NFL Cherry Picks W14: Are the 11-1 Dallas Cowboys Super-Sizing or Just Surviving?

Dec. 05, 2016

Monday Minute Waltz - NFL Week 13

The two most annoying words in sport today: fantasy points;

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles: “Trying to do too much (NFLN)” or just…plain…bad…judgment?

Larry Fitzgerald’s 2Q sideline handshake w/Redskins counterpart DeSean Jackson was probably not the un-“selfish” play Cards’ coach Bruce Arians had in mind.

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I don’t know who first uttered that buoyant phrase, ‘a win is a win is a win,’ but it’s point is pretty hard to dispute.

It’s the sentiment I expect was expressed by each and every Dallas Cowboys player & coach on their return flight home last Thursday nite following their narrow win (17-15) over the hosting Minnesota Vikings.

That the Cowboys won their eleventh straight and continue to have most people in the sporting biz thinking them colossal is a morale booster, for sure. That they won by the skin of their collective teeth is not all that disconcerting in that nearly every title team that’s hoisted hardware had a close game or two on their road to Titledom.

The Minnesota win was stout. Dallas won on the road, on short rest, topped a contender, a team that should’ve been highly motivated for victory to 1) keep playoff hopes alive that’ve been fading and, 2) win one for the Zimmer as head coach Mike was unexpectedly absent having emergency eye surgery (Detached retina?).

But how you win can be as important as how you lose.

‘Winning ugly’ has become a cute commet today but in fact can be an omen, a warning of deficiencies that if not attended to forthwith will turn into trouble down the road on entering the playoff expressway.

The foreboding flipside to Cowboys Thursday win is in their failure to trounce a team that started hot (5-0) but has gone fairly frigid (1-5) since a W5 win over the equally troubled Houston Texans.

Added to that, the host club’s home-field advantage was just lesser in that they were without their head coach and spiritual guide in Zimmer. Special teams man Mike Priefer, a key figure in the Chris Kluwe case, did a fine job filling-in and may’ve made identical calls to his absent boss but it’s just not the same.

In short, the Vikings were vulnerable , easy prey and the Dallas Dudes didn’t take full advantage. Cowboys’ failure to flex goes not only to the skill issue (do they have enough), but also to psychological aptitude as well, i.e., killer instinct.

Put more philosophically, does Dallas have the spirit of a champion?

Since their bye week, and setting aside the cakewalk win over Cleveland (35-10), in their five following victories, the Cowboys have won by an average score of 5.6 points. That’s less than a TD and that’s a close game. And had the Vikings game officials viewed the closing helmet hit on Vikes QB Sam Bradford with an eye keener to protect passers from unnecessary harm, that average might even be lower.

Now comes the final stretch. All of the Cowboys four remaining foes are contenders, some more serious than others but contenders still.

First up are the Giants, a scheduled meeting whose timing is probably much to the liking of head coach Jason Garrett.

The division rival from New York (8-4), even with last Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh, G-Men are the only team in 2016 with moxie enough to topple the ‘Boys, taking the win in opening week (20-19). Garrett would just assume play the re-match now in the Metropolis having enjoyed a 10-day rest in preparation.

Next up is an AT&T call from Tampa, who is, at least this week, one of the hottest clubs in the NFL, followed by a visit from the roaring Lions (8-4), at least this week. Closing out the regular slate is a rematch with division foe the Eagles (5-7) whose losing mark should not belie their competitive play and the fact they’ve chalked up convincing wins over the Steelers, Vikes and bad-luck birds of Atlanta.

If Dallas, who qualified for the post-season on the Minnesota win and Redskins loss (AZ), close out strong (3-1), do so with emphasis (8+) and hold home-field, Super LI may be just their size come 2017.

Cherry Picks Week 14

Oakland (9-3) @ Kansas (8-5) GTW: 12.8 NFLN 8:25: KC wins

Steelers (7-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-6): 12.11 CBS 1:00: Bills win

Broncos (8-4) @ Tennessee (6-6): CBS 1:00: Denver wins

Washington (6-5-1) @ Philadelphia: Fox 1:00: Eagles win

Cardinals (5-6-1) @ Miami Dolphins (7-5): Fox 1:00: Cards win

Houston (6-6) @ Indianapolis Colts (5-6): CBS 1:00: Colts win

New Orleans (5-7) @ Tampa Bay Bucs (7-5): Fox 4:25: NO wins

Seattle (8-3-1) @ Green Bay (6-6) GTW: Fox 4:25: Seattle wins

Cowboys (11-1) @ New York (8-4) GTW: NBC 8:30: Giants win

Baltimore (7-5) @ Patriots (10-2): 12.12 Disney 8:30: NE wins

Record: 58 - 68 - 2

Steven Keys

NFL HunchLine

Photo credit: J.Garrett, wc.cca, K.Allison, 9.18.16; Cowboys-helmet, wc, DukeHa, 5.16.18; Cowboys-cheer, wc, A.Traylor-B.Evans, 4.16.12, US.Navy, S.Rustique, Italy; RD.Prescott, wc, K.Allison, 9.18.16; cherries, wc, B.Kua, 6.1.08; NFL-symbol, wikiproject