Cowboys Win, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive!!

In what could have been a game between two teams plagued with injuries and inconsistencies in which neither team seemed to want to win; instead became an exciting tension filled contest in which neither team showed any willingness to quit.  The Cowboys predictably fell behind early 14-3 before scoring a second quarter Touchdown, set up by Jason Witten's 28 yard catch to the one yard line  to draw within 4, only to leave the Eagles  time enough to score a Field Goal to go up 17-10 at the half.  The second half was a whole 'nother ball game with the Cowboys taking the kickoff and marching 80 yards in 7 plays to tie the score at 17, the Touchdown was a thing of Romo-esque beauty as Tony scrambled to his right before finding Dez Bryant on the opposite side of the field wide open.  Dez caught the ball and raced 23 yards through the Eagles defense, bulling his way into the End Zone.  The Touchdown also moved Tony Romo past the legendary Troy Aikman into first place all time for Touchdown passes with 166.  Romo, however was not yet finished with the Eagles.  While the offense was being aroused by Romo with considerable help from the return of running back DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and of course Jason Witten, the injury riddled defense did not seem to have an answer for the Eagles Bryce Brown who provided 33 of the 80 yards Philly marched on their next possession to once again go up by 7, 24-17.  

On their very next series, Dallas ate up 6:46 of clock as they ticked off the third quarter and opened up the fourth with another 80-yard drive, this one taking 12 plays. The team received a scare when on fourth-and-1 at the Eagles’ 39-yard line, they decided to go for it. The initial ruling was that Murray was stuffed for no gain, Philly taking over possession.  But head coach Jason Garrett threw the challenge flag and upon going under the hood, the officials gave Murray the needed yard and the first down. Three plays later and Romo hit a streaking Austin over the middle who slipped into the end zone for a 27-yard score, the game again tied, 24-24.  The Eagles next possession lasted for 10 plays, but the Dallas Defense forced them to take the Field Goal instead of a Touchdown, putting them up 3 at 27-24 with 9:51 left in the ball game.  

The Cowboys grabbed the momentum back on their next possession when Romo and the Cowboys, starting at their own 14-yard line after a holding penalty on the kickoff return.  Romo soon hit Bryant on a 35-yard pass to the Philadelphia 43, found Witten two plays later for 36 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 4, and then put up the points with a short pass to Bryant on the right side, Dallas taking their first lead of the game, 31-27, with just over five minutes left on the clock.  The beleaguered defense answered the call on the next Eagles drive when, at their own 41 yard line, the Eagles rushed Bryce Brown again up the middle.  Cowboy Nose Tackle Josh Brent slammed into Brown, knocking the ball loose and into the hands of Morris Claiborne who raced 50 yards untouched into the End Zone to put Dallas up 38-27.  

However, nothing ever comes easy with this Cowboys’ team.  After the Cowboys stopped the Eagles on fourth-and-13 to take over possession, they couldn’t do anything with the ball themselves and so were forced to punt it away from their own 35-yard line. Return man Damaris Johnson took the boot from his own 2-yard line, broke out of the pack and to the right sideline, going the distance for a 98-yard punt return to draw Philly within 5 at 38-33.  The Eagles went for the two point conversion but were not successful, leaving them still 5 points behind the Cowboys.  They tried for the on-sides kick, however that was recovered by Jason Witten and the Cowboys ran out the rest of the clock for the victory.  

This leaves me in the unenviable position of having to root for the Washington Redskins tonight in their Monday Night Football clash with the division leading New York Giants.  It is not that I want the 'Skins to win, however their victory would help the Cowboys in their playoff quest by pinning a loss on the Giants, drawing the Cowboys closer to a post season slot with four games remaining.  Next up is Cincinnati in an away game followed by Pittsburgh and New Orleans at home before they finish the regular season with a game against the Redskins in Washington the Sunday before New Years Day.  The rest of the games are very winnable but also very lose able, so we shall see what fate has in store for the Cowboys in the last four weeks of the regular season.  

For your Monday Music, I have a live concert recording featuring Cuban Guitarist Manuel Barrueco and the Munich Symphony Orchestra.  Here is the play list: Concierto de Aranjuez (Joaquín Rodrigo) 1:16 I. Allegro con Spirito, 7:24 II. Adagio, 17:40 III. Allegro Gentile; Solo: 24:32 Introduction and Variations on a theme from Mozart's "Magic Flute", opus 9 (Fernando Sor); Children's Songs (Chick Corea) 33:55 One, 35:25 Three, 36:28 Two, 37:45 Four, 39:48 Fifteen, 41:44 Six, 44:02 Eighteen; 46:29 Invocation y Danza (Joaquín Rodrigo) ending with 53:38 Asturias/Leyanda (Isaac Albéniz).  The concert is followed by some yummylicious young men cavorting about in their Monday's Undies to entice and inspire you.  Thanks for spending a little of your time with me today. see you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!