Preseason Week 3 Recap - Dallas (7) @ Houston (23)

You call that dress rehearsal?!

The Cowboys stunk it up on Saturday night against the Houston Texans. The offense could barely get yardage, couldn't get a touchdown (until Jon Kitna came on against the 2nd team Houston defense,) and even the defense couldn't stop the run. It was a not pretty, in fact it was scary.

Of course, it is just preseason, the game doesn't count, the team just broke camp and all the other excuses, but still, if for anything but pride, they should have played better than they did.

I would be a lot more upset had this been a real game, but I'm still not happy with the way everything went down. Mistake after mistake, the front line couldn't protect or run block and I don't know what happened to the defense.

Some key starters were missing due to injury; Columbo, Kosier & Dez on offense, and Brooking and Sensabaugh on defense. I'm crossing every finger I have that these players all get healthy for the regular season, we are apparently going to need them.

Next week is finally the final preseason game against Miami. This is a game that is usually played by only second string talent, but Wade Phillips is considering playing the starters for a few series due to the dismal performance on Saturday night.

In Other News

Safety Pat Watkins has been released, along with TE Scott Sicko. All teams will have to cut down their roster to 53 by next week.

Preseason Week 2 Recap - Dallas (16) @ San Diego (14)

A win is a win is a win... even in preseason, and no one said they have to be pretty... this one certainly wasn't.

Highlights included a Terence Newman interception early in the game, although the offense couldn't do anything with it and Romo had the ball intercepted soon after, allowing San Diego's offense their first 7 points of the game.

There was then a Bradie James forced fumble which was scooped up by DB Barry Church, who ran for about 80 yards before he was brought down by Philip Rivers in the red zone. Three plays later, Tony Romo hit Miles Austin for a 9 yard TD to tie the game at 7.

Late in the third quarter, San Diego ran in a 4 yard Touchdown, which was soon answered by a 19 yard TD throw from Jon Kitna to Martellus Bennett, evening things out at 14.

With just under 4 minutes left and San Diego on offense at their own 5 yard line, Victor Butler got a sack and forced a fumble which bounced into the end zone and resulted in a safety, giving the Cowboys a 16-14 lead. The defense was able to deny a Chargers comeback and Dallas sailed to victory.

It was pretty much a sloppy, ugly game and it made me very glad that it's just the preseason. I hope they can tighten up some of these problems they are exhibiting and head into the regular season strong. Time will tell.

Next Saturday, Dallas will be heading to Houston to match-up against their state rivals for a chance to win the 'Texas Cup.' It will be the third preseason game, one in which is mostly played by the starters since they will all be sitting during the final preseason game against Miami.

Just typing

The preseason will continue for Dallas tomorrow at 8 p.m. against The Chargers in San Diego. This will be game three for The Cowboys, and Wade Phillips has already stated that the starters will probably play for the entire first half, I would imagine they will do the same next week as well and then let them rest for the final game.

The most troubling news of the week was Kyle Kosier getting injured during practice and being out for possibly 4-6 weeks, meaning he most likely won't be back for the start of the regular season. With Marc Columbo still out as well, the offensive line is looking grim. Montrae Holland and Alex Barron are expected to replace Columbo and Kosier for the time being. People are already freaking out that we shouldn't play Romo because he'll be in jeopardy... let's give them a chance for christsakes, they may end up being pretty good.

These injuries are starting to pile up, but the good news is that some other injured players are returning, including Martellus Bennett, who I still have confidence in and think will be a big impact to the offense (I have been saying this for three years now, it's gotta pay off sooner or later right!?)

TidBits

In Cowboys Camp...

- Dez Bryant seems to be healing quicker than most people were expecting and will be trying his hardest to play in the final two preseason games.

- Marc Columbo's knee is also less of a problem than first thought... he has already went for surgury and the Docs are saying it may only be a 10-14 day recovery.

- Tony Romo had a stomach virus the other day, but still practiced and didn't do too bad either.

Around the League...

- Brian Westbrook has finally chose a team to play for and it will be the San Fransisco 49ers who gave him a one year 1.2 million dollar deal.

- Larry Fitzgerald sprained his MCL but expects to play in the season opener.

- Eli Manning got a bloodied head (see picture to the right) during the first game at the New Meadowlands stadium against The Jets. Brandon Jacobs first knocked him in the head during a botched play, then a Jets' DE came around and smashed into Manning from behind... No concussion or any other injury though, just a couple stitches

Today's Edition of Good News/Bad News

Well, the Cowboys are already two days into their training at Oxnard, California and will be battling the San Diego Chargers in the next preseason game. Everyone is getting back into the mix of things but unfortunately the injury bug is sprouting up all over the place... Which leads me to the Good News/Bad News.

