Are the Cowboys sacked? Five random thoughts to ponder
Oct 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett reacts on the sidelines in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium. The Patriots beat the Cowboys 30-6. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
• 5) Are the Cowboys sacked for good?
Should we be talking about… gulp… the 2016 season?
No team has ever made the playoffs after a 2-6 start. Zero. None. Nobody.
For Dallas, this is the worst start since the 1989 season, when Jerry Jones took over and the team lost eight straight games, which ended at a 1-15 mark for the season.
To some readers, I foolishly labeled the Week 4 match against the New Orleans Saints a “must-win” contest. The Boys were 2-1 at the time.
Foolish? I think not my friend. If the Cowboys couldn’t beat the Saints, a team with a hurt quarterback in Drew Brees, then who could they beat, I thought? The answer we now know is nobody.
The Cowboys needed to draw up wins, which I believed they could while Romo was out. I was foolish to predict they could beat the Falcons, the Saints, the Giants, the Seahawks, and the Eagles.
I am 1-5 with predictions since Romo’s injury.
So, do I think the Cowboys can make the 2015 playoffs, becoming the first team to do so ever?
It’s possible in this NFC East Division. I’ll give you my foolish predictions right now for the next four games.
Dallas will beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week in Florida. Romo will return November 22 incredibly angry, and demolish the Miami Dolphins. The Cowboys will play a great game against the Panthers (Yes, I know, they are unbeaten right now) and win. Romo will enter FedEx Field and get another big win.
Dear Cowboys Nation, the NFC East is still up for grabs.
• Bonus Thought) A 70 percent Dez Bryant is better than 70 percent of the wide receivers in the NFL right now.
That’s how good number 88 is, and the difference maker he can be on the field. Broken foot and all, he made an epic leap and grab to keep the Cowboys in the game last week in the fourth period.
Epic.
With Bryant on the floor, the running game has picked up. Darren McFadden had 27 carries for 117 yards against the Eagles. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
The Dallas receiving leaders is made up of receivers again, not running backs. Cole Beasley had a break out night with nine receptions, 112 yards, and two scores. He led the team with 11 targets.
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Bryant himself had five receptions, 104 yards, and one score. He averaged a whopping 20.8 yards per catch. Jason Witten supplemented the passing attack with six receptions for 43 yards. The wide-outs were targeted 34 times, catching 24 of them. Only two passes were directed to the running backs, both going to McFadden.