With the Steelers coming off a huge win over the Patriots (33-10) I expect to see some good old fashioned smash mouth football next Sunday. The Steelers love to run the football, Parker and Moore both averaged over 5 yards per carry against the Pats and I expect to see a heavy dose of both of these backs when the Cowboys come to town. The Steelers offense is very balanced and they have many weapons to worry about. The Cowboys will have to keep an eye on Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, both of these veteran receivers have the ability to stretch a play at anytime. One of Big Head Ben’s favorite targets this week was Heath Miller, who is slowly becoming a dominate Tight End in the NFL. Miller had 4 rec. for 60 yards, ya that’s an avg. of 15 yards per catch. I think the Boys match up well in all areas with the Steelers and it should be a battle on what is probably the sloppiest field in the league.

We lucked out this week when the MRI’s on Barber and D-Ware both came back negative. These two are absolute key players when facing a team like Pittsburgh. D-Ware and the front line of the defense MUST get pressure on Big Head Ben, for a fat ass he really can move around and make things happen.
Marion might be even more important to the Cowboys this week. The Steelers defense is great against the run, so you need a RB who is not afraid to hit someone in the mouth and at the same time get hit. I am very excited about this game, both teams love to play physical and that is always good for viewing purposes.

Labels: Big Head Ben, Demarcus Ware, Marion Barber, Steelers

Well, the 5 questions are back for a 3rd week in a row! This week we teamed up with James Satterberg over at SeaTown Sports enjoy! Be sure to head over to their site and leave some love!
CowboyNation:
How do Seahawks fans feel about Julius Jones in general? Do you think he will get booed in Dallas this week?
SeaTown Sports:
First off, last year, Seahawks fans were forced to endure the horror that was 30 year old Shaun Alexander. The once great back lost more than a few steps and was arguably the worst back in the NFL due to his deadly combo of bad rushing, hands of stone, and totally incompetent blocking. His performance caused even some of his biggest fans to boo him at qwest field, anything for the coaches to put in another back, which seldom occurred. Having gotten that out of the way, Jones looks like Barry Sanders in comparison. I don’t know what he was like last year in Dallas, but Julius Jones has really performed well in Seattle this year. He has been the most complete back we have seen in a long time, as everything that Shaun did poorly at last year Jones can do at a high level. I originally thought that Jones would simply be a complement at best to the criminally underused backup Maurice Morris, but he has proved to be much more. Easily the best back on the team, for what that’s worth. Now whether he gets booed or not is not for me to decide.
CN:
What area of the Seahawks needs the biggest improvement in order for them to become a playoff team again?
STS:
The most pressing issues this year have been safety and quarterback. I’ll talk about Hasselbeck later, but I should quickly mention that Brian Russell is by far the worst NFL defensive starter I have ever seen. Simply incompetent. Considering that Walter Jones is going to be 35 next year, I would really look for a tackle. Beyond that it would be nice to have depth/insurance at OLB, DT, DE, and OG.
CN:
I have noticed on a few Seahawks websites that there is a lot of doubt in the QB area of this team. Hassellbeck is coming off of a pretty good year last year, is there any reason to think he won’t be the QB after this year?
STS:
Last year Matt Hasselbeck played better than ever before. Maybe not statistically, but considering all of the injuries and setbacks, he put up his best season ever. His play single handily moved the Seahawks offense, and thus, the team’s record. However, he’s a 33 year old quarterback with an injury history. It was inevitable that he would begin his decline. It’s just a shock to us that it actually happened. Anyway, he has been hurt really since before week one, and he has missed a couple of games. When Matt has played, he has looked awful, constantly making bad reads and under thrown passes. It’s not like the Seahawks have anybody waiting in the wings, as the closest thing we have to young QB talent is Charlie Frye, who played against Green Bay, and from what I saw, e clearly isn’t the answer. No matter whether Matt Hasselbeck will rebound or not, injuries are a part of decline and the Seahawks should be looking for a prospect to groom for the role. However, I would be shocked if Matt didn’t begin the season as the starter next year. The Seahawks are smart enough to know that putting a rookie quarterback onto the field is not a good idea. It is much better to have them wait a few years first, like, for example, Matt Hasselbeck did. Or Tony Romo, for that matter. Matt will keep his job next year regardless.
CN:
In your opinion what is the most intriguing match up this week against the Cowboys?
STS:
Tough question, because there isn’t one real defining matchup I see, but I’m going to go with the Seahawks run defense against the Cowboys rushing attack. The Seahawks started out very well against Portis and the Redskins before kind of falling apart a little later. It will be interesting to see if they can hold it together against Marion Barber and however much of Felix Jones we see on offense. Of course any improvement in Hasselbeck is something to watch for in terms of the Seahawks’ future.
CN:
How do you feel about the Seahawks/Patriots game being removed from the Dec. 7th Sunday Night Football spot and being replaced with the Redskins/Ravens game?
STS:
Whatever. Redskins vs. Ravens is a more interesting game. Besides, I don’t like going to Sunday/Monday night games. It’s too much trouble as a fan to be out that late with stuff to do in the morning.

