Cowboys in Turmoil, Redskins Create QB Controversy

Wade Phillips and the Cowboys are looking down a long, dreary road.  With Tony Romo out for 6-8 weeks, and Jon Kitna behind center, Dallas looks towards 2011.  The season began with hopes of playing a Super Bowl in their new home.  Now, it seems like a bad joke. 

Mike Shanahan pulled Donovan McNabb late in the game at Detroit after a bad interception, claiming that Rex Grossman gave Washington the better chance of winning the game at that point.  His decision resulted in 17 points for the Lions in about 2 minutes and ultimately a loss.  At 4-4, Washingtion is still in the hunt, but Shannahan's decison could prove costly for the psyche of his star QB, McNabb, and the Redskins' hope of returning to the playoffs.

Jaguars 35 Cowboys 17

On Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cowboys were embarrassed defensively, making David Garrard look like an all pro.  Garrard was 17/21 for 260 yards, while throwing 4 touchdowns.  Mike Sims-Walker ran roguhshod over the Cowboys secondary, catching 8 passes for 153 yards and a score.  The Jaguars not only were effective through the air, but on the ground as well, as MJD averaged 5 yards per carry, running for a total of 135 yards on 27 carries.  For the second week in a row, Big D's "D" couldn't stop anything. 

On the other side of the ball, Dallas' talented wide recieving corp tipped and dropped too many passes from Jon Kitna, causing at least two of his four interceptions.  The running game, as it has been all season, was anemic.  Barber rushed 9 times for a total of 16 yards.  Felix Jones didn't fare much better, carrying the ball 8 times for 22 yards.  The Cowboys, once again, don't commit to running the football, and thus do not control the game.  Dallas ran more plays than Jacksonville, while also gaining more yards.  But the time of possession was won by the Jags and their stout running game.  Combine that with the fact that Dallas turned the ball over four times, and only caused one, it adds up to the 'Boys fourth straight loss, and their worst start since 1989.  At 1-6 they are last in the NFC East, and bound to stay there all season. 

Redskins 25 Lions 37

The NFC's best offense dropped 37 points against the NFL's 25th ranked defense.  Detroit seems to be getting better on both sides of the ball, and in a few years, may be a team to be reckoned with.  But for now, the Lions will take their upset wins as they come.  Strangely enough, this game was played as if two solid defenses were going at it for three quarters.  In the 4th, however, both teams exploded for 35 points.  Martin Mayhew, Detroits general manager, has made Matt Millen look like the fool we all know him to be.  His two recent draft picks, Matt Stafford and Ndamukong Suh, have paid their dividends so far.  Stafford was 26/45 for 212 yards, 4 scores and an interception.  Suh had two sacks with a fumble recovery and a touchdown.

The real story in this game stems from a controversial benching of Donovan McNabb and the insertion of backup Rex Grossman in the final two drives for Washington.  After a lousy pass was intercepted from McNabb by Alphonso Smith, Shanahan decided to go with Grossman because he felt that Grossman gave the Redskins offense the best chance to win in his West Coast style two minute scheme.  Yes, this is the same Mike Shanahan that preached to his team, for all of training camp, to get behind Donovan McNabb as their starting quarterback.  If mixed signals was what Shanahan was looking to convey, then he did just that on Sunday.  McNabb has struggled in his first season in Shanahan's West Coast offense, but there is no way that Rex Grossman gives you better options, as seen in first snap.  McNabb's QB rating has been below 80 in every game, except the shootout versus the Texans.  But Grossman's career QB rating is below 70.  The last time Rex Grossman started an NFL game was for the Bears on November 9, 2008.  Surprise.....the Bears lost.  Washington brought McNabb here, because he's a winner.  Let him show you that. 

The Week Ahead

SUNDAY NOV 7
NYG @ SEA
DAL @ GB
IND @ PHI
TB @ ATL
NO @ CAR
ARI @ MIN
CHI @ BUF
NYJ @ DET
NE @ CLE
MIA @ BAL
SD @ HOU
KC @ OAK

MON NOV 8
PIT @ CIN

BYES
DEN, TEN, StL, WAS, SF, JAC