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It is far too easy to jump to rash conclusions after Week 1 of the NFL season. But sometimes things are just too apparent to overlook, and anyone who watched the Dallas Cowboys play this afternoon understands how historically bad they played.
Tony Romo looked like he was playing with a different playbook than the rest of the team, leading to three interceptions of the “did he really just throw that?” variety. Not to mention the number of times he simply threw the ball to a spot on the field without a receiver or threw it into the turf. He looked bad — really, really bad.
Dwayne Harris put the ball on the turf twice, with the Cowboys recovering both, and DeMarco Murray added to the misery by coughing up a fumble which the San Francisco 49ers recovered.
On the defensive side of the ball, we all knew the Cowboys were putting a mash unit onto the field, but I don’t think anybody thought they would be this bad. Granted, they were put into a countless number of tough spots after being forced back onto the field following a Cowboys turnover, but they really didn’t show any resistance at all against a 49ers team that is far from an offensive juggernaut.
They somehow managed to make it close in the end, but only after the 49ers took their foot off of their necks and let them catch their breath. Don’t let the final score fool you; this game wasn’t even close.
Looking at the Cowboys schedule, it is hard to find any more than three victories up for grabs. The St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars certainly look beatable, and it is reasonable to think that the Cowboys can take one of the two games they play against the Washington Redskins. Outside of those games, the Cowboys should be on the wrong side of the betting line in each and every game.
Only three times in franchise history have the Cowboys finished with three or fewer wins in a season. In their inaugural season, they failed to win a single game. In 1988 they won three games, and in 1989 they walked away with one victory.
I know it’s early, but I’d put this year’s squad up against those three in a contest of futility. America’s team has been heading toward a fall from grace for some time, but this may be the season when things officially fall apart.
Jason Garrett would be wise to start considering his other employment options quickly.
Court Zierk is a Senior Writer covering the Denver Nuggets for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @CourtZierk, “Like”him on Facebook or add him on Google.
