Giants at Cowboys: Week Two Showdown (America's Table)

Week Two is upon us, and the 2009 Cowboys have their first opportunity to show the world how good (or bad) they are going to be this season.

Fresh off a Week One win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cowboys will travel back home to take on the hated New York Giants in the first-ever regular season game at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Sunday Night Football.

If the Cowboys can squeeze past their hated rival, then they could be on the fast track to a great start with the less-then-stellar-looking Carolina Panthers coming to town next Monday night, followed by games at Denver and Kansas City.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. This week, the Cowboys have got the Giants, and America’s Table has got plenty to say about it!

Q: The NFL miked up Tony Romo for the Week One game at Tampa Bay. For a player whose will to win and leadership have been consistently questioned, Romo seemed to have a fire in him last week—getting on players when they made mistakes, encouraging players when they played well, and all around just enjoying himself. Is this a different Romo than the one the Cowboys suited up last year, or was he simply performing for the camera?

James Williamson: I'm not sure. I think it is a bit of both. I think that he's always been a leader, but he's been silent because he was probably in the habit of staying silent. When you're an undrafted guy on the bench learning plays, you don't talk much because you can't pull any weight to back up the talk.

Now he realizes that he's got to stop being a laid-back guy in the locker room because some players may need someone to kick them in the (you know what) in order for them to get the job done.

It isn't fake though. Tony Romo doesn't have to answer to the fans, contrary to public opinion. He has never called for a press conference or shown any sort of frustration to the NFL fan base at all. He's a straight arrow when it comes to football, and he is being serious about winning.

Andrew Nuschler: I think it's probably a little of both.

Leading the team has to be easier this year without constantly having to worry whether Terrell Owens will use some comment to undermine him or simply wondering how his voice will go over with TO. I know y'all think I'm too harsh on Owens, but I really think his presence was a bigger negative than anyone can appreciate.

Regardless of how it manifested itself, I think Romo had to always consider Owens and that wore on him. Consider how much pressure is on a normal National Football League quarterback WITHOUT the biggest diva in the league constantly looking over his shoulder. I think the combo was a killer.

Now, Romo's gotta be feeling like he has a little breathing room.

Consequently, I do think you'll see a new Tony Romo—much more comfortable with his leadership role because it is a much more comfortable role.

That said, EVERYONE has to ham it up a bit if they know their mic'd.

Shoot, I'd love to pretend I'd be the same dude, but I think I'd be lying.

Can't blame the guy, but I think he was laying it on a little thicker than normal. Human nature.

Robert Allred: I don’t think this is a new Romo, but I also don’t think it is the same Romo we saw last year. This is the Romo we all saw when he took over the reins for Drew Bledsoe a few years ago and instantly became a fan favorite in the city of Dallas.

For whatever reason, Romo lost his mojo last year. He could be seen sulking, was at times apathetic, and could be easily described as disinterested in the game of football. Whether it was problems at home, problems in the locker room, or just a temporary change in priorities, Romo just didn’t seem right.

For at least one week, Dallas fans have the Tony Romo of old back, and that is very encouraging. Time will tell if this Romo is here to stay.

Now I am not going to be so naïve as to say that none of what is seen in this video is a little bit over-exaggerated for the camera, but I also do think that in the middle of a three hour game, it would be pretty easy to forget about the little microphone on you. I also think that the reactions from teammates tell you more about Romo’s game day actions than what he says and does. If this was a night-and-day different Tony Romo than what they had seen all pre-season, then the cameras would have caught that.

Romo may not be ready to travel the country teaching leadership seminars, but I do believe that he is taking steps in the right direction. Also, it should be noted that without Terrell Owens (and I happen to still like “the player”), Romo is—for the very first time in his career—the alpha-dog in the huddle.

Maybe that really does mean something.

Q: The overall result last week in Tampa was a positive one. Winning on the road in the NFL should never be taken for granted. However, the Cowboys were far from perfect, and early in the game, it looked as if the Bucs might give them a serious run for their money. If you're a Cowboys coach, what did you see from last week’s game that most concerned you?

James: My number one concern is Romo needs to get the timing with the receivers down quicker. A typical Dallas Cowboy game is one half of miscues and then the second half is filled with greatness because all the squeaks have gotten greased.

That has to stop because Dallas may not be able to keep it close for an entire half. Romo and the receivers need to be spot on at every point during the game. When you look back on it, the Cowboys might've been able to score 50 points if they had everything down right.

My number two concern is the lack of pass defense. The defensive backs can tackle them to the ground, but I'd like to see some deflected passes, some interceptions; I want to see this secondary really spark fear into the quarterback.

Now, even though the Cowboys did not have a single sack that game, the beating they gave Byron Leftwich was immense. Leftwich is just a smart veteran who knows how to get the ball away quickly. Eli Manning would've been destroyed under that pressure for sure.

Andrew: Oof.

Talk about a rough question—I didn't see the game (I'm in San Francisco) and I don't know a ton about the technical side of football.

However, I do know the Bucs canned their offensive coordinator 10 days before their season opener. I also know they scored 21 points against the Cowboys and ran up 450 yards of total offense. I also know, if there's a glaring weakness on the 'Pokes, it's on the defensive side of the ball.

