Let me preface this by saying this isn't a piece on how the Cowboys can still save the season and find a way to get into the playoffs.
Yes, I'm fully aware the Cowboys remain two games behind first place in the NFC East, but to get there, it's going to take a miracle, and I just don't see this team catching even small breaks, much less some miraculous ones.
But that being said, I'm going with Matt Cassel right now and sticking with him for the rest of the season.
I get it. People want to see wholesale changes after Romo's latest injury. *Let's just blow it up and go with all young players. *
I somewhat see the logic in certain areas, but I'm not ever one to play for draft picks. And basically, that's what you're doing when you're not giving yourself the best chance to win.
Personally, I think Jason Witten deserves better. I think Sean Lee, Brandon Carr and Tyron Smith … anyone else you throw out there, they deserve better. These guys are playing banged up and out there fighting. So I'm not going to pull the plug on this season until the plug pulls itself after the Washington game on Jan. 3.
And that's why I don't go with Kellen Moore, a guy that has never started a game in this league. If he's the best option, then play him. But there's no way a guy that has never taken a meaningful NFL snap in his career is going to be the best option.
Cassel is 0-4 as a starter with the Cowboys. Yes, I know this. But he also at least gives them a "chance" to win. You can't argue the fact that in all four of Cassel's starts, the Cowboys have either been ahead in the fourth quarter or tied.
[embeddedad0]If the Dallas defense makes a stop against Seattle, Cassel's next snap is a kneel-down and he wins.
If the Cowboys get that turnover against the Buccaneers, his next snap is a kneel-down and he wins.
If the Cowboys simply stop a kickoff return against the Giants, Cassel likely gets the ball in position to get a field goal and win.
And if the Cowboys can find a way to stop the Eagles' last drive, he also has a chance to go win the game with a field goal.
Lots of "ifs" there, and I'm really not trying to be apologetic for this quarterback, who I think is completely average at best. But he's put this team in positon to win. You could argue that he's also put them in position to lose, which they did.
However, with five games to go, I don't think the Cowboys should alter their approach. Play the best players and try to win the game. Right now, Cassel is still a better option than Moore, and that's reason enough to stick to the plan.
