Demarcus Ware (94), Terence Newman (41) and a stifling Cowboys' defense provided the spark to allow Dallas to squeak out a win against Philly's second-teamers. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)With third-string quarterback Steven McGee making the first start of his career, the onus was on the Dallas Cowboys (6-10) defense to make this a winnable game against the Philadelphia Eagles' (10-6).
The Dallas D proved up to the challenge; forcing four turnovers, accumulating six sacks and scoring a touchdown against backup quarterback Kevin Kolb and the rest of the Eagles' second stringers.
With the victory, interim coach Jason Garrett finished his eight-game audition to be the next head coach of the Cowboys with a 5-3 record, and the three losses have come by a total of just seven points -- something that's sure to weigh heavily in his favor when owner/general manager Jerry Jones begins the selection process for the team's next head coach.
"I would absolutely love to be this team's coach," Garrett said.
Demarcus Ware is a big reason why Garrett didn't finish with a .500 record in his half a season as the Cowboys' head coach. The recent Pro-Bowl selection set the tone defensively, recording three sacks and recovering a fumble in the second quarter before returning it 17-yards for a touchdown -- giving Dallas it's first points of the contest.
For one of the few times this season, Terence Newman was also a difference-maker for the defense. The Cowboys' corner provided two interceptions, one of which was the final nail in the coffin to close out the game on the Eagles' final possession. Two of the longest tenured veterans on the defensive side of the ball stepped up to avoid what would have been an extremely embarrassing loss -- which actually would have been fitting considering all of those kick to the nuts, late-game defeats this team has sustained this season.
Dallas held Philly to just 244 total yards, and 13 points ties the fewest the Cowboys have allowed all season.
"It obviously could've been a lot better, but at least if the situation comes where I have to go back in there, you know, you feel like you knocked some of that [rust] off," Kolb said.
While a win is a win, this doesn't mean anything but a 6-10 record and worse selection at the NFL draft. Dallas went up against a Philadelphia team locked into the number three seed in the NFC, with few starters playing and really no incentive to win the game. It looks nice, and the defense did prove it could do a number on a good team's bench warmers, but it in no way rids Cowboy fans of the bitter taste left by this season.
This team still needed a 9-play, 54-yard drive to close this thing out and Dallas still has more questions than answers on both sides of the ball going into the offseason.
McGee Struggles Early, Plays Well Enough To Win Late
The Cowboys' rookie quarterback was shaky at times Sunday afternoon against the Eagles, but came through when it mattered most. After under throwing receivers, overthrowing receivers and everything in between through three-and-a-half quarters, McGee got on the same page with Jason Witten on the Cowboys final drive and it would turn out to be the difference. McGee scampered for seven yards and completed 4 of 5 passes on the final drive, all to Witten, including the 4-yard touchdown pass that would prove to be the game-winner.
"I think he handled himself good in a tough environment," injured Cowboys starter Tony Romo said of McGee.
McGee numbers for the game are horrendous (11 of 27 passing, 127 yards, one touchdown), but he didn't commit a turnover and found the Cowboys' most reliable pass catcher with the game on the line. The rookie also finished with 55 yards rushing one nine carries -- second only to Felix Jones (11 carries 81 yards) for the game.
Hey, the third-stringer played better than the guy who was supposed to be the Eagles starting quarterback this season. Kolb finished with 162 yards on 18 of 36 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions.
What's Next
Dallas goes into the offseason finishing with it's worst regular season record since the 2004 campaign led by Vinny Testaverde. Jones must figure out what direction he wants to take this team coaching-wise, to go along with an abundance of personnel decisions to make with this underachieving team that somehow sent a league-high five players to the Pro Bowl.
Both the offensive and defensive lines must be retooled, along with the entire secondary and the middle linebacker position if the Cowboys want to return to prominence in 2011.
News and Notes:
- Dallas finishes the season having given up a whopping 436 points -- the most in franchise history.
- Miles Austin finished the game with two receptions for 62 yards, breaking 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season.
- Jason Witten also finished the game with over 1,000 receiving yards, the second straight season he's done so and the third time for his career. Witten also finishes with the team lead in receiving touchdowns at nine.
- With three sacks in the contest, Demarcus Ware finished with 15.5 for the season - most in the NFL.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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