From a team and coach standpoint, there are no moral victories in the NFL. Close doesn’t count, at least not in the NFL. I knew when I saw the 2011 Dallas Cowboys schedule, the 5th game vs the Pats in Foxboro was likely a loss. I even felt that way all the way up until kickoff, but I still hoped for a close hard felt game. I got what I had hoped for but I was still was very disappointed at the end of the game. I knew all along that this was coming that at the end of the day the Cowboys were likely to be losers, so why the disappointment?

I certainly was not disappointed in the defense. I am not sure what the Cowboys could have done better on defense. They stymied the league’s best offense, holding them 15 points below their season average. They held the best QB in the game to below his average in every category and picked him off twice. The held the top WR in the league (Welker) to 100 yards below his season average. They got 3 QB sacks and forced 3 Turnovers and another on special teams. They forced a 3 and out with just over 3 minutes to play giving the Cowboys the ball with a 3 point lead. But in the end, the Patriots offense moved the ball 80 yards for the final game winning TD. Perhaps that’s all that counts. I was disappointed in that drive but I was not disappointed in the defense and especially the defensive effort.

Now on offense I was thoroughly disappointed in the effort. The Cowboys made 4 trips into the Redzone and settled for 3 field goals and only 1 touchdown. I knew that final redzone series needed to be a Touchdown. I really felt they needed 7 that trip and only got 3. I am not sure why they didn’t lob one up for Bryant in the corner?? geez.. I also knew that if they were not able to get a first down when they got the ball back with 3 minutes to play and leading be 3 points they were likely to lose. I didn’t like the play calling on that possession but that is par for the course when you lose the game. It’s easy to go back and say, that was a bad play call. If they throw the ball there and don’t get a first down, then your still open for criticism for the play calling. Like most fans, I only like plays to be called that actually work vs plays that result in little to no yards, go figure.

I thought Tony Romo played just an average game, nothing special which is probably what the Cowboys need him to be especially in a game like this. I thought that Miles Austin’s two dropped passes on that 4th quarter drive were huge and possible game changers. I don’t understand why they forget about Dez Bryant in the second half of every game and I don’t understand why the offensive line is so prone to holding. If there are two things that stick out in this loss it was the penalties (10) and the lack of a running game both of which can be attributed to the offensive line. At least half if not more of the penalties were on the offensive line and gaining ZERO yards on 3 rushing plays in the final minutes of the game with the chance to run out the clock is simply embarrassing.

I suppose that I will feel better about this game as the week progresses. I hate that the Cowboys were so close to a huge win yet so far away from the team they need to be to contend for a division crown. Next week’s game at home vs the St. Louis Rams has become a must win which is never good when you are playing a hapless team like the Rams who are playing for nothing more than pride.