In case you missed it, the Cowboys took a huge step toward a playoff return by beating the defending-champion Giants, 20-8, last night. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that anyone wants to talk about the game. In fact, all anyone seems to be interested in is the growing Terrell Owens-Jason Witten battle for Tony Romo’s affections.

In fact, after Dallas’ win on Sunday Night Football, all the Cowboys wanted to do was talk about how ESPN reporter Ed Werder had either A) lied completely about the existence of any kind of a lockerroom feud or B) was completely disingenious about said event’s significance and severity.

Never mind that the Cowboys now lead the NFL in sacks and that Damarcus Ware is making a serious run at Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record; he has 19 already, after all. No, this game was all about T.O.! And that’s just as he likes it, of course. No matter what happens next, can someone please tell Owens and Romo to stop wearing those horrendous Gatsby hats? They’re making us embarrassed for being members of their sex.

That’s more than enough analysis of America’s Team and it’s constant spotlight. Here’s the full video of the team’s jihad on all things Werder, if you’re so inclined.

Of course, the Cowboys weren’t the only team stirring up plenty of controversy on Sunday; the team they just beat a week before stoked about as much controversy as you can while still winning by capping off it’s second fourth quarter comeback in as many weeks with a touchdown that, on further review, really doesn’t look like a touchdown. Here’s how everything went down: Pittsburgh trailed by three in the final two minutes, and got off another impressive, length-of-the field drive that appeared destined for a heart-attack inducing Ben Roethlisberger escape. Well, that’s what the Steelers got when wide receiver Santonio Holmes had a catch ruled a touchdown with 44 seconds remaining.

The only problem is that the catch was originally ruled down outside the end zone, and there’s almost no way you can see enough video proof in the replay below to overturn that call, can you? We sure can’t. YAHOO! also has a pretty condemning screen shot right here. Judge for yourself, all the while considering that this is the second time this year where an official’s call on a play at the end of a Steelers game has been cast in spurious light by gamblers across the globe. We’re not incriminating anyone here, we’re just pointing out the facts.

Oh, and the Packers are officially not going back to the playoffs. How’s that Brett Favre trade looking, Mike McCarthy? You think you’d be eliminated from playoff contention with two weeks to go if No. 4 is still in a green and gold uni? You sure about that? We’re not.

• Guess who else isn’t heading to the postseason? The Redskins! That’s right, all that Jim Zorn-Clinton Portis strife didn’t help the Redskins beat a team that entered with only one win, as Washington fell, 20-13, to the lowly Bengals. It really was as ugly as it looks, too.
• Don’t ghasp, this really might be true: Is Michael Turner the NFL MVP? At least one YAHOO! writer thinks he’s on track. It’s hard to argue that he hasn’t been the best free agent signing, and that’s remarkable in itself.



• According to FANHOUSE, Ball State’s head coach is cashing in on his team’s BCS-less undefeated regular season, reportedly agreeing to become the head coach at San Diego State. Sure, the weather is a huge upgrade over Indiana, but Brady Hoke couldn’t have landed an OC gig at USC or something like that? We hear they’re about to be in the market for one.
• Forget about the Titans losing to the Texans on Sunday. The real loss was Albert Haynesworth. If that knee doesn’t come around, this could be a shockingly early end for Tennessee in about a month.
• Maybe the Wildcats weren’t all about Lute Olsen after all. A win over a pretty-solid looking No. 4 Gonzaga team sure helps with the NCAA resume, that’s for sure. Hey, some are even touting Arizona for a Pac-10 title. How retro.
• Evidently Josh Hamilton’s had enough of his life being a great comeback story. He’s tuning out the Hallmark vibes to decline an invitation to play in the World Baseball Classic.
• Annika Sorenstam was not about to officially end her pro career by missing a cut, and she was going to go as far as she had to just to get another chance. How far did she go? Dubai.
• Wait, the Yankees are really going to go after Manny Ramirez? Oh wait, that was the NEW YORK POST. No they’re not.
• Want to know why the Jake Peavy trade to Chicago fell apart? Would you be surprised to learn that the Padres wanted the moon and the stars? We weren’t, either.
• That sound you hear is every Big 12 school not located in Norman, Okla. begging new Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford not to listen to THE SPORTING NEWS’s Derek Sampson.



• According to KICKETTE, the wife of Chelsea star Ashley Cole is being depicted as the Angel of the North in a new exhibit by an artist who happens to be a Liverpool fan. That’s the painting above. It makes even less sense when you dig deeper, trust us.
• Speaking of digging deeper, here’s another KICKETTE doozie: Try and figure out if David Beckham is picking his nose or just scratching.
• A sad note to end on: the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE’s Bob Smikiz said goodbye in a final, rose-tinted opining bow to his corner of the Keystone State.