10-Pack: Cowboys’ Phillips is coaching for his job
Article By mflorio.tsn on 8th January, 2010
ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio weighs in on the biggest story lines of Wild Card Week:
1. High pressure for the Cowboys As first-round playoff games go, the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with as much pressure as any playoff team ever has faced.
First, the team hasn't won a playoff game since Dec. 28, 1996.
Second, the Cowboys have twice before blown a home playoff game against a division rival they swept in the regular season. This time around, they'll be expected to reprise their 24-0 spanking of the Eagles from only six days before.
Third, Wade Phillips — who has never won a playoff game in three stints as a head coach — is coaching for his job.
Though it's inevitable Dallas will win a playoff game someday, winning on Saturday will entail Phillips and the rest of the Cowboys overcoming an inordinate amount of stress and strain.
2. The start of the Jason Garrett era? Many league insiders believe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will fire coach Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to complete a three-game sweep of the Eagles on Saturday.
The fact that Phillips wouldn't be entitled to a buyout makes it more likely that Jones would walk away from the option on Phillips' contract for 2010.
Brad Smith surprised the Bengals last week; don't expect that to be the case this week. The fact that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is under contract for two more years at $3.5 million per season makes it more likely that, if Phillips goes, Garrett will get the job.
At one point, it appeared Jones would simply clean house. The Cowboys' late-season push to the playoffs could save Garrett, especially if it's the defense and not the offense that blows it for the Cowboys on Saturday.
3. Rex Ryan just can't help himself The Jets had the Bengals right where they wanted them. Regardless of whether the Bengals did or didn't try to win on Sunday night, the AFC No...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
1. High pressure for the Cowboys As first-round playoff games go, the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with as much pressure as any playoff team ever has faced.
First, the team hasn't won a playoff game since Dec. 28, 1996.
Second, the Cowboys have twice before blown a home playoff game against a division rival they swept in the regular season. This time around, they'll be expected to reprise their 24-0 spanking of the Eagles from only six days before.
Third, Wade Phillips — who has never won a playoff game in three stints as a head coach — is coaching for his job.
Though it's inevitable Dallas will win a playoff game someday, winning on Saturday will entail Phillips and the rest of the Cowboys overcoming an inordinate amount of stress and strain.
2. The start of the Jason Garrett era? Many league insiders believe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will fire coach Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to complete a three-game sweep of the Eagles on Saturday.
The fact that Phillips wouldn't be entitled to a buyout makes it more likely that Jones would walk away from the option on Phillips' contract for 2010.
Brad Smith surprised the Bengals last week; don't expect that to be the case this week. The fact that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is under contract for two more years at $3.5 million per season makes it more likely that, if Phillips goes, Garrett will get the job.
At one point, it appeared Jones would simply clean house. The Cowboys' late-season push to the playoffs could save Garrett, especially if it's the defense and not the offense that blows it for the Cowboys on Saturday.
3. Rex Ryan just can't help himself The Jets had the Bengals right where they wanted them. Regardless of whether the Bengals did or didn't try to win on Sunday night, the AFC No...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
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