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Giants (11-6) vs. Cowboys (13-3)  Sunday, January 13, 3:30 PM CT on FOX

Divisional Round Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to complete the hat trick and beat the New York Giants for the 3rd time this year when they square off at Texas Stadium in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.  They have never accomplished this feat before.  The one chance that they did have, they lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 Wild-Card Round of the Playoffs. The Cowboys are looking for their 1st playoff victory since 1996.  With a win against the Giants, the Cowboys would snap a drought of over a decade without a playoff victory and would face the Green Bay Packers in the Championship Game, who crushed Seattle 42-20 in the snow at Lambeau Field earlier Saturday.

This definitely won't be easy with all of the confidence that the Giants have been playing with, but while the Giants will be missing some key components, the Cowboys have no one that will be out for this game, and with the rest that they have had, should be able to take advantage of it, despite the sloppy end to the season.

One key to the Dallas Cowboys' success against the Giants has been keeping him on his feet and giving him time to find his open receivers.  The Cowboys' offensive line allowed just 2 sacks against a Giants defense that led the league in sacks this year.  Dallas will need to continue this trend to be successful in this game, otherwise it could be a long day for Romo and company.

A lot has been made about Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson and how it affects Romo's performance.  Now it's the fact that Terrell Owens might not be at 100%.  That shouldn't matter even if he's not.  In the 2 games against the Giants this year, Terrell Owens has caught 9 passes for 212 yards and 4 TD's.  Look for this trend to continue, and now that Romo finally has all of his targets to throw to, the offense should get back on track, despite their struggles late in the season.  Terry Glenn will prove to be the X-Factor in the Cowboys offense in this game.  With this being only his 2nd game of the season, missing the 1st 15 with a knee issue, if he can get into the game and draw coverage his way, it should leave Terrell Owens and Jason Witten in a lot of one-on-one situations and really open up the passing game.

Marion Barber III will get the start in place of Julius Jones in this game, a move that many Cowboys fans have been calling for most of this season.  Look for this to be a crucial factor in the game, especially with a rested and healthy offensive line.  This will also help dramatically in setting up the passing game.

Starting wide receiverTerrell Owens is listed as questionable with his ankle sprain, but is expected to play.  Starting center Andre Gurode (knee) practiced fully on Friday is listed as probable, as is wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee).

GO COWBOYS!!!!!

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 04:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Cowboys (13-2) vs. Redskins (8-7)  Sunday, December 30, 3:15 PM CT on FOX

Week 17 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys have nothing to play for as it relates to their playoff positioning for the season when they meet the Redskins at FedEx Field in the regular season finale.  They have already clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with Green Bay's loss to Chicago last week.  However, a win would set a new franchise record for most wins in a season, and it is always sweet to beat the Redskins.  A Dallas win would probably knock the Redskins out of the playoffs as well. 

The Cowboys will be resting a lot of their starters, and even the ones that do play probably won't see more than a half of game action, but that still doesn't mean that we won't be trying to win this game.  Wade Phillips has continued all week the importance of winning this game all week, so it should be very competitive.

You have to applaud the Redskins after the death of Shawn Taylor.  After a loss in the first game after his death, they have one three straight games, and if they get into the playoffs, can become a very dangerous team.

Terry Glenn could come back for this game, but with nothing to play for, he probably won't play for very long if he gets in. 

With this game being meaningless in the standings for the Cowboys, starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff (knee), starting cornerback Terence Newman (knee), and starting center Andre Gurode (knee) are all out.  Starting wide Receiver Terrell Owens (ankle), and cornerback Pat Watkins (ankle) are also out.  Terry Glenn (knee) is listed as probable, but it will depend on the weather conditions on whether or not he will play.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 02:14 AM | Permalink

Cowboys (12-2) vs. Panthers (6-8)  Saturday, December 22, 7:15 PM CT on NFL Network (Locally on My27 in the Dallas Area)

Week 16 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to get back to their winning ways as they travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

After the Cowboys' 10-6 loss to the Eagles last Sunday, the Cowboys found themselves with the same record as the Green Bay Packers in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs.  The Cowboys can still clinch home-field advantage with a win and a Green Bay loss on Sunday this week.  Don't count on Green Bay losing though, so the best thing that we can do is to win out now.  This game may seem easy, but don't forget that the Panthers upset the Seahawks last week.

The Cowboys may need to rely more on the running game this week, especially with the injury to Romo's right thumb. 

