Monday, November 14, 2005

You gotta score points to win in the NFL

There will be all kinds of analysis of Dallas 21 Philadelphia 20 in coming days. I have two things to say right now, 30 seconds after Akers' 60 yard fg attempt fell short:

1. You gotta score points. The Eagles dominated the game, but the scoreboard didn't show it. You can't settle for field goals. You gotta put teams away when you get the opportunity. The Cowboys have learned this lesson the hard way several times this season. It was nice to see them on the other end of it for a change.

2. Getting conservative can kill you. Fortunately, the Pear-Shaped One didn't cost the Cowboys the game, but it was close. With just more than a minute left and the Eagles out of time-outs, a Cowboys' first down would have ended the game. The Cowboys were facing 3rd and 6 or 7, and His Massiveness decided to run the ball for the third straight play. They haven't run the ball worth a flip all night, but there goes Marion Barber up the middle for about 4 and the Cowboys have to punt. They got away with it, but it was a near thing.

A win is a win, and as has been pointed out here before, "how" does not matter. "How many" is the only question that's worth asking. Still, the Cowboys should not feel terribly good about this one.

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