NFL Dallas Cowboys

Bye Week Proved to Be Beneficial to the Dallas Cowboys

Fresh Videos

By

Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys

Getty Images

Bye weeks are usually a time where things slow down a bit around the team’s facility and both players and coaches are able to get away for some much needed rest and relaxation but everyone knows that the Dallas Cowboys aren’t your typical franchise. Normally this time of year is full of turmoil and controversy for this team; there’s either panic about the team’s record and the direction in which the franchise appears to be heading or some player is in some sort of legal trouble again. Now the Cowboys have had their fair share of the latter with Joseph Randle and his recent issues but for the most part things have been fairly normal around Valley Ranch.

This season the Cowboys actually went into the bye week with a much needed win against the Jacksonville Jaguars and a good enough record to be amongst the top in the league when it comes to the race to the playoffs. Their main concern this year was actually football related, they went into the week with their focus squarely on getting healthy and watching tape of their upcoming opponents, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, which is quite different from the years past.

Offensively Tony Romo got a chance to rest his ailing back and the offensive line had the opportunity to heal their minor injuries so they can continue being the dominant and cohesive unit that’s now tops in the NFL. Defensively, Tyrone Crawford and Rolando McClain both had a chance to properly recover from their injuries so they can come back, be effective, and reduce the chances of causing any further damage to themselves. They will also get the opportunity to ease the talented but troubled Josh Brent back into the defensive line rotation now that he’s served his suspension and can resume his football career.

But equally as important is what transpired on the field this past weekend. The Cowboys not only made up the half game difference that kept them out of the NFC East’s lead but the Green Bay Packers were able to expose the Eagles in the process, giving the Cowboys and the rest of the league the blueprint to beating them. This will come in handy as the Cowboys try and wrap up the division with a strong run down the final stretch of the season. Also with their eyes on more than just making the playoffs, the Detroit Lions losing to the Arizona Cardinals opened the door to them having the opportunity to grab a first round bye if they take care of business.

So as you can see, this season is shaping up to be quite different than what Cowboys fans have become accustomed to. Hopefully this isn’t the last bye week this team has this season.

Kelly Anderson is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bgipp01 or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on