Dallas Cowboys: 3 Reasons Cowboys Need Not Panic

The Dallas Cowboys still very much have the playoffs in sight.  Although it is highly demoralizing having the Jets dead-to-rights before the fourth quarter collapse, they still have a very reasonable path to an 11-5 record and in turn, the playoffs. 

The Cowboys made some huge mistakes Sunday night which ultimately erased a superb performance by the entire team.  Tony Romo is dealing with his lingering problem of untimely miscues late in games, but before his two fourth quarter turnovers he was brilliant. 

The truth is there is a lot to be disappointed about as a Cowboys player, coach or fan, but there is a lot to be optimistic about as well.  The Cowboys went toe-to-toe with a team that was been within reach of the Super Bowl for two straight years.  The Cowboys moved the ball fluidly at times against a defense regarded by many as the best in the league.  And most importantly the defense was stellar in Rob Ryan’s first showing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Here are three reasons the Dallas Cowboys and their fans can relax after a gut-wrenching defeat and look forward to football in January. 

The Defense Has the Makings of a Dominant Group

There was a lot of speculation coming into the season about Rob Ryan’s highly touted defensive schemes.  After the preseason there were mixed feelings on whether the Cowboys defense would be ready to improve under Ryan given the time they had to find continuity.  After their bout with the Jets in primetime, a lot of those questions seem resolved. 

The Cowboys lost the game 27-24, but the defense in reality only gave up 17 of those points.  The blocked punt return had nothing to do with them and the game-winning field goal after Revis’ interception return into Cowboys territory was a big win for the defense.  They managed to hold the Jets to a three and out after stuffing the Jets on two rush attempts and almost picking off a Sanchez throw.  This is when the Jets had an opportunity to run the clock down, but they held them to a long Nick Folk attempt and gave the offense one last shot. 

They were able to force two big turnovers, one interception returned to the Jets one-yard line setting up a touchdown and one clutch strip sack by special teamer Danny McCray.  They also managed four sacks, two by perennial sack-master DeMarcus Ware who is showing that he is ready for a big season under Ryan.  Ultimately they held one of the league’s most powerful running attacks to 2.8 yards per carry. 

The only blemish would be the 335 yards passing given up to Mark Sanchez.  If you look deeper at the pass defense they were without their top three corner backs for most of the game.  Terrence Newman did not suit up, they lost their No. 3 corner Orlando Scandrick early on and Mike Jenkins had a tough outing coming out for injury numerous times.  The depleted secondary left nickel backs and special teamers attempting to cover Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason.  

There will not be many weeks where Alan Ball, Danny McCray and Brian McCann will win those battles late in a game.  Overall, though, the Cowboys made big plays on the defensive side and will again have a productive pass rush.  Once Newman, Jenkins and Scandrick are on the field together this group will be impressive down the stretch.  After Sunday night’s results I am a believer in Rob Ryan and his system.

Tony Romo and the Offense Was Actually Sharp

Before Tony Romo’s devastating fumble on the Jets one-yard line that erased guaranteed points and his mind-numbing throw to Darrelle Revis he was on point.  Romo and the offense marched down the field the very first drive of the game showcasing Dez Bryant’s talents right in front of Revis and Antonio Cromartie. 

The rest of the game was tough sledding, but Romo repeatedly avoided the Jets' pass rush to make plays down the field.  The run game was stifled as to be expected against the Jets, but they were actually very successful getting both Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray involved in the screen game.  Jason Witten affirmed his worthiness of the new contract he received with a huge game and Miles Austin made a number of big catches in a physical battle with Cromartie. 

Tony Romo showed flashes of an efficient game plan early on when he was 11 for 13 passing for 150 yards in the second quarter.  He showed great mobility and made smart and confident throws.  It began to unravel when he avoided multiple sacks on the Jets one-yard line, made the plunge for the score and ultimately got the ball knocked loose.  This was a turning point for the Jets, but it's Tony Romo’s ability to turn something into nothing that makes him special.  That ball won’t get knocked out all year long.

It was the Romo of last year shining through when he made his worst throw of the game when it mattered most.  He threw it right to Revis when he attempted to get the ball to a double covered and hobbled Dez Bryant who probably should not have even been on the field.  This is the kind of play that dug the Cowboys their 1-5 start under Romo last season.  The optimism comes from every throw before that where Romo played a very effective and heady game.

In 2009 Tony Romo had his best season taking care of the ball with only nine interceptions.  The Cowboys must get that kind of decision making from him this season to be successful, but the good news is they know it can be done.

With the weapons at their disposal they will put up points in bunches as expected.  Even though they lost this game they came three yards short (on Witten’s 64-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter) of scoring 31 points on the New York Jets.  Last season only three teams all season were able to score 24 points on the Jets defense.  There is plenty to be excited about with this bunch.

The Remaining Schedule Bodes Well for Double-Digit Wins

You want to win every game, especially when you’re up 14 points in the fourth quarter, period.  The Cowboys failed to hold onto this one, but it may not be that important in the grand scheme of things.  If you have the Cowboys at 11-5 this season, you probably had them losing to the Jets anyways.  They still have Seattle, Arizona, San Francisco, St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Miami left.  Those are eight very winnable games.  You can mark them for a loss to the Patriots if you like, which just leaves them needing a 3-3 finish in the NFC East.

The Cowboys can easily split the season series with each team in the division.  The Washington Redskins looked good, but are an inferior team.  The New York Giants looked abysmal in a 28-14 defeat to the Redskins and could possibly yield a season sweep for the Cowboys.  The Philadelphia Eagles are their biggest competition as in most years, but the Cowboys are 4-1 in their last five meetings with Philly.

The scheduling after their 6-10 season last year should certainly be a crutch for the Cowboys after an early season loss to the Jets.   Another reason not to panic is their competition for the playoffs in the NFC did not look great either.  The Giants have some serious problems after failing to beat the Redskins and Eli Manning looked bad all night long, not just for two plays.  The Atlanta Falcons also seem to have more to work on than the Cowboys after they failed to compete with the Chicago Bears in a 30-12 loss on Sunday. 

So if you assumed the Packers, Eagles, Saints and an NFC West team to be named later will win their respective divisions it leaves just a few teams legitimately vying for the last two playoff spots.  Of course it's too early to tell who will be in the running come late December, but let's speak hypothetically here. Out of those teams let’s say the Bears and Lions both looked good, but they are from the same division and will find a way to beat each other up.  The Cowboys looked better against a very good Jets team than the Falcons or Giants looked on Sunday.

We’re just one week into the season with a lot of football left to play.  Advocates for the Dallas Cowboys should feel pretty good about their play Sunday night as a whole even though they came away with the ”L”.  The defense was borderline dominant and will only get healthier in the secondary.  The offense was very sharp in moving the ball and scoring against a top-tier defense.  And finally, the Cowboys have a schedule in front of them that can certainly be beat.