Seahawks/Cowboys: The ugly aftermath...

[Irving Cowboy]

Garrett has yet to change Cowboys' culture
Keith Whitmire
September 16, 2012

The more Jason Garrett changes the Cowboys' culture, the more things stay the same.

The Cowboys win a big game to start the season at the hated New York Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions.

The next game, they lose to the unremarkable Seattle Seahawks, 27-7.

Classic Cowboys. Same old same old.

Garrett has done much to change the culture of entitlement around the Cowboys in his short tenure as head coach but that's difficult to do without eradicating an entire legacy.

Somehow the Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls and been able to retain a blue collar work ethic.

When Garrett tries to instill the same ethic in the Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones inks another sponsorship deal based on the premise that five Super Bowls and a star on the helmet makes the team special.

The Cowboys aren't special enough to win a game in Seattle without complete focus. They lacked focus from the start.

Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff. The Seahawks blocked a punt for a touchdown. Romo threw an interception.

And that was all in the first 11 minutes of the game.

It was such a bad day, even the ever-reliable Jason Witten had a case of the drops. Of course, can you blame him when Romo's high passes leave him open for more shots to the spleen?

Dez Bryant also couldn't hold onto the ball, after displaying a new focus and intensity this season.

Garrett has done a lot to turn over a roster gone soft under the Wade Phillips regime. But players such as Felix Jones, supposedly a favorite of the owner, remain to subvert Garrett's idea of how the Cowboys should play.

While Garrett wants preparedness, focus and intensity, Jones failed his fitness test at the start of training camp. He's never been one to slash and dash, but now even his straight-line speed seems gone.

Jones is not a troublemaker, but he seems content to be DeMarco Murray's backup. He doesn't seem to be playing with a Garrett level of intensity. In addition to his game-opening fumble, he made poor decisions to return kicks deep out of the end zone.

You could see this coming in Jones, who was a complementary back to Darren McFadden in college and then a complementary back to Marion Barber III early in his Cowboys career.

You could also see this Seahawks game all the way from New Jersey. (Not that it's an excuse, but is it fair for a team to start the season with road games on each coast?)

The Cowboys had 10 days between the Giants and Seahawks games to wipe away the aura of the season-opening, prime-time win. And they still couldn't do it.

Seattle is one of the toughest road environments in the NFL. And it wasn't even raining. Garrett tried to simulate the noise factor by blaring speakers during practice last week, but you can't simulate the intensity the Seahawks have against one of the NFL's "glamour" teams.

As much as the Cowboys contributed with mistakes and lack of focus, the Seahawks didn't exactly have to play over their heads to win. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson was rarely pressured or forced into making decisions. The Seahawks just physically whipped the Cowboys.

The good news for Garrett is that even the Cowboys of the '70s and '90s would lose games they weren't supposed to. The bad news is those teams shook it off and went on to win Super Bowls.

If the Cowboys can shake off this bad loss and string together a series of wins, then we'll know Garrett is succeeding at changing the culture at Valley Ranch. Otherwise, there's more work to be done.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

"No Excuses": Cowboys Players React To Loss Against Seattle
by One.Cool.Customer

Not much went right yesterday for the Cowboys. Jason Witten for example was targeted 10 times, but dropped three passes and only had four receptions. "You can't do that," says the veteran tight end:

"We just didn’t execute plays, myself included," he said. "We had an opportunity to make catches, make runs, make good plays, and we didn’t do it. So if that’s out-physicaling us, maybe they did. I don’t know. I have to get to the tape."

"Ultimately, they played a better game than we did. We didn’t play one up. That wasn’t our football team. And we’ve got to get it fixed. No excuses."

More after the break.

The Seahawks rushed for 182 yards, including 122 on 26 carries by Marshawn Lynch. DeMarcus Ware says the Cowboys have work to do:

"It comes down to tackling," Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "[Lynch] is a big back, but we have to tackle better. We will have tackle drills this week to refresh our memory how to do it."

While Ware points to poor tackling as a reason for the Seahawks' success on the ground, Anthony Spencer gave credit to the tenacity of the Seahawks’ offensive line:

"They just went to the whistle," Spencer said. "That was the biggest thing. They kept pushing. If a guy was going down, they kept running their feet and got more yards."

Similar to what Spencer said, Brandon Carr said the Cowboys were game for a second-half rally, but couldn’t match the effort of the Seahawks:

"We were fighting, but at the same time, those guys had the momentum, and they out-executed us," he said.

"Once we were down, we’ve been in that situation before. Guys were ready to go out there and just keep fighting," Carr said. "But you know, second half, they turned it up a notch, and we couldn’t match that."

Carr said he still believes in his new teammates. "We know the capabilities of what we have in our locker room," he said. "I’ve been around these guys for a while now. I know the pride and fight that they’ve got."

Kevin Ogletree, who was targeted just once in the game, also saw a "better effort" from the Seahawks:

"That group out there deserves some credit," he said. "They had a better effort on defense. They’ve got good players on that side of the ball."

