thesportsfag | my gay sports blog

As my momma used to say, “Who would’ve thunk it?”

Just three weeks ago the Cowboys were preparing for what everyone, including myself, thought was a sure beat down from New Orleans. The loss to the Saints would be the catalyst that would surely send the Cowboys into a tale spin, ending only after Dallas was eliminated from the playoffs.

Yet these Cowboys stepped up and beat the Saints and the next week they beat the Redskins. Two road wins in December put an end to talk of another Cowboys’ December collapse.

And so entering the final weekend of the season, Dallas is a win away from capturing their second NFC East title in the past three years.

On the other hand, fellow NFC East rival Philadelphia, withstood a number of injuries this season, starting tailback Bryant Westbrook, starting quarterback Donovan McNabb and several offensive lineman have missed several games. Yet amid the upheaval the Eagles cautiously worked their dynamic young play makers, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin, into an offense that had grown increasingly predictable in 2008.

As a result, the Eagles also enter the final weekend of the season just one win away from capturing the NFC East title.

Last year the Cowboys traveled to Philadelphia on the season’s final weekend of the regular season with a chance to secure a playoff bid and were routed 44-6 by the Eagles. So the question remains, are these Cowboys, who this season answered adversity with a renewed focus and determination, any different than last year’s squad that failed miserably at the end?

Absolutely.

What the Cowboys denied last year but recently acknowledged is that the atmosphere created by Terrell Owens’ selfishness was a major factor in their demise last year. So if you believe like I do, that a locker room can benefit greatly by addition through subtraction, then you’ve got a team that isn’t looking to get the season over with but rather, one that’s focused on making a push for the playoffs.

There’s no way Dallas will fall apart like they did in Philly last year, especially considering the Cowboys have only given up 30+ points in a single game to one team this year, against the NY Giants twice.

Philadelphia has big problems on the offensive line, Romo is playing great, the Cowboys offensive line is rolling and the Cowboys defense is peaking at just the right time.

Hottie Watch – Keep an eye on the tight ends, like I really had to tell you that. Tony Romo’s favorite little buddy All-Pro Jason Whitten and Philadelphia’s Brent Celek are hella fine and they’re having monster years which translates to plenty of face time on TV.

Prediction
Dallas 27 – Philadelphia 20

Other games of importance
New York Jets 27 – Bengals 17
The Jets have proven they can beat any team who doesn’t have anything to play for. Bengals’ starters may play but they will be on the sidelines when the Jets win this one in the second half.

Baltimore 38 – Oakland 17
Flacco will lead the Ravens to their second straight playoff appearance against an Oakland team looking forward to the off season.

The Cowboys struggles in December and January have been well documented over the past couple of seasons. With two winnable games against Washington and Oakland left on the November schedule, the Boys from Arlington are quietly talking about being 8-3 when they hit the final month of the year. Jerry needs to slow his roll.

Injuries
Going into the Green Bay game this past weekend the Cowboys were remarkably healthy and on a four-game winning streak. They left Green Bay with neither. Starting right tackle Marc Colombo was lost for the season with a broken bone in his leg and safety Ken Hamlin will be out for at least four weeks. Some Cowboys insiders point to an aging offensive line as the catalyst for injuries which contributed, in large part, to the Cowboys recent late season collapses, so hearing that offensive lineman Kyle Kosier and human-false-start Flozell Adams are trying to work through ankle sprains, on top of losing Columbo for the year, does not bode well for Dallas.

December Schedule
Considering the December schedule, three of four on the road — Giants, Saints and Redskins — and home to surging San Diego, it appears the Cowboys are perfectly set up to collapse again. The season ends with a rematch of last year’s finale against the Eagles in Arlington, a game which will undoubtedly have playoff implications for both teams.

Headed to the Death Star, aka the new Cowboys Stadium, tonight for the first game ever. A few weeks back my boyfriend and I took the $16 tour of the stadium, you can see my review here. But tonight’s pre season game versus the Tennessee Titans is the first time close to 100K people will descend on Arlington to check out Jerry’s newest, biggest and brightest toy. It’s the largest column-less structure in the world with a $1.2B price tag that has yet to acquire a naming sponsor. Other ‘largest in the world’ records, largest doors (situated at either end) and of course the largest HDTV screen checking in at seven stories tall.

The Cowboys ticket office put ‘party passes’ on sale a few weeks back for just $29 each. We don’t have seats but we get into the stadium and can watch the game from the standing room only (SRO) section in the endzone (pictured left). It’s gonna be an event just being there for the first game. And since, as a gay man, I’ve already stood in the shower where Tony Romo and Jason Witten will shower after the game I feel OK with not sitting in the box with Jerry Jones or some big-haired, leather-skinned, fake-boob’d, oil tycoon’s whore.

Plus, with a screen as big as Jerry Jones’ ego there’s not a seat in the house, which can hold up to 120K, where you could miss any of the action. You have to give Jerry credit for making the Cowboys’ games a must see event. Now if he could just figure out how to buy a playoff victory. You can follow my twitter updates tonight.

The pre-season football schedule really gets rolling tonight with four games on the schedule two of which hold some intrigue.
Cowboys and Raiders from Oakland tonight. Hottie and gay favorite Tony Romo removed two drama queens, Terrell Owens and Jessica, from his life during the off season and the Cowboys will be improved this year with Felix Jones and Marty B playing big roles. Roy Williams has to prove that he can fill TO’s shoes in Dallas. But I still think the Cowboys are the third best team in the NFC East.

Then there’s the annual Super Bowl rematch between the Steelers and Cardinals @8:00 EST on ESPN. One of the story lines will certainly focus on the Roethlisberger lawsuit.. Already in his 4th year, look for Santonio Holmes to become Ben’s favorite target. Will Willie Parker be able to make it through another full season? He’s probable tonight with back spasms, not a good sign for Steeler fans who need a productive running game to start the offense.

It’s the return of always styling Tom Brady tonight at Philly and the Eagles look loaded on offense. Really interested in getting my first look at how rookie running back LeSean McCoy will fit into the Eagles offense.

Finally, it’s the Battle for the Capitol as Washington travels to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. My pick to click this year; Washington QB Jason Campbell.

Let’s get it on.

Oh yea if anyone is interested in joining a gay fantasy league (insert your own pun here) for football let me know by commenting on this post.