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.

SCOTT JACOBS

So Plaxico Burress apparently shot himself last Friday at some nightclub, when his gun accidentally went off.  I know it’s not funny, but doesn’t a small part of you find it a little humorous how sad and pathetic of a story this guy has become?

In unrelated news, the Giants are on fire, 11-1, and on the verge of clinching the NFC East.  They’ve already exceeded their win total from 2007, the year they uh, won the Super Bowl.  Last year they shocked the world.  This year, well, a lot of people will be shocked if they don’t win it all.

Texas is griping about the BCS.  What’s new?  Nothing.  Interestingly enough there are reports and rumors that even if the Longhorns don’t make it to Miami they can still finish number one in the AP Poll.  Apparently there’s a gigantic gap in the USA Today poll, and the AP Poll.  In the USA Today all voters must put the BCS Championship game winner number one on their final ballot.  Not so for the AP Poll, which has 65 voters who can do whatever the heck they want. In other words, if Oklahoma runs the table and wins it all, and Texas wins their matchup in the Fiesta Bowl, against either Utah or Ohio State, the Horns could feasibly be voted ahead of the Boomer Sooners in the AP Poll.  Round and round we go.

And while we’re at it, does every game really mean something in college football?  That’s the tired line we’ve been fed for a few months now.  That every game is a playoff because of the BCS.  I somewhat disagree.  Tell that to USC (who barely lost to what turns out to be a decent Oregon State team) or Texas (which lost by a hair to Texas Tech on the road).  Every game is big, yes.  But every game is not created equal.  It’s about who you lost to, how they beat you, and when they beat you.  It’s the reason USC isn’t higher in the polls right now.  They were a heavy favorite to beat Oregon State and they lost.  And even though it was super early in the year, and they’ve gone onto destroying everything thrown in their way since, it doesn’t matter.  In fact, I’d argue, that USC may be in the top three right now of the BCS had they lost to the Buckeyes by a field goal at home.  Instead, they whalloped the Bucks and the BCS computers whalloped them a few weeks later after losing in Corvalis.

Other thoughts and bickerings…

My respect for Stephon Marbury dies a little more every day.  In fact, I think I have more respect for Mike Tyson now.  At least he put a giant intimidating tattoo on his head.  Marbury had the gall to tattoo his stupid brand logo on his scalp.  Classless.

I’m sorry but the NFL Network’s coverage of Arizona-Philly last week was beyond overkill.  They relentlessly hit on the same three topics the entire show, which lasted like 2.5 hours!   Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, and the Cards chance of clinching the West.  It was really disappointing from a channel that is supposed to be 24/7 football, not 24 hours of reruns.  And the analysis was awful pregame.  When the game did start Bob Papa put me to sleep.  It was the first NFL Network telecast I’ve seen this year on TV, and besides Chris Collinsworth I wasn’t impressed.  Papa has a crazy schedule, but he bores me to tears.  And so did that game, which was well out of hand after Warner and the Cards forgot to show up.

This isn’t super helpful to the good people of Seattle, but the team you lost to Oklahoma City absolutley stinks this year.  By far the worst team in the league, the Thunder recently ended a 14 game losing streak by beating the lowly Grizz.  The Thunder, or Sonic Stealers if it helps you Seattle, improved to a mind blowingly unimpressive 2-16.  But hey, there play matches their look and their owner’s class: very minor league.

But my favorite one has to be this gem:

“I’m really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada,” Dallas Stars player Sean Avery said  recently. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don’t know what that’s about, but enjoy the game tonight.”

For that he has been suspended indefinetley.

Really?

Furthermore, the Stars are with the decision to suspend Avery indefinitely. Stars owner Tom Hicks said the following:

“I completely support the league’s decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Hicks said in a statement. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.”

In case you’re wondering, I think Avery just became my unofficial personal hero.  Listen to the “ex’s” he’s talking about:

Elisha Cuthbert

Rachel Hunter

And I’m sure there’s more.  And though hockey may not be big anymore, apparently hot famous chicks still dig it.  So hockey’s at least got that going for them.