Packers Take Cowboys to the Woodshed in Lambeau

Coming off a four game winning streak, a victory in Lambeau seemed a distinct possibility.  Tony Romo and the offense have been clicking on all cylinders heading into this week.  That is why they play the games folks.  The Packers defense dominated all aspects of the game yesterday.  They beat up (and hurt) our offensive line to the tune of five sacks and countless hurries.  Give the Packers credit.  They came out aggressive and attacked the Cowboys offensive line with a variety of blitzes.

The Cowboys defense deserves some credit.  They pressured Aaron Rodgers all game and for the most part played well throughout.  On a single series the Cowboys lost Mike Jenkins, Ken Hamlin and Jenkins’ backup Alan Ball.  The Packers capitalized on the Cowboys misfortune by essentially sealing the game with a TD.  The Cowboys also lost their right tackle, Marc Columbo, for at least six weeks midway through the game.  Luckily the Cowboys play two below average teams the next few weeks, so the injuries might not be as devastating in the short term.  Nevertheless, it is worrisome that the Cowboys lack of depth on the O-Line and in the secondary is now coming to fruition.

Defensive Observations

The Cowboys defense, as stated earlier, played well.  DeMarcus Ware and Bradie James hassled Rodgers throughout and also played real well against the run.  James has been overshadowed by the arrival of Keith Brooking by some NFL analysts.  Well, James has once again quietly put together a solid season.  He is the key defender in stopping the run, and thus far he has been brilliant in that area.

The Cowboys defensive backs limited the dynamic Packers receivers (Donald Driver, Greg Jennings) to under 100 yards combined.  You can make a case for those two being the best tandem in the league, and I think the Cowboys did a heck of a job taking away the big play during the game.

Unfortunately, Ken Hamlin is going to miss 2-4 weeks because of the injury he sustained yesterday.  Although the Cowboys have not announced a replacement, expect Pat Watkins to get the nod.  Watkins started some as a rookie under Bill Parcells, and he has been inconsistent in his limited playing time since.  He is going to have to step up his play, if the Cowboys want to stay on the same level they have been defensively.

Offensive Observations

Offensively it is difficult to find any positives.  Tony Romo played OK, but he took to many sacks and made a few ill-advised throws.  It is no secret that he has to play well for the Cowboys to succeed.

Statistically Roy Williams had his best day as a member of the Cowboys.  But those of you who watched the game know that he played quite poorly.  He lost a fumble on a big catch over the middle, and he dropped a gimme first down reception on a key third down.  He was clearly not pleased with his overall performance after the game.

“I’m an accountable guy,” Williams said. “I lost this game for this football team, that’s the way I feel”

Now that is a harsh assessment on his part.  He was not the only player who struggled on offense.  The usually reliable Jason Witten had his share of problems.  He dropped a couple of balls, and uncharacteristically had two penalties.  Witten has struggled in the passing game this year.  The Cowboys have to look to get him more involved in the seams down the field where he excels.

The offensive line struggled all game long.  The Cowboys could not get anything going on the ground, and when Romo tried to throw he was constantly pressured.  With the loss of Columbo, the Cowboys are going to be forced to keep Witten in to protect more often.  They tried that some yesterday to no avail.  The running game, which has been so effective in the first seven games, has cooled down considerably.  The offensive line has to do a better job of blocking up front, and the Cowboys cannot afford to abandon the run so quickly.

Final Analysis

The Cowboys come home to host the Redskins and the Raiders the next two weeks.  Anything but two convincing wins would be devastating for the Cowboys.  It is important for the Cowboys to get healthy in the secondary, and for the backups to improve their play.  We are entering the crunch time of the season.  I think the Cowboys can win the division and make some noise in the playoffs.  It is time for them to seize the moment and play 5-2 football their last seven games.  If they can do that, then a division title should be attainable.  Plenty more to come this week before the Redskins game so Stay Tuned!

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Anthony Spencer, Bradie James, Dallas Cowboys, DeMarcus Ware, Donald Driver, Flozell Adams, Greg Jennings, Jason Witten, Jerry Jones, Keith Brooking, Ken Hamlin, Marc Columbo, Marion Barber, Mike Jenkins, Miles Austin, NFL, Roy Williams, Terence Newman, Tony Romo, Wade Phillips