You can reach Rich Tandler by email at WarpathInsiders@comcast.net
There are a lot of myths floating around out there
surrounding Sunday’s game. Since you can only break down a game if you’re
looking at the facts, not at popular misconceptions, here are a few of those
myths and where they fall apart:
Myth #1: The Cowboys dominated for the first 55
minutes the first time the two teams played.
The Facts: Dallas led just 3-0 after 30 minutes of
play. At that time, they had gained 105 yards, 42 of them on their opening
drive that resulted in a missed field goal. The Redskins had gained 84 yards.
Certainly advantage Dallas, but nothing remotely resembling domination. Early
in the third quarter, the statistical tide turned when the Cowboys scored on a
trick play, the flea flicker with Bledsoe to Jones to Bledsoe to Glenn for a
70-yard touchdown. When the Redskins took possession with 5:58 to play
following a Cowboy field goal to make it 13-0, Dallas had outgained the
Redskins 282-178. A solid advantage, one that pretty well reflected the 13-0
score. That’s hardly anyone’s definition of domination, however, especially
considering that a fourth of Dallas’ yards had come on one trick play.
Myth #2: The Redskins were lucky to win the last time
the two teams played.
The Facts: Regardless of whatever supposed domination
did or did not take place beforehand, I’m not exactly sure how you can say that
the Brunell’s two touchdown passes to Moss were lucky or flukes or anything
other than well-designed, well-executed football plays. The Redskins took advantage
of the fact that safety Roy Williams isn’t very good in pass coverage. On its
lone touchdown, Dallas took advantage of the fact that Sean Taylor likes to
support against the run. Why to many the Redskins’ passes were somehow tainted
and Dallas’ was just smart football I can’t figure out.
Myth #3: The Redskins won’t be able to run against
the Dallas defense.
The Facts: The Cowboys went nuts in free agency and
in the draft to try to shore up their defensive front seven. The conventional
wisdom is that this was a wise investment and it may prove to be, but the
results just aren’t showing this year. They are giving up an average of 4.4
yards per carry. That’s a worse performance than all but four NFL teams. It’s
worse than Arizona, worse than Chicago, worse than Tampa Bay, worse than San
Francisco, all teams that Clinton Portis gained over 100 yards against. Yes he
gained just 57 yards the last time the two teams played, but if you give me
that as the over-under for this week I’ll bet the ranch on the over.
Myth #4: Parcells owns Gibbs
The Facts:
Parcells has a 13-7 advantage over Gibbs lifetime. That’s a pretty shaky
definition of “ownership” if you ask me. Besides, what happened in the 1980’s
is of dubious relevance today. The real edge was Lawrence Taylor vs. whoever was trying to block him, not Parcells vs. Gibbs. The more relevant stat is 14-13, what Gibbs’
team beat Parcells’ team by in September.
None of the above should be interpreted as putting down the
Cowboys. They are a good team and will be an extremely tough opponent on
Sunday. But Dallas does not need to be over-hyped and Redskins fans don’t have
to blow them up to point where they think that even staying on the field with
them is an impossible task.
Tomorrow, the prediction.
