EMBRACING THE NO-NAME MANTRA: George Selvie unveils Hatcher’s Heroes shirt for Marinelli’s Misfits
The Cowboys Hour, is broadcast live from the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on Grapevine Lake. The voice of the Dallas Cowboys, Brad Sham, hosts the weekly radio show with one or two Cowboys players as guests.
Brad’s guests last night were Jason Hatcher and George Selvie. Selvie came to the show last night wearing a shirt with the slogan “Hatcher’s Heroes” across the front of it.
When Brad asked George about the shirts, he said “Charlie had his angels, Professor X had his X-Men and we’re Hatcher’s Heroes. We’re going out there and playing hard and it’s catching on, so I love it.”
According to Hatcher and Selvie, the slogan was born on Twitter and has carried over to the members of the Dallas Cowboys defensive front. (Editors note: At The Boys Are Back website, we affectionately refer to them as Marinelli’s Misfits).
Later in the show, Sham counted 15, yes 15, different defensive linemen that have started at some point this season for the Dallas Cowboys. With injuries piling up on this team, Cowboys’ fans hope Hatcher’s Heroes show up again this weekend in New Orleans.
The Cowboys Hour with Jason Hatcher and George Selvie (59:51)
Jason Hatcher and George Selvie join Brad Sham on The Cowboys Hour live radio show. Brad Sham is also the ‘Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network.
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NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys open the 2013-2014 season against an old and familiar nemesis, the New York Giants. Dallas had a busy off-season, overturning its coaching staff, giving quarterback Tony Romo a contract extension, reshuffling its offensive line and switching play-callers. All in hopes of getting the Dallas Cowboys over the hump of consecutive 8-8 seasons.
Here is a look at the Dallas Cowboys’ keys to victory:
Invade the backfield
Eli Manning has his share of success against the Cowboys in the past. But in 2012 his stat line and 77.6 passer rating against Dallas were fairly pedestrian, in part, because the Cowboys’ defense was able to apply pressure – sacking him four times. The Giants’ line has been weakened by injuries to center David Baas and right tackle David Diehl. That will affect a team that had the fewest negative plays in the NFL last season. The Cowboys’ patchwork defensive front needs to take advantage.
Create takeaways
When the Cowboys dumped defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and replaced him with Monte Kiffin, they made it known that the move was born out of the desire to force more turnovers. Last season, the Cowboys generated 16 takeaways. Only three teams had fewer. Dallas’ defense has spent the preseason trying to create more game-changing plays. They need to be opportunistic against the Giants, who coughed up the football 21 times last season and had the ninth-fewest giveaways.
Jump out to fast start
Last season, the Cowboys’ offense procrastinated, waiting until a decent chunk of time had expired before kicking into high gear. Only three teams scored fewer points in the first halves of games in 2012 than the Cowboys, who were notorious slow starters. Case example was a loss to the Giants last October, when Dallas trailed 23-0 early in the second quarter before staging a furious comeback that ultimately fell short. On Sunday, the Cowboys will have to get on track early against the Giants.
Get running game going
The Cowboys spent the off-season and training camp trying to resuscitate a running game that was historically bad in 2012, when Dallas rushed for 1,265 yards – a franchise low for a 16-game season. The Cowboys have installed zone-blocking schemes and stretch plays designed to boost the ground attack. Tailback DeMarco Murray is confident the changes will help as he tries to bounce back from a disappointing season. He’ll find out Sunday while facing the team that was the opponent in the last game he accumulated 100 or more rushing yards.
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Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas.
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To watch on TV tonight, tune to:
KXAS (Channel 5) in Dallas/Ft. Worth | WNBC in New York City
Out of market? Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
When: Sunday, September 8th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. (Dallas time)
Where: AT&T Stadium (formerly Cowboys Stadium), Arlington, Texas
Watch on TV: NBC’s Sunday Night Football; check local listings
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POSTGAME SCOUTING REPORT: Mackenzy Bernadeau, Tyron Smith, and rookie Travis Frederick were outstanding
Some thoughts from the radio booth at AT&T Stadium:
I am looking forward to getting back to Valley Ranch on Sunday and taking a look at this game film from Saturday night for a couple of different reasons. I am interested to see if Doug Free was better at guard in the game or did he struggle to the point that this experiment proved that he just needs to stay at right tackle.
I do know from my seat that Mackenzy Bernadeau and Tyron Smith were outstanding on the left side. There were plenty of plays where Smith, Bernadeau and rookie Travis Frederick did a great job of getting the down linemen for the Bengals turned at the point, which created lanes or cut them off so that the ball could work backside. Where this offensive line had success was in its ability to get hats on hats controlling the front. It was an impressive showing for the left side of the line, despite having just started working together on Monday. With this kind of play, it might be something these coaches would like to consider going forward, moving Ronald Leary to the right side.
As a whole, the offense was able to out-tough a defense that prides itself on being a physical one. Whether it was point-of-attack blocking by the line or the wide receivers on the edge, I really thought that they took the fight to the Bengals. These backs drove the ball hard front-side but when they saw the opportunity to cut it back, they made decisive cuts and finished the runs.
As the game wore on, in the broadcast booth, Brad Sham, Marc Colombo and I were wondering why DeMarco Murray was in the game in the second half after seeing action in the first. But what we learned from head coach Jason Garrett after the game was that Murray put the ball on the ground in the first quarter and he wanted to remind Murray how important it was for him to protect their ball. When Murray returned to the lineup, it was clear that Garrett’s message did not fall on deaf ears.
Garrett and this staff have run a tough camp. They have had physical practices and tonight their work paid off against a Bengals club that is not use to being knocked around the way they were.
Courtesy: Bryan Broaddus | Football Analyst/Scout
SPRINTS, NOT SQUATS: Dallas Cowboys safety Matt Johnson adjusts fitness program to reduce hamstring issues
IRVING — In examining why he had reoccurring hamstring injuries last year, Dallas Cowboys second-year safety Matt Johnson said he realized it could have had something to do with his weight room routine. Johnson said he cut back this off-season on the amount of weight he was squatting.
