With a pair of stunning touchdowns on two consecutive late fourth quarter, first down possessions, the Ravens showed some serious heart, and the look of a playoff team– while the Dallas Cowboys looked anything but

SCOTT JACOBS

R.I.P. Texas Stadium.

R.I.P. Dallas Cowboys 2008?

Hello Drama!

The last football game at Texas Stadium won’t exactly go down in the history books as a memorable one (not for the Cowboys at least).  In fact, many Cowboy fans will probably choose to forget it ever happened.  With the playoffs within their grasps and a chance to make a huge statement on Saturday night on national television one team made a statement.  The other laid down and played dead.

In as lackluster, and shocking a fourth quarter as you may ever see, the Cowboys usually stout defense allowed a close game to get away, and all it took was two plays.  Clinging to a 19-17 lead, with both teams playoff hopes hanging in the balance, and a hostile (but cautious) Dallas crowd on their feet, the Ravens gave the ball to their running backs with the hopes that they could eat up the last three and a half minutes or so of the clock.  They didnt quite do that. They didn’t have to.  Willis McGahee took the handoff on 1st and 10 at Baltimore’s 23 yard line, and broke a few lifeless Cowboy tackles, and never looked back, running all the way to daylight and a stunning touchdown.

That was shocking.

But after the Cowboys came right back and Tony Romo connected with Jason Witten for a 21 yard touchdown, closing the gap to three, they opted not to kick the onside kick.  That was a mistake.

Again, trying to just run down the clock, the Ravens conservatively handed the ball off to Le’Ron McClain, who tilted his shoulder, broke a tackle or two, and then he too, dashed for freedom and the game clinching 82 yard touchdown.  Two plays, two running calls, two touchdowns.  And possibly the defining blow to a whacky, wild, made for reality TV Cowboys season.

McClain’s 82 yard scamper was the longest in Texas Stadium history, and if you ever get this on a Trivial Pursuit card one day– the last ever touchdown in the ‘ol stadium.

The Ravens moved to 10-5, after a heartbreaking loss to the Steelers the week before.  The Cowboys, a week after an exhilirating 20-9 win over the Giants, laid a giant gutless egg.  Baltimore looked ready for the playoffs.  Dallas looked ready to go home, and try again next year.

Tony Romo was pestered all game long and never truly found a rythm.  Roy Williams once again looked lost.  Hey Detroit: your fleecing of the Cowboys for Williams earlier in the year may be the only win you get this year.  Terrel Owens caught a touchdown, and made a few other nice plays, but was not ultimately a factor, and as always we eagerly await what he has to say after this one.

The road to the post-season for Dallas just hit a major road-block.

Instead of controlling their destiny going into a loaded with storylines Philadelphia game next week, the Cowboys now need to win next week, and have either A) Atlanta lose one of their final two games (at Minnesota, vs. St Louis), or B) for the Bucs to lose their last two games (vs. Chargers, vs. Raiders). So they’re not out of the woods yet, but I don’t think anyone left this one impressed by the Cowboys effort.  And they certainly didn’t look like a playoff team to me.

Instead the Cowboys looked like a team beaten down by drama and turmoil, a team that lost its swagger, and brought an effort tonight that didn’t match the magnitude of this game.  The Cowboys had that self-defeatist attitude throughout the game, almost as if their spirit was broken, an their hopes diminished.  Say what you will, the Ravens were without a doubt the better team.  They are a win against Jacksonville away from booking playoff tickets to most likely an AFC East city.

The Cowboys are on the outside looking in.  And after losing to one rookie quarterback, they’re at the mercy of another rookie quarterback and his team, Matt Ryan and the Falcons.  So that’s where we stand.  What a great game.  And what a great NFL Network telecast.  The best I’ve ever seen on this channel.  Bob Papa with Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk was a brilliant three team booth, one with knowledge, energy, and excitement, something NFL Network broadcasts usually lack.  So I for one, hope that this broadcast team gets a chance to work together more often.  Sorry Chris Collinsworth, it’s nothing personal.

That wraps up the NFL Network’s slate of games for 2008.  I must say, they got some great games this year.  That Pats-Jets game could cost a potential 11 win Patriots team a spot in the playoffs.  That Colts-Jags game was great theater.  And tonight’s game was very entertaining. So kudos to the NFL for finishing off their coverage on a high note.

The Cowboys, will need to do that and more, if they want to have a chance at making the playoffs.

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