2019 Cowboys: And Now for Something Completely Different...

[InstaFace]

Actually several posters in the game thread said it was a very bad call. But not the only bad call in the game.

Yeah I think the only fair read on the officiating in that game was that they sucked, but equally for both sides.

That game was won and lost on red zone execution, because both teams had roughly equal trips there. I don't even think the Cowboys played poorly in the red zone, they were just up against a combination of secondary and weather conditions that made the room for error almost nil once the deep space got compressed.

My real shock from the game, strategically, was Dallas going away from the run after it was working so well for them on several drives. One pass play just to mix it up, sure, but unless I missed some crucial substitutions they were being essentially invited to run, and declined the invitation.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Jerrah:

"You should be able to come up here in a season with a good team and be able to play the New England Patriots, with the way they're going during these years and pegged with the home-field advantage in this climate, you should be able to come in here and lose a game and not have it [be] a statement game one way or the other about your team," Jones said. "We've managed to get ourselves in a position where playing this game was a statement game about us."
"It's frustrating to me to just be reminded that some of the fundamentals of football and coaching were what beat us out there today."

 

[luckiestman]

Jerrah:

"You should be able to come up here in a season with a good team and be able to play the New England Patriots, with the way they're going during these years and pegged with the home-field advantage in this climate, you should be able to come in here and lose a game and not have it [be] a statement game one way or the other about your team," Jones said. "We've managed to get ourselves in a position where playing this game was a statement game about us."
"It's frustrating to me to just be reminded that some of the fundamentals of football and coaching were what beat us out there today."

Jerry knows he has good players but he also knows it is his fault The Clapper is the HC. He must have a lot of cognitive dissonance going on.

 

[Marciano490]

It sucks getting pegged in a bad position.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Yeah I think the only fair read on the officiating in that game was that they sucked, but equally for both sides.

That game was won and lost on red zone execution, because both teams had roughly equal trips there. I don't even think the Cowboys played poorly in the red zone, they were just up against a combination of secondary and weather conditions that made the room for error almost nil once the deep space got compressed.

My real shock from the game, strategically, was Dallas going away from the run after it was working so well for them on several drives. One pass play just to mix it up, sure, but unless I missed some crucial substitutions they were being essentially invited to run, and declined the invitation.

Seconded on the running game. This should not have been a game where Dak only had 1 rushing attempt as well. The Patriots wanted Dak to throw.

 

[Greg29fan]

My real shock from the game, strategically, was Dallas going away from the run after it was working so well for them on several drives. One pass play just to mix it up, sure, but unless I missed some crucial substitutions they were being essentially invited to run, and declined the invitation.

That's what the Cowboys do with regularity, and it often results in them losing.

The flip side of that rotten coin was two Sunday nights ago when all they could against Minnesota was throw the ball, and yet on the drive that sealed their L, they stubbornly ran the ball on 2nd and 3rd down in the red zone and ended up being defeated in a winnable home game.

 

[BigSoxFan]

End of the day, the Cowboys don’t lay an egg against the Jets and they’re pretty comfortable locked into the 4 seed right now. Looks like if they hang on and win the division, they’re staring at a home game against Seattle or SF in the WC round.

 

[m0ckduck]

The take I’d agree with is: unlikely Dallas would have gotten in the end zone... but it would have been good football to watch them try. Officials inserting themselves into key moments without reason is frustrating.

Cowboys are also probably lucky they didn’t turn the ball over 2-3 more times. That’s a different kind of “luck” than officiating bad luck but it evens out somewhat in my mind. Too many mistakes to win on the road vs a quality opponent.

 

[Anthologos]

The tripping penalties were lame. Not sure who called them (I’m not good with the refs and judges, as I tend to gloss over them in play), but perhaps they were looking for them for some reason.

Special teams was clearly the difference in the game. Both offended struggled in the conditions, and the Dallas did a good job with the Pats limited weapons.

Should have gone for the TD.

 

[Byrdbrain]

There were 4 trips called yesterday after just 7 called all year previously, they must have made that a “point of emphasis” this week.
If you watch the video close enough you can see why it was called but it certainly was a borderline call made at a crucial time.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Cowboys don't have to worry about facing Brady in New England again, at least

 

[SMU_Sox]

It sucks getting pegged in a bad position.

10 years now with Garrett. He’s in too deep.

 

[Bosoxen]

Jerrah:

"You should be able to come up here in a season with a good team and be able to play the New England Patriots, with the way they're going during these years and pegged with the home-field advantage in this climate, you should be able to come in here and lose a game and not have it [be] a statement game one way or the other about your team," Jones said. "We've managed to get ourselves in a position where playing this game was a statement game about us."
"It's frustrating to me to just be reminded that some of the fundamentals of football and coaching were what beat us out there today."