Sean Lee points out that the Cowboys defense took a step back after allowing TD drives of 90- and 88-yards in the second half:

"If we continue to let that happen, we won’t be a very good defense," Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee said. "…I think we were taking steps forward. This is obviously a step back. But finding a way to learn from it and move on is the only way we’re going to be the consistent defense that we’re looking for."

Tony Romo was also predictably frustrated after completing only 23 of 40 passes yesterday afternoon:

"We didn’t run, catch, throw. We didn’t block," Romo said of the 27-7 loss. "We didn’t do the things you need to do – the small things you need to do – to give yourselves a chance in an environment like this."

"You’re always disappointed then you lose, so it’s frustrating," Romo said. "I mean, it sucks standing up here just talking about it. It’s part of playing in the National Football League. That was a good bunch that we played against today. That defensive unit they had definitely gave us trouble at different times, and we didn’t do the things that we normally would do well to offset that a little bit."

Dez Bryant also had a disappointing outing, finishing with only three catches for 17 yards, all in the third quarter, but like many of his teammates is focused on moving on:

"There were plays I should have made and I didn’t," Bryant said. "You just got to move on from it."

"No, not a setback at all," Bryant said. "It was tough times in this game and we’ve just got to put it behind us and move forward."

The Cowboys safeties had a rough night, as both Church and Sensabaugh went down with injuries. Church suffered a deep thigh bruise and Sensabaugh hurt his calf. Church reflected on having to sit out large parts of the game:

"It was one of the toughest feelings. Just sitting there and watching the [Seahawks] drive it down the field and you can’t really do nothing about it because you’re injured. I kind of felt like I wasn’t there for my teammates. But I am trying to get as healthy as I can and I will try to be back next week."

McCray replaced Church but his energy waned as the game progressed as he handled special teams and defensive duties.

"It got a little rough after a while," said McCray, who had six tackles. "And after Gerald we didn’t have any more replacements. But that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to step in and try to help the defense not lose a step when people get hurt."

Chris Jones reflects on the block punt and says "You've got to move on."

"I didn’t even see the pressure," Jones said. "I knew they were going to come. We had been scheming for rushes all week. Honestly, I have no idea what happened."

"I know I’ve got to come back and perform the next one," Jones said. "Once that happens, it happens. It’s done, and you’ve got to move on."

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Five thoughts: Jason Witten, Dez Bryant struggle to make catches; Cowboys need new kick returner
By Jon Machota / Special Contributor
6:34 pm on September 16, 2012

The Cowboys had a chance to reach 2-0 for the first time since 2008 but came out flat against the Seahawks on Sunday.

Seattle dominated from the start, handing the Cowboys a surprising 27-7 loss. Here are my thoughts on the game.

1.) Why was it so difficult for Jason Witten and Dez Bryant to hold onto the football? The two were targeted a combined 17 times but came away with only seven catches. While some opportunities were difficult, both players dropped multiple passes that they normally catch. Bryant went the entire first half without a reception and then opened the third quarter by fumbling after a short grab. Fortunately for Bryant, Doug Free recovered. Strangely, Witten not only dropped several passes but he and Tony Romo weren’t on the same page during a drive shortly before halftime. It’s extremely surprising to see the Cowboys make these mistakes after playing so well against the Giants and having 10 days to prepare for the Seahawks.

2.) Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis rarely seems to be in a good mood at practice. And if it’s possible, his anger will probably be at a higher level when the team returns to Valley Ranch this week. Known for his expletive-filled rants, DeCamillis can’t be pleased with how his group started Sunday’s contest. First Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff, which led to a Seahawks field goal. Then, a Chris Jones punt was deflected and returned for a score after Dan Connor missed a block. The Cowboys never seemed to recover from that 10-0 hole.

3.) When it was announced shortly before the game that Seattle starting left tackle Russell Okung – the sixth overall pick in the 2010 draft – was inactive it seemed like DeMarcus Ware was in line for a big day defensively. But the Cowboys’ top pass-rusher never put much pressure on rookie quarterback Russell Wilson. After recording two sacks in the season opener, Ware was limited to only one quarterback hit in Seattle. Wilson’s mobility was a factor, but the Cowboys’ front seven rarely made him look uncomfortable. Anthony Spencer was one of the few bright spots, recording a sack and two hits on Wilson. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch also had success, especially in the second half, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.

4.) Although 23-of-40 passing doesn’t suggest it, Romo played well against the Seahawks. Had it not been for the dropped passes, those numbers would’ve been much more impressive, and the Cowboys’ chances of winning would have greatly increased. The Seahawks dominated the clock in the second half, so Romo, who threw one interception, didn’t get a chance to mount a comeback. The offensive line didn’t give Romo much time to survey the secondary but his spin move created a few extra seconds on several occasions. An immobile quarterback would have no success behind the Cowboys’ offensive line at this time.

