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First of all, I will take this opportunity to congratulate the Steelers, especially their fans who are members of fannation. The better team won because they are the most discipline team. No "what ifs" because the what ifs are what make one team better over the other. Even though I am die hard Cowboys fans, I've always been very fond of the Steelers fan base who are "blue collar". The "blue collar worker" is the backbone of our country, so again congratulations.
Defensively
Both teams played lights out defense! Great effort by both squads. For my Cowboys, Bradie James has become one hell of an inside middle linebacker beside DeMarcus Ware. Like I stated on my pre-game blog that the front seven were going to have to Rothlisberger before he got to the secondary and he finally did with that long pass just before the 3rd quarter and I thought that this is where the momentum shifted to the Steelers. The goalline stance was awesome. Besides penalties, the 1 area that the defense needs to improve is defending the bunch formation that I knew the Steelers were going to utilize because the Cowboys have not been able to stop the switching routes that teams execute out of this formation. Overall great job against the run and and another week of at least 5 sacks. You would think that with this effort that the Cowboys were the winning team. They were great considering that for the most part they had to defend a small field becuase of Romo's interceptions and a punt return.
Offensively
The Steelers won because they had the better quarterback who didn't throw an interception even with the pressure that the Cowboys brought to the house. Needless to say Romo wasn't paying attention from the sidelines to how Rothlisberger plays the game. Romo had 3 interceptions and 1 fumble that shouldn't have been, but it was. If the Cowboys would have pull out the victory it would not have been because of Romo, but inspite of him. I think that he has won 1 big game and that's when he replaced Bledsoe against the Panthers. Romo did have a couple of great moments during the game, but he never really had any rhythm and that is due to the pressure that the Steelers provided. The ball floated out or Romo's hand more than when he had the splint on and he and the receivers were out of sync as well. One game and that is all it takes for him to become a big game quarterback and sometimes that game never comes and the player gets lost into a group of quarterbacks that become backups. On the bright side, the 3rd string running back Choice did a great job of filling in for Barber and seems like he will continue to do so. The offense line did a decent job keeping penalties to a minimum considering that the 12th man did make some noise, but the fans really stepped it up in the last 7 minutes of the game.
Special teams
Nick Folk is clutch from anywhere within 53 yards, but he can't get the ball into the endzone for a touchback even when the wind is behind him. The Cowboys need to do a better job of coaching Adam Jones because he is always trying to make something out of nothing which causes him to lose yards on his returns. The Cowboys should just stick to Crayton because he is steady. The Cowboys should pay attention to how the Steelers play on special teams because the last 3 kickoffs, the coverage team didn't allow the Cowboys to reach the twenty yard line.
Discipline
The starting point of any championship team is discpline and the Cowboys don't have it because of the cake and ice cream approach that Phillips brings to the team. Discipline is about self-control that builds confidence to perform at your best when there is a lot of pressure and against a very tough opponent like the Steelers. This was evident when the Cowboys had 12 man at the field, at the last 7 minutes in the game, and the penalties committed on 3rd down that allowed the Steeler's drives to continue. The Steelers did not commit penalties, turnovers, and personnel mistakes because they are a better team. They are a better team than the Cowboys because they are a more disciplined team.
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Comments (13) Add A Comment
The team is what won the game for the Steelers the offense again did nothing. In the playoffs expect them to be out early. We all know that Romo cannot win the Big games....yet.
He is a fantastic player and humanitarian. He is the only player I like in the Cowboys. However great match and like I believed you said first team to score 20 wins.
The True Joker
Total Comments (11609)
You're being a little too tough on Romo here. No excuse for the fumble or the 2nd INT, I agree with that. The first and third picks were both on the receivers, not Tony.
The first was a timing route to the sideline that T.O. inexplicably gave up on. Owens does that often when he sees a route isn't going to work he improvises, and at times it has resulted in huge plays. But on a sideline timing route he has got to finish and at least knock that ball down if he can't catch it. Your QB is throwing early to a spot on the field he expects you to be in when the ball arrives or it's going to be an INT every time.
The pick-6 was totally on Witten. Jason makes few mistakes on the field but he just had a brain fart and ran the completely wrong route. By the time he broke in (instead of out like he was supposed to) Romo had already released the ball. Again, that's going to be an INT every time and not on the QB.