Look for Cory Procter to get the start under center for this game with Andre Gurode out due to a knee sprain.

Dallas' main challenge on defense will be containing Steve Smith.  Terence Newman will have his hands full in this game.

Safety Roy Williams is suspended for this game for the horse-collar tackle that he made on McNabb last week, his backup Pat Watkins is out with an ankle injury, but I don't see that affecting us that much in this game.  Carolina has very little offense.

Terrell Owens has been quiet in his last two games, recording 21 yards and 37 yards.  Somehow the Cowboys need to find a way to get him more involved.

For the first time in 17 games, Romo failed to throw a touchdown pass, setting a Cowboys record. 

The Cowboys got bit hard by the injury bug last week.  Starting center Andre Gurode (knee), backup safety Pat Watkins (ankle), and wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) are out.  Chris Canty (knee), Marc Colombo (ankle), Anthony Fasano (head), and Tony Romo (thumb) all practiced all week and are listed as probable.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 06:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Eagles (5-8) vs. Cowboys (12-1)  Sunday, December 16, 3:15 PM CT on FOX

Week 15 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys will play their final home game of the regular season when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium on Sunday.  With a win, the Cowboys can clinch a 1st-round bye in the playoffs, and coupled with a Green Bay loss can seal home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The Eagles seek revenge after the Cowboys demolished them 38-17 in the first game their year.  An Eagles loss eliminates them from playoff contention.

After a sub-par effort on defense last week against the Lions, the Cowboys look to bounce back agtainst an Eagles offense that has really shown no consistency all year.

Tony Romo's first full season as a starter has been nothing short of spectacular.  He has shown time and time again that he can lead his team down the field in crucial situations of the game.  Last week against the Lions, he led the Cowboys down the field to 2 touchdowns to end the half, the second one being the game-winner to Jason Witten. 

After catching only 3 passes for 21 yards against Detroit, look for Terrell Owens to become a more active player in this game, especially against his former team. 

Wide receiverTerry Glenn is still out, but ran routes in practice this week.  He could return next Saturday against the Panthers.  Cornerback Terence Newman is questionable with a knee and toe injury, but Wade Phillips seems confident that he will be able to play.  Wide receiver Patrick Crayton and right tackle Marc Colombo are both probable with ankle injuries. 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Cowboys (11-1) vs. Lions (6-6)  Sunday, December 9, Noon CT on FOX

Week 14 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to lock up the NFc East Title this Sunday when they head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions.  With Tampa Bay and Seattle losses, Dallas can also clinch a 1st round bye this week.  The loss to the Lions last year and John Kitna's stupid comments should be great motivation for the Cowboys to come out and beat down Detroit.

The Lions will be passing the ball most of the time, looking to pick apart the Cowboys' 17th-ranked secondary.  However, Dallas does have 18 interceptions, 2nd in the NFL.  Stopping the pass will severly limit the Lions' ability to stay close in this one.  Look for the Cowboys to get a lot of pressure on Kitna in this game.  The Lions' offensive line has allowed 50 sacks this season, so DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis could have a field day.

For Tony Romo, this game sets up to be a career day for him.  The Lions have the 31st-ranked pass defense, and with Owens, Crayton, and Witten running around all over the field, there could and probably will be a huge aerial show on display in Detroit. 

Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) is still out.  Right tackle Marc Colombo injured his ankle late in the game against the Packers last Thursday and is listed as questionable, although Phillips is pretty sure that he will play.  If he can't though, Pat McQuistan will take his place.  Cornerback Anthony Henry and wide receiver Patrick Crayton practiced the whole week and are both listed as probable with ankle injuries. 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 06:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Packers (10-1) vs. Cowboys (10-1) Thursday, November 29, 7:15 PM CT on NFL Network or on My 27 Locally in the Dallas Area

Week 13 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers will clash heads at Texas Stadium in a game that will likely determine home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC this year.  With a win, the Cowboys will clinch a playoff berth for the 2nd straight season, and with a New York Giants loss this week, would clinch the NFC East .  The Cowboys can also clinch a playoff berth with a New Orleans and Arizona loss.

Tony Romo has been compared to Brett Favre a lot this season.  They are the same in a lot of ways after all.  They both sling the ball around, sometimes a bit carelessly, they both have great pocket presence to escape the rush, and they both have a heap of fun with what they do.  They also have some similar stats.  Favre has 3,356 yards to Romo's 3,043, but Romo has thrown 29 touchdown passes to Favre's 22.  This is sure to be a great matchup.

