The Cowboys continued their trend of making opposing offenses look like all-time greats. This time it was the Jaguars and their 22nd ranked scoring offense. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)Even with any hope of playoff contention, the Dallas Cowboys (1-6) still have something to fight for: the title for the worst team in football!
"I'm dumbfounded," owner Jerry Jones said.
I know the Buffalo Bills are 0-7, so technically they are the worst team in football, but I have an overwhelming amount of evidence to prove Dallas deserves to be the worst - starting with today's loss at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4).
Let's delve in, shall we?
Exhibit A:
David Garrard and the Jaguars, 28th in the NFL in passing offense (173.3) coming into the game, decimated the Cowboys secondary to establish season-highs (and some career-highs) in just about every statistical category. Garrard, who missed last week due to a concussion, came into the game with nine touchdowns, seven interceptions and an 88.4 quarterback rating.
Against the Cowboys, Garrard completed a career-high 11 straight passes to start the game for two touchdowns and that was just he first half. He finished the game 17 of 21 with a career-high four touchdowns passes for a season-high 260 yards and nearly perfect QB rating at 157.8.
"It was an awesome day offensively for us," Garrard said. "I just thought we continued to come at them. We quickened the pace and we gassed them a little bit."
Exhibit B:
The Cowboys also allowed Jaguars' running back Maurice Jones-Drew to run wild for 135 yards on 27 carries. Last season, Dallas allowed a grand total of zero 100-yard rushers. After Sunday's game against Jacksonville, they've allowed four such performances in the last five games.
"Same guys, same defense, and we're not getting it done," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "Something has changed from last year. What it is, I don't have an answer."
Exhibit C:
Jacksonville came into the game with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, allowing an average of 29.9 points per game - next to last in the NFL. Dallas managed a whopping three points through the first three quarters before getting two touchdowns in garbage time. Even with the two TD's, the Cowboys managed a grand total of 17 points - tying for the lowest the Jags have allowed all season.
Exhibit D:
The Jaguars are also 25th in opponents rushing yards, allowing 129 yards on the ground per game and had allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of the past two weeks. The Cowboys two-headed monster of Felix Jones and Marion Barber racked up 38 yards on 17 carries (2.2 yards per carry).
Exhibit E:
The Jaguars came into Sunday's game against the Cowboys dead-last in the NFL in takeaway/giveaway differential at -10 and hadn't forced a turnover in three games. Against the Cowboys, Jacksonville had three in the first three quarters and four for the game, all Jon Kitna interceptions - one of which that didn't bounce off an open Cowboy's hands and into the arms of a Jaguars' defender.
Final Argument:
Before Sunday's win, Jacksonville had lost their last two contests by combined 72-23.
"I'm distraught, to say the least," Phillips said. "I've got talented players and I'm not getting them to play well enough. To me, that's the root of the problem."
"The veterans talked all week about 'you take their will,'" rookie defensive tackle Tyson Alualu said. "We were relentless that way."
Well, judging by the half-empty and nearly cathedral-silent stadium for the majority of the game, the Jags took more than just the will of the Cowboys players on this day.
I rest my case.
What's Next
Dallas travels to Lambeau Field to take on the 5-3 Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. central time and can be seen on NBC.
News and Notes:
- The Cowboys' defense has allowed an average of 26.7 points per game so far this season, the team's worst average since 1989.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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