That's pretty much what I was saying postgame yesterday, only in a less rambling, more coherent way: It's glaringly obvious that coaching is the problem because this team is way too good to be 6-5.

10 years now with Garrett. He’s in too deep.

*rimshot*

 

[TFisNEXT]

Seconded on the running game. This should not have been a game where Dak only had 1 rushing attempt as well. The Patriots wanted Dak to throw.

Most of the Cowboys losses can be traced back to some egregious coaching issues. Getting away from the run too much yesterday....special teams breakdowns (a chronic problem all year, not just yesterday)....insisting on running it against MIN at the end when they were daring you to pass it all game, and you were destroying them on the pass all game to boot....looking like they have never seen Sam Darnold on tape before during the Jets game....lack of aggression in 4 down territory (either punting or going for super long FGs)....it's all too frequently looked like the coaches were in over their head.

 

[CSteinhardt]

I thought 77 was holding pretty blatantly on the play when tripping was called, and when I saw the flag I assumed it was for that hold. Never saw a good replay of it, though.

 

[TFisNEXT]

I actually thought the holding call on Tyron Smith that wiped out Cooper's catch to the Patriots 35 yard line might have been just as bad as the tripping call

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Holding call that wiped out a Cowboys&#39; 1st down and led to punt. Legit or no? <a href="https://t.co/vZEnYz5SZR">pic.twitter.com/vZEnYz5SZR</a></p>&mdash; new-age analytical (@benbbaldwin) <a href="View: https://twitter.com/benbbaldwin/status/1198747662335561729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
">November 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bosoxen]

I think that one's going to be in the eye of the beholder. Collins is definitely past Smith at the end and he's still got the arm bar out. He's not grabbing him but that seems to me what would be the textbook definition of an illegal block - whatever the hell that means in terms of the NFL's rule book. It might be what we would call "ticky tack" but certainly not one of the more egregious examples of shitty officiating we saw yesterday.

 

[E5 Yaz]

The officials were horrid yesterday, both ways. Patriots could point to 3-4 plays that easily could have been called PI. Brady got hit harder than Prescott after letting the ball go and did get the flag.

One of those days. Those thinking that game was decided by biased officiating are looking in the wrong place.

 

[dcmissle]

Jerry’s post game comments were gold. Each word, every cadence, was plotted with meticulous care.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Jerry’s post game comments were gold. Each word, every cadence, was plotted with meticulous care.

Yeah, I think it’s a very bad sign for Garrett that Jerry wasn’t hysterical in demeanor. Incidentally, I don’t think the news reports of his comments I’ve read do a good job of conveying how calm and measured he was. If Jerry was ranting and raving, I’d more readily chalk it up to the kind of knee jerk hyperbole we see in our very own game threads. Maybe he calms down (or sober up) after a night to sleep on it, etc.

If they lose the division, I think he’s done. Heck, if they got embarrassed in the Wild Card round he might not be safe, then, either.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Yeah, I think it’s a very bad sign for Garrett that Jerry wasn’t hysterical in demeanor. Incidentally, I don’t think the news reports of his comments I’ve read do a good job of conveying how calm and measured he was. If Jerry was ranting and raving, I’d more readily chalk it up to the kind of knee jerk hyperbole we see in our very own game threads. Maybe he calms down (or sober up) after a night to sleep on it, etc.

If they lose the division, I think he’s done. Heck, if they got embarrassed in the Wild Card round he might not be safe, then, either.

Garrett is done if they don't advance to the NFC Championsip game. It's basically an open secret that they need to do better than last year...and last year ended in the divisional round at the Rams.

 

[Bosoxen]

Garrett is done if they don't advance to the NFC Championsip game. It's basically an open secret that they need to do better than last year...and last year ended in the divisional round at the Rams.

He's done. They have not beaten a single team this season with a record above .500. Nor do I expect them to going forward. The only reason they have any hope to win the division is because apparently Carson Wentz didn't dress up as a pumpkin for Halloween, he actually turned into one.

If they get into the playoffs, they'll most definitely be one and done.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

I actually thought the holding call on Tyron Smith that wiped out Cooper's catch to the Patriots 35 yard line might have been just as bad as the tripping call

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Holding call that wiped out a Cowboys&#39; 1st down and led to punt. Legit or no? <a href="https://t.co/vZEnYz5SZR">pic.twitter.com/vZEnYz5SZR</a></p>&mdash; new-age analytical (@benbbaldwin) <a href="View: https://twitter.com/benbbaldwin/status/1198747662335561729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
">November 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

From that angle Collins absolutely looks like he was being held, arm around neck.