How successful the Cowboys are in this game may depend on whether or not Cowboys left tackle Marc Colombo can stop Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman.  Stopping Kampman, who currently leads the league in sacks with 11, will give Romo the time he needs to spot his open receivers and keep Brett Favre off the field. 

Also helping to keep Favre off of the field will be the Dallas running game.  The two-heded monster of Julius Jones and Marion Barber III could prove to be big and very underestimated in a game that will most likely be a shootout.  Ryan Grant has helped Green Bay find a running game recently, but Dallas hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher all season long, and you wonder how fresh he will be in the 4th quarter.

Brett Favre will be sure to attack the Dallas secondary.  They have been questionable at times this season defending the pass, so we may see Favre throw well down the field a lot.  The Cowboys secondary will have to be on their toes at all times and be ready for anything that the Packers and Favre throw their way, especially watching the 5 wide receiver sets.

For the most part, with the exception of Terry Glenn, who is still rehabbing his knee, the Cowboys are at full strength.  Patrick Crayton and Anthony Henry, both with ankle injuries, participated in practice all week and should be ready to go.

What a game this promises to be!  GO COWBOYS!!!

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Jets (2-8) vs. Cowboys (9-1), Thursday, November 22, 3:15 PM CT on CBS

Week 12 Preview:

The Dallas look to improve to 10-1 on the season when they take on the New York Jets at Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day.  This will be the 40th anniversary of the Cowboys playing at home on this holiday.  All-time Dallas is 24-14-1.  The Jets are only 2-8, but they did upset the previously 7-2 Steelers last week, and cannot be taken lightly.  The Cowboys are also being faced with trying not to look ahead to the game next Thursday against the Green Bay Packers that may determine who gets home field throughout the playoffs.  We all know what happened in the game against Buffalo, so we can't afford to let our guard down this time.

Julius and Thomas Jones will meet for the first time since 2004, when the Cowboys defeated the Bears 21-7 in 2004.

Terrell Owens has been on fire in the past few games, seeming almost invisible to opposing cornerbacks as many times as he's been left wide open.  Tony Romo has been equaling efficient, and I don't see any reason why another big day isn't in store for them on Thanksgiving, especially since the Jets have the 29th ranked defense in the NFL.

Patrick Crayton sprained his ankle last week and it is uncertain if he will play in the game against the Jets.  If he can't go, Wade Phillips will put Sam Hurd at the 2nd receiver spot and Miles Austin will move into the 3rd spot.

Wide receiver Terry Glenn is still out with his knee injury.  Wide receiver Patrick Crayton (ankle) has not practiced at all on this short week and is listed as questionable.  Guard Leonard Davis (ankle), cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle), and wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) went through full practices all week and are listed as probable.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!  GO COWBOYS!!!

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 05:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Redskins (5-4) vs. Cowboys (8-1),  Sunday, November 18, 3:15 PM CT on FOX

Week 11 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to finish their NFC East stretch 3-0 as they return home to the friendly confines of Texas Stadium for the first time in almost a month, as they battle with the Washington Redskins.  A Dallas win all but cliches the NFC East for the Cowboys.

Washington may be hard-pressed to stay with the Cowboys in this game.  Their secondary is depleted and they also have a lot of injuries on offense, even though some are expected to play.  Look for Tony Romo to burn the secondary in this game and wear down the Redskins' defense.  Terrell Owens is going for his 4th straight 100-yard game tomorrow.  Look for another big day for him.  Although this is the biggest rivalry in the NFL, so anything can happen, as we have seen in past games between the two teams.

Look for the Redskins to run the ball and try to control the clock.  Washington's wide receiver's have been almost non-existent.  Until last week, the Redskins did not have a passing touchdown to a wide receiver all year.  Containing Clinton Portis will be a huge factor and go a long way toward a Dallas win Sunday.  Portis averages 85 yards per game, and the Cowboys haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.

Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) is obviously still out.  Guard Leonard Davis, who sprained his ankle in practice on Wednesday, is questionable.  Cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle) and Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) are probable.  Henry will play mostly on nickel downs, while it is not yet determined whether or not Stanback will return to his kicking duties on Sunday.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 05:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Cowboys (7-1) vs. Giants (6-2) Sunday, November 11, 3:15 PM CT on FOX

Week 10 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to take a commanding 3-game lead in the NFC East on Sunday when they invade the Meadowlands to take on the Giants.  If the Cowboys win and the Redskins lose to the Eagles, this will become a reality.  A Dallas loss would mean that both teams would be tied for 1st in the NFC East.

