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Cowboys defeated the Oakland Raiders, 24-7, in a feast of big plays for Tashard Choice, Felix Jones, Miles Austin, Marion Barber, and Jason Witten. Granted, these plays came against the Oakland Raiders, but this is what the Cowboys needed to break out of an offensive slump. Here are the list of big plays:

Tashard Choice, out the Razorback: 66 yards
Felix Jones: 46 yards for a TD
Miles Austin: 49 yards, 27 yards, total of 145 yards
Marion Barber: long run of 32 and reception of 42
Jason Witten: 44 yard reception

There was some improvement in this game, but they still left some points on the field due to penalties and mistakes. The first two Cowboy drives were stopped in scoring position, but resulted in a punt and a missed field goal. It just seems to me, the timing of the penalties is what hurts. These mistakes stopped the drives: holding on Deon Anderson, false start on Flozell Adams, hands to the face on Kozier. These need to be minimized from here on out, can not leave points out on the field.

I still like Nick Folk as our kicker, but something isn’t right there. Is he still feeling the affects of his surgery during the off-season? I wouldn’t think so by now. Problems with the hold? This is McBriar’s first year of doing it. I hope that it gets straightened out soon.

NFL playoffs start in January, but in my mind’s eye, the Cowboys playoffs start December 6 at New York Giants. Everyone knows the troubles that the Cowboys go through in December/January. I don’t know why this team has trouble, but they need to get in the mindset that their season is on the line from this point on. I don’t care to know they are leading the NFC East now, I want them leading it at the end of the season, then continue with wins in the playoffs in January and hopefully in February.

It may appear that the Cowboys are in the drivers seat in the division, but they need to keep driving. They only have a game and a half lead on the Eagles, two games lead on the Giants. A win against the Giants could provide a knockout blow to their chances. Even then, I wouldn’t count them out if the Cowboys go on a losing streak after that. They are not in the drivers seat, it could go away at anytime.

Cowboys remaining schedule (Average winning percentage: .629):
@ Giants
San Diego
@ New Orleans
@Redskins
Eagles

Eagles remaining schedule (Average winning percentage: .518):
Washington
@ Atlanta
@ New York
San Francisco
Denver
@ Dallas

Giants remaining schedule (Average winning percentage: .585):
Dallas
Philadelphia
@ Washington
Carolina
@ Minnesota

So, amongst the division, the Cowboys appear to have a more difficult opponents to face in December (based on the average of winning percentage). They will have to work even harder to get where they want to be. All I can do is hope, cheer, and pray that they can do it. The onus is on them to get it done. Come on, Cowboys, let’s do this!!

By Dave Trollope
SJ Advisor/Contributing Author, blogger

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