Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
I’m trying to keep my composure. I might choke up writing this column, but I’ll try and suck it up and hold back my tears. My beloved Dallas Cowboys got slapped in Texas Stadium this Sunday against your very own New England Patriots. Two undefeated teams, two highly potent offenses – a network television’s dream. The score at the end of the night was lopsided, 48-27 Patriots, and I think we learned a lot about both teams.
Many people made this game out to be a defining moment in both teams’ seasons. It’s game six people, not game 17. Yes, we continued to find out how good the Patriots offense and defense is, but this game shouldn’t linger in the minds of Cowboys players.
The most frustrating thing about this game was the outcome. Dallas could have beaten the Patriots. They were without some of their key defensive playmakers, including starting corner Anthony Henry. I’m not making excuses for them, but their sloppy play definitely contributed to their loss and the Pats win. Dallas had 12 penalties for a loss of 98 yards, while New England only had five penalties for a loss of 50 yards. Almost all of Dallas’ penalties came during crucial moments in the drive, causing them to lose field goal position, including one that wiped a fourth-and-one conversion on the opening play in the fourth quarter that could have led to a tying touchdown.
Tom Brady had the game of his life, completing 31 of 46 passes for 388 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes. So far this season, Brady has passed for 1,771 yards, 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Wow, two interceptions. He’s easily the top-rated quarterback in the league and continues to find ways to connect with Randy Moss or Donte Stallworth or even Wes Welker for big plays. Brady did get sacked three times during the game, more than he had been sacked in the previous five games combined, but the Dallas defense didn’t do much else in the game. Having to put double coverage on Randy Moss and leaving Welker and Stallworth open while inexperienced Dallas corners were in the slot hurt the Dallas D.
Romo didn’t put up great numbers, but he did manage to minimize his mistakes from last week’s game against Buffalo and threw for two touchdowns. But he didn’t provide many opportunities for Dallas to win the game on Sunday. The Cowboys were plagued by a series of slow starts in the first half and didn’t kick it into gear really until the third quarter. The Cowboys have been known for their explosive second-half performances so far this season, but if they want to compete with the AFC’s elite, they’ve got to learn how to jump out to a fast start.
With the Pats sitting at 6-0 and holding a commanding lead in the AFC East, many wonder if they will be the first team since the ’72 Dolphins to go undefeated in the regular season. Well, let me give you my two cents. It’s not going to happen. Although, at this rate, the only big game left on the schedule is against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 4, the Patriots still won’t go undefeated. If the Pats are anywhere near that record near the end of the season, you know Belichick will bench Brady and his other key players. They won’t be going undefeated with their second-string team. If they have locked up a playoff spot there is no way Belichick will play the starters. No way.
Next up for the Dallas Cowboys will be the meager Minnesota Vikings. I hope they can bounce back from the loss and kill Minnesota to maintain their lead in the NFC East. As for now, I will hold my head up high and walk on. One game won’t mean anything to me at the end of the season.