This will not be easy though, as the Giants have improved greatly since their last meeting in Week 1.  The Giants' defense has accumulated 30 sacks, the most in the NFL.  It will be critical for the Cowboys offensive line to protect Tony Romo, as they have all season, from the likes of Strahan, Kiwanuka, Tuck, and Umenyiora.  The Giants defense may be good, but Dallas' offense has been slicing through opposing defenses all season.  There is no reason to think that it won't be any different this time around either.

The Cowboys have also been improving, especially on defense.  That will only get stronger with Tank Johnson coming back for this game fresh off of his 8-game suspension.  He will be replacing Jay Ratliff at nose tackle.  If the Cowboys can stop the the running game of Brandon Jacobs and force the Giants into 3rd and long situations, it will go a long way to stopping the Giants passing game.

Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) is still out.  Wide Receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder), who returned kickoffs last week and was limited in practice on Friday, is questionable.  Tyson Thompson could resume his kick returning duties against the Giants.  Cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle), and nickel safety Pat Watkins (ankle) went through a full practice on Friday and are listed as probable.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 03:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cowboys (6-1) vs. Eagles (3-4) Sunday November 4, 7:15 PM on NBC

Week 9 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys are coming fresh off of their bye week and begin a stretch of three straight division games.  First up, the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.  This game could mean whether or not the Eagles still have a shot at the NFC East, as a loss will put them four games behind the Cowboys in the NFC East.  Dallas will want to do everything possible to put the Eagles away now.

With only a 1/2 game lead in the division, despite being 6-1, the Cowboys look to grab a 1 game lead headed into the showdown with the Giants next week, but Dallas can't afford to look ahead to that game. 

Anthony Henry may be coming back for this game, which will be a huge boost for the Cowboys' secondary.  This should help the pass coverage and help hold down the Eagles receivers.  Henry had 4 interceptions before his ankle injury.

The offensive line has been great for the Cowboys this year.  Jim Johnson likes to bring a lot of blitzes as you well know, and this will be a good test for the O-Line.  Hopefully Romo will be able to scamper away from the pressure and deliver when it comes.

As always the return of Terrell Owens to Philadelphia is a big deal.  Hopefully this time he can turn it into a success and come away with a touchdown or two, and the win.  This won't be easy though, as the Eagles boast one of the best defenses in the league, but Dallas does have the 2nd ranked offense.

Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) is still out.  Cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle) is questionable, and expected to be used in certain situations on the field.  Fullback Oliver Hoyte (neck) and backup linebacker Justin Rogers (calf) are probable.

It's about time the Cowboys had a game again.  The 2nd half of the season is here and it's time to show everyone that we're the kings of the NFC.  It all starts tonight with a beatdown of the Eagles.  Oh and T.O. said to get your popcorn ready!  Don't forget to turn your clocks back too!

GO COWBOYS!!!

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 06:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Vikings (2-3) vs. Cowboys (5-1), Sunday, October 21, 3:15 PM CT on FOX

Week 7 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to bounce bounce from their first defeat of the season and head into their bye week 6-1 as they take on the Minnesota Vikings at Texas Stadium on Sunday. 

As strange as this sounds, a loss Sunday against the Vikings could mean that we share the lead in the NFC East.  The Giants are sitting at 4-2 with a 4-game win streak while the Redskins are in at 3-2. 

Adrian Peterson will be the main focus of the Cowboys defense.  He ran all over Chicago for 224 yards last week at Chicago, and is the ignition to the offense.  Minnesota has the 28th ranked pass offense in the NFL, so stopping Peterson will go a long way to a Dallas victory Sunday.  The Cowboys have not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season long, so something will have to give. 

The Dallas offense should have a field day passing the ball, as the Vikings have the worst overall pass defense in the NFL .  However, Minnesota also has the most takeaways, with 14.  Rushing the ball could prove to be a huge challenge though, as the Vikings have the 2nd best rush defense in the NFL.

It is possiblew that Greg Ellis could takeover the starting position as linebacker for the first time this season.  Wade Phillips says that it is up in the air as to whether that will happen or if Anthony Spencer will start in his place again.

