Bad loss raises questions about Dallas cowboys

DeMarco Murray

One loss does not ruin the Dallas Cowboys' surprising first half of the season. But Monday night's 20-17 overtime defeat to Washington showed this squad plays with a small margin for error, and there will be bumpy times ahead.

Make no mistake: This was an ugly defeat that could come back to haunt the Cowboys in late December. It's a division loss at home to the NFC East's worst team, against the Redskins' third-string quarterback. Forgetting the standings and tiebreak implications for a minute, the game showed off a few potentially fatal flaws for Dallas' title hopes.

Colt McCoy

This is a top heavy team that is heavily dependent on a few offensive stars. Tony Romo has played fantastic this season, but he's a 34-year-old quarterback coming off two back surgeries in as many years. Owner Jerry Jones surely saw the Cowboys season flash before his eyes when Romo lay inert on the artificial turf for two minutes before heading to the locker room.

Romo admitted to taking a pain-killing injection in his effort to re-enter the game, the second straight week he's needed a shot. Romo has skipped Wednesday practice all season as he tries to manage his back issues, and he's always going to be one hit away from bigger concern. His condition makes the Cowboys' season feel even more precarious than your average NFL team's campaign, so dependent on injuries and luck.

This loss, however, can't be pinned on Romo's injury. He struggled with Washington's blitzes from the first snap and the Cowboys offense never seemed able to adjust. Romo actually left the game while trailing, and re-entered to a tie game.

We saw on Monday night what happens when theCowboys offense doesn't carry the team. The Dallas defense has overachieved to be average this year, but it's not a talented unit overall. They entered Monday night as the fifth-worst defense in yards per play allowed, and that number got worse against Colt McCoy's crew. Washington flipped the script on Dallas, holding the ball for ten more minutes than the Cowboys.

Jones said the team likely lost their leading tackler Justin Durant for the season due to a torn biceps muscle. He would be the third linebacker the team has lost for the year, including their best defensive player, Sean Lee.

Monday's loss was also reminiscent of so many heartbreaking defeats in theJason Garrett era which included lack of adjustments and questionable late game play-calling. With two plays to get three yards in overtime, theCowboys did not lean on their vaunted offensive line or running backDeMarco Murray.

Perhaps it's not fair to criticize Garrett during this impressive season, but he has not earned the benefit of the doubt the last few years. To show thisCowboys team is different, they will have to re-prove themselves anew each week. There will be no better time to do so than Sunday against the blitz-happy Arizona Cardinals, the new owners of the NFC's best record.

Jerry Jones: Justin Durant likely out for season

The Dallas Cowboys' defense has taken yet another hit. Owner Jerry Jones said that linebackerJustin Durant tore his biceps during Monday night's 20-17 loss to Washington, according to the team's official website. Durant is likely out for the season.

The Cowboys' defense has overachieved this season, but they are still an ordinary unit. They are also without cornerbackMorris Claiborne for the rest of the season. On Monday night, we saw what can happen to the Cowboys when the offense doesn't carry the day.

It's a huge loss for a team that has already been without their best linebacker Sean Lee for the season. Durant is the team's leading tackler despite missing two games and was doing a solid job all year at weakside linebacker. This is not a defense with particularly good depth; 2012 fourth-round pick Kyle Wilberis next in line behind Durant.

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Wait is over: Fall Classic returns to Kansas City

KANSAS CITY -- Kansas City, with its couple hundred fountains and seemingly equal number of BBQ joints, is about to take its place as the epicenter of the baseball world tonight when -- after a wait of 28 years, 11 months and 25 days -- the World Series returns to Kauffman Stadium.

Six days after celebrating an American League pennant in front of their own fans by dispatching the Orioles, the Royals will host the Giants in the first World Series matchup between the clubs. First pitch in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage on FOX begins at 7:30 p.m.

It is a Fall Classic matchup bubbling with intrigue, one that will feature newbies to this postseason stage against the every-other-year World Series regulars of late. The Giants, who defeated the Cardinals in a five-game National League Championship Series, returned to Missouri having won each of their last eight postseason series. In between, they've raised two World Series banners (2010, '12).

The Royals are riding their own streak, undefeated in their first eight postseason games, something never before accomplished. Their 11-game postseason winning streak (dating back to 1985) ranks as the second longest in Major League history.

"I think this city has been waiting for this for a long time, and the fact that we're doing it in the fashion that we are is tremendous," said James Shields, Kansas City's Game 1 starter. "This is our goal in Spring Training, and we had one mindset, and that was to go to the World Series and win it. And to be able to be here on this big stage is exactly what we've been working really hard for all season long."

Defying the assertion that the Wild Card Game, added in 2012, would prove to be an unclearable hurdle for a Wild Card team to advance to the World Series, both the Giants and Royals emerged from the winner-take-all Wild Card Games and then twice overcame the home-field advantage of their opponents. This World Series gets it start in Kansas City thanks to the AL's victory in the All-Star Game.

