Playing football in the chilly month of December is always a crucial task. But none have been any more crucial than those played by the Dallas Cowboys. You would think playing in-doors during the wintertime would be an advantage, but it hasn't been. The Cowboys who haven't had a winning record in the month of December since 1997 , have been notorious for rolling over and dying in the last month of the year. However, on the first Saturday night game of the 2009 season, the Boys responded in the biggest of ways by knocking off the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints by a final score of 24-to-17.
Like many, although I'm not a fan of the Saints, you almost wanted to see them finish the regular season and head into the playoffs & perhaps the Superbowl on an undefeated note. Instead, the Indianapolis Colts remain the only unbeaten team in the NFL. Heading into the month of December, the remaining schedule for the Saints and their plans for perfection was in their favor. & With the 13-0 Saints playing at home, hosting the team that's been known to fall apart in December, it couldn't have been any easier for Drew Brees & company...So they thought. Whether the Saints were unprepared or the Cowboys were underestimated, the Saints picked a bad time to lose by surrendering their first defeat to the Cowboys of all teams. But just like the saying goes, "No game in the NFL is an easy one, regardless of who your opponent may be."
Even though the Saints quest for perfection is now out of the question, their plans of making it to and winning the Superbowl are still in tact. Still weeks away from the playoffs, the Saints are easily favored in the NFC, as no other team matches up on paper. The Minnesota Vikings who looked to be a possible scare have somewhat fallen off the radar by losing in back to back Sunday Night match-ups on the road to both the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers. The Indianapolis Colts however should have their work cut out for them in the playoffs this year. Two other teams worth mentioning are the San Diego Chargers who are currently riding a 9-game winning streak and the Tennessee Titans who just happen to be right back into playoff contention since Vince Young's promotion after starting the season off 0-6. But with a 7-7 record, the Titans will be one of the many teams fighting for the AFC wild card.
As the final weeks of the 2009 NFL regular season edge closer, the playoff picture begins to take shape. & With the Colts still eying a perfect season having already clinched a playoff berth, many are asking whether or not the Colts should start their starting players or bench them to keep them fresh and healthy for the playoffs. Which brings me to ask, what would you do?
Noteworthy: Season firsts for the Saints included their first loss and the first time they failed to score three touchdowns. The Cowboys won for the first time in their last five December games. Romo has not thrown an interception in his last 156 pass attempts, the longest streak of his career.With a missed field goal from 24 yards in the fourth quarter, Cowboys kicker Nick Folk has now missed a kick in six straight games. ... New Orleans allowed four sacks after allowing just 15 in their previous 13 games. .. With 298 passing yards, Brees recorded his fourth straight 4,000-yard season, joining Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
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