Dallas Cowboys: The 8 Defining Plays of the 2010 Season

Disappointment is probably the word most fans will use if asked to sum up the 2010 Dallas Cowboys. The season started on a sour note with a loss to the hated Washington Redskins, and the losing continued as the Cowboys dropped games to the Bears, Titans and Vikings.

Tony Romo was lost for the season after taking a vicious hit from Giants linebacker Michael Boley and rookie Dez Bryant’s season ended early once he fractured his ankle on a kick return in a game against the Colts.

The injuries were just a microcosm of the Cowboy season, as they were quickly ushered out of the NFC playoff race with a rough 1-7 start to the season.

Once head coach Wade Phillips was fired and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was named interim head coach, the ‘Boys seemed to turn things around and gain focus. Dallas finished the year at 6-10 but after such a tumultuous start their strong finish showed their ability to persevere.

With high hopes for 2011 the Cowboys are anxious to put 2010 far behind them. But before we totally put last season behind us, let's take a look at eight plays that defined their season.

Alex Barron Called for Holding Against Redskins

Perform a YouTube search for Alex Barron and the first video to come up under his name is titled “Alex Barron doesn’t care about football.”

Cowboys fans were ready to chase Barron clean out of town after his hook and tackle of Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo led to a holding call against Barron that negated a Cowboys game-winning touchdown.

That play, penalty and loss to the ‘Skins was a sign of things to come. We just didn’t know it at the time.

Tony Romo Breaks Collarbone

I remember sitting on my couch watching this play, and it's like the play happened in slow motion. Romo calls hike, drops back and next thing I know, Romo is staring down the barrel of Giants linebacker Michael Boley’s blitzing rifle.

Romo was crushed and as soon as Boley laid the wood on Tony, we knew that it was over. Romo grabbed his left shoulder and so goes the season with his injury.

The NFL Network was able to capture the sound of the injury and Romo’s initial reaction once the hit happened.

Frightening.

Dez Bryant Fractures Ankle

To read about Dez Bryant last season in Dallas was to read about an ongoing soap opera. There was the injured ankle in training camp, the shoulder pads issue with Roy Williams in training camp, his blow-up on the sideline at Thanksgiving and his ankle injury against the Colts.

His season was explosive yet tumultuous and NFL fans loved every second of it.

Bryant’s season ended after being tackled on a 21-yard kickoff return. The ‘Boys beat the Colts in this game but his injury was a representation of all the Cowboys went through in 2010.

Sean Lee Interception of Peyton Manning in OT

Man I miss football. The Colts had the ball in OT with a little over 11 minutes left in overtime. Manning steps to the line and goes through his normal progressions of real and fake audible.

Manning goes into the shotgun formation, calls hike, feels a little pressure, sees an open receiver, or tight end, in Jacob Tamme, throws the ball and Mike Jenkins taps the ball. Sean Lee does the rest and picks off the pass.

It was a lovely play as Jenkins was able to grab a little redemption and Lee grabbed his second interception.

The ‘Boys caused four Manning turnovers that day in Indy, which led to a win over the Colts 38-35.

Jon Kitna 29-Yard Touchdown Run

After Romo’s injury, the demeanor of most fans was down because the alternative to Tony was Jon Kitna. There was no doubt about Kitna’s ability to sling the rock but his penchant for interceptions and mistake-prone football scared the Jebus out of a lot of people.

But he soon turned the heads of fans and pundits alike with his steady play and tough behavior. He was rowdy, vocal and exuded leadership.

The play that probably defined Kitna’s season was his 29-yard touchdown on a naked bootleg against the Lions shocked the heck out of me.

It just showed the fight and spirit of Kitna and this Cowboys team.

Miles Austin 69-Yard Touchdown Catch in Traffic

The Cowboys are stacked with playmakers as Miles Austin showed himself to be just that in his breakout game against the Chiefs in 2009.

But this catch was just a thing of beauty. Austin caught the ball between Titans cornerback Ryan Mouton and free safety Michael Griffin as both players ended up on the ground to watch Austin skate in for the touchdown.

The Titans won the ballgame, but the Cowboys' big-play ability was very much on display on this October day.

Bryan McCann 101-Yard Interception Return for Touchdown Against Giants

It's 3^rd-and-goal and the Giants are on the Cowboys 2 ½-yard line with a chance to score a touchdown and tie the game up at nine points apiece.

Peyton’s brother Eli is in the shotgun, calls hike, attempts to throw a slant to wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and the ball is picked off by Bryan McCann. McCann promptly scores a touchdown after running 101 yards.

The Cowboys beat the Giants 33-20 in Jason Garrett’s debut as head coach for the ‘Boys and McCann’s interception was just icing on the cake.

Bryan McCann 97-Yard Punt Return for a Touchdown Versus the Lions

There was much negativity and frustration associated with the 2010 Cowboys that I heard that sad “Arms of the Angel” song when I saw some of their highlights.

But big-time players step up in big-time games and the Cowboys playmakers proved that time and time again.

McCann was able to make a name for himself with two huge touchdowns, with the first against the Giants and the second against the Lions.

After Dez Bryant waived off a punt and let the ball bounce toward the goal line, the pigskin then took a bounce toward McCann. He picked it up and ran 97 yards to pay dirt.

Touchdown Cowboys.