Starting wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee), and starting cornerback Anythony Henry (knee), are out with their respective injuries.  It is likely that Henry will be back after the bye week though, so that is good news.  Fullback Oliver Hoyte (neck) is doubtful, safety Courtney Brown (biceps), is questionable, and safety Keith Davis is probable.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 04:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Patriots (5-0) vs. Cowboys (5-0)  October 14, 3:15 PM CT on CBS

Week 6 Preview:

The Cowboys try to improve to 6-0 on the season and at the same time upset New England and lower their record to 5-1 on the season in what most are calling the biggest game of year so far this year as the Patriots and Cowboys collide at Texas Stadium.  The Patriots had a full week to prepare, coming off an easy win against Cleveland, while the Cowboys are coming off a short week after an emotional 25-24 thriller in Buffalo.

Tony Romo looks to bounce back after a miserable Monday night performance against the Buffalo Bills, throwing 5 INT's and losing a fumble, committing 6 turnovers.  He will need to bring his 'A' game and have a short memory, as the Patriots have one of the best defenses in the NFL.  They will throw everything at Romo, and if he isn't careful, could have another game like last week.

The Cowboys will be challenged with their solid defense as well.  The Patriots have the league's best offense in terms of points scored per game, and are 2nd only to Dallas in yards per game.  As most Cowboys fans already know, Randy Moss is a Cowboys-killer, going 6-0 in games against Dallas with 10 touchdowns.  The corners and safeties are going to have their hands full trying to contain him.  Something that could help change this, is the fact that Greg Ellis says that he is close to 100% and could be used to his full potential against Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense.  This should help put more pressure on Brady and force him to make quicker decisions and hopefully mistakes. 

This will be the 1st true test for both teams.  Dallas has been criticized for their weak schedule, in which opponents have a combined 6-19 record, but fail to realize that the Patriots' opponents only have a 7-17 record. 

On the injury front, linebacker Kevin Burnett (thigh) is probable.  Safety Keith Davis (shoulder) is questionable and will be a game-time decision.  Fullback Oliver Hoyte (neck) is out.  Fullback Deon Anderson should start in his place and be the only true fullback for the Cowboys.  Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee), starting cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle), and third-string safety Courtney Brown (biceps) are out. 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 03:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Cowboys (4-0) vs. Bills (1-3) Monday, October 8, 7:30 PM CT on ESPN

Week 5 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys will play their 3rd primetime game Monday Night when they battle the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  The Cowboys will be looking for their 1st 5-0 start since 1983 while the Bills will be looking to pull the upset and win their 2nd straight game on the season after beating the New York Jets last week.

While the Cowboys are 4-0 this year at the quarter-pole of the season, they have yet to score a 1st Quarter touchdown, something that the Cowboys know will eventually catch up with them.  The Cowboys must also be aware of yet another "trap" game, and must not look ahead to the game October 14 against the Patriots, or it could possibly cost them.

This game will mark Wade Phillips' first return to Ralph Wilson Stadium since he was head coach of the Bills from 1998-2000.  He was 29-19 during his coaching career in Buffalo, and looks to prove that it was a mistake letting him go.  Look for the Cowboys' defense to be very aggressive early.

That very same Dallas defense will be facing a rookie quarterback in Trent Edwards.  He won his debut 17-14 against the Jets, but will have to face a much more explosive Dallas defense.  The Cowboys' defense will face a good test in trying to stop running back Marshawn Lynch, who has 3 touchdowns in 4 games this season.  However, the Cowboys' defense has only allowed 1 rushing touchdown this season, a 1-yard plunge from Cedric Benson Week 3 in Chicago.  The Bills' offense should be careful passing the ball too, as the Cowboys' defense leads the league with nine interceptions so far this year. 

Tony Romo will look to continue his early season success, facing a Bills' defense that has been depleted on defense.  So far this season, Romo has completed 72/121 passes for 1199 yards, 11 TD's, and only 3 interceptions, giving him a 112.9 passer rating.  I guess the big question with this offense is how many points will they put up this week?  Their lowest output of the season was 27 against the Bears (one of th TD's was a defensive TD). The Bills will have their hands full Monday night.

On the injury front, cornerback Terence Newman, (heel and knee) is probable and should assume his starting role again.  Linebacker Greg Ellis (Achilles) is also probable, but will only be used as a specialty pass rusher.  Keith Davis (shoulder), fullback Oliver Hoyte (neck), third-string safety Courtney Brown (biceps), wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee), and starting cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle), are all out.      

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Rams (0-3) @ Cowboys (3-0) Sunday, September 30, Noon on Fox

Week 4 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys return to the friendly confines of Texas Stadium Sunday to try to improve their perfect record to 4-0 after coming off of what many consider a statement game, beating the Bears 34-10 Sunday night in Chicago. 

