Tuesday, November 15, 2005

A little perspective on Cowboys-Eagles

Now that I've had a bit of time to digest last night's game, I'd like to weigh in with a few additional HSOs (that's "Hot Sports Opinions" for those of you who didn't know):

1. "The Cowboys should not feel very good about this one"

This was my quote in last night's post. I think I need to temper that a bit. It was a win in Philadelphia, on Monday night. You have to feel good about that. The defense did not quit, and you have to feel good about that. They refused to let the Eagles put them away, and managed to stay in the game until late. All good. The Cowboys should feel good about this one for a moment. However, the moment is over.

2. Roy Williams

Roy Williams started the season about like he played last year - not well. He got torched on pass coverage regularly. His lack of speed was exploited successfully by Washington in their come-from-behind, MNF, on-the-road shocker of the Cowboys. He wasn't tackling well and just seemed lost. Well, no more. Williams has bounced back and has had about three excellent games in a row. He's making plays, tackling like a madman, just generally flying around. He's doing what the Cowboys drafted him to do, and it's fun to watch. Keep it up, Roy!

3. Bledsoe

He made another bone-headed play by throwing an interception while being sacked, and he looked a bit like the immobile geezer at times, but he came thru when he needed to. He puts so little visible effort into these bullets and bombs that its a bit deceptive. He looks like he's playing catch with a little kid, but then the ball flys 40 yards or at 120 mph. Unbelievable. It was great to see him complete passes to just about everyone last night, esp since the Eagles defense kept him in check for most of the game. He found it when he needed to.

4. Parcells

The team won in spite of him last night. I'll cut him slack since he planted his younger brother over the weekend. However, I wonder what the papers and radio shows would be saying if that 3-runs-and-out final offensive series had cost them the game.

5. Donovan McNabb

Is he taking the "tough-guy" bit too far? I think so. For most of the season, he's been playing through the kind of pain that would probably kill the average man. It clearly got the best of him late last night, but it was obvious (and has been obvious) that he's not right just by the number of over- and under-thrown balls. It seems hard to believe that Mike McMahon or Koy Detmer is a better choice for the Eagles, but it seems clear that McNabb can't go on as is.

6. Eagles fans

The worst fans in the US, and only marginally less obnoxious than English football hooligans, it's always a pleasure to see sports doom and misfortune hit the City of Brotherly Shove. A quick sampling of the Philly media this morning indicates the suicide hotlines will be busy today.

So now it's on to the only relatively easy game left on the schedule - Detroit on Sunday at noon. A playoff team should have no trouble with the Lions, so we'll see. After that, the road gets substantially harder.

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