Dallas vs. New England -- where the hell is the game?

[mattdavis11]

I'm coming around. He completed 64.6% of his passes yesterday. He threw for an average of 8.08 yards per pass attempt. His arm and receiving corps. won that ball game, no doubt.

I can't imagine how good the Pats would be with a running game, but to be honest, they don't need one.

My QB statement about Brady being average is just a feel. It's not him that scares the competitor, or their fans. To me, he just doesn't cause the worry about what might happen next because of his ability throwing the football. The great ones cause, or used to cause that type of feeling.

Congrats NE Pats players, coaches, and fans, you have a very good football team.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

....My QB statement about Brady being average is just a feel. It's not him that scares the competitor, or their fans. To me, he just doesn't cause the worry about what might happen next because of his ability throwing the football. The great ones cause, or used to cause that type of feeling....

I'd bet that Joe Montana (imo, "the best") didn't scare too many defenses with his throwing ability either early in his career. That is, until the wins and Super Bowl rings just kept mounting....don't underestimate Brady, a QB is much more than just "an arm" .

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Don't discount the running game either. Maroney and Faulk are very, very good RBs, and Maroney is still coming into his own. . . I think their efforts are eclipsed (especially after this past weekend) by the air game, but they can get it done on the ground when they need to. Certainly not as dominating as some other teams, but more than adequate.

[Nathans_Dad]

Ok here are my thoughts on the game as a die-hard Cowboys fan:

1). The game was closer than the final score, New England rammed it down the defense's throat in the 4th quarter because the defense had been on the field FOREVER. Those guys were just beat down. I think most of the game was decided in the first half when Dallas had 3 three and outs and was only on the field for 9 minutes out of the first 30. Tough for any defense to defend New England for 37 minutes out of 60.

2). The offense actually played fairly well in the 2nd half, I thought they had a chance in the 3rd quarter when they started to run off big chunks of yardage. That is where the heart of the Cowboys offense is, getting those big O Lineman to beat on people in the second half and wear down the defense. If Dallas is running the ball well, they usually will win.

3). Penalties absolutely killed the Cowboys. They had to play a perfect game to beat the Patriots and 12 penalties is no where near a perfect game. Two were particularly bad, the illegal shift that negated the 25 yard Owens completion and the holding penalty against Kosier that nullified the 4th and 1 conversion. That one broke the back. If they get that 1st down, they have the ball on the Patriots 45 yard line down by 7. Assuming they can get into field goal range (which is a pretty good chance) they go into the 4th quarter down by 4 or possibly tied. As it was, they punted and NE drove the ball in for a TD and a 14 point lead. Game over.

4). The sky is no where near falling for the Cowboys. We found out that they aren't good enough to beat the Patriots in week 6. Isn't that what everyone expected? I never understand how the media around here picks the Pats to win and then freaks out when they do win. Dallas got beat by a better team, right now. That's not to say that when (and if) they were to meet again in the Super Bowl that Dallas wouldn't beat em.

5). The Dallas secondary is hurting us. We had to play Nathan Jones at nickelback this week. Remember, this is a guy that was released by Dallas and CLEARED WAIVERS. That means not a single other team in the league wanted him...even for a practice squad. Then Dallas had to resign him when Newman went down before the season. If you look at the third down plays, whenever they were in the nickel the Pats threw to whoever Jones was covering, it was Jones that got roasted by Stallworth in the 4th quarter, Jones that gave up one of the two TDs to Welker. The guy is a liability. Now if you put Newman and Henry at CB and have Jacques Reeves as the nickel, maybe those two TDs don't happen...I don't know.

6). Last (but in no way least), Belichick is an ass. Who the hell decides to go for it on 4th and goal from the one yard line, up 14 points with less than 2 minutes left? Kick the frickin field goal. You still go up three scores and the game is over. By going for it, Belichick was just trying to run up the score on an already tired and beaten Cowboys defense. It was a classless move in my opinion and shows what an ass he truly is. I seriously hope the Cowboys meet them in the Super Bowl and beat the living ***** out of them. I didn't have a reason to hate the Patriots before, now I do. Thanks Bill.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Points matter. And I see nothing wrong with a coach trying to run up the score - that's what you're being paid to do. Win, and win big. Hardly "classless" in my book. That's what he's SUPPOSED to do.