5.) Why is Felix Jones still returning kicks? His time in the backfield has been reduced severely because of DeMarco Murray’s effectiveness, but even when Jones is on the field he rarely makes a defender miss. I literally can’t remember the last time the Cowboys had a good kickoff return. And Jones, who failed the team’s conditioning test at the start of training camp, doesn’t appear to have the quickness to make that happen. It might be time to give Morris Claiborne a chance. The rookie first-round pick practiced returning kicks on Thursday so that may soon become reality.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Cowboys-Seahawks Twitter highlights: Felix Jones ‘rapidly approaching point of diminishing returns’
By Scott Bell
6:00 pm on September 16, 2012

If you didn’t follow our writers on Twitter during today’s Cowboys-Seahawks game, here are some of the highlights, in reverse chronological order:

Rainer Sabin: “The Cowboys seemed doomed from the outset when Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff. That play really set the tone for the game.”

Barry Horn: “How many fantasy owners were fooled and started Kevin Ogletree? #baitedandswitched”

Horn: “Well…the Rangers are up 2-0″

Sabin: “Cowboys safeties on the field right now are Mana Silva and Danny McCray.”

Kevin Sherrington: “Two offenses going different directions: Seahawks patient, allowing rookie QB to grow; Cowboys desperate, ineffective. Seattle up, 20-7.”

Horn: “I believe Bill Parcells would call Russell Wilson — a bus driver.”

Horn (at halftime): “Dez Bryant was targeted 4 times. He had no catches. He had 2 drops. And then came the fumbled punt.”

Sherrington: “Cowboys lucky to be down only 6 at the half. Seattle limited on offense with rookie QB, but Cowboys bumbling, stumbling, fumbling.”

Sabin: “Cowboys RB Felix Jones makes another poor decision on a kickoff. He needs to realize it’s OK to take a knee.”

Sherrington: “Best of Romo, worst of Romo, all in one half. At this point, still heck of a lot better than a rookie QB, or at least Seattle’s.”

Sherrington: “Fallacy of time of possession: Cowboys hold ball 10 minutes in first quarter, Seattle 5. Seahawks up, 10-0.”

Horn: “Flipping over from the Cowboys game to the Rangers game. Rather watch raindrops than Cowboys drops and blocked punts. #cowboys #rangers”

Sabin: “Cowboys QB Tony Romo is showing his true value on this drive. Unbelievable throws to Ogletree and Murray while facing pressure.”

David Moore: “Best special teams play for Cowboys so far is Felix Jones taking a knee in end zone to bri.g ball out to the 20″

Horn: “Tony Romo was NOT holding on the blocked punt. #Cowboys”

Sherrington: “Fumble, dropped pass, blocked punt. Boom. Ten-zip. Not a way to start on the road. Or anywhere.”

Sherrington: “Felix Jones, after fumble and 16-yard return, rapidly approaching point of diminishing returns.”

Sabin: “NT Josh Brent gets called for a personal foul. The Cowboys, called for 15 penalties in Week 1, continue to be their own worst enemy.”

Moore: “Do you think differently of the Cowboys victory to open the season given how tough Tampa Bay is playing the NY Giants today?”

You can follow all these writers yourselves on Twitter at the following handles:

Kevin Sherrington: @KSherringtonDMN

David Moore: @DavidMooreDMN

Rainer Sabin: @DMNRainerSabin

 

[Irving Cowboy]

The Ranch Report: Seattle 27, Dallas 7
By David Moore / Reporter
1:47 am on September 17, 2012

Remember how encouraged you were after the Cowboys performance in the opener? Remember how you thought this team could use that victory over the New York Giants as a platform to build on?

Forget it.

The Cowboys squandered any momentum generated by its win over the Giants with a decisive loss to Seattle. Here are a few thoughts and observations:

Only one performance has been worse in Jason Garrett’s brief tenure as head coach. That came last October in a 34-7 loss to Philadelphia. The difference: the Cowboys were never in that game competitively. The team at least fought back and gave themselves a chance to compete Sunday before being manhandled in the second half.

Seattle’s physical play gave the Cowboys receivers fits. Jason Witten, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant did combine for 12 receptions. But here’s the more telling number: they were targeted 27 times. That means quarterback Tony Romo completed only 44.4 percent of his passes thrown to his most reliable targets. Only nine of Romo’s 23 completions for the afternoon went to his wideouts.

DeMarco Murray touched the ball only four times in the second half for a total of eight yards. As the Seahawks controlled the ball and pulled away in the second half, the game moved away from Murray. Still, the running back must be more involved than he was in the second half of this game, regardless the score.

The Cowboys gained only 85 yards on 19 plays in the second half. The Seahawks countered with 197 yards on 38 plays. Math isn’t my strongpoint, but that meansSeattleran two offensive plays for every one the Cowboys did in the final two quarters.

The Cowboys have stressed the importance of finishing games. Well, that’s hard to do when you hold the ball for only 1:29 in the fourth quarter and allow the opponent to hoard the ball for 13:31.

Tight end Jason Witten allowed at least two big plays to fall incomplete.

Receiver Dez Bryant was never in a position to make a big play.

