Where - Exactly - the Dallas Cowboys Season Went Wrong

By Richie Whitt Wed., Jan. 19 2011 at 12:01 PM

Was pondering the disappointing Dallas Cowboys season and I decided to come up with one of my patented Top 10 lists that you guys ~~are so fond of~~ despise. Looking for the season's crossroads plays, I got out my schedule and started thinking about the opener in Washington Sunday night, September 12 at FedEx Field.

End of search.

In retrospect, the play that ended the first half ended the season.

On 1st and 20 from their own 36 and only :04 remaining in the second quarter, the Cowboys designed, called, approved, ad-libbed and executed -- with an assist from DeAngelo Hall -- the perfect disaster.

We can blame Jason Garrett for calling the play or Wade Phillips for not vetoing the call or Tony Romo for frantically flipping the ball or Tashard Choice for fumbling, but either way there's no denying that the play put Dallas down 10-0 at halftime and injected serious doubts into their season.

There were other defining plays of course -- Alex Barron's holding penalty on the last play of the Redskins game, Romo's injury against the Giants, Marc Colombo's celebration penalty against the Titans, Roy Williams' fumble against the Saints, etc. -- but to me the 2010 season ended soon after it began.

Tags:

football, Jason Garrett, Marc Colombo, Tashard Choice, Tony Romo

Emjay223

I just noticed something else when watching this video again... after all the excessive celebration penalties we endured this year, why wasn't there one called on Hall when he flipped onto his back after the score?

Jamal

I wonder when we will pinpoint what went wrong for the 2012 season? Oh wait, the hiring of Jason Garrett was. Mark it down.

Judge_Softy

I used to think it was the Ta-SHART at the end of the opening game's first half that de-railed the season, but does anyone honestly believe this team would have gone any better than 8-8...even if Romo never got hurt? As long as Wade was on the sidelines, this season was doomed to failure. I'm still not 100% convinced that Garrett is the answer, BUT there is no way Wade wins even a fraction of those games during the second half of the season.

Scott

Yep,..... I remember getting the late 90s/early 000s feeling in my gut after that game.

Rooster

I thought the season went wrong when Jerry didn't announce he was going to step down as GM.

Davy Crockett

I think all the talk of being the first team to play in their home stadium for the Super Bowl was where the season went wrong. From Jerry, to you, to us, to everybody.

TheRealDirtyP1

How many Alamos can fit inside Jerry Jones Stadium?

Davy Crockett

Well, 250 folks (men, women, children) were inside. Jerry Jones Stadium holds roughly 80,000 (for football before reconfiguring seats, not counting standing room, etc). So the garrison could fit roughly 350 times.

The original fort was about 4 acres. The stadium site is roughly 2000. So 500 forts.

I reckon I best git back to my chores.

Davy Crockett

Depends. We talkin' about the original with the walls, or are we talking what remains today? Either way, it's a lot. By the way, folks, just a reminder to remove hats and not to take photos while yer inside the most hallowed of grounds here in San Antone. Also, if your the ghost hunter type, I've been known to be spotted near where the palisade was and inside the bar on the Menger across the the street.

TheRealDirtyP1

the original, garrison and all. The Menger gives a great view of the Mexican Army attacking every few hours or so.

Scruffygeist

Bingo. That and the traveling circus of a training camp with Coach Softy as ringleader and Jerruh as the shyster promoter doomed the season even before 4 people brainfarted and let the Skins get that TD.