For some reason even before the season started I looked at this upcoming game on the road in Pittsburgh as a defining moment. Everyone in the world is automatically chalking it up as a loss (even before the season started when everyone just knew we were going to be great - we were still going to lose this game).

Now I know there are very solid reasons for this prediction - the Pittsburgh defense is probably the best in the NFL - I know I picked them as my fantasy football defense :)

After reviewing the game it is clear that the biggest difference in our defense in the Washington game versus previous games is simple - a healthy Terrence Newman. Newman's coverage on Moss was nothing short of superb.

Proof of this is the 4th down play Washington ran with 6 minutes left. They only needed 6 yards and they ran what to the West Coast offense is the top money play to get you 6 yards when you absolutely need it - a drag route with their best and quickest receiver - probably one of the quickest in the league - Santana Moss.

Well I have been critical of our team and especially the coaching. I do this out of love for my favorite team since I was a child. I can be, however, an optimist so here are some things to be optimistic about:

1) First and foremost the return of our star QB and leader Tony Romo - this is huge - no more needs to be said

2) I have gone back and looked and game film and I will tell you this - Kyle Kosier is an OUTSTANDING blocker especially on running plays and pulling. He has been sorely missed and if he plays you will see a dramatic difference in our OL play as a whole.

OK there will be no Xs and Os in this article - only some cold hard facts. I hope I am proven wrong.

Brandon Jacobs after the game on Sunday said it was amusing listening to the Cowboys players yelling at each other on defense - things like "why aren't you in that gap, which gap are you supposed to be in, where am I supposed to be, etc"...

This is the sign of a poorly coached team.

All I can do is go back to this article I wrote in July:

http://www.dallascowboysfans.net/backup-qb-situation-needs-be-addressed-...

I really meant it - I felt we were one Romo injury away from being a below average team. Sunday's game proved this (painfully).

If you invest all this money in stacking your roster you better have a good backup QB who at least makes the opposing defense respect the whole field. I don't think St. Louis was worried AT ALL in this game about getting beaten down the field. The 3 yard out route can only do so much damage.