“We’ve done more hamstring work instead of putting on 400 pounds and squatting,” Johnson said Tuesday after the Cowboys’ first organized team activity practice. “When I was in college, I did that some. When you get to the pros, and playing at safety, I don’t need to squat 500 pounds. We did more position specific and more dynamic work. You don’t need to be a bodybuilder to play football. I was big enough.”
Johnson said he’s lost three or four pounds and weighs about 212 now.
“I feel better at that weight. This league is all about running,” Johnson said. “Obviously you have to be big, too, but on the back end, you have to run a lot.”
Johnson – a 2012 fourth-round pick out of Eastern Washington – is competing this off-season for a starting safety spot against veteran Will Allen, who joined the Cowboys as a free agent addition after starting seven games for Pittsburgh last year, and rookie third-round pick J.J. Wilcox from Georgia Southern.
Johnson injured his left hamstring in June last year and missed most of training camp. He did get in a few padded camp practices and was in for about a dozen plays in the Cowboys’ third preseason game against St. Louis.
However, on his first play against the Rams, Johnson felt pain in his right hamstring.
Johnson’s right hamstring injury kept him out until mid-October. He returned to practice and was set to appear in his first NFL regular-season game Oct. 21 at Carolina when – two days before the game – he again injured his right hamstring in practice.
Last year at this time, Johnson wasn’t allowed to participate in the Cowboys’ OTAs because he was still finishing school at Eastern Washington.
In mid-March, Cowboys radio announcer Brad Sham called Johnson “the greatest safety to ever play” in an interview on KRLD-FM.
“The reason I know that is I’ve been doing this 35 years,” Sham said, “and he’s the only guy I’ve ever seen make the team practicing once, so he must be the greatest safety to every play.”
Through all the hamstring injuries, the Cowboys stuck with Johnson last season. They carried him on the active roster most of the year before finally putting him on injured reserve in mid-November.
Johnson, however, wouldn’t have survived on the Cowboys’ roster if they didn’t believe in his potential.
“His ball skills are incredible,” Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne said. “When the ball is in the air, he knows how to go up and play it.”
BROADCAST LEGEND REMEMBERED: Pat Summerall’s funeral will take place on Saturday; open to the public
We have some news on Pat Summerall’s funeral to pass along. Summerall died Tuesday at the age of 82.
The funeral will take place Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas (a Dallas suburb). It will be open to the public.
We’ll pass along more information as it becomes available.
RELATED: Jerry Jones statement on Pat Summerall
Here is the statement from Jerry Jones issued Tuesday on the death of Pat Summerall:
“Pat was the NFL’s narrator for generations, with a voice that was powerful, eloquent and distinctive.
“His presence at an NFL game elevated that event to a higher level. He was royalty in the broadcast booth. He was respected and admired by players, coaches, commissioners and Presidents of our country—and always a gentleman—someone who had time for the fans in the parking lot after the game.
“Humility and kindness were his closest companions. He was a trusted friend and confidant, and for all of his immense talents as a professional, he was an even better person.
“For a man who could dramatically capture a moment with very few words, there simply aren’t enough words to adequately describe what he meant to sports and broadcasting in this country.
“There is no question that Pat broadcast more Dallas games on CBS and FOX than any other man, and this is a great loss for thousands of Cowboys fans who spent their Sunday afternoons in the living room with Pat.
“Our hearts go out to Cheri and his family. Pat was an icon and an American original.”
RELATED: Brad Sham remembers Pat Summerall
IRVING, Texas – The way Brad Sham sees it, Pat Summerall has few peers when it comes to the history of sports broadcasting.
“He’s at the top,” said Sham, the longtime voice of the Dallas Cowboys and one of Summerall’s friends. “Vince Scully is there. Red Barber. Some of this is now chocolate and vanilla, but whatever short list there is, he’s on it and he’s out front.”
Through the years Sham became friends with Summerall and was part of an old-timers media group that would meet for lunch every so often. Sham would have Summerall re-tell stories he had heard dozens of times, just to hear them again. The last time the group met came March 5.
“You have to separate it personally and professionally,” Sham said. “Professionally, he should have been the model for every television play-by-play person. He was living proof that less could be more. He knew exactly how to make the event the star of the show and still partly because of the voice God gave him but partly because he knew what to do with it, everybody knew it was a Summerall event and that made it a big deal. As the head coach of the Cowboys might say, that was his genius. He knew how to make the event the star of the show.
“Personally, he was such a nice man. He was so gentle … He could talk about what things were like when he played. He could talk about what things were like in television as he worked and saw things unfold. And he could talk about the arts, about pop culture. The fact that his Christian faith was so important to him in the last decade of his life, it kept him grounded and delighted.”
Summerall’s presence could be felt whenever he walked into a press box, according to Sham, not because of domineering personality, but because of the reverence people had for him.
“The era we live in is not an era of eloquent gentility,” Sham said. “The era we live in is an era of look-at-me noise. Media helps shape that and also reflects it so that fact that people don’t (emulate Summerall) and do what he did or try to doesn’t surprise me, but it’s a damn shame.
“We say a lot that someone was one of a kind. He was. And they stopped making them a long time ago.”
RELATED: Much more reaction to Pat Summerall’s death from athletes, analysts, writers, others
CBS Sports broadcaster Verne Lundquist: “Pat was a friend of nearly 40 years. He was a master of restraint in his commentary, an example for all of us. He was also one of the great storytellers who ever spoke into a microphone.”
NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins
HEAD2HEAD: A look at the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins match up
Almost a year to the day the Cowboys’ 2011 season ended with a loss to the New York Giants in a winner-take-all game for the NFC East title, Dallas will have a chance to claim the division championship Sunday in a showdown with one of its other rivals, the Washington Redskins. Led by quarterback Robert Griffin III and a rushing offense that is the most prolific in pro football, Washington has won six consecutive games. One of those victories came against Dallas in November. The Cowboys will try to exact revenge and earn their first playoff berth since the 2009 season. Here is a look at how both teams match up:
When the Cowboys run
Last Sunday, DeMarco Murray authored his worst performance since he returned from a six-game absence because of a sprained left foot. He rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries and lost a fumble that led to a touchdown. But Murray could be a difference-maker Sunday. He didn’t play in Dallas’ first game against Washington when the Cowboys gained only 35 yards on the ground. If he returns to form, he could help Dallas crack the Redskins’ run defense that is the fifth-stingiest in the NFL.
Edge: Redskins
When the Cowboys pass
The connection between quarterback Tony Romo and Dez Bryant is stronger than ever and it’s the reason why the Cowboys have a chance to win the division Sunday. Romo has thrown 17 touchdown passes in his last eight games. Bryant has been the recipient of 10 of them. The Redskins’ tattered secondary will struggle to contend with the Cowboys’ dynamic duo. Washington is surrendering 287.7 yards per game through the air, the third-highest average in the NFL.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Redskins run
Washington has the most productive ground attack in the NFL, averaging 162.3 yards per game. But it doesn’t look nearly as potent as it did a few weeks ago. Quarterback Robert Griffin’s sprained knee suffered in Week 14 has weakened the rushing offense. He gained only four yards on two carries last week against Philadelphia as rookie Alfred Morris, who has amassed 1,413 yards this season, carried the load. If Griffin’s mobility is reduced, the Cowboys’ suspect run defense that has allowed 124.5 yards per game in its last eight contests may stand a chance.
Edge: Redskins
When the Redskins pass
Rookies are usually prone to making mistakes. But Robert Griffin III is the exception. He’s thrown 20 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. His quarterback rating of 104.1 is the second-highest in the league. Griffin burned the Cowboys’ secondary in a 38-31 victory over Dallas on Thanksgiving, as he passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns. Since then, Dallas’ defense, which is allowing 239.8 yards per game through the air, has been bombarded by other quarterbacks – from Nick Foles to Drew Brees. And now Griffin may be ready for an encore.
Edge: Redskins
Special teams
Last season, the Cowboys had two of the most promising young kickers in the NFL. Now they have one and the Redskins have the other. Dallas kept Dan Bailey, who has made 28 of 30 field-goal attempts this season and has already converted seven game-winning tries in 31 NFL games. But it unloaded Kai Forbath, who was signed by Washington in October and set an NFL record by making the first 17 field goals he has attempted in his career. Forbath has the slight edge over Bailey because he is used to kicking outdoors and on the grass at FedEx Field.
Edge: Redskins
Intangibles
The Redskins are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. They’ve won six consecutive games, including the Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Cowboys. Dallas has also fared well of late, but its defeat to New Orleans last Sunday squelched some of the momentum it had established since that loss to Washington. The Cowboys will have to regroup in order to beat the Redskins at FedEx Field, where Washington is 4-3 this season. A partisan home crowd should help the Redskins in this duel for the division title.
Edge: Redskins
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Trackers and Scoreboards
View game stats and scores online while you watch or listen to the game. Click HERE to choose from a list of popular online game trackers.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Sounds of the game
Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas.
Click HERE. Don’t live in the Dallas area? Click HERE.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Watch the game
To watch on TV, tune to your local FOX station.
Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
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BECAUSE OF OVERTIME – – – SHOW STARTS 4:00-4:15
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NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
HEAD2HEAD: A look at the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers match up
Pittsburgh returns to Arlington for the first time since it lost Super Bowl XLV in February 2011. This Steelers team doesn’t look nearly as formidable, however. They stand at 7-6 and while they have the top-ranked defense in the NFL they also have a suspect running game and a quarterback, Ben Roetlisberger, who is still trying to regain his form after recently missing three games because of shoulder and rib injuries. The Cowboys, who are also 7-6, are aiming to achieve their fifth victory in their last six games. Here is a look at how both teams match up:
When the Cowboys run
While he Cowboys still can’t depend on their ground attack to move the ball over the course of an entire game, tailback DeMarco Murray has helped give it some punch since he returned to action earlier this month. Murray, who has gained 136 yards in two games after coming back from a sprained left foot, has made an impact. But he will be presented with one of his toughest challenges yet. Pittsburgh’s defense, even though it’s been decimated by injuries, is conceding only 3.69 yards per carry—the fourth-lowest average in the NFL.
Edge: Steelers
When the Cowboys pass
The fractured left index finger Dez Bryant suffered last Sunday could spell disaster for the Cowboys. Bryant, listed as questionable on the team’s official report, was enjoying the most productive stretch of his career, making 33 catches, amassing 525 receiving yards and scoring seven touchdowns in his last five games. Not having Bryant at full strength could be harmful to a passing offense and a quarterback, Tony Romo, that has depended on him. Romo and his receivers will have one of their toughest tests yet. The Steelers have yielded 169.2 passing yards per game – the lowest average in the NFL. They have also allowed 54.2 percent of the pass attempts against them to be completed.
Edge: Steelers
When the Steelers run
Pittsburgh’s most productive back, Jonathan Dwyer, ranks 27th in the NFL in rushing yards. The Steelers have averaged only 98.6 yards on the ground this season. And their running game has accounted for only seven touchdowns – tied for the sixth-lowest total in the league. Yet the Steelers may be able to take advantage of Dallas’ run defense that has conceded 6.1 yards per carry in the last three games.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Steelers pass
Ben Roethlisberger is back. That’s the good news for Pittsburgh. The bad? The two-time Super Bowl winner wasn’t in top form last Sunday in the first game he played since suffering a sprained right shoulder and dislocated rib. In a 10-point loss to San Diego he completed only 52 percent of his pass attempts. That same day, a Cowboys defense that looked ragged in its previous two games stood strong against Andy Dalton, allowing only 206 passing yards and sacking him five times. Whether Dallas can deliver the same punishment to Roethlisberger could be the difference Sunday.