Since MLB started using the All-Star Game outcome to determine home-field advantage, the team that has held it has been crowned World Series champions eight times out of 11. That included the Giants in both 2010 and '12. With a series win over the Royals, the Giants would join the Yankees as the only clubs over the last 40 years to boast three championships during a five-year span.

"I was amazed at the Yankees on what they accomplished. It's not that easy," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who will send Madison Bumgarner to the mound in Game 1. "I mean, first of all, you've got to get there. Then the road to get there now is a lot more difficult than it used to be. It used to be two pennant winners going at it, and now you have to go through some playoffs, and this year we had the extra one with the [Wild Card] playoff game."

Percy harvin trade was a shock

ST. LOUIS -- Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin said the shocking Percy Harvin trade Friday had an impact on the team's slow start Sunday that led to the 28-26 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

"Obviously the shock of the transaction and what took place there made for a bit of an emotional roller coaster," Baldwin said. "When something that drastic happens, right before we get on the bus [to go to the airport for the trip], there is going to be an emotional impact. I felt we handled it to the best of our ability, but I think it might have been a factor in some way."

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Seattle Seahawks' offensive line was weak link on Super Bowl team last year, but it's worse now, writes Terry Blount. Story

The Seahawks fell behind, 21-3, and trailed 21-6 at halftime before coming back and making it close in the second half.

"There's obviously a lot of things that went on this week that affected the team in numerous ways," Baldwin said in the locker room after the game. "As a competitor, you don't want to admit those things. But as a human, it is human nature. It took us a little while to get on track. I'm just proud we responded the way we did and fought until the very end."

Baldwin also admitted that he did have a physical altercation with Harvin during the preseason.

"It is true," he said. "However, when you deal with somebody 12-to-14 hours a day, you are going to have issues and conflict, just like any family."

He also was asked about Harvin's other reported altercations with former Seahawks receiverGolden Tate at the Super Bowl and one with quarterback Russell Wilson last week.

"I mean, you guys read the reports," Baldwin said. "I don't think I need to say anything else about it."

Baldwin went on a rant after the loss last week, saying, "We need to quit BS-ing ourselves and get serious." Earlier this week, Baldwin said his teammates know he speaks with a purpose and he backs up what he says. He had his best game of the season Sunday with seven receptions for 123 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown catch.

"I don't really believe in moral victories, but we got back to who we were as an offense," Baldwin said. "We have a lot of things to clean up, but there are a lot of positives we can take out of this game.

NBA Board of Governors approver instant replay and rules changes

New York - The  NBA  announced today  that is Board  of Gonvernor's  has  approved that  additional trigger  for  instant replay  review as well as  five modifications to the existing replay rules. In addition, the Board approved three other playing rule changes. These rules will go into effect commencing with preseason games on Friday, October 17. Expanison of   instant  replay  rules 
• Officials may utilize instant replay whenever they are not reasonably certain a team had an improper number of players on the court while the ball was in play.

rules  changes : If a team has too many players on the court while the ball is in play, (i) the offending team would both be assessed a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul and lose possession if it had possession at the time the violation was discovered, and (ii) the non-offending team would continue to have the option of either accepting or nullifying the game action that occurred during the violation. Previously, if the offending team had possession, it would keep possession of the ball despite the violation.

• Teams may freely substitute players whenever any timeout is called. Prior to this change, there were limited circumstances in which a team couldn't substitute for certain players at timeouts.

• The shot clock will no longer be reset to five seconds when a held ball is caused by the defense with fewer than five seconds remaining on the clock.

Steattle seahawks aim to unleash percy harvin deep

Seattle's master plan for Percy Harvin didn't pay off in last Sunday's ugly loss at home to theCowboys. Six touches netted minus-1 yard for the Seahawks wideout as Dallas swarmed Harvin at every chance.

"He's too fast not to use deep," Seahawks coach Pete Carrolltold The Times ahead of Sunday's tilt with the Rams.

It continued a disturbing trend for the pass-catcher, who's seen half of his 22 grabs come behind the line of scrimmage this season. As The Seattle Times points out, Harvin's six yards per haul marks the lowest average of any NFL wideout with at least five catches.

That was proven against the Redskins as Harvin torched Washington for a 41-yard score that saw him burn a safety in the process. The play was called back by a penalty, but it was another reminder of what he's capable of downfield in this otherwise run-heavy offense.

"We've talked more about what we need to do in order to do some of those things," offensive line coach Tom Cable told the newspaper. "The opportunities just haven't come."

