That’s Right, How About Those Cowboys? Or should I just say “He’s Baaaccckkk!!” Quarterback Tony Romo has returned and all is right again at Jerry’s World.The Cowboys are 3-0 this season when Romo starts (0-7 with other starting quarterbacks). But we will let bygones be bygones. Romo is back and so is the hope that the Cowboys can make a year-end run and make it into the playoffs.
Now, I know his return on Sunday was not perfect, as evidenced by his two picks in the game against the Miami Dolphins. But to say he has not played a game since Week 2 when he fractured his left collarbone in Philadelphia against division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles, he did help lead his team to a win and snapped a seven game losing streak, all while making the Cowboys relevance again to NFC East Division.
With Romo being back the Cowboys are able to establish a balanced offense and keep the chains moving on third downs.Having linebacker Sean Lee back was a huge lift as well. Lee made an immediate impact after returning to the lineup by leading the defense in tackles. Lee suffered a concussion in Week 9 of the regular NFL season in the re-match against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was medically cleared to play in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but opted not to since it was his second concussion in a five-week period.
All in All, the Cowboys made a big splash down in Miami on Sunday. Speaking of big splashes, how about Darren McFadden?! McFadden logged 29 carries against the Dolphins on Sunday. In the last five games, he has 122 carries for 494 yards. To say McFadden was a player with a history of injuries is proving to be the one thing the Dallas Cowboys need: a durable running back since losing their all-time leading rusher Demarco Murray to free agency last year. Now, if you paid close attention to the Miami game, you would have notice that McFadden did not just block on Sunday, he transcended space, time, and physics to lift a blitzing defensive back off his feet like it was ballet (see picture below).
On Monday it was back to the practice field for the Cowboys. The Cowboys went through a walkthrough with no pads and no helmets, as they attempt to cram their Carolina game plan into a short week. Rookie defensive back Byron Jones was out at walkthrough after suffering an apparent leg injury at the end of Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. But he should be ready to go Thursday’s against the Carolina Panthers.
Cornerback Morris Claiborne, was ruled out of last week’s game with a hamstring injury, and he was not present Monday for on-field activities. Dallas’ other two primary absences, wide receiver Brice Butler (hamstring) and defensive end Ryan Russell (abdomen) were in attendance for Monday’s practice. Dallas came through Sunday’s game with a few injury issues.
Good news though, all of the players from last week’s injury report were present for the walkthrough including: wide receiver Dez Bryant, running back Darren McFadden, linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Sean Lee, safeties Barry Church and Jeff Heath, defensive tackle Nick Hayden, cornerback Brandon Carr, and defensive end Jeremy Mincey.
Also, in attendance at practice was starting quarterback Tony Romo. Romo was on hand to work with the first-team offense and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. With everyone present at Monday’s practice, that seems to be a really good sign. And right now that is all Dallas need is good signs coming their way since they are dead last in their division and will be taking on the undefeated Carolina Panthers (10-0) this Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Maybe things will work out in the Cowboys’ favor this time.
Thanksgiving with such a short amount of time to prepare. Remember last year the Cowboys excuse for being slaughtered by the Philadelphia Eagles 33-10 was due to a short amount of time they had to prepare physically and mentally, but they did get payback in the rematch that year by beating the Eagles 38-27.
The Cowboys and Panthers have met 12 times including two playoff contests, with Dallas winning nine of the contents. Dallas has won nine of the last ten overall meetings, and the last nine in a row during the regular season. Making the Cowboys leads the series 9-3. One of the series of meetings was an NFC Divisional Playoff game in Carolina on January 5, 1997. Dallas scored 14 points in the final 3:55 to defeat the Panthers 14-13 in 2002. Nine of the twelve games have been decided by 10 points or less, five games decided by less than a touchdown, and four games decided by double digits. Dallas and Carolina met in a 1996 Divisional Playoff game and a 2003 Wild Card Game, with the Panthers claiming victories in both.
A Cowboys win would up the Cowboys win streak over Carolina to five games following a playoff loss, and ten consecutive regular season wins against the Panthers-the longest current streak against an opponent. It would also boost Dallas’ 2015 record to 4-7 and 3-6 in the NFC, and it would up the Cowboys all-time Thanksgiving Day record to 30-17-1. Not to mention, with a victory this Thursday against Carolina, Head Coach Jason Garrett (currently at 44-38) would earn Garrett his 45th career regular season win to surpass Jimmy Johnson (44) for the second most regular season head coaching wins in team history.
To amp up this match up against the Panthers even more, is the fact that this is going to be the first time defensive end Greg Hardy will be playing against his former teammates since being dropped by the Carolina back in February. But gaining a win against these fierce Carolina Panthers will be tough for these 3-7 Cowboys and their head coach.
But as I been saying all season long, that these Cowboys are resilient and I do believe they can give Cam “Super Man” Newton and the Panthers their first loss of the regular NFL season. I am predicting the Cowboys to win it by a 3 points margin, Dallas 31/28 Carolina final.
