Cowboys vs. Ravens - Noooooooo reason to worry

IRVING, Texas - Your Dallas Cowboys professional football club had a final practice today before a badly needed rest. What this team clearly needs is a break.

The Cowboys do not play again until they travel to play the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) on Oct. 14. BTW - the Ravens will be coming off a game in Kansas City, which some may argue is easier than a bye.

What does the NFL's second-lowest scoring team really not need to do in its next game? Play the Ravens.

Actually, this are not your Ravens Super Bowl-defense. A lot of the "Ravens defense" is reputation based on that crew. In terms of total defense today, the Ravens rank 23rd, but in points allowed they are tied for 10th. These aren't bums, but they are not the ideal opponent for an offense that has lost the directions to the endzone.

"I don't want to look at it as a problem," Cowboys WR Kevin Ogletree said today in the locker room as the players prepared to flee for several days off before they returned to work. "It's all still in front of us."

He means there are 12 games remaining, and plenty of time to win.

But how does a team with Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, DeMarco Murray and to a lesser extent even Felix Jones be this bad on offense? (Offensive line - cough, cough - offensive line).

"The majority of this is mistakes - untimely," Ogletree said. "They really, really magnify this. Like my biggest mistake is (the dropped pass that led to an int in the Bears game) was in the redzone. You can't have those."

Tight end Jason Witten sees the offenses' struggles in the last three games narrowed down to a "couple of plays" he said. "We did a lot of good things in that game (against the Bears)."

Define "good". The Cowboys' offense the previous three games has not been good.

The Cowboys offense has scored four touchdowns in the past three games. Their opponents have scored two touchdowns on defense, and one on special teams in that time.

"I have to play better," Witten said. "Everybody has to play better if we are going to beat those types of defenses (such as the Ravens)."

It would help.

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Dallas Cowboys "Get Real" Chat No. 3: The Giants game really happened

Thanks for checking in for this Dallas Cowboys Get Real chat to cover the wreck that was their 34-18 loss at home against the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Don't worry, it was actually much worse than the final score indicated.
 
Post your comment underneath and we can begin a discourse.

THE COWBOYS BEAT NEW YORK? NOT THE JETS, THE GIANTS? IN NEW JERSEY: After watching the last three games it does seem a bit amazing these same Dallas Cowboys traveled up East and defeated the Giants, 24-17.

The number decrease since then is amazing:

at NYG: 433 yards offense; Romo 22 of 29, 307 yards, 3 TD, 1 int; DeMarco Murray 20 carries, 131 yards
at Sea: 296 yards; Romo 23 of 40, 251 yards, 1 TD, 1 int; DeMarco Murray 13 carries, 44 yards
v. TB: 297 yards; Romo 25 of 39, 283 yards, 0 TD, 1 int; DeMarco Murray 18 carries, 38 yards
v. Chi.: 430 yards; Romo 31 of 43, 307 yards, 1 TD, 5 int; DeMarco Murray 11 carries, 24 yards

WHICH TEAM ARE THEY? The Cowboys have more matchup problems than you might think. The Giants were victims of their own unforced errors - dropped passes, etc. - the Seahawks out-physicaled the Cowboys, the Bucs were equally as ugly, and the Bears are much better defensively.

Despite an upgrade in talent here and there, the Cowboys simply don't look that much different than a year ago, and are playing like they are going to finish between 7-9 and 9-7.

@MacEngelProf
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Cowboys Irrational Reaction - Who are we kidding?

So many things to choose from this latest disappointment made possible by the Dallas Cowboys professional football team.

Chicago Bears 34
Dallas Cowboys 18

The Clownboys are 2-2 entering the bye. After that, it's a trip to Baltimore where lots of teams with wretched offenses win football games. 

Where to begin with this steamling pile of Jerry's Secret?

1. Start with the owner.
2. Go to the team president.
3. Move down to the general manager.

4. The quarterback has eight turnovers in the last two games. Generally, that's not good.

5. The third year WR out of Oklahoma State looks like a rookie. Up, down, right and left. Dez Bryant, your career is calling. You may want to pick up.

