NFL Week 16 thoughts *COLUMN*

NFL  week 16 reactions/thoughts column by contributing NFL columnist Thomas Brunt: 

Thank the New York Giants, thank the Cowboys themselves for that three game win-streak; either-way,  the Cowboys, amazingly still have a chance.

This puts them  in a similar position just like they we’re at this point last-season.     Only this time for the Boys’, it comes down to the Washington Redskins, not the New York Giants.   The last-time the two clubs met, it was the Thanksgiving game; the Skins’ won, despite a hefty-loaded effort by the  Cowboys in the second-half.   The Redskins got out in control of the Cowboys early in that one, and seemed as if they we’re going to end up dominating them.

Thanks to a second-wind though, Garrett’s team wasn’t going to go away so quickly in that one;  however their effort wasn’t enough in the end.    The Cowboys, as a result walked away the gobbled turkeys that time,  now that’s in the past, and behind the Cowboys who have looked stronger in recent weeks, even in a  home-loss on Sunday to the Saints.    Dallas did just about everything they could to win; Romo and the Boys’ however fell a tad short.

After Dallas lost, they had no longer had control over their own destiny;  however that would only stand valid for three hours.     The New York Giants opened the door for the Cowboys, by losing a 33-14 blowout to the Baltimore Ravens.      So  in other words;  there is still a chance, yes.     That chance that of which remains after all this crazy turn of events,  yes a big reason in part of the G-Men,  of course; but let’s not forget that three game winning streak Garrett and the Boys’  were able to accumulate  first of all without that win -streak in place;  the Cowboys would not even have been in a position to end up facing the Skins’ for a  do-or die situation.     Oh, and thank the Giants, other-wise that 3 game win-streak would mean nothing at this point.      It almost meant nothing, well it did mean nothing.   For three hours, anyway; but a Giant loss changed everything.

The Giants had it, and then lost it:

The New York Giants had everyone fooled;  they looked like the defending world-champions from last-season.    Coughlin’s G-Men started out 6-2;  they are now 8-7 , and have lost games in a row.     – –  This two game losing-streak couldn’t have come in a worse time; as they’ve been sandwiched in what has  been an intense three-way tie for first place in the NFC East, their chances of  making the post-season are quite slim.

Making a case for the Denver Broncos to be the best team in the NFL now:    The Broncos, led by veteran/future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning have been on a roll.    Denver, once a  1-3 team,  has pulled together nine wins in a row, that’s impressive.

– – – If there were  any doubts that Manning may not look so “Manningish” this season, as you can see now; that’s no longer a concern.   Manning has tossed for 34 touchdowns on the season,  and he is a major reason to the Broncos’ successes.       It seems that a late October Monday Night Football game is what triggered this team to further heights.

Touching on the Subject of  the NFL MVP:  – –  While Lions‘ wide-receiver Calvin Johnson and Vikings‘ running-back Adrian Peterson have both been breaking records at their own respectable positions, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, though not breaking records like the others, none the less, he’s had  a solid-season, solid-enough that could earn him an MVP award   As I mentioned a  section ago: this team has been playing as solid as they have because of  Manning.    This certainly  isn’t  the easiest decision here, but I would go with Peterson, because of  the comeback story he  has made, from having surgery last-season; to doing what he’s been doing this season.

YEAR OF THE ROOKIE: 

Redskins’ rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III,  Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, and Colts’ rookie quarterback  Andrew Luck have all had outstanding seasons.     – –  –  Out of the three though, Wilson has accounted for the most touchdown throws at 25, add that with 3 rushing touchdowns as well.    Griffin would come in at second.   The Baylor Bear graduate has passed for 20 touchdowns, with only 5 picks (Wilson has ten picks) along with 6 rushing touchdowns;  this makes a grand total of 26 touchdowns on the season for RG3.    – – – Coming in at last, is the Stanford Cardinal, Andrew Luck.    – – – Luck has set a record for most passing yards by a rookie in a single season.     He has also scored a grand total of  27 touchdowns (21 passing; 6 rushing).     With the stats these rookies have been putting up this season, this is undoubtedly the year of the ROOKIE in the NFL. 

Two Things: 

1. Andy Reid told the Philadelphia Media/Press the other-day that quarterback Nick Foles has broken hand, therefore  yes, there’s a chance that Micheal Vick may start in place of an injured Foles.