Edge: Steelers
Special teams
There are only four kickers who have made a higher percentage of their field-goal attempts than the Cowboys’ Dan Bailey. One of them is Pittsburgh’s Shaun Suisham, who has converted 25 of 26 tries. Suisham stands on the opposite side of the spectrum as the Steelers’ Antonio Brown, who has the lowest punt-return average in the NFL. The Cowboys, meanwhile, averted disaster last Sunday. And that’s a good thing for a team that has conceded a blocked punt, allowed a 108-yard kick return and has committed two turnovers on special teams this season.
Edge: Steelers
Intangibles
The Cowboys will play their first game at home since the one-vehicle accident that killed practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown and led to nose tackle Josh Brent being charged with intoxication manslaughter. The team has been through quite an ordeal ever since and head coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys were emotionally “spent” earlier this week. Whether Dallas can regain the energy needed to beat a team fighting for a playoff spot is uncertain. But the Cowboys managed to persevere last Sunday and they may find enough in themselves to be able to so again Sunday.
Edge: Cowboys
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commentary, analysis, and daily/weekly shows with some of the
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CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN TO THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
Interviews start about 30 minutes after final snap
Show ends at 6:30 to 7:-00 pm CDT
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NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns
HEAD2HEAD: A look at the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns match up
After resuscitating their season last Sunday with a victory over Philadelphia, the Cowboys return home to face Cleveland. The Browns are on their way to posting another poor record. But they have been competitive, losing by single-digit margins in games against Baltimore and Indianapolis. This game isn’t appointment viewing and a Cowboys’ victory won’t cause the masses to change their opinion about where this team stands. But if Cowboys lose the damage will be significant. Here is a look at how both teams match up:
When the Cowboys run
Last Sunday, in the Cowboys’ 38-23 victory over Philadelphia, Dallas enjoyed its best rushing performance since DeMarco Murray suffered a sprained left foot Oct. 14. Against the Eagles, Dallas gained 101 yards on the ground. Despite the good effort, evidence shows Dallas has missed Murray, who is listed as doubtful. In the four games Murray has been sidelined, the Cowboys have averaged only 2.97 yards per carry. That number may increase Sunday against a Browns defense yielding 132.2 rushing yards per game – the sixth-highest average in the NFL.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Cowboys pass
This month, Tony Romo has yet to throw an interception. In two games, he has avoided committing any turnovers while posting a quarterback rating of 114.8. Romo’s performance, while unspectacular, has been steady and efficient. If he is given sufficient protection against a Browns defense that has recorded 20 sacks, he should continue his streak of success. Cleveland is allowing 247.9 passing yards per game – the 11th-highest average in the NFL. The Browns have also intercepted 10 passes – tied for sixth-most in the league this season.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Browns run
When Cleveland drafted Alabama’s Trent Richardson with the third overall pick last April, they appeared to be picking up a running back that could be a driving force for the Browns’ offense for the years to come. But the Browns are averaging only 89.2 yards per game on the ground and Richardson has been tackled in the backfield on 19 carries this season. The Cowboys haven’t always fared well against physical rushers like Richardson (See Lynch, Marshawn), but they are limiting teams to 105.2 yards per game – the 13th-lowest average in the NFL.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Browns pass
Only two NFL starting quarterbacks – Arizona’s John Skelton and Kansas City’s Matt Cassel — have posted a lower quarterback rating than Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden. The 29-year-old rookie has struggled, throwing nine touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while completing only 55.1 percent of his throws. Of course, Weeden’s lack of success isn’t just the result of inexperience. The offense he runs lacks firepower. The Browns’ top receivers — Greg Little and Josh Gordon – are talented but have played a combined total of 34 NFL games. The Cowboys, who have the eighth-ranked pass defense, should be able to corral them.
Edge: Cowboys
Special teams
The Cowboys’ special teams have experienced marked improvement in recent weeks. Last Sunday, Dwayne Harris’ 78-yard punt return for a touchdown was the difference in Dallas’ victory over Philadelphia. Harris has now scored as many return touchdowns as Cleveland’s more accomplished specialist Josh Cribbs has produced in the last three seasons. And Cribbs has already turned the ball over twice this season. While Cleveland’s Phil Dawson is the only NFL kicker who has made all of his field goal attempts this season, making all 17 tries, his performance has only been marginally better than the Cowboys’ Dan Bailey, who has converted 88.9 percent of his 18 attempts.
Edge: Cleveland
Intangibles
A noon kickoff and the prospect of facing a lousy opponent may keep the Cowboys’ offense a tad punchy before the start of this game. But the defense should be wide awake. After all, coordinator Rob Ryan gets a chance to exact some revenge against his previous employer. Ryan oversaw the Browns’ defense during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, but his job status was placed in jeopardy when Cleveland fired Eric Mangini and replaced him with current coach Pat Shurmur. Before a move could be made, Ryan left to join the Cowboys. And on Sunday he will face his old team for the first time since leaving.
Edge: Cowboys
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Trackers and Scoreboards
View game stats and scores online while you watch or listen to the game. Click HERE
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Sounds of the game
Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas. Click HERE. Don’t live in the Dallas area? Click HERE.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Watch the game on TV or online
Watch on TV, tune to your local CBS station. Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
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GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns postgame coverage
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Note: The show starts approximately 30 minutes after the game is over.
Editors Note: If you enjoy this Special Feature, please use the LIKE and SHARE buttons below. Help us spread the word about The Boys Are Back blog! Enjoy.