A Cowboys defense that strives to be more physical this season can take lessons from Seattle.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

So what happened to Kevin Ogletree? The Cowboys receiver explains after loss to Seattle
By Rainer Sabin / Reporter
12:06 am on September 17, 2012

SEATTLE — Eleven days after he authored the best performance of his career in the Cowboys’ victory over the New York Giants, Dallas receiver Kevin Ogletree faded into the background again a 27-7 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

His lone catch – a 26-yard reception – occurred in the first quarter. On the ensuing play, he carried the ball five yards on an end around.

After that he disappeared. Asked to explain why wasn’t able to produce at the level he did against the Giants, when he made eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns, Ogletree pointed to Seattle’s defense.

“That group out there deserves some credit,” he said. “They had a better effort on defense. They’ve got good players on that side of the ball.”

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Jerry Jones: ‘We should have totally had all bases covered’; ‘The Seahawks were prepared’
By Jon Machota / Special Contributor
10:36 pm on September 16, 2012

Jerry Jones said he was disappointed by the Cowboys’ 27-7 loss Sunday in Seattle. That’s certainly an understatement. After defeating the New York Giants on Sept. 5, the Cowboys were given 10 days to prepare for the Seahawks but didn’t respond like a team focused on the task at hand.

Instead, the Seahawks “imposed their will” on the Cowboys, according to the team’s owner and general manager.

“We should have totally had all bases covered, but obviously they did too and in a better way,” Jones said of the extra preparation time. “The Seahawks were prepared. They played ready. They played with emotion.

“This is a disappointment for us and an example for us about how to play at home field.”

The Cowboys play their next two games at home — against Tampa Bay and Chicago — before a bye in Week 5. Their next road game isn’t for nearly a month, Oct. 14 against Baltimore.

“We knew there was an opportunity to win two on the road, but make no mistake about it we had all the respect in the world for this team and knew we were in for a tough ballgame here, it always is, they have a great record at home here,” Jones said. “There’s no getting around it, they out-played us today all the way.

“We didn’t get it done today and everybody in this room is disappointed.”

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Cowboys turn to McCray and Silva after starters Church and Sensabaugh go down with injuries
By Rainer Sabin / Reporter
10:14 pm on September 16, 2012

SEATTLE — Late in the fourth quarter, the players manning the safety positions for the Cowboys were Mana Silva and Danny McCray. Both players were filling Barry Church and Gerald Sensabaugh after the two starters were injured. Sensabaugh hurt his calf late in the game and left the locker room with a boot on his right leg. Before then, in the second quarter, Church suffered a deep thigh bruise.

The contusion occurred when Church was covering on the kickoff that followed the Cowboys’ lone touchdown.

After trainers attended to him, Church re-entered the game briefly. But at halftime it was determined he wouldn’t play the rest of the game.

“It just wasn’t coming together,” Church said. “It was one of the toughest feelings. Just sitting there and watching the [Seahawks] drive it down the field and you can’t really do nothing about it because you’re injured. I kind of felt like I wasn’t there for my teammates. But I am trying to get as healthy as I can and I will try to be back next week.”

Replacing Church proved to be a tough task for McCray. After being inactive against the New York Giants because of a neck stinger, McCray said he wasn’t in optimum condition Sunday. His energy waned as the game progressed as he handled special teams and defensive duties.

“It got a little rough after a while,” said McCray, who had six tackles. “And after Gerald we didn’t have any more replacements. But that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to step in and try to help the defense not lose a step when people get hurt.”

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Cowboys owner believes league will look at Golden Tate’s hit on Sean Lee
By Mike Heika / Reporter
10:08 pm on September 16, 2012

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he believes the NFL will take a look at a hit on Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee from Seattle receiver Golden Tate for possible supplementary discipline.

Lee was chasing Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson on a scramble, when Tate was able to get a blindside angle on him and crush him. The play was not penalized, but the league has been tough on unnecessary violence, and Jones said he believes Tate led with his helmet in hitting Lee in the chest.

“We saw the same thing you saw, the head hit,’’ Jones said. “That’s certainly something that we expect penalties and fines about, but they didn’t see the helmet hit or they would have called it.’’

Tate said he didn’t think that the play was a penalty.

“I knew that I didn’t hit him in his helmet,’’ Tate said. “I knew that I hit him somewhere in his mid-section, but the rules change so much that you don’t really know if it’s a rule this year or not. I’m happy that it wasn’t (a penalty).’’

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he asked officials about the play.

“I thought he was a defenseless player who was hit,’’ Garrett said. “That is something the league is trying to guard against, and is a pretty good example of what that was.’’

Part of the problem was that Tate celebrated after the hit, angering the Cowboys.

“He can celebrate if he wants,’’ Lee said. “I bet you If we went head to head and squared up, he wouldn’t be celebrating that much. But that’s football, and hits like that happen.’’

Lee was held on the sidelines for evaluation, but returned to the game. He said he had no after-effects from the hit.

“The trainers did a good job of assessing me, and I feel good,’’ he said. “I got clearance. My head didn’t hurt at all.’’

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Rapid Reaction: Seahawks 27, Cowboys 7
September, 16, 2012
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

SEATTLE -- The Dallas Cowboys want to be taken seriously in the NFL. They don't want to be known as a team with all the hype but no substance.

