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Fraley: Difficult of Cowboys' schedule adds to already daunting challenge
01:11 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – The Cowboys have scaled back their aspirations, going from grandiose to commonplace.
"We've got to get one game," coach Wade Phillips said. "It's win one and move on from there."
That is appropriate thinking for a 1-4 team paying the price for its hubris. Remember that obscene $55,000 dinner for the offense? The Cowboys order at the drive-through window now.
Their get-one-victory mantra carries with it a question. Can you find the Cowboys' next win?
It's not easy. The remaining schedule adds to the Cowboys' woes. Based upon opponents' performance to date, the Cowboys face the most difficult schedule in the NFC for their final 11 games.
They have only one game against a club that currently has a losing record: at home against 1-5 Detroit on Nov. 21. Cowboys' opponents are a combined 37-28 for a .569 winning percentage. Winless Carolina has the next-toughest remaining schedule in the NFC. Its opponents are 34-28 for a .548 winning percentage.
"It's crunch time," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "It's a tough road ahead. We realize that, and it's frustrating. But nobody is giving up."
The Monday night game against the New York Giants is the first of a home-and-home series against the NFC's hottest team in the span of four weeks. It is a bad time to catch the Giants, riding a three-game winning streak.
In a five-day span of November, the Cowboys must face Indianapolis and New Orleans, last season's Super Bowl teams. The Cowboys have remaining road games at Green Bay and Philadelphia, traditionally tough venues.
There is no sympathy for a wounded team. No opponent will pull back because the Cowboys are struggling. The remaining schedule includes five games against NFC East rivals, all of whom would like nothing better than to humiliate the Cowboys.
The final 11 games will be a test of this team's character as much as its ability. The weak-willed will reveal themselves.
As it is, the Cowboys are staring into the abyss. If they start planning January vacations instead of focusing on better play, this season will turn into a cave-in of epic proportions.
"In this game, you have to be numb to human nature and have to go out and try to win these games," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "These people will beat the crud out of you if you give up. They don't care if you've given up. They are still going to play.
"But there is no quit in this team. I know that. That will pay off for us."
On the flip side, none of the Cowboys' remaining opponents is invincible.
Three weeks into the season, the Giants were being ripped by former running back Tiki Barber . Green Bay is riddled by injuries. Indianapolis and New Orleans are dealing with the year-after hangover. There are no monoliths in the NFL.
And the Cowboys are an unusual 1-4 team in that they have been in every game. They have the league's sixth-worst record but have been outscored by only nine points. Houston is 4-2 and has been outscored by 14 points. Arizona is 3-2 despite being outscored by 50.
The point differential suggests the Cowboys can piece together wins if they correct the shortcomings that have put them in this bind: mindless penalties, lousy kickoff coverage, too many turnovers and too few takeaways. That "if" hinges on their mind-set as much as their ability.
"That's the good thing about this group," Phillips said. "I think they are prideful. It means a lot to them. That's an important thing for this group with where we are in the season and what our record is."
The record is bad. The future is daunting. As bad as the Cowboys' situation is now, it could get worse if they do not respond.The road ahead
The strength of the remaining schedules for NFC teams (games remaining against teams with losing records are in parentheses):
Team Opp. records Pct.
1. Cowboys (1) 37-28 .569
2. Carolina (2) 34-28 .548
3. Philadelphia (3) 31-26 .544
4. Washington (3) 30-27 .526
5. Minnesota (2) 33-30 .524
6. Detroit (3) 28-26 .519
7. Green Bay (5) 28-28 .500
8. Chicago (4) 27-28 .491
9. Seattle (3) 30-32 .484
9. Tampa Bay (3) 30-32 .484
11. NY Giants (3) 27-29 .482
12. Atlanta (3) 25-29 .463
12. N. Orleans (4) 25-29 .463
14. S. Francisco (3) 25-31 .446
15. St. Louis (4) 24-31 .436
16. Arizona (6) 22-37 .373
• • •
01:11 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – The Cowboys have scaled back their aspirations, going from grandiose to commonplace.