I also agree that Jerry's increasing comments about the coaching means a change is coming

 

[Greg29fan]

He's done. They have not beaten a single team this season with a record above .500. Nor do I expect them to going forward.

In Cowboys fashion they'll circle the wagons and beat Buffalo on Turkey Day (they have one win over a >.500 team, the Titans), then lose at Chicago in probably another bad weather game.

 

[TFisNEXT]

He's done. They have not beaten a single team this season with a record above .500. Nor do I expect them to going forward. The only reason they have any hope to win the division is because apparently Carson Wentz didn't dress up as a pumpkin for Halloween, he actually turned into one.

If they get into the playoffs, they'll most definitely be one and done.

I could see Dallas winning one playoff game since it is at home if they get in....they did beat Seattle last year afterall and the 2018 Cowboys were probably a worse team than this year. It is almost unfathomable to see them winning a road playoff game though and they will need to do that in order for Garrett to keep his job.

 

[Bosoxen]

I could see Dallas winning one playoff game since it is at home if they get in....they did beat Seattle last year afterall and the 2018 Cowboys were probably a worse team than this year. It is almost unfathomable to see them winning a road playoff game though and they will need to do that in order for Garrett to keep his job.

You can't discount that Seattle has improved greatly over last year as well. Moreso than the Cowboys, frankly.

As it stands right now, they'd host Seattle again. I wouldn't give them a snowball's chance in hell of winning that game. Not even at home. Russell Wilson would absolutely shred the defense. Let's just say for the sake of argument that the Cowboys would also extract their pound of flesh on offense, meaning the tie breaker might come down to coaching and special teams. I think we all know to which side those scales would tip.

 

[TFisNEXT]

You can't discount that Seattle has improved greatly over last year as well. Moreso than the Cowboys, frankly.

As it stands right now, they'd host Seattle again. I wouldn't give them a snowball's chance in hell of winning that game. Not even at home. Russell Wilson would absolutely shred the defense. Let's just say for the sake of argument that the Cowboys would also extract their pound of flesh on offense, meaning the tie breaker might come down to coaching and special teams. I think we all know to which side those scales would tip.

Maybe...SEA is definitely better on offense, but their defense looks worse on most advanced metrics and their special teams have been bad this year too. The Eagles were the first team they've held under 20 since week 4 and they've had a lot of close calls with some bad teams including nearly losing to Cincinnati and Tampa Bay at home.

No argument about the coaching though.

 

[Big John]

I haven't heard or read anyone's comments but I watched the game. Garrett was never going to get a better opportunity to win the game than 4th and 7 from the Patriots 11. The field goal to get within 4 points was virtually useless. Don't they have a fake field goal in their repertoire? And even if you kick the field goal, you've got to try an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff in those sloppy conditions. It was conservative chickenshit coaching.

 

[TFisNEXT]

I haven't heard or read anyone's comments but I watched the game. Garrett was never going to get a better opportunity to win the game than 4th and 7 from the Patriots 11. The field goal to get within 4 points was virtually useless. Don't they have a fake field goal in their repertoire? And even if you kick the field goal, you've got to try an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff in those sloppy conditions. It was conservative chickenshit coaching.

They did not need to try an onside kick. There was over 6 minutes left when they kicked the FG. I think it's fair to debate not going for it there but an onside kick shouldn't be part of the equation there. They did, in fact, get the ball back with over 2 min left.

 

[Big John]

They did not need to try an onside kick. There was over 6 minutes left when they kicked the FG. I think it's fair to debate not going for it there but an onside kick shouldn't be part of the equation there. They did, in fact, get the ball back with over 2 min left.

If you onside kick, you might kick another field goal to make it 13-12 and you still get the ball back. And even if the onside kick fails, what have you lost-- 25 yards? I don't think the Patriots had their "hands" team in on that kickoff, so why not try something unorthodox?

I remember the play in 2003 where Belichick took the safety on purpose in Denver. Garrett is no Belichick.

 

[RedOctober3829]

View: https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1199128494543974401

 

[Bosoxen]

 

[dcmissle]

This isn’t over; far from it. And it’s serious and sober, not Jerry Jones sportfucking. He is ratcheting up the pressure.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/26/jerry-jones-those-coaches-are-out-there-at-my-ultimate-decision/amp/

 

[richgedman'sghost]

You can't discount that Seattle has improved greatly over last year as well. Moreso than the Cowboys, frankly.

