RANDOM OBSERVATIONS : PATRIOTS @ COWBOYS, SECOND HALF EDITION

by Davey, Blown Coverage

New England looked to blow it wide open early but Dallas got a very big turnover on the Brady sack and fumble and has managed to keep it very close here. I'm feeling pretty good now about my Dallas pick but I wouldn't be surprised if New England suddenly just says screw it and starts pulling away.

Well, whatever. Like I said, its been a crappy day and I just want some cheap thrills right now. Wade Phillips could eat some chicken wings on the sideline while dancing Soulja Boy and it would probably be enough for me.

• The second half is underway and it starts pretty crummy for the Pats. Sammie Morris gets banged up and Tom Brady gets sacked again and the Pats have to punt. With Maroney already on the sidelines, the Pats can't really afford to lose Morris right now.
  

• The Cowboys have the ball and Julius Jones reminds us that he still exists. Jones busts off two decent runs and I guess that he has surpassed his season total of rushing yards with those two carries.

• See, good things happen when Julius Jones runs the ball. The drive ends up with a Tony Romo touchdown to Patrick Crayton and Dallas suddenly leads 24-21. Jim Nantz reminds us that this the first time that the Patriots are trailing in the second half all season and that is pretty damn impressive if you ask me. Tony Romo is jumping around like a little girl and we have ourselves a ballgame folks.

• Terrence Newman just devoured Randy Moss. Moss caught a short pass and Newman just gobbled him up like Pacman. Kids, if you want to grow up to be a NFL defensive back...well, that's how you tackle a wide receiver.

• 1st and goal for the Pats and Mike Vrabel and Junior Seau are in for New Enland. The Dallas defense keys in on Vrabel and it leaves Kyle Brady wide open for a touchdown. Not surprisingly, it's Roy Williams who was caught in no-mans land again. New England is back up in front 28-24.

• Holy. Crap. Marion Barber just busted the craziest run of the season and it only went for 2 yards. Barber was stuffed in the backfield, the Pats defense backed him into the endzone and seemed to have him wrapped up for a safety but Barber just refused to go down. Barber broke about 8 tackles, ran across the endzone and still manage to get out and make it a 2 yard gain. Barber just decided that he was not going to give up a safety right there and 20 guys weren't going to bring him down. Amazing.
  

• Huge play here. Brady connects with Moss on a long pass and Moss makes a great catch in the endzone while falling out of bounds. Dallas challenges the play and it's ruled an incomplete pass. But there's a roughing the passer penalty on the play and the Pats still get a first down and great field position.

• The Raiders have suddenly made a game of it out there in San Diego. Culpepper finds Zach Miller for a 1-yard touchdown and it's suddenly down to a 21-14 San Diego lead. And no, I'm still not convinced that Culpepper is all the way back...

• Dallas keeps New England to a field goal and the Pats now up their lead to 31-24. The Cowboys needs to answer here or else the Pats will start to pull away.
  

• Oh man, Marion Barber is running with anger out there. He just delivered a stiff arm to just about everyone in the stadium on that run. If there's one guy I would not want to tackle, it's Marion Barber. He just wants to deliver as much punishment as he can when he's carrying the rock. That guy would stiff arm his grandmother if she was lining up for the opponent.
  

• Gutsy call here by Dallas. The fourth quarter starts and Dallas decides to go for it on 4th and 1 right around midfield. Marion Barber burst through the line for the first down but a holding call with bring it back and Dallas will punt. Big break for New England right there.

• Remember my theory that when you start Vinnie Testaverde that your team gets automatically eliminated from contention? Well, Testaverde just shoved that bad boy right down my throat as he connects on a long touchdown pass to Steve Smith and the Panthers look to be headed for a victory. I guess that dinner will be crow tonight...

• Speaking of long touchdown passes....Brady finds Donte Stallworth for a 69-yard touchdown and it's suddenly a 38-24 lead for New England. They are going to beat my Dolphins into oblivion next week. The commish might want to spare us and just give the Pats the victory right now. There's really no reason to even play that game.

• The Cowboys took the ensuing kick-off deep into New England territory but the Pats defense holds. Dallas chooses to go for a field goal and the crowd is not happy. Pats lead 38-27 and Dallas needs a turnover right now.

• Wes Welker now has 9 catches for 116 yards and 2 Td's. Nope, Miami really does not need him. No sir...

• Brady throws another Td pass but this one's called back due to offensive pass interference. The Pats add a field goal to make the lead 41-27 and with under 4 minutes left, this one looks to be over. Dallas needs an epic comeback here but their not playing the Bills so that might be a problem.

• And there it is. Romo gets intercepted by Junior Seau and that comeback attempt lasted about 10 seconds. New England takes over and my Dallas pick was blatantly wrong.

• Replay shows Rodney Harrison laughing while pointing at Romo and saying something to Romo after the interception. Rodney was just reminding Romo that he's in a good mood and that he's not going to tear his ACL's for him today.

• The Pats decide that they haven't scored enough today and they tack on a rushing touchdown with about 20 seconds left. It's 48-27 and not even the Bills could blow a lead like this. New England could put up a 100 next week against Miami if they wanted to.

• And that's it. New England reminds everyone that they are a class ahead of everyone as they go into Dallas and destroy Dallas 48-27. That November 4th match-up with the Colts is going to be crazy.