This game also has the makings of a potential "trap" game.  While Bill Parcells used props to get the message across, Wade Phillips only used words, and we'll see Sunday if that has the same effect.  This game was fueled even more, as Issac Bruce guaranteed a Rams win on a St. Louis radio show.  Playing the Rams also means the return of former Cowboy La Roi' Glover, so it should be interesting

The Rams have a lot of holes on offense that the Cowboys defense should be able to exploit.  It could be a very long day for Rams QB Marc Bulger, who is already playing with 2 broken ribs. Stephen Jackson isn't playing this week because of his groin.  Brian Leonard will start in his place at running back.

As for the Cowboys offense, Tony Romo looks to stay hot after slicing through the Bears defense in the 2nd half like a hot knife through butter as he leads the most prolific offense in the league down the field.  The Rams do defend the passing game well, but if Marion Barber III and Julius Jones run the ball well, it'll be a long day for the Rams defense.  Romo should be able to exploit the Rams pass defense as it is anyways. 

The Cowboys had some injury problems this week that will affect mostly special teams.  Starting fullback Oliver Hoyte (neck), backup safety Keith Davis, (shoulder), and third-team rookie safety Courtney Brown (hand), are listed as out.  Terry Glenn (knee) is also out.  Terence Newman (knee and foot), and Greg Ellis (heel) are listed as questionable.  Bobby Carpenter (quadriceps) is probable.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 03:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Cowboys (2-0) vs. Bears (1-1), Sunday September 23, 7:15 PM CT on NBC

Week 3 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys look to improve to 3-0 when they invade Soldier field in Chicago to play the Chicago Bears. 

The Cowboys' offense, which has scored a league-best 82 points so far this year, looks to keep that up this week.  It will be a stern test for Romo and the Cowboys though, as Chicago has only allowed 24 points this season.  This will be a great match-up between the Dallas offense and Chicago defense.  Be sure to keep an eye on that.

I wouldn't really be too worried about the Bears' offense.  It's just not very good and really doesn't have any potential to be.  They should count on the running game against Dallas' 'D' though.  Despite allowing 6 passing TD's this year, the Cowboys have yet to allow a rushing TD this year.

This could prove to be a huge game in the long run, possibly being the tiebreaker that determines who has home field advantage in the playoffs throughout in the NFC or who gets the 2nd seed and a bye in the 1st round.  I think that many people seem to overlook this because of the Cowboys signing of DT Tank Johnson.

WR Terry Glenn (knee) and LB Greg Ellis (achilles) are still out.  CB Terence Newman (heel) and LB Kevin Burnett (ankle) are probable.

Sorry this is up a little late.  I had a funeral to go to on Saturday.  Time to get your rifles out!  We're goin bear huntin'! 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Cowboys (1-0) vs. Dolphins (0-1)  Sunday, September 16, 3:05 PM CT on FOX

Week 2 Preview:

Coming fresh off of a 45-35 victory over the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys look to improve their record to 2-0 when they travel down to Miami to face the Dolphins at Dolphin Statdium.  At the same time, Tony Romo looks to stay hot after completing 15 of 24 passes for 345 yards and 5 TD's, one rushing, with an INT against the Giants.  HE should be giving the Dolphins' defense fits all afternoon.

Of course the big issue of the game is going to focus on how our secondary performs and how well we can tackle on defense.  They gave up 478 yards and 4 TD's against the Giants.  This week should prove to be different though.  Miami doesn't have a very good offense and struggle in their 16-13 loss to the Redskins last Sunday.  If Terence Newman can come back tomorrow, then that would be a huge boost to the defense, even if he can only go in certain situations during the game.  One more big question in this game will be how much the infield affects play.  Since it is still baseball season and the Dolphins share their stadium with the Florida Marlins, you have to wonder how much the infield dirt will be a factor.  Don't be surprised if you see a few slips in this game.  Also watch the field goal attempts that have to be attempted on the dirt.

As most all of us already know, Jason Ferguson is gone for the rest of the year with torn right biceps, and Jay Ratliff will start in his place for now.  He made three tackles after replacing Ferguson last week.  Remi Ayodele, Akin's younger brother, will spell him throughout the game.  Remi was re-claimed by the Cowboys after Atlanta released him before the season started.

