SB Nation Dallas - NFL Week 13: Cowboys Blow Chances, Fall 19-13 To Cardinals In OThttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2011-12-05T18:13:56-06:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23600082011-12-05T18:13:56-06:002011-12-05T18:13:56-06:00Dallas Cowboys Playoff Picture: Dallas Controls Their Own Destiny as the New York Giants Await
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<p>The Dallas Cowboys are one game ahead of the New York Giants as they prepare to face off twice in the next four weeks to decide who wins the NFC East.</p> <p>As the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> will try to quickly to forget about letting a winnable game over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> slip through their proverbial fingers, one will be able to point to that particular game if the 'Boys happen to lose their top spot in the division or even their spot in their playoff picture.</p>
<p>At 7-5, the Cowboys have a one-game lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>. The divisional rivals will face off twice in the next four weeks and the divisional title still lies up for grabs. Plus with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> and divisional rival <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> both out of playoff contention, a feather in their cap could be to take down America's team.</p>
<p>Here are the top eight teams in the NFC going into week 14:</p>
<p><b>NFC Playoff Picture</b></p>
<p>1. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/green-bay-packers">Green Bay Packers</a> 12-0 (NFC North)<br>2. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/san-francisco-49ers">San Francisco 49ers</a> 10-2 (NFC West)<br>3. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/new-orleans-saints">New Orleans Saints</a> 9-3 (NFC South<br>4. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/dallas-cowboys">Dallas Cowboys</a> 7-5 (NFC East)<br>5. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/chicago-bears">Chicago Bears</a> 7-5 (Wild Card) Hold tiebreaker over Atlanta due to head-to-head record.<br>6. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> 7-5 (Wild Card) Hold tiebreaker over Detroit due to head-to-head record.</p>
<p>7. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/detroit-lions">Detroit Lions</a> 7-5<br>8. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/new-york-giants">New York Giants</a> 6-6</p>
<p><b><i>For more on the Cowboys, check out <a href="http://bloggingtheboys.om/">Blogging The Boys.</a> For more on the NFL, check out SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">NFL page</a>.</i></b></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/5/2613967/dallas-cowboys-playoff-picture-dallas-controls-their-own-destinyEddie Maisonet2011-12-04T20:35:14-06:002011-12-04T20:35:14-06:00Jerry Jones Doesn't Want To Talk About Jason Garrett's Clock Management
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<p>Jerry Jones has shown a willingness to criticize Jason Garrett’s management of the game at times this season. At others, not so much. Sunday would be one of those other times. Asked about his coach’s decision to spike the ball with eight seconds rather than use one of his two timeouts with 13 seconds, which would have allowed his offense to run another play at the Arizona 31, he opted to play the part of record keeper.</p>
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<p>My understanding is, the explanation I got is it was to let time run off the clock. I’m not going to agree or disagree right here. But the point is it was to let time run off the clock.</p>
<p>(After a follow-up from reporters)</p>
<p>Just a minute, I’m just telling you what my understanding is.</p>
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4687664/jason-garrett-explains-cowboys-clock-management-crisis" target="new">Tim McMahon described</a> Jones as agitated at that point. Jerry can join the crowd.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611519/jerry-jones-doesnt-want-to-talk-about-jason-garretts-clock-managementBrett Perryman2011-12-04T20:20:52-06:002011-12-04T20:20:52-06:00Jason Garrett Addresses Questions Over Timeout Management
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<p>Most Cowboys observers will think that Jason Garrett made a mess of things late in regulation of his team’s 19-13 overtime loss to the Cardinals. Garrett opted to ice his own kicker and saw him make the first and miss the second field goal try, but possibly the more egregious decision was a lack of a timeout after the previous play.</p>
<p>The Cowboys had two timeouts remaining when Dez Bryant caught a miraculous 3rd-11 converting pass from Tony Romo that put Dallas at the Arizona 31 with 13 seconds remaining. They could have called one of their timeouts then, run a play – even a running play – and called their second time out, then kicked a potential game winner. Of course, there was no guarantee that they would have improved their position, but that won’t stop the criticism of Garrett. Garrett himself <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4687664/jason-garrett-explains-cowboys-clock-management-crisis" target="new">acknowledged</a> that it might have been a good idea to get in one more play.</p>
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<p>We very well could have taken a timeout there. We felt like we were in field goal range. We have yard lines that we use as guidelines before the game. We felt like we were in range at that point. Tony [Romo] had them on the line of scrimmage quickly, so we went ahead and clocked it and used that as a timeout. …</p>
<p>You see so many situations where you have negative plays in those situations. We felt like we were in his range to give him a chance to kick the game-winner.</p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611470/jason-garrett-addresses-questions-over-timeout-managementBrett Perryman2011-12-04T18:43:52-06:002011-12-04T18:43:52-06:00VIDEO: LaRod Stephens-Howling Rumbles Through Dallas Defense For Long OT TD