2. Merry Christmas to everyone, thanks for reading my COLUMNS on here (ahem).

My  POST apocalyptic thoughts:   we’re still alive, yay (translation):  You didn’t really think the world was going to end, now did you?

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor in chief  of Birdville High School’s student-newspaper: “The Hawk” as well as a contributing NFL columnist for In the neutral-zone.com  you can follow his personal Twitter space: @ThomasSportsguy, or email him here:  thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com       Thomas would like to wish you all a  Merry Christmas! 

 

 

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These are  teams that barely beat.       The Cincinnati Bengals, and  the Cleveland Browns.      Sometimes, some wonder who are these Dallas Cowboys?    It seems that their true identity can be figured out one week, but it doesn’t stay that way every week. That very reality, right there, is the Cowboys’ biggest problem more than anything else.

When Dallas defeated Philadelphia on prime-time Football last Sunday night, no one was fooled, even when they played a complete game. Sunday’s ketchup-bottle-squeak-by victory against a young, but improving and athletic Bengals team was yet another sign of their up-and down roller-coaster ride of a season.   The lingering issue is consistency (or a lack thereof) — and ultimately that’s what it takes to reach and then remain in the upper echelon of the NFL.

If there’s anything that can be learned  for sure about this team, is to never assume who or what they are.     Yes, they’re the Dallas Cowboys,  but to dig beyond the surface, it’s more precise to say that they’re a team without an identity. Winning teams establish a proven identity, a formula for success. The Cowboys have not done so in 2012, though only to an extent, that of which isn’t there every-week.

To be frank, I’m no film guru like John Gruden is, but I can tell you what I know for sure: Quarterback Tony Romo shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for Dallas’ struggles, largely because he’s been trying to merely survive the season. Romo is constantly on the run, trying to make nothing out of something, sometimes due to a swiss-cheese offensive line, capable of doing probably a lot more than shown.

Survival is important for the Cowboys, and for head coach Jason Garrett, who often gets blamed for late-game clock mismanagement adventures, this season, for most Cowboys sports-fans, hasn’t been very fan, and  In the midst of adversity, you know everyone is going to point the finger right at the head coach or the quarterback, as this is the sports-world in which we live in.     Never the less,  Garrett and Romo must respond to that pressure by doing what they can to minimize the impotence of their offensive line, and their lack of offensive production. That is the key to a successful stretch run of this 2012 season for a team such as the Dallas Cowboys, who have had just a in the middle radar of a season.    — This comes as no news to Cowboys fans, as they’ve become accustomed to such play from this team in recent memory.    — That play, that of which can only be described as a roller-coaster-ride.

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2 Things from this week in the NFL:

#2:   Take on Seattle ripping apart Arizona 58-0:  — I can only put in what I know, and I didn’t watch this game, but what can be written in this column is simply that: Seattle’s offense took advantage of the chances their defense gave them, forcing eight turnovers; If you do the math, that would add up to eight touchdowns.   This means the Seahawks offense didn’t hesitate once in Sunday’s rarity of  a steam-rolling victory.    Many might be wondering if Arizona is this bad, and if the Seahawks are really this good.  To put it simply, Arizona put up one of the most abysmal performances in the history of the NFL.

#1: New England’s just a few steps better than everyone else:   — New England, is simply just better than the Houston Texans, or even the Atlanta Falcons, and it all starts with a certain football genius.

— This genius I’m referring to is Bill Belichick, of course.    Yes, future NFL Hall Of Fame Quarterback, Tom Brady has a lot to do with the accomplishments of this team, but when first paired together, Brady and Belichick, from day one were just like ketchup and mustard put on the perfect Hot-Dog.    — The way opponents are studied, the way they play the game, the way they practice is completely different than any-other-team.    Yet, so similar.  —  Brady and Belichick see, and think the same things in terms of Football, and because of Brady’s ability to quarterback in such ways, that’s what makes this team so dangerous, they just know exactly what is going on.    — The Patriots, in short, are dangerous against any-team, and when used right, like in Sunday night’s blowout win over Houston, they’re just simply unstoppable.