Labels: 5 questions, Seahawks

Labels: Front Seven, Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks

Labels: Garrett, Nate Clements, T.O.

First of all the Cowboys were wearing the throwback jerseys which I am a big fan of. Will we see them in back to back games?
The first offensive series by the Cowboys started with a couple nice passes by Romo hitting Crayton and Witten. But ended in a punt. Oh ya and Troy Aikman just had to show a picture of Romo’s “splint”, I knew it wouldn’t take long until they infamous tape made an appearance.
The defense was pretty jacked up in their first two series, really coming of the ball fast and even getting a little too excited and jumping offsides once (Rat). I guess it is hard to stop that much meat once you get it going.
The second drive started after a great defensive goal line stand and a Niner’s field goal. Columbo moved a little early so the Boy’s had to start off with a 1st and 15. Romo’s first pass was caught out of bounds by T.O. Marion got a hand off up the middle and was swallowed up by the Niner’s front line. This put the Boy’s in a 3rd and long which was incomplete to T.O. and another Cowboy’s punt.
Cowboys first drive in the 2nd Quarter started with a long pass along the sideline to Witten where his left heel came down out of bounds. Stay-Puft threw the little red flag and the Boy’s were charged a time-out. This 3rd down and 8 was proof that Romo is the real deal, staying alive, stepping up in the pocket and throwing a precision pass to T.O. for a 75 yard Touchdown pass. Great effort by T.O. to keep his legs moving and breaking the TD saving tackle.

