Cowboys and Christmas

It was a good news / bad news kind of day for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.  As disappointing as the heart breaking 34-31 loss in overtime to the New Orleans Saints was, there were still some positives to to go along with the bittersweet pill of coming oh so close.  Neither defense played especially well, both offenses together racked up nearly 900 yards of total offense.  Even at the lowest point, down 14 points late in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys scored two touchdown sandwiched around a 3 and out by the Saints in the final 3 and a half minutes to tie the game at 31 all.  The OT period did not go the Cowboys way with the Saints winning by a field goal, but as  I said, there were some positiives to take into next weeks showdown with the Redskins. Both Quarterbacks passed for 400 yards, Dez Bryant tied a club record for a Touchdown in 7 consecutive games with a twin set of first half 58 yard scores.  Jason Witten set an NFL record for catches by a tight end in a season with 103, besting the 2004 record set by Tony Gonzales of 102, and there is still one game to go.  Despite the loss, the Cowboys were not eliminated from the play off race.  The New York Giants were roundly routed by the Baltimore Ravens 33-14, and the Seattle Seahawks served notice to the powers that be to watch out for them as they embarrassed the San Francisco 49ers (much to my delight)  42-13.  This sets up the NFC East title match between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a Win and In or Lose and Out scenario for all the NFC East Marbles for both teams.  

The NFL has moved the game from a Noon time start to the prime time spot at 7:20 PM CST on NBC's Sunday Night Football.  If the Cowboys prevail against one of our greatest rivals, both clubs would have identical records over all and within the division.  That brings up the second tiebreaker of record against common opponents which is held by the Cowboys over the Redskins, thus giving the Cowboys the NFC East Crown and the Number 4 seed in the NFC Play offs and Washington would go home for the season.  If the Redskins win they would be NFC East champs by virtue of sweeping the two season match ups with the Cowboys and the Cowboys would be sent packing for the season.  I know what my desired results would be and will be doing everything in my power as an very interested observer to insure a Cowboy Victory.  

The move of the game to prime times means I will be late for work so I can watch the whole game unless things are going so badly that I go on to work in a snit.  If there is one team in the NFL that I hate to see the Cowboys lose to it is the Redskins.  I survived the 1-15 season early in Troy Aikman's career living in the DC area by virtue of the only win in the season was at Washington which shut up their most insufferable of fans.  At any rate it should be a bang up game and a terrific end to the regular season, especially if the Cowboys kick some Redskin ass!

That brings us to today which is of course Christmas Eve and I have a couple cool things to share with you to help you celebrate the day. Your play list for this Christmas Eve is a Celebration of Christmas with one of my favorite singers, Josh Groban.  The play list includes the 13 tracks of Josh Groban's Album "Noel" including the songs Silent Night, Little Drummer Boy Featuring Andy McKee, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Ave Maria, Angels We Have Heard on High duet with Brian McKnight, Thankful, The Christmas Song, What Child is This?, The First Noel duet with Faith Hill, Petit Papa Noel, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Panis Angelicus, O Come All Ye Faithful with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and as a bonus Josh sings a marvelous version of O Holy Night which was not on the album but is a fitting climax to this little celebration of Christmas. 

The musical celebration is followed by this year's edition of Sexy Santa's Helpers, Soldier Santas and Heavenly Angels, any of which I would love to have under my tree on Christmas Morning.  I hope your Holiday is a Blessed One whether you are spending it with yourself, your family of blood or your family of choice.  Merry Christmas, we will see you on Christmas Morning with a little something to put under your tree.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!