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for Birdville High School’s “Hawk newspaper”  You can follow his personal Twitter feed: @SPORTSDUDE350,  and or email him here: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

 

 

COLUMN: Cowboys got a solid win vs. Philadelphia on Sunday night, and look solid, but only for the TIME BEING..

  It all came together for the Cowboys who played only their second best complete game of the season in Sunday night’s win vs the Philadelphia Eagles.  — With the win, Dallas is 6-6.  This was a much-needed win, for the time-being, anyway.   But nobody knows for sure what the future holds for the Cowboys, who have had a roller-coaster ride of a regular season, and there is absolutely no reason to think this ride won’t continue.  Dallas fits the NFL’s definition of “inconsistent”.   Whether one likes it or not, it’s true, and  it  shouldn’t be any-thing other than true.  As you’re physicist probably told you once upon a time, nobody can foresee the future.

— Yes, that statement implies there is a chance the Cowboys will go on to the playoffs.

— But it also can imply this: based on their at times ugly gut/wrenching performances,  maybe they’ won’t.   — This of course, in counter argument of: if they continue to play like they did on Sunday night, which honestly wasn’t that great, to be truthful, but for Romo and the Boy’s who couldn’t sell a first-down for a frozen turkey in this year’s Turkey-leg bowl vs. the Washington Redskins, that is in the first-half,  it’ll do for the time-being.    — All the frustration reluctantly about in Ranch-Valley from their recent struggles was settled with a score against a much hated rival (the Philadelphia Eagles) on Sunday-night, but only for the time-being.  — That’s all they can ask for  a win, and nothing-else, as  the judge in the court once said, as the fans like the truth, and nothing but the truth, which is such as a win in this case.   —- Currently, the Cowboys are 6-6, and are coming off of a win.

  — And that’s exactly the problem, the fact that its current.   No one for sure knows how the wretched month of December will wind up for a team in need of winning out holds for them, but they got a win that if they didn’t get,  would have probably knocked them out  of   the  playoff picture.      Well, they aren’t knocked out just yet.   Maybe later,  because these are the Cowboys, we’re talking about after-all, right?

Thomas Brunt is an aspiring sports-writer for a city-newspaper.   He is currently a sophomore at Birdville High School, which is in North-Richland Hills, Texas, and he’s the (biased) sports-editor for the school-paper: “The Hawk” … as well an inside sports-reporter for Birdville High School.    You can follow his personal  Twitter feed: @SPORTSDUDE350, or email him here: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

 

Cowboys and Eagles.. just a rivalry game, or more than that?

The Dallas Cowboys have played bad, but not exactly like Garbage.   — Not like the garbage that the Philadelphia Eagles have played like this season.    The Eagles, at 4-8 aren’t going any-were this season, except for a new head-coach (Good bye, Andy Reid).     The Cowboys, though have a chance.   They just need to win out and get some help.    As long as that happens, they might make the playoffs, as a wild-card,  and that’s if their lucky.

They may not get to lucky, knowing the Cowboy’s  not so lucky history of play in the month of  December, behind quarterback  Tony Romo.     Knowing the Cowboys, though a team can change and start winning and being better,  don’t count on it.     Don’t count on this month to be a good month for Dallas.    Yeah, but they still have a chance, right?    — Somehow, yes.       Believe it or not,  but the Eagles haven’t played any better.    — Forget about that though, this is a rivalry game.    Throw everything, including a certain December record out the window for this game.       Both teams can’t stand each other, and the fans, oh.. don’t get me started with the fans.     You try to escape  the reality of this game.     — But you can’t.     You can run, but you can’t hide.   This game is big, for the Cowboys, for the Eagles it’s just another game they don’t want to play like trash in.     No, it’s more than that, it’s a rivalry game.

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for Birdville High School school paper: “The Hawk”  you can follow his personal Twitter feed: @SPORTSDUDE350, and or email him: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

 

COLUMN: Cowboys are… a trashy good team?….

The Dallas Cowboys may be bad, but the Philadelphia Eagles are just plain garbage.   — And a lot of  Eagles fans are pointing their fingers at  Eagles head-coach, Andy Reid.   — Whether or not this is the right thing to do, I  can’t personally speak for  Eagles’ fans.   — Now, as I was saying,  both team’s aren’t that great, in fact at times the Cowboys have played like garbage, but not the entire season, at least.    Philadelphia’s 3-8 record can speak fore

 Dallas Cowboys wordmark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

itself, as they’ve basically played like trash all season long.     — That’s why Andy Reid’s head-coaching job is on life-support right now.