LISTEN LIVE–RIGHT NOW: Dallas Cowboy’s postgame show on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
From within The Boys Are Back (The blog for TRUE BLUE fans of the Dallas Cowboys)
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while you read, browse, or work around the house.
You can also catch Dallas Cowboys talk shows, pregame/postgame interviews,
commentary, analysis, and daily/weekly shows with some of the
key players and coaches of America’s Team.
.
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN TO THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
Interviews start about 30 minutes after final snap
Show ends at 8:30 to 9:-00 pm CDT
Listen Live to: The Fan 105.3 Dallas (KRLD) … Flagship of The Dallas Cowboys Radio Network!
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
RIGHT NOW!
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Listen the Cowboys Postgame Show LIVE, and hear directly from coach Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo, Jerry Jones, and other players/coaches.
NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
EDITORS NOTE: This post relates the 2012 matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles. The new NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES article will be posted on 12-29-2013, approximately two hours before kickoff. Click HERE to view it. Enjoy the game!
HEAD2HEAD: A look at the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles match up
The Cowboys and Eagles have a lot in common. Their offenses can move the ball but struggle to score points. They both have committed turnovers at a high rate. And each team has been woeful in the red zone. Oh, there is one more thing: They are both 3-5 and find themselves in the same precarious position halfway through the season. The team that loses Sunday’s showdown at Lincoln Financial Field will have its playoff hopes virtually extinguished. Here is a look at how the Cowboys and Eagles match up:
When the Cowboys run
Only once this season has a Cowboys player rushed for 100 or more yards in a game. That occurred in the opener, when DeMarco Murray gained 131 yards in a surprising victory over the Giants. Following that impressive debut, Murray’s productivity began to decline before he suffered a sprained left foot that caused him to miss the last three games. With Murray not available to play again this Sunday, the Cowboys’ ground attack remains suspect. Philadelphia is allowing an average of 4.23 yards per carry. But can Dallas take advantage of the Eagles’ vulnerable run defense?
Edge: Eagles
When the Cowboys pass
Last Sunday, Tony Romo enjoyed perhaps his best performance since the season opener. Against the Falcons, he threw for 321 yards, posted a quarterback rating of 109.3 and seemed to operate at his best when he was making the calls in a hurry-up, no-huddle mode. This week Romo should be able to attack a Philadelphia defense that has struggled to generate pressure and has been exposed in the secondary. This season the Eagles have collected only 11 sacks and allowed 229.4 yards per game through the air – the 15th-lowest average in the NFL.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Eagles run
Last season, Philadelphia scored the second-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL. This season, only three teams have produced fewer than the Eagles. An offensive line in tatters has contributed to the downturn in the ground attack’s output. Still, LeSean McCoy has accumulated 623 rushing yards, the tenth-highest total in the league entering Week 10. And the Cowboys’ run defense sans linebacker Sean Lee has looked susceptible. Dallas surrendered 123 yards on the ground to the Falcons last week.
Edge: Eagles
When the Eagles pass
Michael Vick’s season has been a forgettable one thus far. He has thrown nine interceptions, has a quarterback rating of 77.7, and has been sacked 27 times. Philadelphia is still averaging 243.3 yards through the air per game but only Jacksonville has scored fewer points than the Eagles have this season. The Cowboys’ pass defense, which stymied Giants quarterback Eli Manning but struggled to limit the Falcons’ Matt Ryan, has conceded 205.5 yards per game – the fifth-lowest average in the NFL.
Edge: Cowboys
Special teams
This season, Philadelphia has allowed four kickoff returns of 40 or more yards. The Cowboys have produced only one of that distance or greater. Recently, however, Lance Dunbar has given Dallas a jolt on kickoffs. Dwayne Harris has done the same on punts. Against the Falcons, each player had a return that exceeded 35 yards. That’s been a positive development for the Cowboys. On the other side, Philadelphia kicker Alex Henery has made all but one of his 15 field-goal attempts this season.
Edge: Cowboys
Intangibles
Last season, when both teams finished with identical records, the Eagles dominated the Cowboys, outscoring Dallas 54-14 in two games. This year, both teams find themselves in a similar position again. They’re 3-5 and desperately trying to save themselves from quick extinction. This has all the makings of a taut, tense affair. And those games usually favor the home team.
Edge: Eagles
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Trackers and Scoreboards
View game stats and scores online while you watch or listen to the game. Click HERE
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Sounds of the game
Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas. Click HERE. Don’t live in the Dallas area? Click HERE.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Watch the game on TV or online
Watch on TV, tune to your local NBC station. Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
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GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles postgame coverage
Dallas Cowboys Postgame Show
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Note: The show starts approximately 30 minutes after the game is over.
Editors Note: If you enjoy this Special Feature, please use the LIKE and SHARE buttons below. Help us spread the word about The Boys Are Back blog! Enjoy.
LISTEN LIVE–RIGHT NOW: Dallas Cowboy’s postgame show on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
From within The Boys Are Back (The blog for TRUE BLUE fans of the Dallas Cowboys)
you can LISTEN LIVE to Dallas area sports broadcasts
while you read, browse, or work around the house.
You can also catch Dallas Cowboys talk shows, pregame/postgame interviews,
commentary, analysis, and daily/weekly shows with some of the
key players and coaches of America’s Team.
.
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN TO THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
Interviews start about 30 minutes after final snap
Show ends at 5:30 to 6:-00 pm CDT
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CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
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Listen the Cowboys Postgame Show LIVE, and hear directly from coach Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo, Jerry Jones, and other players/coaches.
