The Dallas Monday Night Debacle

Last night’s Dallas-New York Giants game reminded why I shouldn’t prognosticate like I did in yesterday’s, Monday’s Notes.

The Dallas front seven was simply unable to handle the Giants’ rushing attack. Shocked and awed by the quick-strike touchdown pass to Plaxico Burriss (more on this play later), the Cowboys appeared to be scared to death to go eight in the box and force Eli Manning to win the game. Oddly though, with only seven in the box, the ‘Boys still somehow failed to shut down Manning and crew.

I wrote yesterday that because of the media exalting Tiki Barber and the Giants offensive line to deity level, the Dallas offensive line and RB Julius Jones would have a big game. Ha! Dallas rushed for a total of 69 yards.

What I looked for early in the game is how Dallas would set up the New York defense. With Sam Madison playing press coverage on Terry Glenn and with New York’s stated plan to “get physical” and press Terrell Owens, I felt the initial thrust of the Dallas offense would be Drew Bledsoe throwing to Owens. There is no cornerback who can successfully press T.O. for an entire game; there’s no corner as physical as Owens. Unfortunately, Mr. Bill also continued to openly show his disdain for T.O. by failing to utilize Owens’ talents as a wideout.

I also looked closely at Dallas’ offensive tempo. Did they go crisply out of the huddle, run a play, and get into and back out of the huddle quickly? No. From the beginning Bledsoe and his offensive looked unsure and sluggish – and defeated. The strength of the New York defense is its perimeter and its perimeter defenders. MLB Antonio Pierce prides himself on his ability to get from sideline to sideline in order to shut down running plays. DEs Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora pride themselves on their abilities to get to the quarterback, bottle up off tackle runs and string out pitchouts. So Dallas attacks up the middle, right?

Ummm, no.

Who leads a defense in tackles is an indicator as to the scheme and success or failure of an offense. When a defense has a dominant MLB, that linebacker will usually will lead a team in tackles. In the case of the Giants, defensive end Strahan and right cornerback Corey Webster led the Giants with five tackles, Pierce and outside linebacker Brandon Short had four. So Mr. Grocery Shopper Bill Parcells decided to pound the strength of New York’s D and attack it with off-tackle and wide runs – wow. Somehow, Parcells, who hasn’t eon a playoff game in eight years, is the only coach in the NFL whose overt stubbornness, pettiness and control-freakness is lauded rather than critiqued. Ironically, Mr. Stubborn, Petty Control-freak Tom Coughlin looked infinitely more imaginative than Pacrells’.

Drew Bledsoe was – well, pitiful. At least three of his sacks were the direct result of indecision. His goal line decision to attempt to throw to Terry Glenn – resulting in a Madison interception – while T.O. was flashing open in the back of the end zone was inexcusable. With Tony Romo replacing Bledsoe in the second half, it appears that Bledsoe’s days as a starter are done.

With all that said, let me point to two early events in the Dallas-NYG game that emotionally ruined the Cowboys. Event one was Roy Williams running into the back judge while preparing to break up the Eli Manning’s first TD pass to Plaxico Burriss. Now, we’ve seen that occur before – exactly once. How the back judge, with the play coming directly at him, failed to see Williams is beyond comprehension. Why the back judge didn’t simply back up deeper into the end zone – which also would have given him a better overall view of the play – is also beyond comprehension.

On New York’s next possession Eli Manning’s arm was hit while attempting to pass. The ball was clearly out of his hand before his arm went forward. The Giants recovered the fumble, resulting in a 12-yard loss. Coughlin challenged the call on the field. As we know, if there’s any doubt about a call on the field versus what the replay shows, the call on the field stands. This play, mysteriously, was overturned. Though the Giants drive stalled at their 45-yard line, the resulting punt was downed inside the Dallas one. Two plays later Bledsoe was sacked for a safety by LaVar Arrington. Two officiating miscues and the score was 9-0 New York.

Who led this referee crew? Peter Morelli. Morelli led the infamous crew that officiated the Indianapolis-Pittsburgh playoff game last season; the game in which there were so many poor calls that many Indy fans thought there was something fishy about the refs. One would have thought that after that officiating debacle Morelli would be demoted. One would have thought that if Morelli wasn’t demoted, he would certainly never referee a meaningful game involving a Manning.

Yet there was Morelli with his crew officiating last night’s Dallas-New York game. If it smells like a fish and swims like a fish it damn sure ain’t a rabbit. Don’t get me wrong, New York still would have won this game on their own. They just didn’t need any help from the zebras.

P.S. I just want to give a special shout out to the Cowboys’  offensive line and their ineptitude. Sure Parcells’ game plan didn’t help Sure Bledsoe’s indecision didn’t help matters, either. But when your performance rivals that of Arizona’s Sunday against the Raiders,  you deserve special mention.