Say what you will about Garrett’s own failures and missadeventures as the Cowboys have had another thrusrsating season, but it’s been far from the  meltdown in the City of Brotherly Love.    — Than again… at times… the Cowboys seem to look worse than they really are, or are they really this bad?     I’m not sure.    I’m confused.  Can’t decide.     There’s one way you can say for sure about this team.   Call them a roller-coaster ride.   The Cowboys are going to finish 8-8.   — You know it, stop denying it.   It’s the truth.     Dallas hasn’t  proved that they can do any-better.   Their best isn’t good enough.    Even when they knock off the defending World-Champions in the Meadowlands in week one in impressive fashion, who do they think they’re fooling?    — Apparently, everyone.     Well, fast-forward to week 13 and that’s not exactly the case anymore.    —  The Cowboys are as good as being capable of  playing like garbage vs. the Eagles.   —  Than… technically… they’re aren’t really good.      Not at times.   But, they are capable of  being a good team.   It’s just not their true indentity.      You know the Cowboys, win or lose, they’ve got a strong fan-base, that stays true to the team a lot of the time.      But some fans, much like the team, are a roller coaster ride.    — And they wouldn’t want it any other way.

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for his high school paoper: “The Hawk” he’s also an inside sports-reporter for his school, you can follow his  personal Twitter feed here: @SPORTSDUDE350, email him: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

For the Cowboys and the NFL, it’s all about Survival

 

For the Cowboys, it’s all about survival: 

Written by Thomas Brunt: 

Survival, for every team, is the number one priority in the NFL, especially  if you’re the Dallas Cowboys, but don’t tell them that.

 

This is a team that barely beat… the Cleveland Browns.    Who are these Dallas Cowboys?    It seems that their true identity can be figured out one week, but it doesn’t stay that way every week. That very reality, right there, is the Cowboys’ biggest problem more than anything else.

 

Dallas isn’t fooling anyone. Sunday’s ketchup-bottle-squeak-by win wasn’t impressive.   The lingering issue is consistency (or a lack thereof) — that’s what it takes to reach and then remain in the upper echelon of the NFL.

If there’s anything that can be learned  for sure about this team, is to never assume who or what they are.     Yes, they’re the Dallas Cowboys,  but to dig beyond the surface, it’s more precise to say that they’re a team without an identity. Winning teams establish a proven identity, a formula for success. The Cowboys have not done so in 2012.

I’m no film guru like John Gruden is, but I can tell you what I know for sure: Quarterback Tony Romo shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for Dallas’ struggles, largely because he’s been trying to merely survive the season. Romo is constantly on the run, trying to make nothing out of something due to his swiss-cheese offensive line, but don’t tell him that — it’s something he already knows.

Survival is important for the Cowboys, and for head coach Jason Garrett, who often gets blamed for late-game clock mismanagement adventures, this season has not been very fun. In the midst of adversity, you know everyone is going to point the finger right at the head coach or the quarterback. Garrett and Romo must respond to that pressure by doing what they can to minimize the impotence of their offensive line. That is the key to a successful stretch run of this 2012 season.

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for his high school’s newspaper: “The Hawk” as well as an inside sports-reporter for his school.  Follow him on Twitter: @SPORTSDUDE350, email him here: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

Cowboys were Turkeys in Sunday’s win vs. Browns, they can’t be that again on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday’s game) vs. Washington

The Cowboys showed some pre-turkey holiday jitters in Sunday’s  win vs. Cleveland, and that’s not a good sign.    It’s not a good sign when you are having to play from behind a team like the Browns, especially at home.

For the most part of  Sunday’s game, Dallas was exactly what they didn’t want to be, the turkeys being examined before they get cooked for Thanksgiving, or something like that.    But the Browns, like they have shown a tendency for all season long, stopped playing good football, and  somehow, apparently absent mindedly  allowed the Turkey out of the oven, or something like that, as well.    When this happens, well, the whole meal is ruined, for some, and for the Browns, it was ruined, or it’s messed up, just a bit, and at Thanksgiving, you can’t have that.   The Cowboys had that on Sunday, and with just  four days until Thanksgiving day, the Cowboys have the Redskins on Thursday.    — Dallas can’t let Washington make them  the official holiday meal, or else they may not make the playoffs, if that happens, the Cowboys won’t have much to be thankful for on Thursday.