NFL GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons
HEAD2HEAD: A look at how the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons match up
The Dallas Cowboys are expected to face their most challenging test to date when they travel to the Deep South to face Atlanta. The Falcons are the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL and there is a reason why their record is unblemished. They avoid mistakes. Atlanta is the least-penalized team in the league and has a plus-10 turnover differential. The Cowboys, meanwhile have been their own worst enemy. They have been flagged 54 times and committed 19 turnovers — the second-highest total in the NFL. For the Cowboys to march into the Georgia Dome and defeat Atlanta, they first have to make sure they don’t beat themselves. Here’s a look at how both teams match up:
When the Cowboys run
There are three teams in the NFL that are allowing more than five yards per carry. Atlanta is one of them. The Falcons’ defense has shown vulnerability when teams have elected to keep the ball on the ground. But whether the Cowboys have the ability to take advantage of their weakness is uncertain. Starting tailback DeMarco Murray won’t play as he continues to recover from a sprained left foot. And backups Felix Jones and Phillip Tanner gained only 19 rushing yards on 15 carries in the Cowboys’ 29-24 loss to the Giants.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Cowboys pass
Tony Romo’s never attempted more passes or thrown for more yards than he did last Sunday against the Giants. But Romo also tossed four costly interceptions. His performance encapsulated the inconsistency of the Cowboys’ air attack, which has been reliably unreliable this season. Now Romo and Co. face the Falcons, the tenth-stingiest pass defense in the NFL. Atlanta is allowing an average of 216.9 yards through the air per game and has made 10 interceptions. Safety Thomas DeCoud has four of those picks.
Edge: Falcons
When the Falcons run
Neither Michael Turner nor Jacquizz Rodgers stands taller than 5 feet, 10 inches. Just as small as their stature have been their gains on the ground. The two Atlanta tailbacks are averaging 3.76 yards per carry this season for a team ranked 24th in rushing that has accumulated more than four yards on only 36.9 percent of its attempts. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have been solid against the run – holding teams to 104.7 yards per game on the ground. Without inside linebacker Sean Lee for the first time, the Cowboys fared well against the Giants, never allowing a carry longer than 14 yards.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Falcons pass
Spearheaded by quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons’ air attack is potent. Ryan has completed more than 68 percent of his throws, accumulating 17 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. Ryan’s success, in part, can be attributed to the weapons at his disposal. Receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, two players who can stretch the field, are each made averaging more than 14 yards per reception. Tight end Tony Gonzalez, meanwhile, leads the team with 46 catches. The Falcons will test the Cowboys, who have surrendered fewer passing yards per game than all but two teams.
Edge: Falcons
Special teams
After Sunday, the Cowboys can add another special teams mistake to their ledger. After Dez Bryant fumbled against the New York Giants, the Cowboys’ return units have turned the ball over twice this season. Dallas has also allowed a blocked punt and surrendered a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Atlanta’s special teams aren’t much better. The Falcons have also conceded a blocked punt. But Atlanta’s mistakes haven’t been as frequent and their kicker Matt Bryant has performed just as well as the Cowboys’ Dan Bailey. Bryant is making 94.1 percent of his field-goal attempts. Bailey is converting 92.9 percent.
Edge: Falcons
Intangibles
Since head coach Mike Smith was hired before the 2008 season, the Falcons have made the Georgia Dome a house of horrors for opponents. Atlanta has had a 29-6 regular-season record there during Smith’s tenure, posting a home winning percentage so high that it has only been eclipsed by the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens the last five seasons. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have fared terribly in Sunday night games, losing the last seven they’ve played since September 2010.
Edge: Falcons
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Trackers and Scoreboards
View game stats and scores online while you watch or listen to the game. Click HERE
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Sounds of the game
Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas. Click HERE. Don’t live in the Dallas area? Click HERE.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Watch the game on TV or online
Watch on TV, tune to your local NBC station. Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Bookmark The Boys Are Back blog
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GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons postgame coverage
Dallas Cowboys Postgame Show
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Note: The show starts approximately 30 minutes after the game is over.
Editors Note: If you enjoy this Special Feature, please use the LIKE and SHARE buttons below. Spread the word about The Boys Are Back blog! Enjoy.
HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES: Dallas Cowboys close, but no cigar
ARLINGTON, Texas – For three minutes of real time, I had already figured out what I wanted to say about this game.
And as long as that remarkable play was upheld and the Cowboys were awarded a touchdown, this one was going to go down as the all-timer of all-time games.
Maybe the first game I ever covered, the 1999 comeback against the Redskins with the overtime ending, would’ve been better, but this game, would’ve probably beaten that out if, and only if, Dez Bryant’s hand hadn’t touched the back of the end zone.
But it did. Bryant was out of bounds. The Cowboys drop this heartbreaker game that had more twists and turns than any ride Six Flags could’ve ever produced.
Giants 29, Cowboys 24.
Dallas obviously couldn’t complete the comeback, although the scoreboard did read 30-29 Cowboys for about three long minutes while the officials looked at Bryant’s catch. And whether or not it counted, it was still an amazing catch by a player who also had an up-and-down game.
If you’re reading this, there’s probably a great chance that you hated the outcome of this game. The great comeback, the records that were broken in the process, all of that means nothing in the end. The Cowboys couldn’t do enough to win this one, and now they’re 3-4 and three games behind the Giants in the win column.
But mark this one down as a classic.
It had everything the average football fan wants to see: great plays, great performances in the clutch, big stats, back-and-forth play where the lead changes hands, and the drama in the end.
I know it was a sickening feeling when the announcement was made that Bryant didn’t get his hand in bounds. The only real question was how injured he was when he landed straight on his backside.
For me, what I keep thinking about is how much this game mirrored the careers of both Bryant and Tony Romo. And actually, it’s also a good example just how the Cowboys are as a team right now.
At 3-4, it’s competitive. It’s got some good, but just a little more of the bad. There are times when it looks like the Cowboys are left for dead, and then they make it seem like they’re going to turn the corner. In the end, it’s just not good enough.
That’s exactly what occurred Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. And, that’s probably what this team will be when it’s all said and done.
Of course, this one started out completely disastrous with the Cowboys turning it over four times in the first half, trailing 23-0.