Put all that together and it doesn't take a gridiron genius to realize the coaches in Big D must have some big worries about their D. Particularly stopping the New York Giants' rushing attack.

Tampa rushed for over 174 yards last week and, if memory serves me, the G-Men have a pretty ferocious running game.

That prospect can't be lulling the defensive coaches to sleep at night this week.

Robert: My biggest concern in the game was something that I originally had absolutely no concerns about—the Dallas Cowboys’ pass rush.

For whatever reason, the Cowboys’ front seven could not apply any pressure on Byron Leftwich, and ended the game without getting a single sack. And this was a team that led the league in that category last year!

Watching Greg Ellis on Monday night gave me a very troubling concern that perhaps he was more important then we all realized. He may be getting up there in years, and he may be a perennial pain in the butt when it comes to off-season contract talks, but the old boy still has a little left in the tank.

He still had three tackles (all solo), a sack, and a forced fumble, and he was a noticeable part of the Raiders defense that, by all accounts, should have beaten the San Diego Chargers.

Ellis’ replacement, Anthony Spencer, was hardly noticeable on Sunday, and ended the game with only four tackles (two solo, two assisted). Not only that, but Spencer’s ineffectiveness also limited Ware’s production to only four tackles (all solo).

The Cowboys are young, and to a degree weak, at the corner and safety positions. We all knew that coming into the season, but the Cowboys were supposed to boast one of the best front sevens in the league. If the Cowboys cannot do more to apply pressure to the quarterback, then better offenses will have a field day against this defense.

Unless Spencer and others step up and prove to be a real threat, opposing defensive coordinators can just load up on the ‘Boys' best player, Ware, and take him completely out of the game.

Q: What will need to happen in order for the Cowboys to win their home opener against the Giants? What needs to happen for the Giants to beat the 'Boys?

James: The Cowboys are going to win this thing. I don't want to jinx it, but they have to really screw up to lose this game. New York can't outscore Dallas unless the Giants defense really clamps down on Dallas. The one time last year when Tony Romo went up against the Giants, the Cowboys won 20-8.

This is the new opening of the new stadium. There is no way Jerry Jones will allow this game to be lost.

If Tony Romo has another six-turnover game like he had two years ago against the Giants, then the 'Boys will lose, but overall, I do not see them losing this game. No sir-ee Bob.

Andrew: I'll go with the obvious here—Tony Romo has to play almost flawless football.

Even if the 'Pokes improve drastically from last week, you gotta figure they're going to give up some points. Despite a shaky passing attack that has yet to find a permanent replacement for Plaxico Burress (although they made some progress last week), New York will almost certainly find the end zone once or twice.

And, with Osi Umenyiora back at full strength, the Giant pass rush should be even stronger.

Of course, two pieces of the New York secondary are banged up and defensive end Chris Canty won't play, so Romo's challenge will be that much easier.

As for what the Giants must do to win, given my previous few paragraphs, my answer is simple—get to Romo.

Pressure him, force him to hurry his throws, and take advantage of any mistakes he makes. As Tony Romo goes, so go the Dallas Cowboys.

Robert: As I addressed in the previous questions, the Cowboys need to improve their pass rush. Eli Manning is not—as his paycheck indicates—the best quarterback in the league, but he is an upgrade over Leftwich, and he can tear you apart if you cannot apply pressure on him.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Cowboys need to continue to mix it up, using their different personnel groups and formations to catch the Giants defense off guard. One of the most exciting things about last week’s game was all the different ways that the Cowboys offense showed that they can beat you. Popular to contrary belief before the season began, they have plenty of weapons, and if Romo can spread the ball around effectively, this offense can be an amazing one to watch.

For the Giants, they need to jump out to a good start. The atmosphere in the Cowboys Stadium is going to be absolutely electric on Sunday night, and should break attendance records for the NFL. The Cowboys have sold ever single standing-room-only “Party Pass,” and I doubt there will be an empty seat in the house.  (Also, I will be there, and I can yell very loud.)

The Giants need to do everything in their power to jump out to an early lead and take the crowd out of the game as quickly as possible.

Q: Sunday night is the first-ever Dallas Cowboys regular season home game in their new digs. What are your predictions?

James: Cowboys win 27-10 maybe? I'm not good with scores, but Dallas will win.

Andrew: Ha, this one isn't quite as easy as the Tampa Bay prediction.

Still, I like the 'Pokes.

I think the adrenaline of the new opening and the hysteria of the crowd will be major assets. I think the injuries on the New York defense will be a serious hindrance. I think Romo has another good game against the football Giants.

And I think Dallas wins 24-20 (ugh, can we get a game where I can pick Dallas to lose?).

Robert: I would love to predict a win, because it just makes me feel good inside. But the defensive struggles last week have got me seriously worried about how this team can match up against the league’s elite teams, of which the New York Giants arguably are a part.

The offense pleasantly surprised me last week, but I still will have to go with the Giants until I see noticeable improvement on the defensive end. Give me the Giants in a nail biter, 28-24.

(Plus, maybe if I pick the Cowboys to lose, I can jinx them into winning? We shall see!)