STATS Inc. noted that of Harvin's 434 career targets, just 36 have found him more than 21 yards downfield. None of those have come this season for a Seahawks team still figuring out how to unleash  their x-factor  Beyond in his  touch  Harvin value come in  how  teams  must account  him  on  every snap 

cable ascent test baseball fan and there fingers

The  1980 world  series  was  Notbale for at  least  three things  to start  the philadelphia Philles won on their   first   world   series  second the  kansas  city Royals played their  first one  and there  third together  the  Phillies  and the Royals  Produced the  most- watched  game in the  world  series  in the history's 54.9 Million  viewers  seen at   game at  6  now the Royals await for  their world  series   opener  game against the  San  Franciso  Giants  they  should not aniticpate 55 million people  tuning   in regardless of  appeal  of there  29 year  postgameseason  exile and eightonsecutive postseason wins this year. Perhaps 15 million will watch. A decade, after all, has passed since the audience topped 20 million.

What has happened in the past 34 years is familiar: Prime-time viewing has eroded on broadcast television for virtually everything but the N.F.L. as the thousand-channel cable universe has lured viewers with options that were unimaginable when the journey on the TV dial took people to three networks and a few local, independent stations.

Photo

Game 7 of the Royals-Cardinals series in 1985 had an audience of 45 million.CreditCliff Schiappa/Associated Press

1: I babysit for  people

2:I  go honda riding

3:  I used to  be emt( thats where u  help people that are hurt)

4:I help other  people (family or  friends)

5:I used to  play basketball

6: I  take out other kids out on  nice days

7: I i play vidoe games(any  type  that goes with playstaion 3)

8: I watch  tv (my favorite shows)

9:I party sometimes when i  feel like to go out

10: I wirte storys/ art

I love to write/ read  stories to  children that  are  small  and i would ask them  what did u think of the  stories and i would ask them if you  can remeber the storys  and i  would ask them  question  about  what happen in the book .

short people problems they can not reach  high stuff and they would have to ask a taller person to get for you  or u would have to  use a chair to get the stuff  that you need and some  people would  make fun of you  just beacuse your  samall and you cant reach anything  and  sometimes  if you cant reach  that high stuff you would have  jump for it  or you would have to get a chair or  ask a tall person to get it for you so that way you dont have to jump or  get a chair for yourself  to get it from a high place .

1: I love to help kids and family and friends

2: I love children

3:I love honda riding/ car riding

4: i like to  Listen to music

5: I like to read books

6: I learn how to cook

7: I facebook all the time

8:I love to babysit

9:I like to shop a lot when i'am in anchorge

10: I like to go walking by myself  and think about stuff

1: I love to help  children and  family and friends

2:I like to read books

3: I listen to music all the time

4: I  facebook  all the time

5: I learn how to cook

6: I like to go honda riding/ car riding

7:I  go walking by myself  and think about things

8:I like to babysit for people

9:I shop a lot when i'm in Anchorge

10:I stay home  a lot  and  don't go out that much

Its all up  to you if you want to create  your own music and be come famous   or you can make a  track with other people  or you can work with a company that owns  music that you like to  sing or make for your family or friends  and you can  write  down  music for  what you want to  sing  or  you can write it for   other people that wants to hear you sing and you can also make your own track  and  you can  find a manger to  help out to  make your songs and sell them  in the store's . Once you make music  you can become famous  once  you have your manger  to get it all out and  planned out  the right way you want it to be .

when i work with headstart  my job is to make sure  that they all listen and they use  there Listen ears and they  listen to the  teachers  and sometimes i would do some of  the teachers  work and i would play with the kids and if the kids don't  listen me or one of the teachers would  talk to them  and to make sure they would use there Listing ears  and  make sure they  use there inside voice and  there walking feet and i only work in  morings and afternoons when i'am in and out of school  i work  from 10-11 and then 1- 4  to  make sure that head start has a Lesson plans for the weekend sometime out of the blue  if the kids are crying  one of the teachers would send them to there cube and   when they are ready to talk we would talk to them  and tell them to   use there Listen ears and be nice to your friends  and sometimes  if  one of the student don't listen we would  get mr. baldwin in the classroom  have him to  talk to  the student that don't listen . If the student don't listen we would  either let them go sit down or  let them  do  class work  when the others  get  to go play  and for snack  time we  tell them to  clean up and  wash there hands and after snack time they brush there teeth  and  in the afternoon i spend my time  cleaning the classroom or  doing the papers works  or preparing the class room for the next day .

my sickness  kicked me in the but the  whole weekend  i have been laying in bed and i didn't want to eat at all and i keep going to the bathroom and i have been Drinking tea the whole weekend  and   kind of eating  the fruits  to help my tummy  and i have been sleeping a lot through the whole day and i won't wake up to  eat anything i would just sleep and the only time i would get up is when i hear loud noise or if i have to go to the bathroom or to check to see what time it is  and i would take my meds that the doctor gave me and  sometimes it don't for me and the only thing thats works for me  when  i sleep alot to make me  fell better