As it stands right now, they'd host Seattle again. I wouldn't give them a snowball's chance in hell of winning that game. Not even at home. Russell Wilson would absolutely shred the defense. Let's just say for the sake of argument that the Cowboys would also extract their pound of flesh on offense, meaning the tie breaker might come down to coaching and special teams. I think we all know to which side those scales would tip.

I agree with most of what you said but with special teams you never know. Last year Jankowski blew out his hamstring missing a field goal at the end of the half. As a result Seattle had to go for two the rest of the game and that ended up costing them.

 

[Bosoxen]

I agree with most of what you said but with special teams you never know. Last year Jankowski blew out his hamstring missing a field goal at the end of the half. As a result Seattle had to go for two the rest of the game and that ended up costing them.

Ok? Here's what we do know for sure: we do know without a single shred of doubt that the Cowboys are a complete clown show in the special teams department. Given that knowledge, it would take another once-in-a-lifetime meltdown like Seattle's kicker getting injured again for the Cowboys to have the edge. Considering a recurrence of that type of catastrophic event happening to Seattle again would be overwhelmingly unlikely, I'd still feel pretty comfortable giving them the edge on special teams.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Ok? Here's what we do know for sure: we do know without a single shred of doubt that the Cowboys are a complete clown show in the special teams department. Given that knowledge, it would take another once-in-a-lifetime meltdown like Seattle's kicker getting injured again for the Cowboys to have the edge. Considering a recurrence of that type of catastrophic event happening to Seattle again would be overwhelmingly unlikely, I'd still feel pretty comfortable giving them the edge on special teams.

DVOA actually has Seattle's special teams ranked worse than Dallas. 27th overall vs 25th....both bad of course.

edit: I should note that this was going into this past week, so DAL very well may have fallen below them with that punt block. But they are still both bad units.

 

[Bosoxen]

DVOA actually has Seattle's special teams ranked worse than Dallas. 27th overall vs 25th....both bad of course.

edit: I should note that this was going into this past week, so DAL very well may have fallen below them with that punt block. But they are still both bad units.

By raw DVOA, sure. By the weighted stat Seattle jumps ahead of Dallas.

I think you're right they'll plummet after that showing last weekend. Not only because of the punt block but because the already league-worst kick return unit had a historically bad night.

 

[TFisNEXT]

By raw DVOA, sure. By the weighted stat Seattle jumps ahead of Dallas.

I think you're right they'll plummet after that showing last weekend. Not only because of the punt block but because the already league-worst kick return unit had a historically bad night.

Dead last now at -4.0%....SEA remained at #27.

I think I've figured out the vintage Jason Garrett Cowboys finish to the season....they lose to BUF and @CHI and everyone leaves them for dead, but then win @PHI to seemingly lock up the division....win another decent game at home vs LAR, but then dump their last game to Washington at home to lose the division....that would be fitting.

I figured this out by realizing (amazingly) that Dallas controls their own destiny for the division even if they lose their next two games to BUF and CHI.

 

[DanoooME]

I could see Dallas winning one playoff game since it is at home if they get in....they did beat Seattle last year afterall and the 2018 Cowboys were probably a worse team than this year. It is almost unfathomable to see them winning a road playoff game though and they will need to do that in order for Garrett to keep his job.

Dallas did a great job of stuffing the run in that playoff game last year and Seattle's coaching staff refused to adapt until it was too late.

If Seattle learned from that game, and there is a playoff rematch, it should be a much more interesting game than last year's because both teams are better in a number of ways and if they both play to their potential, it should be a great game.

 

[TFisNEXT]

Dallas did a great job of stuffing the run in that playoff game last year and Seattle's coaching staff refused to adapt until it was too late.

If Seattle learned from that game, and there is a playoff rematch, it should be a much more interesting game than last year's because both teams are better in a number of ways and if they both play to their potential, it should be a great game.

I do remember in the game thread wondering why they were not turning Wilson loose in that playoff game....it was very perplexing. Seattle seemed to be trying to play that game with their prior formula of running Beast Mode and leaning on their defense....but somehow forgot that Beast Mode was gone and their defense was a shell of the former Legion of Boom.

I mean, maybe 2019 is the year they figure out that Wilson can pass the ball on anyone.

 

[DanoooME]

I do remember in the game thread wondering why they were not turning Wilson loose in that playoff game....it was very perplexing. Seattle seemed to be trying to play that game with their prior formula of running Beast Mode and leaning on their defense....but somehow forgot that Beast Mode was gone and their defense was a shell of the former Legion of Boom.