7-6 Cowboys 13:54 2nd
With the crowd into the game and some much needed momentum the defense sacked Hill twice, and then blocked a punt in the Niner’s end zone for a safety. That’s what I am talking about Big D!
9-6 Cowboys
Leonard Davis is so big that he sometimes is a little too slow and gets caught for holding. Romo’s first pass was bobbled by T.O., I think he still had some popcorn butter on his hands after his TD. Marion got shoved around by Spikes on a short check down pass and forced a 3rd and 20 where Marion only gained about 8 yards. Great punt by Paulescu (70 yards) and was stopped on the Niner’s 1 yard line by Watkins.
8:20 2nd
Check down pass to Marion for a gain of 5 started the drive. Followed by a naked bootleg which was swatted down by a Niner’s LB. 3rd and 5 was an incomplete pass to Roy Williams. Folk’s FG was good from 48 yards.
12-6 Cowboys 7:30 remaining in 2nd
Tashard Choice got a 5 yard gain on 1st down and then on 2nd and 5 Romo connected with T.O. on a 45 yard completion. Incomplete to Roy Williams followed by a short gain from Marion on 3rd and long. Folk’s FG good from 41.
15-6 Cowboys
Fumble recovered by Zach Thomas for what should have been a TD, but the play was blown dead by a jackass ref. So the Cowboys got the ball on the 49er’s 19 yard line. Nice 8 yard completion to T.O. on first down. Marion scrambled for 4 yards and a 1st and Goal for the Cowboys. The running game still hasn’t done much in the game but slowly the Cowboys are gaining more momentum. 2nd and Goal on the 5 yard line Marion pounded it up the middle for about 4. 3rd and goal on the 1, Martellus Bennett got the call for a short pass on a shallow crossing route for a 1 yard TD for the Cowboys. Good series for the Cowboys, you can tell the Niner’s defense was hanging their heads a little after the score. It is nice to finally have a comfortable lead at the Half. Hopefully the offense can continue to gain momentum and keep scoring in the 2nd half.
22-6 Cowboys :52 2nd
Halftime Notes:
The defense has kept the Cowboys alive in this one. Great field position and big red zone stops have been the key to this game. The offense started off slow only scoring on the long TD to Owens, but each series the running game started to become more of a factor. The turnover by Thomas resulted in a much needed score and gave the Boy’s a confidence boost. I look for Marion to have a big 2nd half and also for the defense to continue to lay the pipe on this fragile Niner’s team. Special teams have looked a little better, especially the cover teams. The Niner’s lost their best return man so we will see if he returns in the 2nd half.
Cowboys get the ball to start the 3rd quarter.
Romo’s first pass was behind T.O. on a slant, much like the interception from last week. Marion gained about 1 yard on a run behind Columbo. Once again Romo steps up in the pocket and floats another bomb to T.O. for a 52 yard completion. It is obvious T.O. is mismatched on the outside, the Niner’s secondary just can’t run with him. Great snag by Roy Williams of 12 yards for another first down on the Niner’s 10 yard line. Romo came right back after a neutral zone infraction and a false start by Flozell to hit Crayton for a nice 10 yard TD pass across the middle. Good drive for the Boy’s to start the first half. They have to limit those penalties.
29-6 Cowboys 12:04 3rd Quarter
Niner’s field goal.
29-9 Cowboys 8:23 3rd
The Cowboys offense started on the 13 yard line and the first play was a hand off to Choice who gained 8 yards. Romo went right back to Choice on a short pass for a first down gain over the middle. Choice got the ball a 3rd time straight for a gain of 3 on a routine run up the middle. They haven’t been able to get much going up the middle today. Romo made a horrible decision to dump the ball off to Choice who was not really expecting to get the ball seeing as how he was standing about a yard from him. The Niner’s challenged the ruling that it was an incomplete pass. The ball was actually ruled an interception by Manny Lawson. Later in the game they ruled it as a fumble for Romo, giving the Niner’s the ball on the 29.
On the Niner’s first play Hill threw a ball behind his receiver and Henry made a great play on the ball for an interception in the end zone.
Barber got the ball for a gain of 3. Romo tried to hit Crayton on a deep ball but was incomplete. T.O. came through huge again for a nice 17 yard gain. The first sign of life from Marion Barber came on a run of 9 yards followed by a first down pick up on a short check down pass from Romo. This is Barber’s time to go to work and really just wear out the Niner’s defense. Witten took a bog shot from Clemens right in the ribs and was down on the field for a few minutes. 3rd and 9, Romo connects with Roy Williams for a big gain of 15 and a first down. Romo got sacked for the first time on a rare missed block by Marion. Screen pass to Marion for 10 yard pick up forcing a 3rd and 7. A false start made the 3rd down even longer.
End of 3rd Quarter.
Good news, Witten did come back on the field. Romo was incomplete to T.O. on 3rd down, forcing a Folk FG.
32-9 Cowboys 14:49 4th
Cowboys forced a 49ers punt and started their drive on the 30. Tashard Choice picked up a couple yards on the ground and then Romo hit him on a dump pass for a gain of 9 and a first down. T.O. caught a quick pass in the flat for a gain of 2 yards putting him at 199 yards on the day. T.O. is finally looking like the playmaker we were used to. It is good to see him playing like we know he can. 3rd and 8 the Cowboys went to a screen pass, Marion was inches from getting the first down.
32-9 9:56 4th
Niner’s TD
32-16 8:20 4th
Niner’s attempted an on-side kick and were off-sides. 2nd attempt, right to Marion who caught the ball in the air and wisely fell on the ground.
Romo finds Roy Williams for a 9 yard gain. Marion rumbled his way for a pick up of 1 and a first down. Romo’s pass was incomplete to Witten, 2nd and 10 with about 6:45 left in the game. Hand-off to Marion no gain. Screen pass outside to Marion for about 6 yards which set up another Folk FG.
35-16 Cowboys 5:11 4th
Niner’s scored quickly and went for 2 but came up short.
35-22 3:46 4th
Another unsuccessful on-side attempt b y the Niner’s. Cowboys start what should be the final drive at the Niner’s 46. Hand-off to the workhorse Marion for 5 yards. Another false start on the O-Line made it 2nd and 10. Marion gets the hand-off again for another 5 yard gain. T.O. made a great grab on a quick slant for a first down. that puts him over 200 yards for the day. Marion up the middle for 1 yard. Toss sweep to the right to Marion for a 6 yard gain, which takes it down to the 2 minute warning. After a final hand-off to Marion, Romo would take the knee for the remaining time on the clock.
Good game for the Cowboys. Offense started off pretty slow, but with T.O. playing like a man possessed they took a comfortable lead. Defensively the Cowboys had another good game. Luckily no major injuries since they have a short week before they play The Seahawks on Thanksgiving. This win moves the Cowboys to 7-4. They have possibly the hardest remaining schedule in the league so were not done yet!

Here are some final Stats for the game:
Tony Romo: 23/39 341 yards 3 TD’s
Terrell Owens: 7 receptions 213 yards 1 TD
Patrick Crayton: 2 rec. 16 yards 1 TD
Martellus Bennett: 1 rec. 1 yard 1 TD
Marion Barber: 19 att. 59 yards 7 rec. for 50 yards, 109 total
Roy Williams: 3 rec. 36 yards
Jason Witten: 1 rec. 11 yards
Nick Folk: 4/4 FG’s 3/3 PAT’s

Labels: 49ers, Marion Barber, romo, Wade Phillips, Witten

Newman injured his groin and sat out of practice today.
Hopefully this isn’t a serious injury and he can have a game like he did last week. What I want to know is what is going on at practice that is causing him this much trouble? Do the Cowboys not have a calisthenics or stretching routine before practice? Felix with the injured toe, now Newman with the groin injury. How many more injuries can this Cowboys team handle this late in the season? Injuries are more important now because you have to be healthy and ready to play every single game. Especially when you are in the position that the Cowboys are in.