"We've got to get one game," coach Wade Phillips said. "It's win one and move on from there."
That is appropriate thinking for a 1-4 team paying the price for its hubris. Remember that obscene $55,000 dinner for the offense? The Cowboys order at the drive-through window now.
Their get-one-victory mantra carries with it a question. Can you find the Cowboys' next win?
It's not easy. The remaining schedule adds to the Cowboys' woes. Based upon opponents' performance to date, the Cowboys face the most difficult schedule in the NFC for their final 11 games.
They have only one game against a club that currently has a losing record: at home against 1-5 Detroit on Nov. 21. Cowboys' opponents are a combined 37-28 for a .569 winning percentage. Winless Carolina has the next-toughest remaining schedule in the NFC. Its opponents are 34-28 for a .548 winning percentage.
"It's crunch time," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "It's a tough road ahead. We realize that, and it's frustrating. But nobody is giving up."
The Monday night game against the New York Giants is the first of a home-and-home series against the NFC's hottest team in the span of four weeks. It is a bad time to catch the Giants, riding a three-game winning streak.
In a five-day span of November, the Cowboys must face Indianapolis and New Orleans, last season's Super Bowl teams. The Cowboys have remaining road games at Green Bay and Philadelphia, traditionally tough venues.
There is no sympathy for a wounded team. No opponent will pull back because the Cowboys are struggling. The remaining schedule includes five games against NFC East rivals, all of whom would like nothing better than to humiliate the Cowboys.
The final 11 games will be a test of this team's character as much as its ability. The weak-willed will reveal themselves.
As it is, the Cowboys are staring into the abyss. If they start planning January vacations instead of focusing on better play, this season will turn into a cave-in of epic proportions.
"In this game, you have to be numb to human nature and have to go out and try to win these games," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "These people will beat the crud out of you if you give up. They don't care if you've given up. They are still going to play.
"But there is no quit in this team. I know that. That will pay off for us."
On the flip side, none of the Cowboys' remaining opponents is invincible.
Three weeks into the season, the Giants were being ripped by former running back Tiki Barber . Green Bay is riddled by injuries. Indianapolis and New Orleans are dealing with the year-after hangover. There are no monoliths in the NFL.
And the Cowboys are an unusual 1-4 team in that they have been in every game. They have the league's sixth-worst record but have been outscored by only nine points. Houston is 4-2 and has been outscored by 14 points. Arizona is 3-2 despite being outscored by 50.
The point differential suggests the Cowboys can piece together wins if they correct the shortcomings that have put them in this bind: mindless penalties, lousy kickoff coverage, too many turnovers and too few takeaways. That "if" hinges on their mind-set as much as their ability.
"That's the good thing about this group," Phillips said. "I think they are prideful. It means a lot to them. That's an important thing for this group with where we are in the season and what our record is."
The record is bad. The future is daunting. As bad as the Cowboys' situation is now, it could get worse if they do not respond.The road ahead
The strength of the remaining schedules for NFC teams (games remaining against teams with losing records are in parentheses):
Team Opp. records Pct.
1. Cowboys (1) 37-28 .569
2. Carolina (2) 34-28 .548
3. Philadelphia (3) 31-26 .544
4. Washington (3) 30-27 .526
5. Minnesota (2) 33-30 .524
6. Detroit (3) 28-26 .519
7. Green Bay (5) 28-28 .500
8. Chicago (4) 27-28 .491
9. Seattle (3) 30-32 .484
9. Tampa Bay (3) 30-32 .484
11. NY Giants (3) 27-29 .482
12. Atlanta (3) 25-29 .463
12. N. Orleans (4) 25-29 .463
14. S. Francisco (3) 25-31 .446
15. St. Louis (4) 24-31 .436
16. Arizona (6) 22-37 .373
• • •
