Cowboys fumble their way past the Vikings
I have a little work to do right now like the Cowboys. The Cowboys offense came out on fire. Their defense was flat footed and slow. The Cowboys some how got a win (because Minnesota can’t throw the football).
Here’s what I said before the game – I look for Dallas to come out focused and ready to play. I thought that the Bills game was going to be a walk in the park. It wasn’t. Therefore, Dallas will need to eliminate turnovers and stop stupid penalties. Dallas will try to start fast in order to encourage the Vikings to pack it in early and go home.
Sweet. I was 100% correct. The Cowboys did try and start fast. They used a hurry up thru their first drive. They marched down the field and scored a touchdown. Cool. Pressure was on the Vikings offense and Adrian Peterson (12 carries for 63 yds and 1 td). The Vikings came out like they were a playoff team. They ran the ball down the Cowboys’ throats. They threw little dump off passes in the middle of the field and receivers got the first down. From 20 yards out, Peterson goes off of left tackle, he breaks 2 tackles on the way to the endzone. The first quarter is over.
In the 2nd quarter the Cowboys dominated ever stat including the turnover column. This gave Minnesota the impression that they could win. The Vikings defense was bending but not breaking. Dallas had 4 possessions in the quarter. They ended with 2 fumbles, a punt and a missed 50 yard field goal. One of the fumbles were returned for a touchdown. The half ends with the Cowboys trailing 14 – 7 in spite of Tony Romo lighting up the Vikings’ secondary for 231 yards, one TD (28 of 32). Now, that’s crazy.
In the second half we ran the ball more. We controlled the clock. The defense who got embarassed on the opening drive clamped down on the Vikings offensive. A blocked kick in the 3rd quarter which Pat Watkins ran in for the score was the go ahead touchdown.
Key points: Our offensive line has to play better. Romo got plenty of pressure from all sides today. He was sacked 3 times. He was hit and fumbled once. Although we averaged 4.4 yards per carry, Julius Jones and Marion Barber had tough sledding.
Romo took a knee to his thigh during a Minnesota run back of a Patrick Crayton fumble (shut your mouth and play better football). He had a deep thigh bruise in the second half. This may be the reason that we ran the ball most of the half.
We limited penalties but the turnovers kept Minnesota in the game. If Minnesota had any type of passing game they could have won this football game. I have to hand it to the Cowboys defense. They made adjustments and crushed the running game of Minnesota.
The Cowboys have a bye next week then they are going to have to strap on their big boy pads. The next 3 games are division games – @Philly, @New York and Washington at home. Now, that’s going to be the test. If the Cowboys can sweep those 3 games they will be in a great position to win the division.