Forget boo-birds. This was like a flock of pigeons that invaded the stadium. And they were ruthless toward Romo, owner Jerry Jones even head coach Jason Garrett. They were hounding the Cowboys and for good reason.
It looked like this was going to be a long day, long week and a long season. (Actually, it might be in all three cases).
But then, the Cowboys begin what proved to be the ultimate tease. They unlocked the coffin they had been placed in, dug out of the dirt that had been poured, and rose from the dead, not just to make this respectable, but to take the lead.
Just as shocking to see a 23-0 deficit was a 24-23 Cowboys lead.
But no one thought Eli Manning and his group would go away and they didn’t. They are champions for a reason because they know how to handle adversity. Manning wasn’t great at all, but he drove the offense a couple of times and got his team in position to take the lead and then pad it.
On the other side, Romo was on his way to pulling off the greatest comeback in Cowboys history. After that awful start, it looked like his confidence was shot. Who knew he was about to have a career-high in passing yards (437) and attempts (62). In fact, if Bryant is ruled in bounds, Romo would’ve set the single-game passing record with 474 yards.
Yet, that’s his career. He allllmooossstt pulled it off.
He was almost spectacular. Isn’t that the biggest knock on Romo – is that he can be great and he can be awful? Usually, it’s week to week.
On Sunday, it was a matter of hours. Romo’s best performance came after his worst performance. And that’s why this guy drives people crazy.
He’s the guy that gives it up, but he’s the guy that brings them back. He was bad enough to get booed and probably have his coach consider pulling him. He was good enough to rally his team back and had the ball in a spot to win the game and pull off the greatest comeback in franchise history.
Good enough and bad enough in a matter of hours. That’s Romo’s career.
And it’s about the same with Bryant. When you look at the reasons he was drafted in the first round back in 2010, we saw them all here in this game.
He had top-10 talent, evident by his unreal catch in the most clutch of situations. Forget the yard lines. If you catch a ball like that in the backyard playing One-Mississippi, it’d be a great catch.
But he has questionable decision-making – both on and off the field. His misplay on a first-quarter punt, resulting in a muff and then fumble, got him booted as the punt returner. Yet, with the game on the line, and him making some key receptions as a receiver, the Cowboys put him back out there when they needed a huge return. And the Giants recognized that and kicked it away from him.
Even the longtime radio voice of the Cowboys, Brad Sham, said on his broadcast Sunday following Bryant’s fumble that it’s time for him to be on the bench.
There’s no way Sham really believes that, but that’s how frustrating it can be to watch this guy, cover this guy through the media, cover this guy as a defense. He’s just erratic in every way – the good can be so good and the bad can be so bad.
Sunday’s 29-24 thriller was the Cowboys’ franchise. Up and down but not good enough. It also seemed to mirror the careers of both Romo and Bryant. So much potential, but yet teased at the end.
Maybe you saw four quarters of dramatic football. I saw the careers of two key players and an entire franchise rolled into one.
LISTEN LIVE–RIGHT NOW: Dallas Cowboy’s postgame show on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
From within The Boys Are Back (The blog for TRUE BLUE fans of the Dallas Cowboys)
you can LISTEN LIVE to Dallas area sports broadcasts
while you read, browse, or work around the house.
You can also catch Dallas Cowboys talk shows, pregame/postgame interviews,
commentary, analysis, and daily/weekly shows with some of the
key players and coaches of America’s Team.
.
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN TO THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
Interviews start about 30 minutes after final snap
Show ends at 5:30 to 6:-00 pm CDT
Listen Live to: The Fan 105.3 Dallas (KRLD) … Flagship of The Dallas Cowboys Radio Network!
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
RIGHT NOW!
CLICK HERE
Listen the Cowboys Postgame Show LIVE, and hear directly from coach Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo, Jerry Jones, and other players/coaches.
2012 GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
HEAD2HEAD: A look at how the Dallas Cowboys and NY Giants match up
It was not too long ago when the Cowboys went up to northern New Jersey and defeated the New York Giants 24-17. But a lot has changed since that Sept. 5 season opener. The Giants, not the Cowboys, now sit alone atop the NFC East standings. Dallas linebacker Sean Lee is done for the season after suffering ligament damage in his right big toe. And Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, who rushed for 131 yards in that first meeting with the Giants, is sidelined as he continues to recover from a sprained left foot. The Giants, in totality, are in much better shape than the Cowboys. Here is a look at how both teams match up:
When the Cowboys run
The Cowboys’ rushing attack remains in flux and at this point it’s difficult to project its performance. A week after gaining 227 yards on the ground against Baltimore, the Cowboys managed to collect 85 against Carolina. Of course, tailback DeMarco Murray didn’t play last Sunday and he won’t be available this week as he continues to recover from a sprained left foot. That is a big blow for the Cowboys. Against the Giants in the opener, Murray rushed for a season-high 131 yards – about five more than New York has yielded on average this season. Will Phillip Tanner or Felix Jones, who is nursing a bruised knee, pick up the slack in Murray’s absence?
Edge: Giants
When the Cowboys pass
Tony Romo’s best performance of the season came in the first game. Romo completed 76 percent of his pass attempts for 307 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 129.5 quarterback rating in the process. Since then, Romo has thrown three more interceptions than touchdown passes. But there is no reason to believe Romo can’t skewer the Giants’ flimsy secondary. New York is allowing 253.3 yards per game through the air, the 12-highest average in the NFL. The question is whether Romo, who has been only sacked once in the past two games, will be able to avoid the Giants’ staunch pass rush.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Giants run
The Giants’ running game has improved significantly since last season, when New York was ranked last in yards on the ground. Through seven games, the Giants have produced 116.3 rushing yards per game, the 12th-highest average in the NFL. They have done so while relying on Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Brown and David Wilson. Yet the Cowboys were able to contain the Giants’ tailbacks in the opener, limiting New York to 82 rushing yards – 23 below the current average they’ve allowed. Of course, linebacker Sean Lee was a big part of that defensive effort. Now he’s out for the season with ligament damage in his right big toe. Will the Giants be able to exploit his absence?