Demoralizing your opponent by handing them an extra four points to overcome for a potential postseason matchup is smart on his part. Gives the Cowboys a much bigger psychological hurdle to overcome - and sends a message that his team is out to pound you if you let them.

[JCF]

If he cared about the points he would have gone for the field goal IMHO.

All your other points are spot on.
Dallas was better than I thought they were - and will get lots better.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Dallas is very good, they just need some more time and some more discipline. Right now I still think they're about 70% hype, 30% substance, but they have the potential to go pretty far if they commit to it as a team.

Talent-wise, they're still above-average and it'll get them places. Problem is, talent alone won't get you all the way.

[lendaddy]

Jeff, the universally accepted "classy" approach in that situation is to go for it (straight up dive play). Kicking the field goal would be running it up. Another un-classy move would be a pass or misdirection run.

[mattdavis11]

I don't think it was an act of classlessness on Belichex part.

I am waiting for Phillips to admit, in a Lou Holtz manner, that "Dallas is not a very good football team". At least say that the defensive backs are "not a good 1/4 of a football team".

It's no secret that if you want to beat Dallas all you have to do is throw the football. It's been that way for a couple of years now.

Don't take that as discredit to your team Pats fans. I've already said how good the team is.

[Nathans_Dad]

I disagree that going for it is the classy move, and apparently so does a writer on CBS Sportsline.com who wrote an article this morning asking the same question.

There are 19 seconds left in the game, you are up by two touchdowns and you go for it on 4th and 1? Sorry, kick the field goal and get off the field.

Hey, I'm not complaining, the Cowboys needed something to bite them in the ass for the next 6 games, which are all very winnable on paper. If they are sitting at 10-2 after this next stretch I will be a happy man.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

"Humble popcorn" anyone?

Any given weekend any team (including NE) is beatable. It's just a question of planning, desire, drive and execution.

I think my HS coach might have said that (or words to that effect) years ago.

[mattdavis11]

The first time I read that, for some reason I thought you were trying to tell us that Miami might win a game this year.

[Sonic dB]

It's not him that scares the competitor, or their fans.

Again, you have to re-examine your position here and look at the facts.

Brady does not scare the competitor?

OK Fact: Before the 06 season, SI took a poll of NFL players as to which
other NFL player they would NOT want to face in a game...and Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were numbers 1 and number 2.

They also took a poll on who is the most overrated player in the NFL and Terrell Owens won that one.

There is a clip from the 03 Superbowl where the Carolina Panthers were battling the Patriots in an air war in the 4th quarter. Brady was putting up big numbers that game, but Jake Delomme was playing well also...

Anyway, the Panthers had just scored with about a minute left and they showed 2 Panther players on the sideline...but they were not ready to celebrate their SB win....one guy looks at the other and says "Hey, This Aint Over....not with THAT GUY over there!"

So Yeah... an average QB that no one fears....riiiighttt....

Well every other QB in the league, with the exception of Peyton Manning are well below average then.

Mr. Average:

"Widely regarded as one of the best playoff quarterbacks of his era,[2] Brady has won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX), two Super Bowl MVP awards (XXXVI and XXXVIII), and has been invited to four Pro Bowls, all with the Patriots. Additionally, Brady was Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 2005, and was named to the AP All-Pro Team in 2005. As of 2007, he is the 5th rated passer in NFL history with over 20,000 yards (90.9). His career completion percentage (62.5 %) ranks 4th all-time among qualifiers (3,000 attempts). On October 1st, 2007, Brady set the NFL record for the highest completion percentage (79%) for a quarterback's first 100 passes to start a season.[3] He also helped set the record for the longest consecutive win streak in NFL history with 21 straight wins over two seasons.[4]"

[Sonic dB]

There are 19 seconds left in the game, you are up by two touchdowns and you go for it on 4th and 1? Sorry, kick the field goal and get off the field.