I mean, maybe 2019 is the year they figure out that Wilson can pass the ball on anyone.

I was calling for play action passes the whole first half, and by the time they did it, they had already pissed away 3 possessions in a game they lost by 2. And, shockingly, when they finally did back to back play action passes, they got something like 50 yards. Brian Schottenheimer really screwed the pooch in that game (although Pete may have tied his hands and overruled him). Still, the Seahawks ran all year against everyone, everyone knew it was coming and yet Dallas had the right defensive game plan and it worked for them. They deserve credit for that.

 

[Bosoxen]

I think I've figured out the vintage Jason Garrett Cowboys finish to the season....they lose to BUF and @CHI and everyone leaves them for dead, but then win @PHI to seemingly lock up the division....win another decent game at home vs LAR, but then dump their last game to Washington at home to lose the division....that would be fitting.

That all sounds about right. Not sure about Washington though. The fact that there will be plenty of film available on Haskins implies they should be prepared for what he could do (unlike Darnold and Driskel catching them with their pants down). But with this coaching staff, who the hell knows (cause Darnold and Driskel caught them with their pants down). Unless Philly figures things out in the next few weeks, I could see the Cowboys still managing to back into the playoffs despite losing to Washington in Week 17.

It's almost like things haven't changed one bit over the past 10 years. I wonder why that is.

I was calling for play action passes the whole first half, and by the time they did it, they had already pissed away 3 possessions in a game they lost by 2. And, shockingly, when they finally did back to back play action passes, they got something like 50 yards. Brian Schottenheimer really screwed the pooch in that game (although Pete may have tied his hands and overruled him). Still, the Seahawks ran all year against everyone, everyone knew it was coming and yet Dallas had the right defensive game plan and it worked for them. They deserve credit for that.

What they did to Seattle's run game made what CJ Anderson did to them the following week all the more perplexing. But that's basically the Cowboys in a nutshell: stop a top tier running game one week, get curb stomped by a journeyman running back the next.

 

[TFisNEXT]

What they did to Seattle's run game made what CJ Anderson did to them the following week all the more perplexing. But that's basically the Cowboys in a nutshell: stop a top tier running game one week, get curb stomped by a journeyman running back the next.

That game still sticks in my craw....I could not believe how bad the run defense looked against the Rams despite Goff limping home down the stretch. I was sure they would absolutely force Goff to beat them but he never had to do shit that game.

 

[Bosoxen]

That game still sticks in my craw....I could not believe how bad the run defense looked against the Rams despite Goff limping home down the stretch. I was sure they would absolutely force Goff to beat them but he never had to do shit that game.

We saw that movie play out again earlier this year. They shut down Alvin Kamara one week and then got obliterated by Aaron Jones the following week. And then again a month later when they shut down Saquon Barkely* and Dalvin Cook ran them out of the building a week later. For as much as coach red ass harps on and on about process, this team is unbelievably inconsistent. It's ok to have a stinker every now and then. It's the NFL and it happens to the best of them. But they do it over and over and over again.

*Yes, I realize that was against the Giants. But it's still Saquon Fucking Barkley. The guy who's good for at least one 30+ yard play per game against this team.

 

[Greg29fan]

Jerrah's still all over DFW radio/tv the day before the Buffalo game going off on how the team is playing with regard to the coaching.

I think this is mostly Jerrah playing the media and maybe trying some sort of ham-handed motivation, but I don't get why now when it was way more warranted at other junctures of Garrett's tenure, including other games this very season.

 

[Marciano490]

Do they even have good internal options if Garrett is fired in the coming weeks while they remain in playoff contention? I can’t imagine bringing in an outsider who has to get familiar with players and existing structures while still trying to get to and through the postseason.

 

[Greg29fan]

Do they even have good internal options if Garrett is fired in the coming weeks while they remain in playoff contention? I can’t imagine bringing in an outsider who has to get familiar with players and existing structures while still trying to get to and through the postseason.

I assume they would promote Kris Richard (or Marinelli), but they were never going to do it with the short turnaround this week.

 

[Ale Xander]

Edit:
Next Friday is probably the perfect time to fire Garrett. Have 3 extra days of prep time

Thanks, Greg

 

[Greg29fan]

Friday is probably the perfect time to fire Garrett. Have 3 extra days of prep time and media/fans focused on shopping deals.

They play next Thursday too. If they lose @ Chicago maybe they sack him

 

[normstalls]

If Garrett is fired, I heard (on the Dan Patrick show) the top two candidates that Jerry was targeting are Urban Meyer and Josh McDaniels