The word chosen by owner Jerry Jones — who uses many of them — was “inspired.” That was Jones’ characterization of the way his Cowboys are playing defense right now, and it is hard to argue.
Unless you want to opt for another one — dominant.
For all the well-deserved attention heaped on quarterback Tony Romo for breaking through a professional threshold as the Cowboys blasted the Eagles 34-14 in a wild-card playoff rout, this Dallas outfit has been carried by its devastating defense.
For all the flash and dash of Romo, emerging receiver Miles Austin and exciting second-year running back Felix Jones, the reason why the Cowboys are headed to frigid Minneapolis for Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff date with the Vikings is because of the pressure they apply to opposing offenses.
“With the talent we have I don’t think there are a lot of teams that can beat us right now,” said veteran Keith Brooking, a key free-agent acquisition who has added stability and guidance.
Not only are the Cowboys a complete defensive package, they also are peaking. For the first time in franchise history they secured back-to-back shutouts, closing out the regular season stifling the Redskins 17-0 and pummeling the Eagles 24-0. It was more of the same as the Cowboys after 13 years finally broke through with a postseason victory as they nearly closed down every Eagles pathway to the end zone, sacked Donovan McNabb four times and completely neutralized Philadelphia’s ground game (56 yards).
The work of a team that allowed an NFC-low 250 points this season is a reflection on Wade Phillips, the only coach in the league who also serves as a defensive coordinator.
It is an added responsibility Phillips assumed this season after vowing changes in the way the team operated. Call it survival mode. Phillips needed a big season to keep his job, and it appears he’s done that with the NFC East title and, more significantly, his first playoff victory after going 0-1 with the Broncos, 0-1 with the Bills and 0-2 with the Cowboys.
As a 12-year veteran and former five-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Falcons, the 34-year old Brooking was thought to be nearing the end of a fine career when the Falcons released him, but he’s been reborn in Dallas.
In addition to his emotional pre-game motivational outbursts — “We’re gonna hit ’em in the mouth. We’re gonna bloody their nose!” he chanted before disposing of the Eagles — he also has added a maturity to a defense that featured outstanding athletes but not nearly enough accountability.
“We have a lot of leaders on this defense, but I think that with my experience in the league hopefully that was one of the reasons Wade brought me here,” said Brooking, who finished second on the team to Bradie James with 156 tackles. “Not just because of my playing ability and what I can do on the football field.
“To be dead honest, I was watching this from afar just being in Atlanta, just hearing all the trouble with Dallas and all the negativity, [and] I was expecting a lot worse when I got here. But we have a great group of guys, and I can honestly say very candidly this is by far the best locker room I’ve been a part of.”
That group of guys will be center stage against Brett Favre and the Vikings, who shook off some late-season staleness by pounding the Giants 44-7 two weeks ago in their last regular-season tune-up before the playoffs.
The Vikings (12-4) as the No. 2 seed in the conference have relied on Favre’s resurgence and a wonderfully balanced attack that can slice you up with Favre throwing to Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and running back Chester Taylor or handing it off to Adrian Peterson.
“We have one win in the first round of the playoffs,” Brooking said. “Our goals are much bigger than winning the first game. This is just the tip of the iceberg for us.”
What a fitting way to head to frozen Minnesota.