Hey... The Pats handed the ball to the 4th string RB who had never scored a TD in the NFL before...a guy that probably will not see much action this season except in mop up duty.

Do you think that did something for that player's Morale and also the Team Morale to see that guy get a little reward for his HARD WORK?? Sure it did.

Again that is good coaching by the Genius Bellichick. Giving his 4th string guys who work hard, some props.

It is not like they threw the ball to Moss in that situation, they handed off and the 4th string RB scored. If the Cowboys had a problem with that, well.....maybe they should have gotten fired up and actually tackled the guy.

[sammyg2]

That's one of the reasons why I and many other don't want a football team in LA.

I would rather watch a good game instead of a local game, ref. the LA rams when they were here.
I have to admit I enjoy watching the raiders get they a$$es handed to them but that's getting so commonplace that the thrill isn't what it used to be.

A couple of local pizza and sports bars didn't show the game at all. Seems that whenever the raiders are on TV the patrons get too roudy and cause trouble and the cops show up so they stopped showing them. Doesn't surprize me at all, most of the raiders fans I've met are not the sort I would care to associate with.

[carambola]

i dislike both the Pats and the Boys. i think the final touchdown was a direct result of the TO called at 1:48. let the clock run and the game is over.

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by Sonic dB

Hey... The Pats handed the ball to the 4th string RB who had never scored a TD in the NFL before...a guy that probably will not see much action this season except in mop up duty.

Yeah funny how the entire starting O Line was in there though...hell, give me the friggin ball from the one and I could probably fall in behind those guys.

Now, if he had his entire second string in there including the O Line you might have a point, but just the back? The kicker could have scored...hell hand it to him, he'll never score a TD in his career.

[JCF]

I'm not sure why anyone is hung up on that last score .
It's the N F L .
You keep playing until the final whistle.
Every other team would have done the same as the Patriots did - any team with a will to win.
You don't want them in your end zone - you keep them out.

And in this case after Wade Phillips ridiculed the Pats Super Bowl wins what do you expect a team with any pride to do ?

I just hope someone with the Colts makes some stupid comment before they play the Pats.

[hytem]

Can't figure that videotape business. Very Clintonian. Obviously not a big factor, though the NY media hyped it up enough. Belichick probably has a sign in the locker room saying, "you guys cheat." So they go out and kill everybody every week. Some cheaters.

[Sonic dB]

hmm... before this thread, I had no idea that Dallas Cowboy fans were so delusional and whiney.

Did the Pats have their Starting O Line in there on that TD run? Dunno, havent had a chance to break down the film yet...

but if they did, it wouldnt be surprising. Would you have your starting O line in there if you were coaching the world's greatest Quarterback? Gotta protect him.

According to ESPN's John Clayton:

"At the end of the game, Brady let backup fullback Kyle Eckel score a 1-yard touchdown instead of notching his 22nd touchdown pass. Eckel is from Navy. It was a tribute to coach Bill Belichick's father, who spent so much of his career at Navy."

Dunno about that, but I do know that Kyle Eckel works hard and contributes to the team so allowing him 1 carry at the end of a blowout game, is good for his moral and also fires up the team. Anyone who has ever played football knows that it makes the team feel very good to see backup guys contributing in a game.

Do the Cowboy fans here know that former coach and legend Jimmy Johnson, aka 'your last good head coach' is a great friend of Bill Bellichick...and that they spend lots of time together in the off season fishing off of Jimmy's boat south of Miami?

Well...true as that may be, do you think Jimmy J. would pull the reins back on any team in a game that he ever coached? Not likely. Jimmy J. coached to win, just like Bill. B. did.

PS: When my team loses, I suck it up and give credit to the opposing team. My team is not the Pats, but I recognize and appreciate a great team when I see it. Perhaps giving some props to the opposing team, is beyond the 'Boys fans...and certainly if you watched TO's comments after the game yesterday and compared them to what Randy Moss said, you will see the difference between a 'me-so-me' guy and a guy who has bought into the team concept.

Peach out.