Ten FishTips For Cowboys At Browns
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CLEVELAND (105.3 THE FAN) - Ten FishTips to ready you for Sunday's Cowboys at Browns noon kickoff on 105.3 The Fan:
FISHTIP 1) Why does it feel like Dallas has the vibe of a contender? Well, the Cowboys are 6-1 for the 11th time in club history. All 10 of those previous teams went to the playoffs.
Furthermore...
FISHTIPS 2: Since 1990, when playoff formats were last formatted, teams that started 6-1 made the playoffs 51 of 60 times. So historically the path is cleared.
FISHTIPS 3: You are about the hear a lot about Dallas' "Blue Jersey Jinx." Ignore it.
The Cowboys are 64-66-1 all-time in the blue jerseys, which they wear today. That's not good… But that's not "jinxy," either.
FISHTIPS 4) Also, as you click on your Sunday morning NFL TV shows, you should brace yourself for another chapter of "Ezekiel Elliott in trouble." There might be more elements and incidents regarding Elliott's Ohio State behavior then we the public know about. But the Cowboys and the NFL and Ohio State can be expected to all have deep, deep knowledge of this glitch, that hiccup and even that police investigation.
Having said that, Zeke — to me, along with Tom Brady the leading candidate for MVP — causes me to repeat what I've said about him since he came to Dallas in the first round of the draft: he needs to concern himself less with being an Alpha Pup/BMOC (Big Man On Clubbing) and more about the trouble that future investigations into future behaviors might cause.
FISHTIP 5) Cleveland rookie QB Cody Kessler is a high-percentage passer with two downfield weapons in Terrell Pryor and Baylor product Corey Coleman. But that doesn't mean Kessler is very good it actually getting a downfield.
FISHTIPS 6: Dez Bryant turned 28 this week (and as a gift to himself probably added to his collection of over 3000 sneakers). Dez' traditional birth-week/birthday stats: On the day itself, on Nov. 4, 2012, he only has caught one pass for 15 yards in a 19-13 loss in Atlanta. But in the last two games following his birthday he's totaled 11 catches for 262 yards and three scores.
FISHTIPS 7) Dallas is all shiny and riding high and 6-1, and Cleveland is all murky and hanging low and 0-8. Trap game?
Or...
FISHTIPS 8) What if the city of Cleveland remains emotionally wounded from this weekend's World Series lost at the hands of the Cubs? Not just a drunken hangover, but a funk-and-hangover? History says the zebras today don't help them much: The Browns are just 5-13 when Jeff Triplette referees their games. Of course, the Cowboys aren't happy to see him, either; they own a 5-8 record when Triplette referees their games.
FISHTIPS 9) Dallas won't have the injured Church or Claiborne. But there is newfound depth. Scandrick becomes a starting corner and then slides inside on Nickel/Dime with rookie Anthony Brown becoming the corner. This unit can be even more effective if a prescient reader like Lee and a powerful rusher like Tank can turn up the heat upfront.
FISHTIP 10) Dak's full comment on 'whose team this is' requires full context. The rehabbing Romo is still part of this team. But that's for another day. Today is about Garrett leading his Cowboys to 'stacking good days' and 'do your job.' Not QB controversies.
Unless, that is, Dak's Cowboys lose.
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