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<p><span>LaRod Stephens-Howling</span> just posted his entry for NFL play of the year. On a 1st-15 from the Arizona 48, Stephens-Howling took a screen pass and ran though most of the Dallas defense for a game-winning, overtime touchdown. Check it out:</p>
<p><iframe src="https://dallas.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=27697" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="27697-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe> <br id="1323045354645"></p>
<p><span>Dan Bailey</span> had made an apparent game-winning field goal at the end of regulation for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a>, but <a href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611187/video-jason-garrett-ices-his-own-kicker-costs-cowboys-game/in/2360008" target="_blank">Jason Garrett was granted a timeout</a> just as Dallas snapped the ball. Bailey, of course, missed the second try and brought on overtime. </p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> won the toss and ran into a 2nd-19 deep in their territory, but <span>Terence Newman</span> committed a needless pass interference, giving the Cardinals a first down at their 34. <span>Kevin Kolb</span> hit <span>Andre Roberts</span> for a 16-yard gain that moved the ball into Dallas territory. After a false start, he made a nice play to avoid <span>Anthony Spencer</span> and hit Stephens-Howling for the wide screen. Stephens-Howling did the rest, running through several Cowboys to reach the end zone. The loss drops Dallas to 7-5 and puts their playoff hopes back in question. </p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611196/video-larod-stephens-howling-ot-touchdown-arizona-wins-cowboys-loseBrett Perryman2011-12-04T18:29:52-06:002011-12-04T18:29:52-06:00VIDEO: Jason Garrett Ices His Own Kicker, Costs Cowboys Game
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<p>This may be Jason Garrett's low point as a head coach in the NFL. On a day when his offense managed just 13 points against a porous <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> defense, <span>Tony Romo</span> and <span>Dez Bryant</span> still had his team in position for a game winning, 49-yard field goal at the end of regulation. <span>Dan Bailey</span> made the field goal, drilling it right down the middle after a perfect snap and hold.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Bailey had been iced ... by his own coach. When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> lined up again the kick was short and to the left after a bit of a high snap.</p>
<p>The Cardinals won the OT coin toss and drove straight down the field against a tired, demoralized Dallas defense, scoring on a 52-yard screen pass from <span>Kevin Kolb</span> to LaRod Stephens-Howling. The attention, however, will be on Garrett and his decision to take his kicker out of his rhythm, instead hoping to give him extra time to line up the kick. See the video below:</p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611187/video-jason-garrett-ices-his-own-kicker-costs-cowboys-gameBrett Perryman2011-12-04T18:18:37-06:002011-12-04T18:18:37-06:00Jason Garrett Swipes Victory From Cowboys
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<p>Jason Garrett just cost his team a win. With seven seconds remaining in the game and the Cowboys and Cardinals tied at 13, Dan Bailey hit a 49-yard field goal to win the game for the Cowboys. Except that Jason Garrett called a timeout just as the ball was snapped. Dan Bailey missed the next kick, not getting enough leg on the ball after a high snap.</p>
<p>That means that Dallas and Arizona are headed for overtime in a stadium where Dallas has experienced two miserable endings in recent years. The Cardinals won the toss and will receive the overtime kickoff. Jay Feely has made two 55-yard field goals in his career. Bailey has a long of 51 in his rookie season and hit a 52-yarder in college.</p>
<p>The Cowboys have dominated yardage, 336 to 241, in a game with no turnovers. The Cardinals offense woke up in the second half, however, after accruing just 49 yards, 3 first downs and 3 points in the first half.</p>
<p>End of regulation score: Cowboys 13, Cardinals 13</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611155/jason-garrett-timeout-cowboysBrett Perryman2011-12-04T17:36:14-06:002011-12-04T17:36:14-06:00Cowboys Vs. Cardinals Score: Cardinals Offense Awakes, Ties Game In 4th Quarter
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<p>After an ugly first half, Kevin Kolb and his offense have scored on both second half drives. They drove to the Dallas one on their first drive but had to settle for a field goal. After a Cowboys field goal restored their seven-point lead, the Cardinals raced back down the field in six plays for the game tying score.</p>
<p>The drive covered 79 yards and featured Kolb completions to Andre Roberts for 40 and 22 yards. They set up an easy four-yard scoring run for Beanie Wells. Arizona already has piled up 145 yards on the two drives, after just 49 in the first half.</p>
<p>Early fourth quarter: Cowboys 13, Cardinals 13</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611050/cowboys-vs-cardinals-score-cardinals--tie-gameBrett Perryman2011-12-04T17:29:29-06:002011-12-04T17:29:29-06:00Cowboys Vs. Cardinals Score: Arizona, Dallas Swap Field Goals
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<p>After a first half in which they gained 49 yards and earned just three first downs, the Cardinals took the second half kickoff and drove 74 yards to the Dallas 5. They were held on third-goal from the five, then would have gone for it from the one, but were penalized before the snap. They instead settled for a 23-yard Jay Feely field goal.</p>
<p>Dallas took that kickoff and drove for 13 plays and 65 yards for their own field goal. Tony Romo completed seven passes along the way, but a first down blitz at the Arizona 17 by Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton got to Romo. Dallas couldn’t recover from that and had to settle for a 37-yard Dan Bailey field goal.</p>
<p>After three quarters: Dallas 13, Cardinals 6</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/12/4/2611031/cowboys-vs-cardinals-score-arizona-dallas-swap-field-goalsBrett Perryman