Five of the Worst Dallas Cowboys Moments in 2010

There are five moments in the Dallas Cowboys' 2010 season that seem to epitomize the team's descent into mediocrity-or even worse. Although there were some high points in the season, they failed to compensate for these five worst moments, and for the most part this season was one Dallas Cowboys fans will want to forget.

Tony Romo getting injured. The Cowboys weren't having a good season when they played the New York Giants on October 25^th. When Tony Romo fractured his clavicle in the second quarter, presenting the prospect of 38-year-old Jon Kitna as the new quarterback, it was like a kick to the gut. A hard kick.

Starting 1-7. Losing the seventh game was one of the worst moments in the Dallas Cowboys season, especially as the powers that be at Valley Ranch prior to this point weren't really talking desperation. Week after week, coach Wade Phillips seemed unable to get something better out of a talented bunch of professional athletes and Jerry Jones seemed inclined to keep the status quo.

Getting spanked by the Packers, 45-7 on Monday Night Football. This was the straw that broke the coach's back. The loss to the Packers changed the Dallas Cowboys season, as it was what forced Jerry Jones to get rid of coach Wade Phillips. It was an extremely hard game to watch, embarrassing for players and fans alike. The only redeeming factor is that it brought about the much-needed change in coaching.

David Buehler missing short kicks. Buehler has proven that his leg is strong and his aim is accurate. He is 4/5 at distances longer than 50 yards, with his longest kick going for 53 yards. But at distances shorter than that, his record isn't nearly so good. Each miss was a stab to the heart, and it was frustrating to be guessing each time he stepped on the field whether this would be the hard one he made or the easy one he missed.

Jerry Jones was feeling the same ambivalence about Buehler, as he signed Kris Brown prior to the last game of the Cowboys' season, against the Eagles.

Excessive celebration penalties. This isn't a penalty you hear much about, so when the Cowboys got one on October 10, it was something of a shock. But when they got the same penalty the very next week, it was another moment that could be called one of the worst moments in the Dallas Cowboys season.

The Cowboys were already making a lot of penalties during the course of the game, but to take a totally purposeful action that would most certainly draw a flag, was just too much to comprehend. As if two in a row weren't enough, the Cowboys pulled another excessive celebration penalty in game 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, when Marion Barber took off his helmet after scoring a touchdown. Are you kidding me?

All the hype about the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2010 NFL season made the reality of the season that much more disappointing. The moments listed above were the worst Dallas Cowboys moments of the season for me, in a season I'm glad is soon to be over.

Source:

Dallas Cowboys

Personal experience