6. The offensive line remains a total mess. Since running for 143 yards in the Week 1 win against the Giants, the Cowboys' running game has averaged 3.1, 1.7 and 2.9 yards per carry, respectively, in the following three games.

7. Defending Bears WR Brandon Marshall was deemed completely unnecessary, so much so he had a free route in the fourth quarter. Brandon had 7 receptions for 138 yards and a TD.

8. Cowboys WR Miles Austin had four catches. The Bears defense had five catches. A few of those picks were not on Romo, but enough of them were.

9. The original reason Jerry Jones hired Jason Garrett away from Miami to join Wade Phillips' staff in 2007 was because of his offensive mind, and he wanted him to call the plays.

10. The Packers, Cowboys, Patriots and Broncos are all 2-2. Plan the parade!

 @MacEngelProf
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NFL players reaction to "real" refs returning does not match the outrage at their absence

IRVING, Texas - As much outrage as had been expressed by fans and the players over the NFL lockout of the referees you would think upon learning the news that "real" crews are returning would be cause for Mardi Gras II.

Nope. The general response from some of the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys is the return of the real crews is no big deal.

"I didn't let it dictate anything I do. They are out there doing the best job they can, whether they get it right or wrong is inconsequential to me," Dallas Cowboys center Ryan Cook said. "I have enough to worry about with my job whether they are doing their job."

"I know how important it was for us to get regular officials back. They are professionals and they administer the game," Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said today on a conference call to FW/d reporters. "That would make the game better. But for us, the Cowboys are occupying our thoughts."

I actually liked this answer the best from Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall. I asked him if he was relieved this ref lockout was over.

"When I think about that situation I have compassion for the replacement refs. They took a lot of heat," he said. "To be criticized and talked about by the world week in and week out is tough. Those guys are trying to get it right but it's tough to be thrown into the fire like that. I am sure they did the best they could. I'm glad this is behind us, but I have a lot of compassion for the replacement refs."

Now we can return to complaining about the real crews, and their screwps.

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Fear not, Cowboys fans, Chicago Bears returner Devin Hester is done

No, Chicago Bears returner Devin Hester is not out for the year, retired or injured. He is scheduled to play for the Bears against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

I am calling my shot - Hester's days as the most dominant returner in NFL history are over.

He still may be effective, but the man who scored 18 touchdowns on returns from 2006 to 2011 is no longer. 

He has returned six punts for 70 yards this season and seven kicks for an average of 27.3 yards per return. Hester is in his seventh NFL season, and he is 29.

Bears coach Love Smith does not agree.

"As a returner it's hard to be speical and have a touchdown on returns every game. You go through spells where it doesn't happen," Smith said on Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.

I asked him the rather loaded question if he sees any signs of declining skills on Hester's part because dominant returners, historically, have a tendency to just fall off.

"Not scoring right now. I can see why you would question where Devin is right now. He is a young player, still. I still believe his best returns are ahead of him."

What is Lovie going to say? "Yeah - you're right - this guy is toast and we're in denial."

Hester should still be considered for the Hall of Fame based on his ability as a returner, but he is nearing that point when he no longer is the fastest guy with the best moves.

 

@MacEngelProf
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Bears & Cowboys QB in a cute baby, hot significant other battle

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler continues to win the Jeff George Body Language Award, and he really does not compare too much with Cowboys QB Tony Romo but the two have a few things in common.

The two have cute baby boys.  And the two have what some may call attractive blonde B-list celeb significant others. This is what we call "hard hitting sports news analysis".

Romo is married to Candice Crawford, who was once a Miss USA contestant. Her brother, Chace, is an actor who had a role on Gossip Girl. Romo and Candice married a while back, and now have a baby son, Hawkins.

Cutler had an on/off relationship with reality TV personality Kristin Cavallari. They were engaged. Then they weren't. Now they are engaged again. Now they have a 7-week-old son, Camden Jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Video: Big Mac & Galloway (fill in) zero in on NFL refs; Cowboys v. Bears