Remembering The Decembers: The Dallas Downfall

Three things are constant every December. The thirty-one day countdown to the New Year begins, the Holiday season engulfs our minds and wallets, and the Cowboys will find a way to go from a Super Bowl contender to a playoff maybe. While the common stat of “the Cowboys haven’t had a winning record in December since 2000” just doesn’t do enough justice for how bad the Cowboys really are in this final month of the year.

Not be mere coincidence is it the fact that this also happens to be the last month and the last slate of games before the playoffs begin.

The struggles all began in 2006, when by Week 4, Tony Romo, the now superstar quarterback, emerged onto the scene to lead the Cowboys to a 8-3 record before December. But, after an impressive win at New York against the Giants, the Cowboys went on to lose 3 of 4, giving them a 2-3 December record. Not terrible for a no-name quarterback, so we thought, and the Cowboys lost a heartbreaker when the aforementioned Romo bobbled a snap on the extra point to tie the game.

As 2007 rolled around, the Cowboys seemed to be rolling with their new found franchise quarterback, starting off with an 11-1 start the season. But, after a narrow win over the Lions to start December, all knew what was coming. The Cowboys finished 2-2 for the month, losing both games on the road to NFC East foes. They later lost to the Giants in the playoffs after their first round bye, and yet another Cowboy season with amazing potential ending with a poor December showing and a non-winning playoff appearance.

Last year, 2008, most knew what to expect for the Cowboys. Before the dreaded December rolled around, the ‘Boys’ were 8-3 and on track to win the NFC East once again. Losing their first game at Pittsburgh yet winning their second against the Giants gave hope that the Cowboys would reach the playoffs for the 3^rd straight year under Romo. But, a loss to the Flacco lead Ravens meant that a regular season finale at Philadelphia was their ticket to the playoffs. How did the Cowboys respond? A 44-6 beat-down by the Eagles, and the Cowboys were sent home for January and February.

The main theme in each of these frustrating December showings? In the 13 December games from 2006 to 2008, the Cowboys have had a 100 yard rusher only twice. That leads to Tony Romo having to make more plays than his talents can achieve, leading to disappointing TD to interception ratios and 4^th quarter deficits.

So far in this 2009, things have unfortunately gone according to schedule. The Cowboys are 0-2 as the lost at New York Giants and against the Chargers. In both losses, no Cowboy running back got over 100 yards. To end the dreaded month, they finish by travelling to former assistant coach and current offensive guru Sean Payton and the undefeated New Orleans Saints. The past two years, they are 0-4 on the road in December, that shouldn’t stop now. They end the month going to Washington to face the Redskins, who gave the Saints their toughest test this year last week, and NFC East foes always play tough at home.

They get lucky to end the season, as they play their final regular season game at home against the Eagles…in January. Although the ‘Boys are home to end the year, both teams are likely to be in the playoff hunt, and the Eagles destroyed them to clinch their playoff berth last year.

The Cowboys are currently at 8-5, and likely need to win two of their next three on their remaining very difficult schedule. If the Cowboys didn’t have an overweight, overhyped offensive line, a stable force at running back, and Peyton Manning or Tom Brady at the helm, they likely would have a good shot to make the playoffs.

However, they have the streakiest quarterback in the NFL in Tony Romo, and December he has yet to perform like a consistent Top 10 NFL quarterback. However, if the Cowboys defense can continue to play well by bringing pressure and their corners play as well as they have in the past few weeks that will leave the game in Romo and the offenses hands.

So, can Wade Phillips and Justin Garrett finally swing the December fade into their favor? It’s likely in the hands of Romo and the offensive line if Phillips, Garrett, and maybe even Romo are still in control with the most notable franchise in NFL history.