Dallas Cowboys Are Taking the Identity of New Coach With Every Game

The Dallas Cowboys team that is 3-1 under Jason Garrett, is completely different from the one that spent the first nine weeks with Wade Phllips as the head coach. This team creates turnovers, has a running game, receivers that catch passes and doesn't commit penalties. 

The only thing the same is the personnel. Adding to that is the fact that the Cowboys have played with backups on both sides of the ball in recent weeks, including yesterday's game. So why exactly is this team responding to Jason Garrett instead of Wade Phillips? Someone the Cowboys took up for the entire season while they were losing games.

Many analysts have said that it's because Phillips treated the Cowboys like men and Garrett treats the team like boys, giving them a dress code, making sure they're not late for meetings and putting them in pads on Wednesdays. 

It's more than that.

Phillips had an identity that isn't compatible with football. Phillips didn't get excited when the Cowboys won, just happy. He didn't get angry when they lost, just disappointed. Instead of pushing his players, he expected them to push themselves. 

You can't run a professional football team that way. You can't expect to motivate your players when your players can barely tell if you're motivated. 

Jason Garrett is different. He spent his whole career fighting to make a roster, but when he was called on to play, he made the most of his opportunities, and now he's doing the same as a head coach. 

Garrett played 12 years as a backup, using his will and determination more than his physical gifts. Now he's showing the Cowboys that same determination and they've responded as well as anyone would've thought. 

After Taj Smith blocked Mat McBriar's punt and returned it for a TD to tie the game, no one would've bothered the Cowboys for packing it up and letting Manning take over for the victory. The headlines would've still read that the Cowboys played hard and showed up, but they just fell to Peyton Manning like so many others have. 

Instead the Cowboys kept fighting, just like their coach has his whole life, and like their coach, the Cowboys faced adversity and came out on top.  Mike Jenkins was lit up for most of the day, but tipped Manning's pass and Sean Lee intercepted it. 

A few plays later David Buehler, who missed a 48-yard field goal earlier in the game, hit a 38-yard attempt to win the game.

Instead of jumping up and down with the rest of the team, Garrett simply handed his headset off and walked to the middle of the field to shake hands, like he knew his team would overcome adversity to win.

Like he has for so many years. 

The Cowboys have not only become watchable, but they've given Cowboys fans confidence that they can win, something that most Cowboys fans gave up on earlier in the season. 

With another win under Garrett and the Cowboys heading home to wait for the division leading Eagles, you have to wonder how much of an impact the Cowboys will have on the division, even though there's no way they can win it.