Greg Ellis (Achilles) and Terry Glenn (Knee), are out for the game.  Terence Newman (Heel) is questionable and will be a game-time decision.  Kevin Burnett (Ankle) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Hopefully the Cowboys are safe in Miami now after their plane had a mechanical problem. 

"We had a hydraulic problem on our plane. We got it fixed," team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said.

Can't wait for the game tomorrow!  Time to feast on the Dolphins!  Go Cowboys!!!

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Giants (0-0) vs. Cowboys (0-0) Sunday, September 9, 7:15 PM CT on NBC

Week 1 Preview:

The Giants and Cowboys open up their regular season schedule when the two teams bang heads under the lights at Texas Stadium Sunday night.

Even though it is only the 1st game of the season, this game is huge.  Not only is it a divisional game, but it is Wade Phillip's 1st year as Cowboys Head Coach and Tony Romo's 1st full year as a starter in his contract year.

"At the end of the day, everybody, I don't care who you are, has to come out and prove that they're good again," Romo said. "I can remember still, Daunte Culpepper being second in MVP voting, and a year later after that he's not with the team anymore.

"So each year brings about a whole new set of challenges, a whole new set of proving to your coaches, your fans, everybody, that you're good enough to do it and you're good enough to help your team win. That's all you're trying to do."

Hopefully he can perform well this year and earn a long term deal in Dallas.  I have complete confidence in him that he can do it.

On the injury front, Michael Strahan is expected to play for the Giants, but is only expected to be used in pass rush situations.  Sam Madison is probable for Sunday Night's game after injuring his left hamstring last week.

On the Cowboys side, Terence Newman and Kevin Burnett are questionable, while Terry Glenn and Greg Ellis are out.  Expect Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd to step up in Glenn's absence and Anthony Spencer for Greg Ellis.

This is what we've finally been waiting for.  The start of the regular season is finally here.  These games count in the standings!  Can't wait for it!  Hope y'all enjoy it as much as I probably will.  So I have just one question for you.  Are you ready for some football????

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 02:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Cowboys (2-1) vs. Vikings (1-2), Thursday, August 30, 7:00 PM CT, CBS 11

Pre-Season Week 4 Preview:

Both the Cowboys and Vikings will play their final pre-season game when the two teams battle at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The Cowboys are coming off a somewhat humiliating 28-16 loss to the Texans while the Vikings lost to the Seahawks 30-13 in their last game.

The two teams met in the pre-season finale last year at Texas Stadium.  The game ended in a 10-10 tie.  Something tells me that it won't be happening this year.

Since there are some position battle yet to be determined, you should only expect to see most of the Cowboys starters in for only a series or two, if that.  Expect all of the starters that have been injured for most of or all of pre-season to sit out this game too, giving more younger guys to opportunity to make an impression on the team.

"I'm looking forward to this ballgame to end the preseason," Phillips said. "I think we certainly need it. We have a lot of evaluation to do. We do have a lot of guys to look at. I am worried about our roster overall - who fits where and who our best players are."

"Really, the only way to tell is to play in a ballgame. You can evaluate them in practice certainly and their character and work habits are important and a factor. But, still, the determining factor is how well they play in a game. We've got to give a lot of guys an opportunity to play in a game, so they can show us what they can or can't do."

There are two homecomings in this game.  Brad Johnson spent nine years with the Vikings in Minnesota while Marion Barber III was a standout at the University of Minnesota and all-state performer from Wayzata High School in Minnesota.  Both players have ignored the hype and downplayed the situation. 

Martin Gramatica has a hamstring injury that will likely keep him off the field for tonight's game.  That will give rookie kicker Nick Folk to opportunity to prove that he belongs on this team.  Gramatica says that he should be ready for the season opener if he makes the roster.

It will also be very interesting watching the battles at cornerback and fullback in the game against the Vikings as well. 

Hopefully these positions will be filled by the time that the Cowboys cut their roster down to the standard 53 players by Saturday, but if not maybe other teams players could help us. 

If there's one thing that I really want out of this game, it wouldn't be the win, although it would be nice, but hopefully for everyone to get out of the game injury free.  There have been a lot of costly injuries to teams this pre-season. 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cowboys (2-0) vs. Texans (1-1) Saturday, August 25, 7:00 PM CT, CBS 11
 
Pre-Season Week 3 Preview:
 
The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans will bang helmets Saturday night when the two teams meet at Reliant Stadium. The Cowboys are coming off of an impressive 31-20 victory over the Broncos while the Texans used the 3rd quarter to fly by the Cardinals 33-20.

