This season, if not for five fourth quarter collapses, the (7-6) Dallas Cowboys could be (12-1). The Cowboys could have Super Bowl hype, and could be everyone’s pick as the hypothetical opponent for the undefeated Packers in the NFC Championship game. Nevertheless, the Cowboys are (7-6) and will have to fight for their playoff lives. However, it could be worse. The Cowboys are only one game back in both the NFC East and Wild Card, with three games to play, including a potential winner take all rematch with the NFC East leading Giants. The Cowboys will likely need to run the table in order to make the playoffs.
The first of the Cowboys three remaining games is this Saturday night against the (4-9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, that is not a misprint; the game is on Saturday night and is a part of a double header on the NFL Network. Last Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-14 stunned the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers got up early, 14-0 and allowed the Jaguars to score 41 unanswered points behind running back Maurice Jones-Drew’s four touchdowns.
Monday, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett announced the news that rookie phenom running back, DeMarco Murray will be out the remainder of the season and will need surgery on his fractured ankle. Murray suffered the fracture in the first quarter of last Sunday night’s games against the Giants. For most teams, this would be a serious problem, but for the Cowboys, it is not. With Murray out, the Cowboy will turn to Felix Jones who was their starter when the season began. If not for hurting his own ankle, Jones may never have lost his starting job. He was was the Cowboys first round pick four seasons ago and last week against the Giants, he ran for 106 yards on 16 carries. The Buccaneers defense has allowed opponents to average 139.7 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth worst average in the league. Look for the Cowboys to lean on Jones to carry their offense and keep their season alive.
