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      Cowboys’ offense struggles again

      November 22, 2009 /

      For the second straight week, the Dallas Cowboys sputtered offensively. Only this time, they were fortunate enough to notch a victory because their opponents happened to be the Washington Redskins.

      The Cowboys beat the Skins on Sunday in an ugly, 7-6 victory. Dallas rushed for 153 yards, but Tony Romo was ineffective outside of the eventual game-winning touchdown drive that came late in the fourth quarter. In fact, Romo didn’t complete a pass to a wide receiver until the last play of the third quarter because Washington did such a good job of keeping everything in front of them. They didn’t allow Romo to test them vertically.

      This is the wrong time of year for the Cowboys to be struggling offensively. They’ve scored only 14 total points the past two weeks and while their defense is playing well, Dallas needs Romo and the passing game to step up down the stretch.

      Not to get ahead of myself, but if the Cowboys make the playoffs, then they won’t be able to compete with the Saints and the Vikings in the NFC if they can’t move the ball. Obvious statement I know, but it’s worth noting after their brutal effort today. If the Cowboys can only muster seven points against the Redskins, how are they going to do against other postseason teams?

      NFL

      Colts edge Ravens to remain undefeated

      November 22, 2009 /

      The Indianapolis Colts have been flirting with defeat for the past two weeks, but they beat the Baltimore Ravens 17-15 to earn a hard fought victory on Sunday. The win allows them to stay undefeated on the season.

      The keys to this game were turnovers and inefficiency in the red zone. Indianapolis turned the ball over three times to help keep this contest close throughout and Baltimore couldn’t convert in the red zone and had to settle for five Billy Cundiff field goals.

      The turning point came when Joe Flacco threw a crucial interception deep in Indianapolis territory with just three minutes remaining. If nothing else, the Ravens would have came away with a field goal on that drive to give them an 18-17 lead. Granted, Manning would have had the opportunity to lead the Colts to victory even if the Ravens did convert on that drive, but at least Baltimore’s defense would have had the chance to come up with a hold.

      Now the Ravens will probably have to run the table or win at least five of their final six games to make the playoffs. They play the Steelers next week and a loss would almost knock them out of postseason contention.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      Average Giants beat average Falcons

      November 22, 2009 /

      The Giants’ 34-31 overtime victory over the Falcons might have made for a nice highlight piece for ESPN, complete with a rousing effort by Eli Manning and a fourth quarter comeback engineered by Matt Ryan. But the truth of the matter is that one very average team beat an equally average team today.

      Both of these teams have noticeable holes, namely on the defensive side of the ball. Manning completed 25 of 39 passes for 384 yards with three touchdowns, but he accomplished all of that against cornerbacks that wouldn’t start for most teams in the NFL (Chris Houston is brutal). Ryan completed 26-of-46 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns (he also drove his team down the field for a game-tying touchdown with only 38 seconds remaining), but he too faced a suspect secondary dealing with injuries.

      Both the Giants and Falcons can move the ball offensively, but neither team has a defense that is ready to take on the likes of the Saints or Vikings in the postseason. New York is a tad better on that side of the ball, but that’s only because they can rush the passer. (They’re also dealing with injuries, whereas the Falcons defense is what it is – average at best.)

      Nevertheless, this was a big win for the Giants because it came against a conference foe. This may not be a team ready for the postseason, but a win is a win and now the G-Men are in the right position to at least win one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC.

      As for the Falcons, they’re still very much in contention for a Wild Card spot themselves, but they need a better defensive effort going forward. They can’t generate any pressure, they can’t make plays in the secondary and they can’t force turnovers. Mike Smith and coordinator Brian VanGorder better come up with a better scheme because they just don’t have the playmakers on that side of the ball to go toe-to-toe with opponents.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      Big Ben hurts head in overtime loss to Steelers

      November 22, 2009 /

      Teams never assume victory before they play the game (or at least they shouldn’t), but the Steelers must have felt great heading to Kansas City this weekend. After all, the Chiefs have struggled offensively all season and their top playmaker, Dwayne Bowe, was suspended four games earlier in the week.

      But not only did Pittsburgh suffer defeat on Sunday, but they’re key offensive player also suffered an injury.

      Ben Roethlisberger suffered a head injury in overtime of the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to the Chiefs in Week 11. Big Ben caught a knee to the head on a diving scramble and lay on the ground for several minutes before walking off under his own power. He finished 32-of-42 for 398 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

      Roethlisberger shredded Kansas City’s secondary the entire game, but three turnovers and one big play by Chiefs’ wideout Chris Chambers (four catches, 119 yards) doomed the Steelers in the end. Chambers’ 61-yard reception in overtime set up Ryan Syccop’s 22-yard game-winning field goal.

      This loss hurts the Steelers on many levels. Not only did they suffer defeat in a game everyone assumed that they would win, but once the Bengals beat the Raiders in Oakland later today, Pittsburgh will also essentially fall three games back in the AFC North. It’s never easy to fly cross-country and play on the road just one week after suffering a tough divisional loss. But this was a game Pittsburgh needed to win.

      It’ll be interesting to see if Big Ben misses any time. He’s a tough player, so one would assume that he’ll play next week but head injuries are always a little trickier to deal with.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      MLS keeps growing and growing

      November 22, 2009 /

      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      The MLS Cup takes place tonight and it will likely yield the highest television ratings in the league’s history. Thankfully, the promising showdown between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake landed a beneficial time slot. Last year’s final was squeezed between the NFL’s regular season schedule on network television in the middle of the day — I doubt you remember. Since soccer seems to do well in prime time (and can’t compete with the “other” football), ESPN will broadcast the final tonight at 8:30 PM ET.

      It may seem otherwise, but Major League Soccer is succeeding. This year, professional soccer came to Seattle. In the wake of the Supersonics leaving for Oklahoma City, the Seattle Sounders officially began their first season in the MLS. Like the Super Bowl, the location of the MLS Cup rotates each year. In a wise decision orchestrated by the league, today’s Cup will go down at Qwest Field, home of the Sounders. It’s quite a gift, but the city has more soccer fanatics than most and surely appreciates the gesture.

      “MLS made a great decision in expanding to our region,” said King County executive Dow Constantine, the obligatory politician on hand. “Here’s a place where darn near every kid grows up playing soccer.”

      Then, on Thursday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber participated in an online chat on the Seattle Times website, telling the world that all was well with MLS and would be even better in the foreseeable future.

      “This season will forever be known as one of the key moments in the history of soccer in America,” Garber said during the day.

      Next year, the Philadelphia Union will debut, in a brand new stadium no less. Portland and Vancouver will follow in 2011. Montreal is also on board. If all goes according to plan, the league will then contain 19 teams.

      People are watching American soccer — you just don’t know them.

      Once again, you can catch the MLS Cup tonight at 8:30 PM ET on ESPN.

      Soccer

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