This game may not be as big since it is just pre-season, but don’t let that fool you. There are so many things that make this game big.
 
This will mark the return of Wade Phillips since he served as an assistant from 1976-80 under his legendary father, Bum Phillips. This is also an in-state rivalry, which means both teams want to win no matter what.
 
"It's a big deal for us as far as a preseason game, and being the third one, you want to do well out there," Phillips said. "I think there'll be a big crowd, I think they'll be into it, and that will help their team some as far as motivation in the game and those kinds of things, and I want to see how my team reacts with that.
 
"It'll be a good experience for this team to see where they are."
 
Finally, the Cowboys and Texans will be competing for th Governor’s Cup, awarded to the winner of every game, pre-season or regular season. The Texans won the first meeting 19-10, while the Cowboys won the match-up last year with a strong 34-6 victory. The Governor’s Cup was also awarded back when Houston was still called the Oilers until they moved to Tennessee in 1997. The Cowboys won the series 5-3.
 
Tony Romo, who already looks to be in mid-season form, will try to turn in his 3rd straight solid performance. He has completed 21 of 29 passes for 219 yards and an INT through his 1st two pre-season games. Look for most of the starters to play into the 3rd quarter on Saturday.
 
"There's still a evaluation here and especially the guys that they call 'on the bubble'," Phillips said. "We need to see guys playing special teams because that's a real important part of making the team. I'd like to see some of these guys get some playing time. We won't get as much this game with those guys I don't think, but maybe the last game some of the guys.
"We want to see if they can really play in the NFL and we're going to give them a little more time."
 
Greg Ellis (foot), Terence Newman (heel), and Terry Glenn (knee) are out and are expected to be out until the regular season begins. Greg Ellis’s injury will probably linger into the regular season though, but hopefully will be worth the wait.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 08:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Broncos (1-0) vs. Cowboys (1-0), August 18, 7:00PM CT, CBS 11

Pre-Season Week 2 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, both 1-0 on the preseason, will both play their 2nd preseason game of the year when the two teams clash at Texas Stadium this Saturday. It will be the Cowboys final home game until the regular season opener September 9 against the New York Giants. The Broncos will return home to Invesco Field for their final two pre-season games after Saturday night's game against Dallas before opening up their season on the road against the Buffalo Bills September 9.

Denver came from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers 17-13 at Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park. This was the 1st game there since the passing of Hall of Fame and legendary 49ers Head Coach Bill Walsh due to leukemia at the age of 75. The Cowboys stomped on the Indianapolis Colts early and never let up in route to a 23-10 victory at Texas Stadium.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Broncos met the Cowboys at Valley Ranch for joint practices in the triple-digit heat. The two teams practiced four times in th two days. Head Coach Wade Phillips said that it would likely be the end of the two-a-day practices, which the Cowboys receivers were glad to hear. Now they are ready for the game. Expect most starters to play about a half in this game.

"Anytime you're competing, that's what we want to see," said Phillips, who typically plays his starters about a half in the second preseason game. "We want to see how you do when you compete in a ball game and in this situation, see how they compete against other people."

Denver should prove to be a pretty good test for the Cowboys Saturday night. The Broncos were 9-7 last season while just missing the playoffs as a wild card last year. Jay Cutler looked good in his first start, completing 1 of 2 passes for 24 yards in his pre-season opener.

Tony Romo looked very sharp and showed no signs of a hangover after the heartbreaking loss against Seattle in the Wild Card Round where the ball slipped out of Romo's hands on a chip shot field goal attempt that would have likely won the game for the Cowboys. Romo picked up the ball and ran with it but was about a yard shy of the first down. He completed 10 of 11 for 93 against the Colts in his first game after the unfortunate event in Seattle.

Tony Romo was at one point almost a Dever Bronco. He said that it was down to Denver or Dallas, and he said that he chose Dallas because he he that he thought that he would have a better chance of making it their. That turned out to be a great decision on Romo's part.

T.O. will play against the Broncos in the 2nd pre-season game despite being late to practice Thursday, and is expected to line up against Champ Bailey. Last time he played against Bailey, he caught the longest touchdown pass of his career, a 91 strike while he was still with the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I love it. He's one of the best in the game and you don't get to see that every day," Bailey said Thursday. "Why not take advantage of that opportunity to go against one of the best?"

With Greg Ellis still sidelined due to his foot injury, the 26th overall pick of the 1st round, Anthony Spencer, will get the starting nod at outside linebacker.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)