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for his high school paper: “The Hawk”  and is an inside sports-reporter for his school, and other wire service blogs.    Follow his personal Twitter Feed: @SPORTSDUDE350, email him you’re sports comments/questions/rants/opinions here: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

 

Cowboys and Eagles both having bad-seasons..

The Cowboys, much like the Eagles, haven’t had a good-season, and Dallas, like Philadelphia lost their game.  The Eagles lost their game on  Monday night  against the Saints, which added to Brees’s consecutive amount of games with a touchdown pass, making it 52 games in a row, but back to the struggles of the Eagles and Cowboys.  Dallas, who finished second in the NFC East last-season, isn’t making a very good case for themselves this season.  The Cowboys are in hot-water, at 3-5.   — This,   as you would imagine, would only make things harder for Dallas.    But in the hecktic conference that is the NFC East, things  are rockier  in there, as oppose to other conferences.   Philadelphia’s troubles have started with turnovers.  It’s been sloppy, for the Eagles, and the turnovers have mainly come from quarterback, Michael Vick, who has fumbled more times than Andy Reid can count starts for Vick.

 

 

 

Jerry Jones needs Sean Payton..

Jerry

 

 New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton after team’s Super Bowl win, 7 Feb. 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Jones is going to make the calls up front for the Dallas Cowboys, and knowing Jones, the golden opportunity  may not be there, after-all, the golden opportunity that which when free-agency rolls around, Sean Payton will be available.    —  Knowing Jones’s past, (I.E): Jimmy Johnson). Payton may as well pass by like a plain, but if Jerry is really committed to winning, there shouldn’t be any “struggle” to do everything you can to get him in Big D.   This would be big for Dallas, no doubt about it.

 

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for his high school paper: “The Hawk”, he covers mainly DFW sports-teams on this blog. Follow his personal Twitter feed: @SPORTSDUDE350, shoot him an email: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

The Falcons win, but the Cowboys still get the attention..

The Atlanta Falcons remain undefeated with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.    But who’s  really interested  in the Falcons?     — It’s not a surprise  the Cowboys,  get the attention.   It’s always on the Cowboys.  Or so it would seem.  America’s team, get’s all the attention, because they’re like an up-and down roller-coaster.    — The story for Dallas hasn’t changed.  It’s only gotten more intriguing to watch, and not the football that they play, but also the off the field occurrences .

They’ve always been getting the publicity, it’s just… well, they seem to be  far from a flawless team.   That’s the problem, but   another problem, or only to  some, anyway, some  would think is that  Dallas get’s all the attention, no matter what.   No one cares about Atlanta staying undefeated.   If  they lost, it would still be the same situation. The attention would be on Dallas.

They lose a game but does anything really change?   Are the reporters,  columnists, bloggers, beat-writers, and fans going to take their eyes of off  the team with the star on their helmets?  No, not for one second.

— The Cowboys may be 3-5, but what has really changed?    Besides the mind-set in the locker-room, and inside the minds of the players on the team that: “We’re 3-5, we better get it together” what has changed?

— A Cowboy’s victory would usually be summed up with Tony Romo, a defeat would be the same , only in the fact that the fingers are being pointed at who?, what are the usual hot-topics in the NFL?   You’re answer, the Dallas Cowboys.

While the Falcons have achieved what seems to be an impressive 8-0 record, the Cowboys is what has everyone talking, as they won’t be taking an eye off of that star, anytime soon.