Let's get the bad news out of the way:

In Sunday's afternoon practice RT Marc Columbo sustained some sort of knee injury and will probably require 2-4 weeks out. If he heals quick, he may be back just in time for the start of the regular season. We'll see.

On to the good news:

Two injured players are back. TE Martellus Bennett, who had an ankle sprain and was held out of the first two games as well as training camp, was back practicing in Sundays afternoon practice and he did pretty well too. Dez Bryant is also expected back in practices soon and may even play in the final two preseason games. He had a high ankle sprain but he has been recovering quickly and had his walking boot removed this weekend. He claims he feels great. Sweet.

Preseason Week 1 Recap - Oakland (17) @ Dallas (9)

Preseason game number 2 for these Dallas Cowboys, who just four days ago played in the Hall of Fame Game and beat Cincinnati 16-7.

Just gotta say one thing, the score certainly doesn't reflect the game.

I gotta be honest, I fell asleep during the game, right as the third quarter was coming to an end. The score was Dallas on top, 9-0.

When I woke up this morning to see that Oakland had won 17-9, I was kinda shocked. How could they let that happen after shutting The Raiders down for three quarters? Sheesh.

Oh well, it's just preseason and at least no one got injured in this game. On to the next game, which is Saturday, August 21st against The Chargers in San Diego.

Madden 11

With the Hall-of-Fame Game still fresh in my mind, another great symbol of the coming football season is finally upon us. I speak of the video game, Madden, which is released in early August of every year and conjures up even more excitement for football than the most captivating pre-season game ever could. This year sees the release of Madden '11, which offers little changes from Madden '10 except that it is NEW.

For the fans of both football and video games, there is nothing more gratifying than getting the current year's version of the Madden video game and spending hour upon hour affixed in front of a television set working on plays and strategies, substituting players and updating techniques. It is a pleasure that is hard to explain to someone not involved, but it is a pleasure nonetheless.

Anyway... I will be heading out to the store today during my lunch break to grab a copy of Madden, which will sit in my bag, mocking me the whole day through. 5 o'clock will feel like it is weeks away. This is OK, however, once I do finally get home and begin playing, it will all be worth it. Ahh, relief.

*1:35 UPDATE*

I finally have my copy of Madden 11, which I hunted at the local Best Buy during my lunch break. It now rests inside of my bag, waiting to be played. It will be in the corner of my mind all day, I can already sense it. It is tempting me, calling me, begging me to play it. I can practically smell and taste it as clearly as a strawberry jelly sandwich on whole wheat toast.

I've read the game's instruction manual twice over, just to make sure that every button's purpose is ingrained in my memory. I've browsed more than a few websites and read the "professional gamers'" reviews of it.

I have already played out in my mind what I will do when l get home... boot up my Playstation 3, install the game and dive in head-first, before even changing out of my hot work clothes. I see myself immediately setting up a franchise and choosing none other than The Cowboys as my team, or perhaps setting up the new "GameFlow" playbooks and testing this new feature in a 'Play Now' game (although I suspect I will not enjoy this feature and quickly return back to manual playcalling, which is much more gratifying.)

Bottom line is this... Madden is out, I have it and just as I suspected, the clock is already ticking mighty slow while the game is calling me mighty loud.

Hall Of Fame Game Recap - Cowboys (16) vs Cincinnatti (7)

My love/hate relationship with pre-season games started up again on Sunday with the Hall-of-Fame Game in Canton, Ohio (a 'pre' pre-season game, really.)

I love that football is back, but I hate that the pre-season means nothing and could result in injury (ah hem... TE John Phillips & CB Cletus Gordon.) I am glad that the Cowboys won against the Bengals, but who didn't see that one coming.

Another pet peeve is that even though Dallas played in the HOF Game, they will still have to play four more pre-season games (the first on Thursday, just 3 days away from this game,) which increases the likely-hood for even more injuries.

I gotta say though, it is refreshing to have football back on, and I still root like an idiot for Dallas to win every game, no matter if it counts or not. Next on the pre-season schedule is a home game at Oakland, away games at San Diego and Houston and a home game at Miami. Once that is all out of the way, it's full-steam ahead going into Washington for the first Sunday Night Game of the "real" season.

Let's Go Cowboys, Let's Go!!