When New Orleans hosts Dallas Saturday night, you’ve likely read as much about the Saints as you possibly can.
But what do you know about the Cowboys?
That’s where A View From the Other Side comes in. Every Friday during the Saints' season, WWL-TV.com will ask five questions to at least one beat writer covering the Saints’ opponent that week.
This week, we talk with friend Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She has covered the NFL for 16 seasons, including the past 10 for the Star-Telegram. She appears weekly on ESPN2's First Take morning show as an NFL expert and two years ago served as an analyst for ESPN's second-day NFL Draft coverage.
She became the first female selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, and in January, she became the first female president of the Pro Football Writers of America.
She covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for six years for the Orlando Sentinel before leaving for Fort Worth.
Needless to say, she’s one of most knowledgeable reporters the EOSB has spoken with yet. You can read her stories at the Star-Telegram’s Web site.
WWL-TV: Has too much been made about the Cowboys’ struggles in December? What’s the cause of the so-called swoon?
Charean Williams: Wade Phillips calls them "baseball stats," but facts are facts. The Cowboys are 19-41 after Nov. 30, including five postseason losses, since 1997. The last time they had a winning record in December was in 1996, also the last time they won a playoff game.
This is no coincidence. The Cowboys are the league's top TV draw, so the NFL schedules good opponents for Dallas in December. Look at last year when they closed out with Pittsburgh, the NY Giants, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Three of those teams made the conference championship round. This year it's the NY Giants, San Diego, New Orleans, Washington and Philly to close it out. The schedule is difficult, yes, but I also think the Cowboys haven't been that good over the past 13 years.
And I firmly believe "December" is in their heads now as Wade won't even say the "D" word.
WWL-TV: If DeMarcus Ware doesn’t play, what happens with the Dallas pass rush? Who steps in for him and how much weaker is the Dallas rush if he’s out?
CW: Ware has been banged up all season, but offenses still have had to account for him. He gets the double teams. If rookie Victor Butler has to play in place of Ware, the Saints won't have to worry about doubling anyone other than nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Drew Brees might have all day... and all night to throw the ball. That obviously won't be a good thing for the Cowboys.
WWL-TV: What is the Cowboys’ biggest weakness?
CW: Right now, it's the kicking game. But the Cowboys haven't played well in any phase the past two games.
WWL-TV: How big of a problem is Dallas’ kicking game?
CW: The Cowboys can't afford to settle for field goals against the Saints, so this might be the best thing for them. Maybe they'll bypass any field goal over 39 yards and go for it on fourth down. That's what they need to do to match New Orleans.
Nick Folk still is the Cowboys' kicker, but he ranks last in the NFL with nine misses this season. That's more than he missed in his first two seasons combined (7). He has missed six of his past nine attempts and has a miss in five consecutive games. His troubles have been from 40-49 yards, where he is only 4-of-11.
WWL-TV: Does Wade Phillips have to not only make, but advance in the playoffs to keep his job?
CW: No question. Jerry Jones has said as much. Phillips is in the last year of his contract, and the Cowboys own an option for a fourth season. He won't see that fourth season unless the Cowboys get hot in a hurry.