The Cowboys didn't respond well Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. After a 27-7 defeat at Century Link Field, one thing is clear: The Cowboys are not ready for the big stage.

There were five drops, two turnovers and two costly penalties that hurt the Cowboys. It wasn't a terrible performance, but the Cowboys came up small after such a statement victory 11 days ago over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

What it means: The Cowboys failed to take any momentum with them following the season-opening victory against the Giants. It was an opportunity for the Cowboys to maintain a one-game lead over the Giants and remain tied with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. Now just two weeks into the season, the Cowboys raised questions about their ability to become an elite team.

Defense doesn't respond: Yes, it was hard to stop the Seattle running game, but this was bad. The Cowboys failed to pressure rookie quarterback Russell Wilson on a consistent basis and didn't stop the run overall. Marshawn Lynch rushed 26 times for 122 yards and one touchdown. Wilson completed 15 of 20 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Golden Tate laid a hit on Sean Lee, knocking him briefly from the game, and DeMarcus Ware was also hit hard on a run play. There was no response from the defense, but it's not totally to blame for this one. It did allow just six first-half points, but it's a 60-minute game. Despite losing several players to injuries, the D didn't play well in the second half.

Offense struggles: It's not Tony Romo's fault that tight end Jason Witten dropped three passes or Dez Bryant dropped two, but overall, the run game didn't get going. DeMarco Murray rushed for just 44 yards. The protection was there at times for Romo, but he just couldn't get to his prime receiving threats in Miles Austin, Bryant and Witten. Romo did overthrow a wide-open Bryant and had miscommunications with other receivers. He had a loud discussion with receiver Kevin Ogletree after one series in which receivers coach Jimmy Robinson stepped in.

Time to move on from Felix: We're not saying cut the backup running back, but Felix Jones' fumble on the opening kickoff and his questionable decisions on kick returns, leaving 5 and 8 yards deep, didn't look good. The Cowboys have to find a playmaker on this unit. Jones returned five kicks for a 21.8 average and didn't make an impact.

Injuries: Gerald Sensabaugh (calf), Alex Albright (stinger), Kenyon Coleman (unknown), Barry Church (quad), Lee (checked for concussion) and Marcus Spears (leg) suffered injuries. Lee and Spears returned.

What's next?: The Cowboys will have their home opener next Sunday at Cowboys Stadium against Tampa Bay. The health of several key players will have to be evaluated.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Special teams miscues doom Cowboys
September, 16, 2012
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

SEATTLE -- All week the Cowboys knew they had to be ready for one of the NFL’s most dangerous return men in Seattle's Leon Washington.

They held him to 27 return yards on punts and kickoffs, but that meant nothing.

Chris Jones’ first punt Sunday was blocked by Malcolm Smith, who muscled past Dan Connor, and returned for a touchdown by Jeron Johnson.

“We knew they were going to bring the rush,” special teams’ captain Danny McCray said. “Of course, the first punt they brought the rush and we didn’t execute as a team to get them blocked.”

The last time the Cowboys had a punt blocked for a touchdown came in last year’s season opener at the New York Jets.

The punt block came eight plays after Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff of the game, which Seattle turned into a field goal.

“Felix is a professional,” McCray said. “He’s a veteran. He’s been through these things. He came to me and said, ‘Good job blocking, I’m going to get it back for y’all.’ It wasn’t us picking him up. It’s him letting us know we need to keep blocking.”

Jones remained the returner and continued to take kickoffs out of the end zone, which was not always the best decision. Two first-half returns gave the Cowboys the ball at the 15 and 16 yard lines.

But it wasn’t only Jones’ play that affected the special teams. Dez Bryant muffed a punt in the final seconds of the first half after the defense held Seattle. To top it off, the special teams were flagged for 12-men on the field in the fourth quarter, leading to the Seahawks converting a fourth-and-1 instead of punting.

“Rough way to start,” McCray said of Jones’ opening kickoff, but he could’ve been talking about the whole day.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Report card: Cowboys fail to carry momentum
September, 16, 2012
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com

F RUSHING OFFENSE
The Cowboys had a grand total of four rushing attempts in the second half, so Jason Garrett is going to get criticized for abandoning the run. But that's what happens when a team has to come back from a multi-score deficit, especially when there isn't any room to run anyway. DeMarco Murray had to earn every one of his 44 yards on 12 carries. The Seattle front seven whipped the Cowboys on a consistent basis. Oh, Felix Jones got his first carry of the season. He gained a whopping 1 yard.

D- PASSING OFFENSE
Did the Seahawks slip in the infamous K ball while the Cowboys' offense was on the field? How else to explain the drop-fest from the usually sure-handed Jason Witten and Dez Bryant? Bryant was a total bust (three catches, 17 yards). Week 1 hero Kevin Ogletree had one catch for 26 yards. Tony Romo's numbers (23 of 40 for 251 yards and one touchdown with one interception) weren't awful, but the big, tough Seattle secondary won its matchup with Dallas' receivers, with Miles Austin's TD catch being the exception. And Romo's interception came on a bad decision to kill a drive in the red zone. Unlike last week, Romo couldn't overcome protection that was poor on a regular basis.

