by Tony Bosma
The Dallas Cowboys went into their Week 6 bye with a lot more questions than answers. With doubters across the nation wondering whether the Cowboys were a legitimate playoff contending team, the Atlanta Falcons came to Dallas Sunday to help answer the questions.
The blunt of the questions surrounded Tony Romo, who responded with a 21/29, 311-yard performance that included three touchdowns. Romo doesn’t get enough credit for the way he deflects the negative criticism thrown at him. Good or bad, you get a similar reaction – in the media and usually on the field.
There is no question that Romo has been inconsistent from week-to-week this season, but Sundays 37-21 win over the Falcons could go a long way to making believers out of the doubters. Facing on the leagues young darlings in Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, Romo was steady in the pocket, letting plays develop and hitting open receivers throughout the day.
The usual dominant running attack for the Cowboys took a back seat to the passing game Sunday with Marion Barber and Felix Jones combining for 84-yards on 22 carries.
But, for the second game in a row, Miles Austin led the Cowboys in receiving with six receptions for 181-yards and two touchdowns. Two outstanding games in a row from Austin make last year’s trade for Roy Williams seem even more atrocious. It’s clear, even after two games, who the No. 1 wide receiver is for the Cowboys; Austin, not Williams.
The Cowboys answered the skeptics on Sunday, but it will take more than one solid week to truly prove they are who Jerry Jones hopes they are… playoff contenders.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
remember when I wrote that column on Justin Verlander “welcome back to the elite” or something like that…? …You asked whether or not I was making such a statement a bit prematurely? That kind of second guessing may be due in this situation as well. Do you really think the Cowboy can seriously contend for anything? Verlander wound up dominating – maybe America’s team will too…
October 25th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I am aware that you aren’t really making any direct claims, but the fact that the words “Cowboys” and “Playoffs” are sitting on the tip of your tongue is why i would make such an initial comment…
PS – Manny Acta should be great… If only Shapiro would have left any players for him.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:25 am
It’s a possibility they can make it in, especially with the NFC East not looking as strong as many expected. Regardless, I just hope that if they are in contention for it, they don’t choke it away like your Tigers.