It Was the Rams, Dude: What Jason Garrett Can Learn from Cowboys' 34-7 Win

"After all, it was just the Rams, dude."

The quote, by Adam "PacMan" Jones, sums up the Dallas Cowboys' 34-7 win over the St Louis Rams on Sunday. Sure it was a win, and a win is a win no matter where it comes from, but this was hardly the kind of victory that signifies to the rest of the league that the Cowboys are back on top.

So, what can the Cowboys and Jason Garrett take away from this game?

For one thing, the Cowboys' offense finally showed up in a game they were supposed to dominate. This allowed them to do what a good team is supposed to do: Win games they are supposed to win.

So many times over the past four years, and into the 2011 season, the Cowboys have failed to show up on offense. Frustrating losses have repeatedly put the Cowboys in a late season scramble for the playoffs when they should have been dominating.

By winning the games they are supposed to win, the Cowboys might actually clinch a playoff spot. They might even snag the NFC East title a week or two before the last game of the season. Doing so would help them in the quest for a home playoff game, which increases their chances of making it to the Super Bowl.

Jason Garrett should also take from this game the success of the running game as it relates to Tony Romo.

The Cowboys kept Romo to a modest 166 yards on 24 attempts, but with two touchdown passes. This change allowed the Cowboys to manage the game properly and helped avoid the self-destruct mode of the offense that usually occurs when Romo is asked to throw 40-plus times in a game.

Sure, it was the Rams. And they were playing with a backup quarterback A.J. Feeley as well, so they were ridiculously handicapped. But how many times have the Cowboys struggled in games that were supposed to be easy?

The Cowboys are 3-3; this victory hardly put them on top of the NFL. If Jason Garrett ever expects his team to get better, he better pay attention: Win the games you are supposed to win, and don't ask the quarterback to carry the whole team.

That's what the run game is for.

That's the bottom line.