Thomas Brunt is the sports-editor for his high school paper: “The Hawk”,   he likes to blog on this  blog about mainly the DFW sports-teams.  Follow his personal Twitter feed here: @SPORTSDUDE350, email: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

NFC East Round-Up Cowboys GameDay Blog

NFC East Roundup

Inspecting Falcons at Eagles:

Take away four turnovers, and the Philadelphia Eagles could be a 5-1 team, that would make things even more interesting here in the NFC East, as that would put the Giants in second at 5-2, the Cowboys at third with a 3-3 record.  The Eagles don’t have the explosiveness that Micheal Vick once provided them a couple of seasons ago, this season Philadelphia hasn’t been playing their best football, as they have turned it over one to many times, leading to their current demise.  It almost seems as if  Vick has lost his football Mojo.   This one is on the quarterback, there is no arguing that, as it shows up in almost every box-score stat for every-game that the Eagles have played this season.   Will Micheal Vick be able to turn it around against an undefeated Atlanta Falcons team today?  Let’s inspect, shall we?

• Offense is key for Atlanta, and that’s why they currently stand at 6-0, but after a lucky a couple of week’s ago vs. the abysmal Oakland Raiders, in which quarterback Matt Ryan threw three interceptions, some are starting to question the Falcon’s legitimacy as an undefeated team.
• Eagles quarterback Micheal Vick has had a very sloppy last-six games, as he has fumbled a grand total of  9 times, in the amount of games that have been played already.  If the Falcons defense can force Vick to cough it up at all today, that could be the difference in the game, as it takes only one mistake.
• Will Philadelphia be able to run the ball successfully (with a running-back)?  Running-back LeSean McCoy has the second most carries in the league, behind Houston’s Arian Foster.

*UPDATE*:  Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan passed for three passing touchdowns in the win at Philadelphia.

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Redskins at Steelers:

It will interesting to see how Robert Griffin111 stacks up against Dick Leabu’s Steel-Curtain defense.  Leabau has a history of  owning the opposing rookie-quarterback, as he 13-1 against them, the only one being a victor being  Troy Smith.  — Pittsburgh comes into this one needing another win, as they can be 500..

The Redskins, much like the Steelers come into this game one game behind 500., for both teams if they lose, playoffs would seem to be “fools gold” that’s why this one is a game that matters for both-sides.   Robert GriffinIII has made an obvious impact on the team, as they look a lot better than they have in recent seasons, will Pittsburgh’s defense led by defensive coordinator Dick Leabau be able to stop Griffin?

*Update*:

Pittsburgh was able to stop Griffin, who was only 16-37 in the game.

—

Giants at Cowboys:

Things have changed for both teams since they last met.  The Cowboys had the upper-hand, as they were victorious in week one at the Giants, but as I said in my earlier-blog-post, a couple of  key wide-receivers on the Giants weren’t on their A-Game, as they caught them off balance,  Dallas may be lucky to see that happen again today.    Another thing:  The Cowboys are going to have to make more successful red-zone trips, kicker Dan Bailey shouldn’t have to come out  expect for the point-afters, and maybe two field-goals.

 

Cowboys-Giants blog coverage begins now..

The Dallas Cowboys face NFC East rival, New York Giants on Sunday’s game in Cowboys Stadium, this one would mean a great deal to Dallas, that is if they win, because if they lose, they are 2 games behind the Giants, if they do win than Dallas would have a possible-tie breaker advantage over the Giants, and not to mention a 4-2 record over a 3-4 record.   — Every game counts, that’s certainty the case for this one.  Cowboys Owner/GM Jerry Jones is going to have to hope that his team backs his words up, as the Giant’s told him to suit up and see what happens.    With the Cowboys, a lot of times, you just can’t tell, and this week, despite playing at home, I just don’t see Dallas winning, as they have had problems closing out in close-games, this one has plenty of reason to show to be a close-one, if the Cowboys can prove me wrong, maybe this team is different, but probably not.

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Cowboys Keys To Winning: 

• Will the Giants be able to take advantage of  Sean Lee’s absence?
• Will the Cowboys be able to get in the end-zone?
• Will the Cowboys be able to mix it up against the Giant’s defense?

Thomas Brunt writes about whatever sports he wants to whenever on his own blog, subscribe to the blog via email, follow Thomas on Twitter: @SPORTSDUDE350, email him: thesportsguy.brunt2@gmail.com

 

Sean Lee on crutches, awaiting MRI results COWBOYS BEAT BLOG

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was on crutches because of a sprained toe suffered in the third quarter of Sunday’s win at Carolina, the Cowboys aren’t ready to make a decision on his status for next week’s game vs. the New York Giants, as of press-time.