F RUSHING DEFENSE
The good news: The Cowboys held Marshawn Lynch to 22 yards on 10 carries in the first half. The bad news: Lynch dominated the second half, gaining 100 yards on 16 carries as the Seahawks buried the Cowboys. Lynch busted a 36-yard run to set up Seattle's touchdown in the third quarter, which made it a two-touchdown game. He had seven carries for 32 yards and a TD on the dagger drive, when the Seahawks marched 88 yards on 12 plays to go up by 20 points. The Dallas defense was simply dominated physically after halftime.

F PASSING DEFENSE
Rob Ryan and Co. made it easy for rookie QB Russell Wilson to play a poised, mistake-free game, completing 15 of 20 passes for 151 yards and a TD with no turnovers. The Cowboys rarely blitzed despite the undersized Wilson's struggles against pressure in Seattle's Week 1 loss. (According to ESPN Stats and Information, Wilson was 6-of-18 for 47 yards and was sacked three times when the Cardinals rushed five or more men.) Anthony Spencer got two sacks, but that was it for the Dallas pass rush despite the Seahawks playing with two backup offensive linemen. Perennial Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware didn't exploit his matchup against a second-string left tackle.

F SPECIAL TEAMS
What is it with epic special teams disasters for the Cowboys in Seattle? It started off as poorly as possible with Felix Jones gift-wrapping a field goal for the Seahawks by losing a fumble on the opening kickoff. It got even worse soon, with backup linebacker Dan Connor getting beat to allow Seattle's Malcolm Smith to block a punt. Jeron Johnson scooped and scored. Just like that, Joe DeCamillis' guys handed the Seahawks a 10-point head start. Dez Bryant gained a grand total of two yards on two punt returns and was fortunate not to commit a turnover just before halftime. Punter Chris Jones had another strong performance, but special teams killed the Cowboys.

F COACHING
The head coach gets a big share of the blame when his team lays an egg like that after 11 days to prepare. It's also fair to question whether Jason Garrett's constant messages about mental toughness are really getting through after the Cowboys roll over like they did in the fourth quarter, when the Dallas offense had a couple of three-and-out series while the Seahawks ran 25 offensive plays. And defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's game plan was puzzling, to put it politely. Why play soft against a rookie quarterback who struggled badly when blitzed last week?

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Same Old Story For Dallas Cowboys In Loss To Seattle Seahawks
4 hours ago by Ben Grimaldi

I’m ashamed of myself. It takes a lot for someone to admit that but I am truly ashamed. I let the Dallas Cowboys fool me. I can usually sense when the Cowboys are going to have a meltdown; I can usually feel it coming. I didn’t feel this. Maybe you were fooled too.

After a big win last week to open the season, in a game where they showed toughness and played physical football, I thought this Cowboys team had turned a corner. From a team who lacked that “it” factor, into a team that could play some of its best football when they needed.

And with one Sunday, during the second week of the season no less, they once again proved things haven’t changed much at all. With one week of bad football, they seem to have undone much of what they worked so hard for in the past eight months.They destroyed all the currency they built up in a win over the New York Giants.

The Seattle Seahawks beat up the Cowboys on Sunday. Mentally and physically dominated them, we all saw that. What I’m not sure any of us saw coming was lazy effort and poor execution. And it started from the first play of the game.

There’s no need to rehash what happened, what I want to know is this; who do we blame? The Cowboys and their fans have made it a habit to blame someone when they lose, someone must be held accountable. Doesn’t Jason Garrett preach accountability?

One week (most of the time) its Tony Romo. The next week its the defenses fault, the next, Rob Ryan. Jason Garrett’s been blamed, so has Jerry Jones and DeMarcus Ware. So has Terence Newman and Bradie James, even the officials. The list can go on and on, so who ya got?

Because I’ve got them all! Every single Cowboys player and coach is to blame. If you have any other answer, you are kidding yourself.

No, Tony Romo wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was against the Giants, but the Cowboys receivers dropped pass after pass. Jason Witten dropped three, and I refuse to accept that he’s just getting healthy again, if you’re playing, you’re accountable.

Tyron Smith, another false start. The entire offensive line was beat up by the Seahawks defensive front seven and despite being able to have some running lanes early, DeMarco Murray couldn’t find a groove due to the lines inablity to open up holes for him.

DeMarcus Ware, where were you? Seattle’s offensive line was dominated last week yet the Cowboys barely put pressure on the rookie quarterback. That was Bruce Carter dropping a big interception that would’ve kept points off the board and Dan Connor missing a block on the punt that was returned for a touchdown.

Felix Jones continues to look completely lost and Dez Bryant dropped passes. And while we’re on the subject of Dez, hey Tony, can you throw a few more passes to the biggest threat in your passing offense? The Detroit Lions make sure they get Calvin Johnson involved in the offense don’t they?

Rob Ryan’s defense was beaten up too. The Seahawks dominated the line of scrimmage and Marshawn Lynch ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on them. The Seahawks put up 20 pts on your defense. And Joe DeCamillis, your special teams added seven point to the total.

