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Archer: 5 small reasons why Cowboys lost
02:02 PM CDT on Monday, October 18, 2010
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
MINNEAPOLIS – Quite simply, the Cowboys do not have a margin for error.
That has nothing to do with their playoff chances now that they are 1-4 after Sunday’s loss to Minnesota.
That has to do with their on-field performance each week.
The Cowboys’ four losses have been by seven points or less.
To the optimist that means the Cowboys are close to being what many people thought they could be. To the pessimist that means the Cowboys do just enough to lose every week.
The Cowboys don’t have to play perfectly, it just seems that way.
It’s the small things that are killing the Cowboys – and killed them Sunday – as much as the big things.
It’s easy to figure out the bigger plays as to why the Cowboys lost on Sunday: Percy Harvin’s 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half, E.J. Henderson’s first and second interceptions that led to 10 Vikings’ points, Miles Austin’s 68-yard touchdown catch that was called back because of a pass interference penalty and Mike Jenkins’ fourth-quarter pass interference penalty that effectively clinched the game for Minnesota.
But here are five “small” things – just from the second half - that turned out to be huge:
Mike Jenkins’ almost interception
On first down from the Dallas 49, Brett Favre gave the Cowboys a chance to take a lead with a Favre-like throw. He was late with a throw to the far sideline to Harvin. Jenkins closed quickly on the throw, but could not come up with the pick.
If he makes the interception, he returns it for a touchdown.
Jenkins doesn’t and the drive ends with Adrian Peterson scoring from 1 yard for a 21-14 lead with 43 seconds left in the half.
But before that …
Brett Favre’s almost fumble
In the shotgun on third and 4 from the Dallas 32, Favre dropped the snap. Instead of it bouncing away, the ball goes back into his arms.
Instead of sticking with Jim Kleinsasser, linebacker Jason Williams takes a peak in at the loose ball. Kleinsasser breaks free for a 20-yard pickup and Peterson scores.
Dez Bryant’s almost punt return
Playing with a sore right ankle, the rookie wide receiver had a 31-yard TD catch in the third quarter and what could have been a 34-yard punt return to the Minnesota 41 with 9:03 left in the game.
But Alan Ball was called for a hold on gunner Frank Walker. Instead of a drive starting inside Vikings’ territory, the Cowboys start at their 14.
Two plays later Henderson made an incredible read and react on a Tony Romo throw to Jason Witten, faking as if he was coming on the blitz before dropping back into the middle to take away the “hot” throw.
It never would have happened if Ball does not get the penalty and it would not have happened there if not for …
Marion Barber’s almost first down
Felix Jones picked up 5 yards on first down after Ball’s penalty. Using a one-wide receiver formation on second down, Marion Barber picked up 3 yards on a power play. While Henderson and Kevin Williams were credited with sharing the tackle, Barber tripped as he was getting up the field with at least a first down in sight if not a longer gain.
While the Cowboys were 5-for-5 on third-and-1 or fourth-and-1 runs with Barber in the game, they went with a pass call on third and 2 and Henderson managed to come up with his second interception that led to the game-winning points.
Dez Bryant’s almost first down
After Ryan Longwell’s 38-yard field goal gave the Vikings the 24-21 lead after Henderson’s pick, the Cowboys were still in position to decide the game.
In the first half the Cowboys converted 7-of-10 third-down tries. In the second half they converted on just two of seven. With an empty backfield on third and 5 from the Dallas 25, Romo went to Bryant on a slant and the rookie looked more at linebacker Chad Greenway than the ball.
With 2:42 to play and two timeouts left, the Cowboys punted. They wouldn’t get the ball back until 13 seconds remained.
By then they needed a miracle that would not come.
Small plays led to big plays and they are now 1-4.
“Really there’s nothing you can do to describe it other than none of us saw it coming, but we’re here,” Witten said. “All the things you can think of, we feel the same way – frustrated, disappointed, pissed off, all those things that happen. But we still feel like we can be a good team. I think there’s a lot of character in this locker room. A lot of people people believe, so you gotta go do it. You got to take the criticism. It’s going to come.
“We’re a 1-4 team. If we want to change it, we’re the ones that are going to have to do it and gotta do it in a hurry.”
