Cowboys End Saints Perfection

Last night, the Dallas Cowboys looked like a potential serious playoff contender. The New Orleans Saints lost their bid at a perfect regular season. And the NFC playoff picture was brought more into focus with Dallas pulling off a stunning 24-17 win in the Superdome agains the Saints.

The Cowboys outgained New Orleans 439-336, stifled the NFL's #5 rushing attack, held about a 13 minute advantage in time of possesson, and sacked Drew Brees four times. Yet, the Saints still had a chance to tie the game in the closing minute.

Four things to take away from this one.

First, Tony Romo (right) had another good game. He had more passing yards than Brees (312 to 298), a higher QB rating (104.0 to 81.5), and no INT. In Romo's last three games, he has 6 TD and 0 INT. Last night was his lowest QB rating in those three games. December has actually been good to Romo.

Second, Dallas stayed with the running game and that was a major reason the Cowboys were able to take such a decided edge in time of possession. Marion Barber produced two rushing TDs for his first since week 8. That's a sign all Cowboys fans should love seeing.

Third, just when you think you have the Saints, they battle back. Dallas led 24-3 going into the 4th quarter. A couple of Saints scores made it 24-17 with 8:06 remaining. New Orleans got the ball back with 2:16 left and started a drive to a tie which was thwarted by a sack of Brees and a fumble recovered by Dallas' Jay Ratliff.

Maybe the most important thing going forward was this. Dallas took the kickoff after New Orleans made it 24-17 and drove all the way to the Saints 6. With 2:19 left, Cowboys kicker Nick Folk did his best Shaun Suisham impression and knocked his filed goal attempt off the right post. That miss was the sixth straight game Folk has missed a FG attempt. That missed permitted the Saints a last gasp. That's something the Cowboys will no longer be able to afford as the Redskins and Eagles await.

Dallas did solidify its playoff position and holds their fate in their own hands...win out and they're in the postseason.

That just might get Wade Phillips (left) another season or two.

But with Jerry Jones calling the signals, I stress the word "might".

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