Another overpowering effort from my Cowboys

[bmbmd]

They overcame the coach, the quarterback, the defensive backfield, and the opposition to squeak by the powerhouse 49'ers.

[BlueJac]

1. They have killer defense against the pass too!

[jobycom]

2. Just think, they'd be undefeated if not for a sudden

desire to rise above decrepitude for two plays by Mark Brunell.

I'm optimistic! With their schedule, they should kill any chance to get a good draft pick next year.

[bmbmd]

5. It's a bad deal

when Terrence Newman is your best cover guy.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. Dallas had a big excuse today; scheduling

For some reason ESPN and the national sports media in general does an incompetent job detailing scheduling situations and how they alter performance. Football and basketball. You might hear about a simpleton "look ahead" but nothing else. It's really amazing and pathetic.

I bet against the Cowboys today, mostly first half but some on the game itself. San Francisco was +6.5. It was one of my most prized scheduling scenarios: "Bet against any team that played on Monday night last week, if this week's game is on the road versus a non-division opponent." That's a longtime successful angle that had an amazing run in the '90s, something like 27-6 vs. the number at one point. In a league with this much parity, no way you can forfeit a day and a half of preparation and rest and be at your best on the road versus an unfamiliar opponent. It doesn't work quite as well now that the divisions are only four teams instead of five. You can't routinely throw away non-division games like before that switch.

Today was a beautiful day. That system had 3 plays and went 3-0. Now 4-0 for the year after Seattle defeated Atlanta last week. Normally it's impossible to have more than two plays in one week, but the NFL stuck New Orleans and the Giants on Monday night last week, so that was a gift two more plays since both faced non-division teams on the road today. I can't believe how ignorant and cruel the league and Tagliabue were to the Saints. Not just moving the Giants game to New York, but also Monday night. That essentially condemned New Orleans to a subsequent loss today at Minnesota. Why couldn't that Giants/Saints game have been played on a Saturday night to provide some fairness toward this week? Most likely, the NFL isn't even aware of scheduling dynamics other than basic stuff like 3 straight road games.

Dallas figured to flop in the first half today. That's the nature of that scheduling situation. The teams are flat to begin the game and the leads can be astounding. Last week Seattle led Atlanta 21-0 at halftime. Minnesota led New Orleans 24-0 at half today. The 49ers led 24-12. I took a horrible beat on the first half of the Chargers game tonight, blowing a 21-3 lead in the middle of the 2nd quarter. The spot in the first half was San Diego -3. The idiot Chargers failed to run out the clock while ahead 21-17 then Tomlinson ran out of bounds to save the Giants a timeout. Then the Giants overcame a 3rd and 15 via a 27 yard draw play. They kicked a FG with a few seconds remaining in the half to make it 21-20. I was furious, but since I was having such a big day I bet more on the Chargers at halftime and they kicked ass, 45-23.

Of course, now that I've publicized this sysrtem here it will bomb short term.

[Ishoutandscream2]

4. You are exactly right. Dallas was due to have a huge hangover

from Monday night. Not only did they have a short week, but the way they lost Monday was a big downer. You made a good bet. Dallas was very lucky yesterday.

[jobycom]

6. Wow.

Excellent insight, but it sure takes all the fun out of whining about my team... :-)

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Unfortunately, many of the scheduling situations are long gone

Cutting from 5-team divisions to 4 really sliced some of my pet scenarios. Teams that played 3 or more consecutive division games tended to tank the first non-division game after that string, giving up a ton of points. It's amazing how much of an impact the 4 team divisions make. Now, instead of stretches of 3 or 4 or 5 consecutive division games, many teams never play two straight division games all season.

Also, grass teams usually played awful on artificial turf, especially in the first half and after a stretch of 3 or more consecutive grass games. I know it reduces injuries, but many of those artificial turf teams foreited a sizeable advantage by switching to grass or field turf. I think only the Rams and Colts have pure artificial turf now.