Cowboys/Redskins Review

Here is my take on the pathetic game the Cowboys put up yesterday against the Skins. 

1. Blame Garrett and the coaching staff first: After Barber enjoyed a career-high game in Green Bay last week, and after Felix Jones had scored a touchdown in each of his first three NFL games, the Cowboys managed to only run the ball 11 times yesterday for 44 yards. Two of those 11 were by TO, and one left for Romo. To put it another way, Owens produced 25% of the Cowboys rushing yardage (and 24% of their receiving yardage, ironically). This can't happen. Yes, the Redskins were stopping Barber early in the game, but that's not new. He often finds a way to get the big runs in the second half after wearing down the defense. And then you don't even hand off to Felix Jones all day? I don't understand it, but there's no way you can blame any single player more than you can blame the game plan from Wade and co. 
2. What's wrong with Newman? I think I saw the ghost of Roy Williams out there in the body of Terrence Newman yesterday. Was that really a top 5 corner getting burnt? I know he slipped on that first TD to Thrash, but he was all over the place, except he was rarely in the right place. Hands down his worst game to date.  
3. Romo isn't Romo: By the numbers, Romo looked great yesterday: 300 yards, 3 TD, 1 Int. But something's not quite as magical so far this year about Jessica's man. I think he's getting some unfair critiques about hanging his head yesterday, but something just isn't clicking yet, both with his game (too many flawed passes) and his head (too many poor choices). I have no doubts he'll get it together, but it's not there right now.   
4. Forcing the ball: The Redskins secondary was really, really tough yesterday. They frustrated TO and didn't allow the big plays when it counted. Which exposes the one major weakness I see in the Cowboys offense: they force the ball to certain receivers way too much. I didn't have a bird's eye view of the entire field for the game yesterday, but I've got to think there's a way to exploit even great coverage beyond TO and Witten. I don't know if that's an issue with play-calling or Romo's choices and lack of checking down. But how many passes to a covered TO have to be knocked away before you think maybe you shouldn't try to thread the needle so much? 
5. The Redskins are good: On top of it all, the Cowboys lost to a very good team. And what makes them good is a) a strong system that's well executed, and b) a playmaking defense that forces teams to change their plans. The problem was the Cowboys didn't seem to have a good Plan B.   
6. The Cowboys defense is good: But they aren't great. The secondary is still extremely patchy that only looks good on paper and has yet to look good on the grass. I actually think the front 7 did a pretty good job yesterday, but at the same time Portis got 121 yards on the ground.    
7. It's not hopeless: Did the Cowboys look pretty pathetic yesterday? Yes, but they also didn't do almost anything that they're known for. For whatever reason, they got away from what makes them great, and they showed us that it takes more than talented players to make wins happen. It's a good wake up call I think they needed, and I still think they're the team to beat in the NFC.