Jason Garrett, I haven’t forgotten about you. His football team was not prepared today. Maybe there was too long of a layoff from the Giants win, maybe they were a little rusty and had gotten used to playing on such short notice as they did throughout all preseason and week 1.

Nope, no excuses. You did not do a good job getting of keeping this team humble, hungry and focused. Am I forgetting anyone?

Of course, Jerry Jones. You get some blame for making it seem like the Giants games were the only ones on the schedule. By emphasizing the importance of those games, you make it easy to let up against a team like Seattle.

The Cowboys had 11 days to get ready for a chance to show that this team is different from the rest. The Dallas Cowboys of the past 5 or 6 years have been one tease after another, showing the promise of big things, only to let themselves and the fans down. After beating the Giants in a big game they had the chance to back up that statement win with another one in a hostile place. And what happened was what the kids refer to these days as an “epic fail.”

The loss to the Seahawks almost renders the win against the Giants meaningless, only the fact that it was a division game hold some purpose. Looking at the schedule when it came out I’m guessing most of us had the Cowboys at 1-1, just not the way we thought. Dallas missed a golden opportunity to build on the momentum of a big win.

For now it’s back to the drawing board. Look, it isn’t a catastrophic loss, Seattle is always tough at home and a better team than people want to give them credit for. Its what the loss says about the Cowboys that bothers me the most.

It says it’s the same old Dallas Cowboys. And that needs to change. The good news is there’s another game next week where they can prove themselves all over again, which, of course, could start up the hype train again. Unless they lose and then the train goes off its tracks.

The goal is to ride the train as smooth as possible, which seems impossible on the Cowboys tracks.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Dallas Cowboys: 4 Reasons for the Embarassing Loss Versus the Seattle Seahawks
by Bo Martin

Disgusting. Outright disgusting. That’s how I feel about the Dallas Cowboys' performance against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Cowboys were coming off a tremendous win in New York and were riding high. The defense was starting to be regarded as a top-tier unit. The offense seemed cohesive and efficient.

All those expectations and all that excitement has been flushed down the drain after an embarrassing 27-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Let's look at what caused such a disappointing game.

Felix Jones
Felix Jones has been a disappointment since the day he arrived in Dallas. I haven’t liked him much since he was drafted, and that opinion isn’t changing.

On the first play of the game, Felix Jones fumbled a kickoff return that put Seattle in scoring position early.

Jones returned every kickoff after the turnover despite being seven yards deep in the end zone.

Jones was directly responsible for the terrible starting field position that the offense had to endure.

In addition to his sickening play as returner, he was no better when given opportunities. Felix isn’t the game-changing player he once was. He doesn’t pass block well and hasn’t proven that he is an asset for this team. It might be time to move on.

Abandoning the Run Game
DeMarco Murray started the game pretty well. The way he plays is exactly how you want your workhorse back to play. He starts with small gains and consistently gets better as the game goes on.

The Cowboys were down 13-7 at the half and seemed to panic on offense in an attempt to get back ahead.

DeMarco Murray was given the ball three times in the second half.

The Cowboys abandoned their balanced-offense philosophy to turn into a pass-happy offense against one of the best secondaries in the league.

Not smart at all.

The Cowboys became predictable and started to force plays instead of taking control of the game and managing it through efficient play-calling.

Defensive Regression
Last week, we saw a defense that reminded us of the Doomsday Defense of old. They were moving to the ball, playing with swagger and making plays on every level.

That same defense held two of the NFL’s most prolific receivers to 96 combined receiving yards.

This week? Not so lucky.

The Cowboys were unable to get to rookie quarterback Russell Wilson with any type of consistency, and the pass defense reminded me of what they had last season.

Russell Wilson was able to put together an impressive 15-for-20, 151-yard, one-touchdown performance. It wasn’t the numbers that were impressive. It was how easy it was to attain them.

It seemed like every play a Seattle receiver was running wide-open. Anthony McCoy isn’t exactly an elite tight end, and to allow him to be effective is completely embarrassing.

Furthermore, Marshawn Lynch was able to unload beast mode (again) and put up 122 yards and a touchdown against what was supposed to be a very strong linebacker group.

I’m not sure what happened because the Cowboys are more talented than the Seahawks. I will say that the defense looked passionless, and that’s not what we want to see.

A Case of the Dropsies
This was a pretty standard play call today for the Cowboys: Tony Romo takes the snap, goes through his reads, passes the ball and the receiver drops the pass.

The Cowboys have sure-handed receivers in Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Drops have never really been a big concern with these guys, but today was a different story.

I don’t have the exact numbers, but I know Jason Witten dropped at least three critical passes. Dez Bryant was ineffective in every facet of the game. Miles Austin was the only receiver who really seemed to remember how to catch.

When Romo is escaping pressure and trying to make plays, someone has to help him. Time and time again, Romo would spin out of pressure to load up and deliver a pass that the receiver just couldn’t handle.

When you’re trying to get critics off your back, this isn’t the way to do it. Dropped passes don’t win Super Bowls.

Summary
Yes, this was a tough loss caused by simple mistakes. However, the season isn’t over yet.

