America's Table: Dallas Cowboys Look to "Pounce" Back on Monday Night

Last week was a mixture of excitement and disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys as they opened their new stadium, only to lose in heart breaking fashion to the New York Football Giants.

But it is a new week, and the Cowboys have another big home game on Monday night, where they will host the struggling Carolina Panthers. The ‘Boys are still looking for their first home win in their new stadium, while the Panthers are simply looking for their first win of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys lost in probably the most agonizing possible way you could think of to open a new stadium—a last second field goal against a bitter rival. As the winning Giants field goal sailed through the uprights, however, a small glimmer of hope came fluttering back to the Cowboys faithful in the form of a Wade Phillips timeout, and the Giants were forced to kick the field goal again.

Needless to say, the Giants nailed the second one too, and the outcome remained the same. Still, this sneaky time out has become a popular move among NFL coaches despite the low probability of a payoff. What is your opinion of this time out call: cheap, dangerous, or just plain stupid?

James Williamson: It is a rule. You don't like it when it is used against your team and you love it when it helps your team win. Wade really took a chance on it because what if the kicker missed it on the timeout call? Then he gets a second chance to make a field goal.

I don't know what to think of it to be honest. I just don't know.

Andrew Nuschler: I think it's cheap and stupid.

Am I supposed to believe there's skill involved in calling the timeout at the last minute? I can't see a possible upside to it. Just a bad gimmick at the end of games. Get rid of it.

Robert Allred: It is just plain stupid in my opinion, and I cannot wait until it backfires on someone in a really, really, big game (like say, the Super Bowl?), so that coaches will stop subjecting us to this stupid call.

I could not help but think to myself after watching the second field goal sail through—what if they missed the first one? As sick as I was after watching the final field goal officially put the Cowboys away, I cannot even imagine how I would have felt if the first attempt had been blocked or just missed.

Coaches need to start to see the stupidity in this call. There is way too much risk and very little reward. Don’t get me wrong. Had this benefited the Cowboys, I’d be singing Wade’s praises and I would gladly take the win (no matter how cheap it us), but it doesn’t change how stupid this call is in my opinion.

The Cowboys traded blows against what is widely considered one of the elite teams in the NFL before falling just short to the Giants last Sunday night. This does not necessarily mean, however, that the Cowboys are just one or two small "kinks" away from being an elite team themselves.

Anyone that watched Sundays game saw a Cowboys team that has more than its fair share of problems. What was the most concerning player and/or problem with the Cowboys' performance last week?

James: I have a few big problems. One, I am concerned about letting Felix Jones to kickoff returns when he has gotten minor injuries and even fumbled one which led to a Giants score.

The thing that really hurt the Cowboys last year was the loss of Felix Jones, and I do not want him on the bench anymore. This guy is so deadly as a runner it is unreal.

Another problem I had was not executing better on the last drive by the Giants. The offense, despite its mistakes, got a 31-30 lead in the last minutes of the fourth quarter and the defensive backs could not stop the Giants' receivers.

They stop them there and the Cowboys win. Plain and simple. I'm not concerned about lack of sacks because the 'Boys were going up against a Pro Bowl line. We should get them next time.

The biggest problem I had was when Tony Romo was obviously off after two interceptions, why didn't the Cowboys just try to continue running the football? Tony shouldn't have made those mistakes, but even Joe Montana had an off day, which meant his running back, Roger Craig, was the guy to step up that game.

The Giants couldn't stop the run. The Cowboys have three great running backs. Throw Tashard Choice in there with Barber and Jones and really burn the Giants.

Other than that, I'm fine with our team. The offensive line was great, and Tony Romo will work on his mistakes.

Andrew: Haha, well, I'm guessing the obvious choice will also be the popular one.

Say what you want about the defense—and the lack of a pass rush was disconcerting—the 'Pokes were never meant to contend based on the defense. Furthermore, the turnovers by Tony Romo made a difficult challenge all the more burdensome.

Nope, this one's on Romo.

He's gotta be better when the wattage kicks up a bit on the bright lights or else this team is in rather large trouble. Simply making the playoffs doesn't cut it in Dallas. Not these days when every move is available in larger-than-life imagery, literally.

Robert: The popular answer for this question is going to be Tony Romo, but that is not my biggest concern.

He played terribly last week and should certainly take his fair share of blame for the loss, but I also see this as one bad game for him, and I expect him to bounce back.

The defense, however really scares me. Two weeks into the season, the Cowboys defense has yet to produce either a turnover or a sack. They are the only team that has a big zero in both of those stat categories. Not only that, but despite Tony’s abysmal game, the Cowboys were in position to win it with just one stop from our defense, and we could not get it done.

There is plenty of blame to go around after the loss against the Giants, but I don’t think the defense has gotten their fair share. They need to step up their performance if the Cowboys hope to make this season a truly special one.

The Carolina Panthers are coming to Dallas with an 0-2 record to start the season, and are in desperate need of a win. The Cowboys are playing their second straight nationally televised game in their new home, and also are in need of a win.

Put simply, this game is hugely important to all involved. Who needs this win more, and what will it take for each team to do so?

James: Carolina needs the win more really because an 0-3 start will probably signal buzzards to start hovering. They will need to stop the run of Dallas, and force Romo to make interceptions. They do that and they will win.

Andrew:  Although it's not as clear as would normally be the case when a winless team takes on a 1-1 squad, I'm still saying the Carolina Panthers need the win more. Both squads are behind the eight-ball with another loss because of the apparent strength of the NFC East as well as that of the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

With only two Wild Card spots available and several rugged contenders already emerging, neither bunch will want to fall too far behind.

But 0-3 looks a lot worse than 1-2 so Carolina's gotta find a way to get it done.  The Panthers will have to get a fine game from Jake Delhomme and the once-formidable defense must experience a renaissance.

And quickly.

Dallas?

Well, you know what I'm gonna say. They need a good game from Romo—the rest will follow.

Robert: Make no doubt about it, this is a HUGE game for the Dallas Cowboys…but it is still a bigger game for the Carolina Panthers, not only to get back in the right direction, but also to make a statement to the entire nation about what kind of team they can be this year.

I think the key for both teams is going to be the same: win the turnover battle. These two teams are currently 29th and 30th in the league in turnover differential. Both teams need to get this issue figured out if they hope to turn their season around.

The Dallas Cowboys are the better team, and they have home field advantage on Monday night. If the Panthers hope to pull the upset, they are going to have to force the Cowboys to play some more ugly football, and then take advantage of their mistakes.

On the other side of the coin, the Cowboys need to stop hurting themselves. It can easily be argued that last week, if it weren’t for stupid interceptions, fumbles, and penalties, the Cowboys could have very easily (and perhaps should have) won that game.

Let's hear your predictions. Carolina Panthers at the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night—Who wins and what is the score?

James: I refuse to give an answer there because I jinxed Dallas last week. However, I would like to see a 35-7 win by Dallas (wink, wink).

Andrew: As badly as the Panthers need it, I still don't see the Cowboys starting 0-2 in their new palace. Call it 27-20.

Robert: I just don’t see the Cowboys dropping two in a row at their new stadium. Yes, the Panthers are desperate for a win, and I think they will come to play, but I still think the Cowboys are the stronger team, and they have got the advantage of playing in front of an electric crowd in their new stadium.

Give me the Cowboys, 31-16.