–19 |
| Kansas City Chiefs–Jacksonville Jaguars | 42–20 |
| Atlanta Falcons–Cincinnati Bengals | 39–32 |
