The Jon Kitna era starts this weekend. The bigger question in Dallas is when the Wade Phillips era will come to an end.
The demoralized Cowboys will test their pride Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cowboys Stadium.
Dallas (1-5) was supposed to contend for the Super Bowl this season and perhaps be the first host city to appear in the game, but the Cowboys got off to a 1-4 despite ranking in the top four in both total offense and defense.
The offense averaged 400 yards per game but couldn’t make enough big plays to offset costly penalties and turnovers, and the defense couldn’t get any takeaways or put enough pressure on the quarterbacks.
All of that seemed to change last week when the Cowboys got three takeaways in the first 20 minutes and a 92-yard punt return by outstanding rookie Dez Bryant to take a 20-7 lead against the rival New York Giants.
It was also about that time when it was revealed that starting quarterback Tony Romo had suffered a broken collarbone after a sack by linebacker Michael Boley. Both the offense and defense went into a tailspin and Dallas never recovered.
After Bryant’s touchdown, New York scored four touchdowns and a field goal in its next five possessions while holding the Cowboys to 26 yards and one first down in Kitna’s first seven drives.
Kitna finished up 16 of 33 for 187 yards and two late touchdowns to Bryant as Dallas made the 41-35 final score look more respectable.
The Dallas defense was shredded for 497 yards. Eli Manning passed for 306 yards and a career high-tying four touchdowns and Ahmad Bradshaw, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith each went over 100 yards from scrimmage.
Since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals are the only team to rally from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs, speculation has already begun about Phillips’ future.
Owner Jerry Jones has stated many times that he doesn’t like making changes in midseason, but the Cowboys are out of playoff contention and there’s pressure for Jones to start making contact with some of the power coaches.
With Romo out at least six to eight weeks, Kitna will be making his first start in over two years against a Jacksonville (3-4) squad that played Kansas City tight for three quarters last week before suffering a 42-20 defeat.
The Jaguars gave up 236 yards on the ground to the Chiefs tandem of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, but they shouldn’t have to worry about that this week. Dallas ran the ball just 13 times against the Giants and rank 30th in the league at 86 yards per game.
Quarterback Todd Bouman, who was signed during the week when injuries sidelined David Garrard (concussion) and Trent Edwards (thumb), made his first start since 2001 against Kansas City and completed 18 of 34 passes for 222 yards and two TDs. The 38-year-old did throw two costly interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown and a 28-20 deficit and another in the fourth quarter that led to another touchdown.
Garrard has passed the NFL’s mandated concussion tests and is expected to start Sunday. He was injured in Jacksonville’s 30-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 18. But the injury bug got right tackle Eben Britton, who was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending shoulder injury.
Maurice Jones-Drew, who was limited to 47 yards on 16 carries and has been held to 3.8 yards per carry this season, may find the sledding a little easier against the Cowboys, who have allowed three 100-yard rushers in their last four games.
The clubs have split two games this decade, with Jacksonville winning the last matchup 24-17 in 2006.