Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Alas, the 2019 season for the Cowboys has mercifully come to an end. It was a season that had its share of highs, lows and one horrible loss to the New York Jets. In grand Cowboys fashion, the season ended with a meaningless win over a terrible Washington Redskins team. They finished their season with an 8-8 record. This is befitting for what could be the final game for Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett. We hope.
The Good:
- This was one of the more impressive wins for the Dallas Cowboys this season. Although it was an empty win, the offense played great and the best player on Sunday was wide receiver Michael Gallup. The final game of his 2019 season was a great one that included 98 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He looked like a No. 1 receiver Sunday afternoon and that could come into play with Amari Cooper 's uncertain future with the Cowboys. (More on that in the ugly section)
- Kai Forbath has done a great job since joining the Cowboys. He has made every single field goal and the extra point he has attempted during his brief tenure for his new team. The Cowboys did a great job replacing the wildly inconsistent Brett Maher and could have their kicker for the future. Why it took so long to replace Maher is beyond me, but Forbath has reinvigorated his career with The Cowboys.
- The 2019 MVP for the Cowboys has to be Ezekiel Elliott. He had a great season rushing for over 1300 yards (the third time in 4 years in which he rushed for over 1000 yards) and was 4th in the league in rushing this season. When his game was on this season, no one could stop Elliott. His last game against the Redskins was his second-best performance of the season behind his stellar Monday night game against the Giants. After all of the controversy he caused this offseason, he has more than lived up to his contract. He will continue to be the Cowboys superstar running back for many years to come.
The Bad:
- It was difficult to decide what to put in this category. The bad for me was that the season finale was basically meaningless. As previously mentioned, they put up an impressive offensive performance against the abysmal Redskins. However their offensive explosion proved to be all for nothing. Their victory was short lived, for the Eagles beat the Giants to win the NFC East. This was a team that was expected to do well this season, but unfortunately disappointed all of us every step of the way. There is too much talent on this team to miss the playoffs and finish 8-8. Changes will be coming sooner rather than later this offseason.
- Speaking of disappointments, let's talk about Dak Prescott's 2019 season. On paper, he had a tremendous year throwing of over 4000 yards ( a career-high). His numbers were great, but his performance on the field was mediocre, to say the least. His performance Sunday was another example of how he can only put up superior numbers against a subpar team. Coming into this season, he was looking to receive a contract extension north of 30 million a year. After this season, he will be lucky if he even gets the franchise tag.
- Overall, this game wasn't bad and I couldn't think of much else to put in this category. I would simply be reiterating the same point about their season being a loss, so im going to save that for a future article.
The Ugly
- This really isn't ugly but bittersweet. This could be the final game for multiple Cowboys players. As previously mentioned next season Dak Prescott will be a free agent along with Amari Cooper. I do believe one of these players will find employment elsewhere this offseason, with Cooper being the more likely person to leave via free agency. Jason Witten could also leave this season as he has contemplated retirement again. The theory is he could go into coaching and maybe be the next Cowboys' head coach. But that is a story we can save for the offseason.
- Jason Garrett, all I have to say is good luck to you and your future employment elsewhere. After 10 years of coaching the Dallas Cowboys, it is time to move on and look for someone else to man the helm in 2020. He did not do a bad job during his tenure for he is finishing with a coaching record above .500 and is the seconding winningest coach in Cowboys' history. But the problem with Garrett is that he could never get them over the hump. Three playoff wins in 10 years is not goos and the Cowboys need a confident coach with playoff experience. It is time for both parties to move on and Sunday's victory against the Redskins would be a nice way to end his Cowboys' coaching career.
- This team has Super Bowl aspirations and talent as far as the eye could see. To end the season the way they did with an 8-8 record is unacceptable. 2020 will be a bounce-back year for the Cowboys, and I look forward to seeing what moves can be made this offseason.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.
It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?
Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.
After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.
The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.
X-factors
The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.
If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!