Labels: Felix, Newman

Once again Houston sports radio (610 am this time) made a fool of themselves. I know that being a Cowboys fan might make me a little bias in this conversation but, correct me if I’m wrong. I dare you.
First of all today was Troy Aikman’s birthday so that is how this all started, but the part of the conversation I heard went something like this:
“I think Troy Aikman was overrated, I mean you put Dan Marino on some of those Cowboys teams and it would have been different story.”
Cough….(Bull shit)…cough!!
I am guessing Matt Jackson, the one with the girlish voice who most likely has a inflatable girlfriend named Judy, was referring to Aikman’s season in 2000 where the Cowboys went 4-7, which also was his last year to play. He couldn’t possibly be talking about the six year stretch from 1991-1996 where Aikman made six consecutive pro-bowls could he? Or the 3 super Bowl victories? Wait a second how many Super Bowls did Marino win??? OH YA FREAKING ZERO!

First of all Dan Marino was an extremely talented QB. No argument there. But so was Aikman only in different ways. What first came to mind was the offense systems these two guys were in. They were completely different. total opposites actually. Aikman having the luxury of the great running game while Marino’s offensive game plans were usually reliant on his arm and the passing game. The Cowboys had a great offense in the 90′s and it was a combination of the extremely accurate arm of Aikman and the very efficient running game thanks to number 22. You can compare stats all day long and come up with any argument you want but all I have to say is Aikman was the man for the Cowboys, and there is no way the Cowboys have those great seasons with anyone else other than number 8! So I honestly don’t know how it would have turned out if Marino was a Cowboy but lets just say I am glad Aikman was pulling the trigger for the Cowboys!

On another note. Phillip and I were talking today about how when the Texans went on their measly 3 game win streak against some of the worst teams in the NFL the sports talk shows around here did not say a single derogatory word about the Cowboys, but as soon as the Texans went back to their normal fashion of being absolutely horrendous, all I hear is Shit talking about the Cowboys. Hey Texans fans, come talk to me when you have a winning season! But until then have fun with Sage Rosenfumbles.

Labels: Aikman, Emmitt, Marino, Rosenfumbles

Labels: Felix, Marion Barber

Well we had such a good time with the 5 question preview last week with Ben over at the Curly R that we decided to do it again. This time we have got together with Matt over at 49ers Gab. Matt answers our questions below, and you can check out our responses here!
(1) A lot has been made over the last 2 weeks about Mike Singletary’s pants dropping incident, but what effect has this had on this team?

49ers-At first it could have totally divided the team, but after a solid outing in Arizona and then a win over the Rams, I think it personally has brought them closer. With Singletary being a former player, it should show today’s players that he means business, and I think at the end of the day it was a move that will go down as a positive.
(2) Has the league seen the last of Alex Smith? Do you see him ever playing for the 49ers again?
49ers-He’ll be in the league somewhere in 2009, but it won’t be for the Niners. What happened is the Niners were the victim of having the number one pick on a down year. Smith would have been a middle of the first-round pick in most years, but it just went that in that season he was the best prospect. He has talent, but he’ll never be a top-flight QB in the league.
(3) After so many years of being a power house in the NFL, what is the pulse of the fan base now?

49ers-They are anxious for the team to get back to form, but overall it’s been very lukewarm with the amount of losing over the past few seasons. Getting rid of Mike Nolan was a step they had to take, and hopefully they can end the year on an up note with Singletary getting them a few more wins before the year wraps up.
(4) The 49ers are a scary team right now; they essentially are playing for nothing but pride. We know that Mike will have them ready to play this Sunday. What are the key matchups for us to keep an eye on?

49ers-Watch out for Shaun Hill, who showed what he’s made of vs the Rams and how he goes after the Cowboys secondary. He could have a good day if he has time to throw. Even vs the Rams the Niners put up just 3.8 yards per carry rushing, so it may be on Hill’s shoulders to carry them. Romo and the Cowboys passing game should be able to throw on the Niners, as they are allowing 234 yards per game in the air.
(5) What is your most memorable moment in past 49ers vs. Cowboys games?
49ers-It would have to be the 1994 NFC Title game in Candlestick when the Niners jumped on the Cowboys for an early lead enroute to a win and a trip to the Super Bowl vs San Diego. It was the monkey that Steve Young and Jerry Rice needed to get off their back in order to be the best, and that day they were over a Cowboys team that had haunted them for years.

Labels: 49ers, 5 questions