Tony was lights out in the 3rd QTR, escaping trouble and making plays. There aren't more than a handful of QB's in the NFL that could have pulled off that TD play to T.O. Unfortunately he didn't have enough to save the day playing into the wind in the 4th.
C-C-C
Total Comments (23505)
Did you see how many defenders were aroung the ball on the 1st interception. It was a bad read and the ball should have never been thrown. The 3rd pick that was on Witten running a hook and not an out, but the defender that who caught it was waiting on the out route. I also noted that Romo did have some great moments throughout the game just not consistently enough. Wind or no wind, the elements are part of the game just like golf.
Total Package
El Paso, TX
Total Comments (1083)
Total Package,
good discipline with the breakdown after the loss, most of my sentiments would be blocked by the censors...grrrr. I was so confident after the goal line stand....then the wheels came off. Has to be very disappointing for the Defense, they played their hearts out. Nothing left to do but wait for the haters to roll out again.
Not sure what TOs reaction will be in the press, he seemed ticked off at the end. But as stated above he broke off the first route for the int and then he disappeared the entire 1st half. Oh and how about someone block palomalu out of the backfield....? Just saying.
Great job by choice
+40yrCowboyFan
Total Comments (3662)
I think forcing the ball to Owens was a huge mistake. I couldn't tell from the angles whether Owens was out of position each time or whether Romo was just making poor decisions but either way - Those are the plays that I feel were the difference makers this afternoon.
YODA
Total Comments (16925)
T.O. was surrounded by three defenders and he quit on the route because he knew that he was covered. Romo should have read the coverage a lot better. Both are at fault and the Cowboys need to stop forcing the ball to T.O. and allow for the natural flow of the game to go to him. T.O. is a hard worker and will finally get open as the game progresses.
Total Package
El Paso, TX
Total Comments (1083)
Good job as usual TP! I'm in my "morning after" mode and waiting for the "I told you's" to arrive at the office. Great game, disappointing loss! I have a lot to say regarding the game but am really not into it this morning! Again great breakdown and analysis TP.
Cowboystar
Total Comments (1169)
Good blog mate and its nice to see you give the Steelers credit. It really was a good game but they are like a oit bull man and just wont give up. The defence from both teams was awesome and i still believe the Cowboys will get there. Yesterday was a good test and although we lost we learnt a lot about ourselves and where to improve.I do love Steleers Cowboy games, and like you TP i like their fans. Keep up the good work on the blogs!
BEAST!
Leander , TX
Total Comments (1283)
I meant PIT BULL OBVIOUSLY!
BEAST!
Leander , TX
Total Comments (1283)
Thanks for the congrats T-Pack, I appreciate it. I think most Boys fans have always been fond of Steeler fans ;)
The Boys D did play lights out, and its a shame it happened on a day Romo had to face the best defense in the NFL, and could only muster up 13 points.
Agree Ben is a better QB than Romo. Romo may have the prettier stats, but Big Ben steps up late in games and wins games when it counts. Romo never has.
Steelers played well on ST this game, but they are annually one it its worst units since they let Randel El go.
I agree the Steelers are a better team, but the Boys could have easily won this game. A combo of your defense and our plodding offense, had us playing one of our worst offensive games of the season.
Great blog T-Pack!(brother)
Cassidy's House:…
Whatsittoya, NO
Total Comments (16281)
great blog, and yes Romo had a bunch fo turnovers, but that clinching INT was a result of Witten running the WRONG route...so you were about 99% right saying he was playing hard. In any event, it was a nice old-school type game and the better team won. When the Cowboys were still 5-4, I had them finishing 10-6, with one of their two losses coming in this game to Pittsburgh.
The discipline part is so right. My friends kid is a terror, yet he is more disciplined than my Cowboys
gonets
Lewisville, TX
Total Comments (7670)
A lot of folks think that discipline is all about yelling and screaming at a player's face, its more than that. It's about how a team puts their equipment in the dressing room, how they come off the line, how they execute a tackle, and how orgainized a team is to the last detail.
Total Package
El Paso, TX
Total Comments (1083)
Good blog, this loss was a hard one, and with all the drama this week its going to be hard to beat the Giants, the season could well come down to Sunday.
Go Cowboys!
Hank Hill
Arlen, TX
Total Comments (7639)
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