Dallas Cowboys: No free pass for Jason Garrett in Week 14
At 6-6, the Cowboys are looking at a couple of winnable games before getting star running back Ezekiel Elliott back for the two games that follow and conclude the regular season. If Dallas wins out, they would have a strong chance to qualify for the playoffs as one of two wild card entries – with a complete collapse on the part of the Philadelphia Eagles, there’s a slight chance the Cowboys could still win the NFC East.
Fair or not, Sunday’s Week 14 matchup against the New York Giants could be a career defining moment for Jason Garrett.
If you’re not aware of the nuclear disaster that is the New York Giants in 2017, just look in the direction on New York City from wherever you are and you’ll see the glow in the evening sky. Wondering if wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. will play Week 1 at AT&T Stadium seems like two years ago as numerous injuries, the benching of Eli Manning and firing of head coach Ben McAdoo have topped off the kind of football melodrama that makes even Cowboys fans say, ”wow!”
Ironic it is that the Cowboys travel to MetLife Stadium on Sunday to face the Giants in a game that may have new meaning for this beleaguered franchise that awaits massive changes in just a few weeks.
Manning’s benching in favor of Geno Smith on Week 13 seemed appauling to some, but I couldn’t understand the crime that was committed. The 14-year veteran is 36-years-old and has had far more career than I ever thought he would have, especially as he stood on the stage with that constipated look in New York as the first player selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft. He was Peyton Manning’s little brother, and that was it. You know the football gods have a sense of humor when you realize that the two Manning brothers have two Super Bowl rings each.
It seemed to me that the Giants might be doing the right thing in trying to evaluate Smith, a recent arrival from cross-town rival New York Jets, who might bring about a different skill set than the statuesque Manning.
Nope.
McAdoo’s idea of getting a head start on 2018 apparently didn’t fly too well with New York management. The second-year head coach and general manager Jerry Reese were canned on Monday and who knows what’s next for one of the NFL’s oldest franchises.
For Jason Garrett’s sake, it had better not be a win against the Dallas Cowboys.
You are probably caught up with all of the playoff scenarios already being posted all over the digital universe. Keep watching closely because these will change significantly each week from here on out.