10, If the Cowboys’ defensive line can boast itself as the “Hot Boyz,” what must Vikings running back Dalvin Cook be authorized to call himself? “Hottesz Dad”?Breathtaking night by Dallas’ skill stars kept it interesting, but Minnesota bullied the Cowboys on both sides of the line of scrimmage all night.
9, Not that it matters, but why didn’t Vikings defensive back Jayron Kearse get called for a safety when he intercepted Dak Prescott’s Hail Mary on the final play, and then purposely ran out the side of the end zone? If he decides to run it out of the end zone, he can go for a touchdown. If he fumbles while running in the end zone, it’s a live ball. If he takes a knee and gives himself up, it’s a touchback. He did none of those three, so … If a running back or quarterback or kick returner or even a punter makes the decision to purposefully run out of his own end zone, it’s two points. Right? Not that Vikings 28, Cowboys 26 would have made us feel much better.
8, Etched on Jason Garrett’s tombstone will be the word “execution.” When the Cowboys lose, or even get off to stumbling slow starts, he always blames it solely on a lack of “execution.” But what if it’s philosophy? Or game plan? Or personnel? “Execution” is a code-word cop-out signifying that the Cowboys have the right coaches calling the right plays for the right players. And we all know that’s just not the case. Cowboys are now 1-9 when trailing at halftime the last two seasons. And this year they are 4-0 against the NFC East; 1-4 against everyone else.
7, I get today’s “look at me!” culture in the NFL. In sports. Geez, in all of life for that matter. But Cowboys defensive lineman Antwuan Woods made a couple three good plays early in the game, then sashayed 10 yards down field and flexed/celebrated his good deed. By the fourth quarter, however, he was down on the field, gassed, needing help to the sideline during a Vikings scoring drive. This sounds very old-mannish, but I’d rather see Woods save his energy to help the team. When your defense surrenders 340 yards and 28 points through three quarters, what are you really celebrating anyway?
6, On a night when Dak was brilliant, it took a historic performance for them to lose. The Cowboys have been playing football for 60 years. Sunday night was only the third time in which they failed to rush for a first down.
5, While we’re locating the shovels to begin digging Garrett’s grave, why does he – boldly, proudly and prolonged – hold up one finger after a touchdown that pulls the Cowboys to within 14-6 early in the second quarter? Nobody on his team – or this planet – was holding their breath to see if the conservative coach would go for two. Embarrassing that he’s so declarative on something so mindless.
4, Remember way back when the Cowboys’ strength was their linebacking corps? Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee possessed the guile, speed and athleticism to sniff out plays, smother tight ends in coverage and chase down running backs on screens. No more. Cannot begin to explain why, but last year’s assets have regressed into this year’s liabilities.
3, No need to check your calendar, Amari Cooper reminded us all that it’s Toe-vember. Amazing catches on both sides Sunday night. Rudolph’s one-hander. Cobb diving in the end zone. Diggs with his elbow. But none sweeter than Cooper’s three toe-tap snags on the sideline during Dallas’ third-quarter scoring drive. That’s the kind of play we can all appreciate, because we grew up trying to make them in the backyard. Or, for some of us, while falling onto the living room couch.
2, Cowboys were maddeningly stubborn all night with all the predictable handoffs to Zeke Elliott on first down. With the game on the line, it got downright stupid. Faced with second-and-2 at Minnesota’s 11 with 1:33 remaining, I was actually thinking “Don’t score too fast.” Silly me. Despite Prescott’s epic performance and Zeke shooting blanks, the Cowboys handed it to the running back on the next two plays for minus-3 yards, forcing fourth down. Just inexcusable. On Dallas’ final two possessions, Elliott ran seven times for a whopping three yards. “Execution”, my ass.
1, Hail Mary: Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson from 50 to beat the Vikings in 1975. Hell, Nary: Dak to Kearse from 45 to lose to the Vikings in 2019. Let me guess, Cowboys needed their black cat for “good” luck?