• • •
02:02 PM CDT on Monday, October 18, 2010
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
MINNEAPOLIS – Quite simply, the Cowboys do not have a margin for error.
That has nothing to do with their playoff chances now that they are 1-4 after Sunday’s loss to Minnesota.
That has to do with their on-field performance each week.
The Cowboys’ four losses have been by seven points or less.
To the optimist that means the Cowboys are close to being what many people thought they could be. To the pessimist that means the Cowboys do just enough to lose every week.
The Cowboys don’t have to play perfectly, it just seems that way.
It’s the small things that are killing the Cowboys – and killed them Sunday – as much as the big things.
It’s easy to figure out the bigger plays as to why the Cowboys lost on Sunday: Percy Harvin’s 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half, E.J. Henderson’s first and second interceptions that led to 10 Vikings’ points, Miles Austin’s 68-yard touchdown catch that was called back because of a pass interference penalty and Mike Jenkins’ fourth-quarter pass interference penalty that effectively clinched the game for Minnesota.
But here are five “small” things – just from the second half - that turned out to be huge:
Mike Jenkins’ almost interception
On first down from the Dallas 49, Brett Favre gave the Cowboys a chance to take a lead with a Favre-like throw. He was late with a throw to the far sideline to Harvin. Jenkins closed quickly on the throw, but could not come up with the pick.
If he makes the interception, he returns it for a touchdown.
Jenkins doesn’t and the drive ends with Adrian Peterson scoring from 1 yard for a 21-14 lead with 43 seconds left in the half.
But before that …
Brett Favre’s almost fumble
In the shotgun on third and 4 from the Dallas 32, Favre dropped the snap. Instead of it bouncing away, the ball goes back into his arms.
Instead of sticking with Jim Kleinsasser, linebacker Jason Williams takes a peak in at the loose ball. Kleinsasser breaks free for a 20-yard pickup and Peterson scores.
Dez Bryant’s almost punt return
Playing with a sore right ankle, the rookie wide receiver had a 31-yard TD catch in the third quarter and what could have been a 34-yard punt return to the Minnesota 41 with 9:03 left in the game.
But Alan Ball was called for a hold on gunner Frank Walker. Instead of a drive starting inside Vikings’ territory, the Cowboys start at their 14.
Two plays later Henderson made an incredible read and react on a Tony Romo throw to Jason Witten, faking as if he was coming on the blitz before dropping back into the middle to take away the “hot” throw.
It never would have happened if Ball does not get the penalty and it would not have happened there if not for …
Marion Barber’s almost first down
Felix Jones picked up 5 yards on first down after Ball’s penalty. Using a one-wide receiver formation on second down, Marion Barber picked up 3 yards on a power play. While Henderson and Kevin Williams were credited with sharing the tackle, Barber tripped as he was getting up the field with at least a first down in sight if not a longer gain.
While the Cowboys were 5-for-5 on third-and-1 or fourth-and-1 runs with Barber in the game, they went with a pass call on third and 2 and Henderson managed to come up with his second interception that led to the game-winning points.
Dez Bryant’s almost first down
After Ryan Longwell’s 38-yard field goal gave the Vikings the 24-21 lead after Henderson’s pick, the Cowboys were still in position to decide the game.
In the first half the Cowboys converted 7-of-10 third-down tries. In the second half they converted on just two of seven. With an empty backfield on third and 5 from the Dallas 25, Romo went to Bryant on a slant and the rookie looked more at linebacker Chad Greenway than the ball.
With 2:42 to play and two timeouts left, the Cowboys punted. They wouldn’t get the ball back until 13 seconds remained.
By then they needed a miracle that would not come.
Small plays led to big plays and they are now 1-4.
“Really there’s nothing you can do to describe it other than none of us saw it coming, but we’re here,” Witten said. “All the things you can think of, we feel the same way – frustrated, disappointed, pissed off, all those things that happen. But we still feel like we can be a good team. I think there’s a lot of character in this locker room. A lot of people people believe, so you gotta go do it. You got to take the criticism. It’s going to come.
“We’re a 1-4 team. If we want to change it, we’re the ones that are going to have to do it and gotta do it in a hurry.”
• • •