Tuesday Morning Running Back Week 15: Cowboys Dominate in Big D

Sorry for the two-day delay. I was in the middle of final papers, but that's all behind me now.

It's probably common knowledge that the Dallas Cowboys are a lot like the famous prime time soap opera that shared their city's name in the 1980s.

You can certainly make a lot of comparisons from the players on the team to the characters on the show.

Wade Phillips is like Jock Ewing. He's a man that's in over his head trying to manage a team worth millions.

Tony Romo is like Bobby Ewing. He's the face of the family/franchise who's got it all—good looks, good job, and a pretty girlfriend. Jealousy swirls around him.

Finally, Terrell Owens is JR Ewing, a man with an enormous ego who thinks the world revolves around him. He's bound to complain when things aren't going his way. The fight with Jason Witten was a perfect example of that. He's also liable to stab a person in the back to get ahead.

Much like the fictional soap opera, the Cowboys' collection of fragile egos and overrated players is a recipe for disaster.

However, at least for one night, they were able to keep their egos in check.

Propelled by a strong second half and the calm leadership of Romo, the Cowboys avenged a painful week nine loss to Giants and defeated them 20-8. In the process, they kept their playoff hopes very much alive.

But will Wade Phillips prove himself to be a competent leader?

Will Romo continue to have it all?

And will Owens behave like a model citizen?

Tune in next week for the continuing story of the Dallas Cowboys. Stay tuned now for the bullet points.

•  I would rather have watched a Pauly Shore film festival than endure 10 seconds of the Seahawks-Rams game. It is comforting to note that the Seahawks actually played like they had something to prove.
• As if the Rams' performance wasn't painful enough, the Chiefs blew a 21-3 lead and failed to take advantage of a gift delay-of-game penalty. Oh the misery of Missouri pro football. Will it ever end?
• Somehow at 6-8, the Chargers are still alive in the AFC West. Yet the Patriots may finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs. Sometimes football is a funny game.
• Memo to Clinton Portis: Before you blame your coach for your offensive woes, you may not want to fumble at the goal line and drop easy passes against the lowly Bengals.
• Granted, the Packers defense did not play that bad, but their inability to win in games decided by four points or fewer means that they will be heading home in two weeks.
• The Lions are the first team since the 1980 Saints to go 0-14. I seriously doubt that there's a soul alive that wants them to win a game.
• Michael Turner is a workhorse. Without him the Falcons would be sitting poolside in Florida come January.
• Hey Texans, where was this when it mattered? Stingy defense and an explosive offense get you in the win column in the NFL.
• Cris Collinsworth said it first, but I will second his thought. Kerry Collins did play like Phil Collins against Houston on Sunday.
• Tony Sparano is certainly a Bill Parcells disciple. He pushes his players and gets results. I certainly think the Dolphins can and will win the AFC East.
• Merry Christmas Jets fans. The pitiful Bills offense gave you a gift win, and you know it.
• There were no shortage of storylines in the Patriots-Bills game, but Matt Cassel, like Brett Favre before him, turned the grief of his father's death into a brilliant performance.
• Memo to the Cardinals: Don't get too cocky about your division title. You looked like you were just going through the motions.
• 25 rushing touchdowns and a perfect record at home isn't that shabby, but if they win at the Meadowlands this Sunday, the Panthers will cap off a heck of a year as the possible No. 1 seed in the NFC.
• The Steelers got a gift too. There's no way that ball broke the plane.
• If there's a certainty in Cleveland, it's that Romeo Crennel is toast in two weeks.
• Good luck with your last minute Christmas shopping, and if you need a DTV converter box, please go get one. I'm tired of the ads already. See you next week.