Cowboys-Vikings: Dallas Rights the Ship, Sinks Minnesota

At the end of the season, no one asks “How did you win?”

The only questions that matter are “Did you win?” and “How many games?”

The Dallas Cowboys added one to their record yesterday, beating the Minnesota Vikings 24-14.

The Cowboys now have a record of 6-1 as they go into their bye week.

It was a bizarre game and an ugly win, but teams that consider themselves Super Bowl worthy can win any type of game. Coming off of a throttling against New England, it was particularly important for the Cowboys to win and go into their bye on a high, so to speak.

It definitely helped that the Dallas defense faced arguably THE WORST QB IN THE NFL, Tarvaris Jackson, and that Vikings coach Brad Childress did not fully utilize his most potent offensive weapon, running back Adrian Peterson.

Do not be fooled by Tony Romo’s numbers—31 for 39, 277 yards, one TD, and a 104.8 QB rating would say that he had a breezy day. It was anything but that for Romo and the Cowboys, although the way it started could’ve fooled anyone.

The Cowboys scored their only first quarter TD ALL SEASON on their opening drive of the game—a good answer to the question, “Why can’t this offense get started earlier?”

Minnesota quickly answered with their running back duo of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, tying the game at 7-7.

The Cowboys' offense faltered the rest of the half, turning the ball over twice, watching one, and nearly both, get returned for TDs.

Romo almost had Cowboys' fans in full panic attack mode as he tried to stop Minnesota corner Cedric Griffin from scoring after taking a lateral from linebacker Ben Leber, who had recovered Patrick Crayton’s fumble at the Minnesota 43.

Romo was thinking “make the tackle” but changed his mind at the last minute, sliding down after correctly realizing he was about to get LIT UP like a Griswold family Christmas tree.

Unfortunately, Romo strained his right hamstring in the attempt and Griffin ended up with a 28-yard TD, giving the Vikings a 14-7 halftime lead. 

Romo said he was alright but it was clear that he had no push-off on his right foot the rest of the day, which limited his mobility.

After completing 28 of 32 attempts in the first half for 231 yards, Romo would complete just three of seven for 46 yards in the second.

Baby Drop Owens had a good day, finishing with 103 yards on seven catches. The only two scoring drives the offense had were a direct result of Romo finding T.O. and Jason Witten—10 catches for 86 yards—for big gains.

He found T.O for a TD on the opening drive of the game and again for a 22-yard catch in the third quarter at the Vikings three. That catch set up a Marion Barber one-yard TD that tied the game at 14 with 6:55 remaining in the third.

Defense and special teams took care of the rest.

The play of the game came right after Barber’s TD as the Vikings offense came back with a strong drive and got in position for a 48-yard FG that would have given them the lead.

Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty, the team’ s tallest defensive player at 6'7", rushed through the Vikings' line and blocked Ryan Longwell’s kick.

The ball bounced up in the air and landed in the hands of safety Pat Watkins. Watkins returned it for a 68-yard TD that sealed the deal and was, in effect, a 10-point play.

To put in perspective how rare that play is, consider the fact that the last time the Cowboys' franchise had returned a blocked field goal attempt for a TD, Ronald Reagan was in office, MTV actually played music videos, and O.J. was loved by all.

The year was 1983.

Because of that play, the Vikings abandoned the run and Adrian Peterson, who entered as the leading rusher in the NFL, finished with just 12 carries for 63 yards, the lowest total of his young career.

The Cowboys added some insurance in the fourth quarter in the form of a Nick Folk 45-yard FG. They were able to milk the clock, with Barber gaining 81 of his 96 yards in the second half.

Romo showed, once again, why he is so strong in the franchise right now, gutting this game out and taking a beating from a tough Vikings defense.

The stat line says he was only sacked three times, but he took a beating. You could see the determination and fight that Romo has—you couldn’t take this guy off the field if you put a loaded gun to his head.

That’s what you want in your franchise QB. That’s who you want leading your team. It wasn’t a pretty day and to be honest, Romo hasn’t had a pretty day in almost three weeks, but the Cowboys have only lost one game out of their first seven.

And this team, particularly the defense, hasn’t fully realized its potential yet.

Marion “The Barbarian” Barber had an excellent game, finishing with 96 yards on 19 carries and further fueling the debate on whether he should start.

Julius Jones is the starter but in name only. He finished with 28 yards on nine carries.

Barber is getting the bulk of the load, and for good reason. His punishing style of running and mad-dog exuberance sets the tone for the offense.

No knock to Jones, but the Cowboys' offense is a different animal with Barber in the game. How can you not be inspired to go to battle when you see your running back not just dish out stiff arms but actually HIT DEFENDERS ON THE HEAD WITH HIS FIST?

Barber loves contact, where Jones wants no part of it. Barber runs like a savage beast. He gets himself out of frequent trouble spots with his style of running more often than not. Yes, he cost himself a first down because of that mad style yesterday, but on the whole it serves him and the team for the better.

I think he’s already the starter, but the time may come later in the season where Wade Phillips decides he needs to have Barber in earlier to set a tone for the team. It’s a gamble—but it’s one that Phillips may have to take as the difficult part of the season sets in.

If I were a Minnesota fan, I’d be pissed off that my head coach doesn’t give our best player more opportunities with the football, and seems completely out of his element on the sidelines.

I know Childress says that they’re trying not to burn Peterson out because he's the future of the team, but 12 carries is ridiculous.

Peterson may be the future, but Childress won’t be around to see it. There were times where he had a look on the sideline that defied the clichéd “deer in the headlights” look.

It was more like “fool being exposed for having delusions of adequacy” look.

I would also be frustrated as a Vikes fan that we have an EXCELLENT defense that has kept us in every game this season, but whose efforts are being wasted because we have NO QB.

Tarvaris Jackson is just awful—and I’ve had to deal with a revolving QB door in Dallas for seven years that included Ryan Leaf, Quincy Carter, and the immortal Vinny Testaverde.

Tarvaris makes Quincy look like a Hall-of-Famer.

When opposing defenses know to load up the box because your QB can’t throw, and are literally DARING him to throw, you’re going to be in trouble.

Jackson's numbers:

Six…SIX of 19 for 72 yards, no TDs.

SIX COMPLETIONS FOR A GAME.

I wonder if owner Zygi Wilf would like a do-over on getting rid of Daunte Culpepper, because the Vikings could EASILY be a playoff team in the NFC if they had a SERVICEABLE—not good but SERVICEABLE—QB.

Despite the 6-1 record, far exceeding the hopes of fans, this Dallas Cowboys team hasn’t played its best football yet.

Come their return November 4 at Filthy, the Cowboys defense will, HOPEFULLY, have their full secondary with the return of corner Anthony Henry.

The following week at the Giants will see the Cowboys debut of Tank Johnson after serving his eight-game suspension.

The Cowboys will also see the serious flesh of the season right out of the bye with a two-game road trip against divisional opponents followed by the Thanksgiving gauntlet, with three games in an 11-day span.

After that, three of the last four are on the road against NFC teams that will be in the playoff hunt.

For once, the bye comes at the perfect time for a team needing to nurse its wounds, fix their penalty problems, and make a commitment to do what the Parcells-led teams of the last four years never did—play well, in December when games matter most.