There is a lot of work to be done, but it is only Week 2.

We have to expect that the Cowboys will put in work to get better. The bright side is that the Cowboys were humbled very early and should be able to use this loss as motivation.

The season isn’t over, so let's not panic. If the Cowboys continue to lose games for themselves, though, it’s a top-15 draft pick all over again.

Let's see what happens.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Cowboys vs. Seahawks: Dallas Shows a Familar Side in Blowout Loss
by Manik Aggarwal

Here we go again.

Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks was deemed as a trap game for the Dallas Cowboys. After a huge win in Week 1 against the New York Giants and their home opener scheduled next week, the Cowboys' Week 2 game did not sneak onto the schedule. Seattle is a solid team and is regarded as one of the best home teams in the NFL, but it was assumed that it would not matter as Dallas was supposed to roll in with the momentum and talent to win another road game.

Then, the game started.

Felix Jones, arguably the worst player in recent Cowboys history, fumbled the ball on the opening snap. The following possession ended in a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown. Dallas' third possession was a microcosm of Romo’s career as the quarterback eluded defenders, made the impossible throws and ultimately capped off the drive with an interception. Regardless of the miscues, Dallas was still within striking distance in the first half.

Much to the dismay of Cowboys fans, the second half showed what this team is capable of doing. The offense sputtered and the defense looked completely out of sync throughout the final two quarters.

The beauty of the NFL is that a big win against a rival holds the same value as an ordinary win against anyone else, just as a heartbreaking loss holds the same value as a blowout loss. Prior to Sunday's game, Dallas knew that the Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles had already secured remarkable comeback wins and that the Washington Redskins were expected to beat the St. Louis Rams. The stage was set for the NFC East to sweep the weekend and to have the Cowboys tied atop the division.

Instead, Dallas simply got beat. The coaches were outcoached, the players were outperformed and the excitement of a huge Week 1 win got to them.

Here we go again, Dallas fans. Only time will tell how the Cowboys respond next week in their home opener against Tampa, but one thing that is certain is that Dallas cannot be trusted. This team needs to move forward with the headstrong mentality that Jason Garrett preaches and be ready for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Five thoughts on Cowboys' loss to Seahawks
By Jon Machota
FOXSportsSouthwest.com Special Contributor
September 16, 2012

The Cowboys had a chance to reach 2-0 for the first time since 2008 but came out flat against the Seahawks on Sunday.

Seattle dominated from the start, handing the Cowboys a surprising 27-7 loss. Here are my thoughts on the game.

1.) Why was it so difficult for Jason Witten and Dez Bryant to hold onto the football? The two were targeted a combined 17 times but came away with only seven catches. While some opportunities were difficult, both players dropped multiple passes that they normally catch. Bryant went the entire first half without a reception and then opened the third quarter by fumbling after a short grab. Fortunately for Bryant, Doug Free recovered. Strangely, Witten not only dropped several passes but he and Tony Romo weren't on the same page during a drive shortly before halftime. It's extremely surprising to see the Cowboys make these mistakes after playing so well against the Giants and having 10 days to prepare for the Seahawks.

2.) Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis rarely seems to be in a good mood at practice. And if it's possible, his anger will probably be at a higher level when the team returns to Valley Ranch this week. Known for his expletive-filled rants, DeCamillis can't be pleased with how his group started Sunday's contest. First Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff, which led to a Seahawks field goal. Then, a Chris Jones punt was deflected and returned for a score after Dan Connor missed a block. The Cowboys never seemed to recover from that 10-0 hole.

3.) When it was announced shortly before the game that Seattle starting left tackle Russell Okung – the sixth overall pick in the 2010 draft – was inactive it seemed like DeMarcus Ware was in line for a big day defensively. But the Cowboys' top pass-rusher never put much pressure on rookie quarterback Russell Wilson. After recording two sacks in the season opener, Ware was limited to only one quarterback hit in Seattle. Wilson's mobility was a factor, but the Cowboys' front seven rarely made him look uncomfortable. Anthony Spencer was one of the few bright spots, recording a sack and two hits on Wilson. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch also had success, especially in the second half, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.

4.) Although 23-of-40 passing doesn't suggest it, Romo played well against the Seahawks. Had it not been for the dropped passes, those numbers would've been much more impressive, and the Cowboys' chances of winning would have greatly increased. The Seahawks dominated the clock in the second half, so Romo, who threw one interception, didn't get a chance to mount a comeback. The offensive line didn't give Romo much time to survey the secondary but his spin move created a few extra seconds on several occasions. An immobile quarterback would have no success behind the Cowboys' offensive line at this time.

5.) Why is Felix Jones still returning kicks? His time in the backfield has been reduced severely because of DeMarco Murray's effectiveness, but even when Jones is on the field he rarely makes a defender miss. I literally can't remember the last time the Cowboys had a good kickoff return. And Jones, who failed the team's conditioning test at the start of training camp, doesn't appear to have the quickness to make that happen. It might be time to give Morris Claiborne a chance. The rookie first-round pick practiced returning kicks on Thursday so that may soon become reality.