Lee had an MRI on Monday, and Coach Jason Garrett said later in the afternoon the team was still awaiting the results.  It is  not clear  whether Lee had suffered a turf toe, or not.

If  Lee can’t play, then Dan Connor would start right next to Bruce Carter,  Connor had two tackles and a deflection taking over Lee  against the Panthers.

 

If Lee can’t play, Carter would get the defensive calls from coordinator Rob Ryan.

“Bruce has really improved and grown and matured each week,” Garrett said. “You can see it in his coverage. You can see it in the run game and see it as a leader in how he communicates. He had more responsibility (after Lee was hurt), and I think he handled it well.”

A Couple Thoughts On NFL Week Five..

 

Here are a  few of my Week Five Reactions: 

The Jets are in Turmoil:

After  losing to the Texans on Monday night, The Jets are now 2-3, and quarterback Mark Sanchez might be the one to blame for this, Sanchez threw three interceptions on the Monday Night game vs. Houston.   — Really though, a great overall defensive effort by the  Texans.

The Cowboys get a week of rest, and than it’s back to business at Baltimore:

The Dallas Cowboys got a much-needed bye-week after getting manhandled by the Chicago Bears a week ago at home in Cowboys Stadium, and than it back’s to work, and their schedule isn’t going to cut them any slack, as they take on the Ravens in Baltimore, should be a challenge, in another game vs.  one of  the league’s best defenses.  — Romo and the Boys’ get a chance to prove they can put up solid numbers, in a win against a defense like the Ravens.

 

 

 

Post Observations From Sunday’s Batch Of Games: NFL Week Four Reactions *COLUMN*

 

Here are my observations from Sunday’s big batch of NFL action (week four): 

Matt Ryan continues to prove he is clutch: 

The Falcons are clutch.  Thanks to a clutch final drive led by Pro-Bowl Potential quarterback, Matt Ryan, the Falcons are now 4-0.   — Atlanta started their final-drive of  this game from the one yard-line, as Ryan completed 5  passes for a total of 63 yards on it, than setting up a 40 yard Matt Bryant field-goal, giving Atlanta a 30-28 victory over Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, in a thrilling game.       —   I’d also like to give some credit to Carolina Panthers’ 2nd year starting quarterback, Cam Newton who had an impressive game, even in a loss, as he went 15-24, with 215 yards, and 3 touchdowns from Newton.

Maybe the Houston Texans are  For Real: 

— The Texans, like the Falcons, stand at 4-0 after four games of play in the NFL’s 16 game regular season.

Unlike Atlanta, though, Houston didn’t have to deal with a back-and forth see-saw battle, as they had no problem at all taking care of business, in a lopsided game, winning 38-14 at home in Houston, in Reliant Stadium.  — Though, it should be noted that Tennessee did lose their starting quarterback (Jake Locker) to an injury in that game.

Philadelphia erases ugly bird-drop in the eye week 3 loss to Arizona:

— After getting thumped by the Arizona Cardinals in week 3, as the Eagles were able to get rid of a sour-taste in their mouth, by beating NFC East division rival, the New York Giants.

 

 

Jets get shut out at home vs. the 49ers: 

“It’s the recipe for getting our a$$es kicked”  as put by Jets’ head-coach Rex Ryan.   — If you think about it though, it’s not like the Jets weren’t ever in the game at all, if you don’t remember, let me remind you that this game was 10-0 for a good part of this game, and then.. KABOOM…  34-0 49ers.    — I’d say San Fran definitely got back on track after a  loss to Minnesota, 24-13, being the final score.

 

 

Can’t get enough of my stuff?:  Read my coverage on the Dallas Cowboys on SBNation’s fan post “Blogging The Boys”: http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2012/10/1/3441682/turnovers-leading-to-dallas-cowboys-demise?code=AQDB97UBqlbZIG33a-3K7Tu6IL-hMJ5iHANi3nogw_8Y2pA2Fd4N-mXxT-6M3fWEtQSM-ouiM2gl9OYqOFfv81_wO2Ycfav6HoZ27YSucjQp4OstZGCT_jMpJTD1IVw1gSrb5FJOYlhtJM8_UEyjI52Ww3cv2Yqgpmy4t-dAhTWvNvK9JGNf-nfqF3evrRT8FCy_0RX85edtstyZDH7W-Huj#_=_