By JENNIFER FLOYD ENGEL
jenfloyd@star-telegram.com
ARLINGTON — Go ahead and twirl your air lasso a couple of times, Coach Wade. You earned it.
Certainly do not apologize. A win is indeed a win.
Whatever Sunday’s 7-6 victory against Washington lacked in pretty points, it certainly counts toward one fewer this Cowboys team will need in December to guarantee the playoffs. And considering all of that bad karma from a year ago in Philly, won’t we all feel better if beating The Hated Eagles in the finale is not required to get in?
Just one niggling little question: Can the Cowboys keep winning this way? In New York, against San Diego, in New Orleans? In the playoffs, if they are indeed reached?
In a word, unlikely.
How Sunday went down is a hard way to win in this league. Asking your defense to hold real NFL teams (which eliminates the Redskins and Raiders) to field goals while bumbling and stumbling is crazy. And history says relying on this Cowboys defense to win games in December and January is crazier.
Yet this is where they are right now. A Cowboys team once defined by Tony Romo and The Redheaded Genius and crazy scoring now is all about the D.
God help them.
"I think that is the heart and soul of the team right now, that defense," receiver Patrick Crayton said afterward, without a trace of irony. "The way they are keeping us around in games, it’s amazing. It has been a true blessing for our offense."
What he was saying, without exactly saying, was, "Thank goodness for this defense because we stunk."
Two games in a row of offensive stink.
Only, unlike in Green Bay, a single, late-game touchdown proved to be enough to win. Playing through big-time back pain all game, Romo was at his best late, scrambling and finding Crayton for a touchdown.
Nor would it be fair not to mention left guard Kyle Kosier’s fine work on this play, his sliding block of a Redskins defender giving Romo just enough time.
"I fell down," Kosier said.
Whatever, however. What we all can hope is this derails all of this run-run-run nonsense now. This Cowboys offense is best when put in Romo’s hands and just enjoy the ride.
Or if that continues to fail, by all means, rely on defense.
Just note, not everybody is half of the Redskins, which is about what the Cowboys were facing Sunday. Already down a pair of tackles and on reconfiguration No. 5 of this offensive line, the ’Skins lost right guard Chad Rinehart to a fractured fibula early.
Gone also were Chris Cooley and Clinton Portis.
Second-string running back Ladell Betts left with an MCL injury on the second possession. And yet the Redskins still win if their kicker does not stink, missing two field goals.
"I’m not apologizing," linebacker Bradie James said rather defiantly.
No apologies required. This defense was very good Sunday, thanks to guys we rarely talk about, such as Stephen Bowen, whose tip of a Jason Campbell pass on Washington’s final drive led to an Anthony Spencer interception.
A moment of silence for this kid: Spencer finally went from making almost plays to big plays.
Looking for comments?
Share
@Nyx.CommentBody@