This one’s for Kyle
I took great satisfaction in watching the bottom-feeding Rams destroy the vaunted Cowboys. It was like poetic justice to watch that team fall apart. Jerry Jones has collect a team full of “big personalities”, but personalities don’t win championships. That’s what I always say.
I actually didn’t start watching the game until the second quarter, which is a shame considering all the best stuff happened in the first. I was streaming in on my computer as I watched the Bills vs. Chargers on the TV. I meant to add super-fast internet as another modern convenience that was rocking my apartment in my last post, but it slipped my mind.
Anyway, I think the big key to the game was the 42 yd TD catch by Donnie Avery as well as his near miss on the much longer pass play later in the game. That deep threat kept the Cowboys defense from focusing on the run throughout the game, freeing Jackson to run over them for 160yds.
The success of the offense kept the defense off the field and fresh, as well as motivated. This allowed them to get consistent pressure on the QB and force some big turnovers.
It is hard to judge if the Rams are better or if the Cowboys have just imploded that much, but I would say it’s a combination of the two. The victory was impressive in my mind, but I’m not expecting a playoff run at this point. I’m not even hoping for a hiring of Haslett full time yet, as many writers are. I do have renewed hope in their abilities though, and I am starting to really enjoy the NFL again. I was starting to prefer *gasp* NCAA football, but loyalty is no longer wavering.
I think the Rams will be hard-pressed to beat the Patriots next week. The keys to that game are stopping the run and establishing some passing threat. Once again, if they can stop the run, they can force Cassle to make mistakes under pressure, and a credible passing threat will open things up for Jackson against a pretty good defense.
Realistically, the Patriots are just too good at this point, especially at home, but the game in 2 weeks versus the Cardinals is an obvious must-win for the Rams to have a snow ball’s chance at the playoffs.