Edge: Giants
When the Giants pass
The Giants make no secret about their intentions. They will pass the ball, relying on the arm of Eli Manning to power the offense. After Week 7, only three quarterbacks had thrown the ball more times than Manning had. And it’s easy to see why Manning is chucking the ball all over the field. After all he has plenty of targets. Headed by Victor Cruz, who has already made 50 catches, the Giants have six players who have gained more than 100 receiving yards. The Cowboys, who have the third-stingiest pass defense, will try to limit Manning and Co. for the second time this season.
Edge: Giants
Special teams
No player this season has attempted more field goals than the Giants’ Lawrence Tynes. He has converted 19 of 21 attempts this season and is part of a special teams unit that includes one of the league’s best directional punters, Steve Weatherford. Weatherford has allowed 5.8 yards per return – the exact average the Cowboys have produced when they have fielded punts. Those modest gains aren’t surprising. Although Dan Bailey has made 92.3 percent of his 13 field-goal attempts, Dallas’ special teams have performed poorly this season.
Edge: Giants
Intangibles
The Cowboys will have home-field advantage. That should mean something. But in this matchup with the Giants it doesn’t. The Giants have prevailed in all three meetings with their NFC East rivals at Cowboys Stadium. And at this point some wonder if New York feels more comfortable at Jerry World than Dallas does.
For that reason, the Giants have to be brimming with confidence as they invade North Texas seeking revenge for the loss the Cowboys handed them in the season opener.
Edge: Giants
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Trackers and Scoreboards
View game stats and scores online while you watch or listen to the game. Click HERE
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Sounds of the game
Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas. Click HERE. Don’t live in the Dallas area? Click HERE.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Watch the game on TV or online
Watch on TV, tune to your local FOX station. Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Bookmark The Boys Are Back blog
The Boys Are Back blog | Read | Listen | Watch | Comment
Check back here for box scores, videos, pictures, highlights, resources, recaps, interesting articles, and Dallas Cowboys information all season long. Signup for email alerts, RSS feeds, or add The Boys Are Back to your favorites.
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Enjoy the game!
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants postgame coverage
Dallas Cowboys Postgame Show
on the
Note: The show starts approximately 30 minutes after the game is over.
LISTEN LIVE–RIGHT NOW: Dallas Cowboy’s postgame show on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
From within The Boys Are Back (The blog for TRUE BLUE fans of the Dallas Cowboys)
you can LISTEN LIVE to Dallas area sports broadcasts
while you read, browse, or work around the house.
You can also catch Dallas Cowboys talk shows, pregame/postgame interviews,
commentary, analysis, and daily/weekly shows with some of the
key players and coaches of America’s Team.
.
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN TO THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
Interviews start about 30 minutes after final snap
Show ends at 5:30 to 6:-00 pm CDT
Listen Live to: The Fan 105.3 Dallas (KRLD) … Flagship of The Dallas Cowboys Radio Network!
CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW AND LISTEN THE POSTGAME SHOW LIVE!
RIGHT NOW!
CLICK HERE
Listen the Cowboys Postgame Show LIVE, and hear directly from coach Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo, Jerry Jones, and other players/coaches.
2012 GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers
HEAD2HEAD: A look at how the Cowboys and Panthers match up
After two consecutive losses, the Cowboys (2-3) will head to Charlotte to face a team that is in even worse shape than they are. The Carolina Panthers are 1-4, have lost their starting center Pro Bowl center, Ryan Kalil, for the season; are without their best cornerback, the injured Chris Gamble; have a quarterback, Cam Newton, who has failed to imitate his sensational performance as a rookie; and have a big-play receiver, Steve Smith, who has yet to catch a touchdown pass. The Cowboys’ problems, frankly, pale in comparison to the ones Carolina is facing. Here is a look at how both teams match up:
When the Cowboys run
Just when it seemed the Cowboys’ rushing attack was revving up after gaining 227 yards on the ground last Sunday against Baltimore, there is reason to believe it could slow down once again. After all, tailback DeMarco Murray has been declared out Sunday after spraining his left foot against the Ravens. While backup Felix Jones gained 92 yards last week, he has never been reliably productive in a featured role. But he has a chance to author his second consecutive strong performance against a Carolina defense that is the 10th-worst against the run.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Cowboys pass
Despite the fact that Miles Austin has surpassed 100 receiving yards in only one game this season, the Cowboys’ passing offense is still one of the most prolific in the league. The Cowboys are gaining 287.8 yards per game through the air – the sixth-highest average in the NFL. Dallas has benefited from the re-emergence of tight end Jason Witten, who has 19 catches for 200 yards in his last two games. Witten and quarterback Tony Romo should able to attack a Carolina’s pass defense that has yielded 249.6 yards per game. But Romo, who has thrown interceptions in each of his last six games, needs to be careful against a Carolina team that has returned two picks for touchdowns.
Edge: Cowboys
When the Panthers run
A backfield that features DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and quarterback Cam Newton would seem to be a formidable one. In many ways, it is. Carolina is producing 4.45 yards per carry – the seventh-highest average in the NFL. But they are in the bottom half of the league in rushing attempts. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have been solid but unspectacular against the run. They are ranked 13th in average yardage allowed but have stopped the opponent in the backfield nine times – the second-fewest in the NFL this season.
Edge: Panthers
When the Panthers pass
In his second season in the NFL, quarterback Cam Newton has slumped. He has thrown five interceptions versus four touchdown passes and his quarterback rating of 80.9 is 23rd-best in the NFL. Newton has been seen sulking repeatedly on the sidelines and he has admitted he has performed poorly. Meanwhile, his most prolific receiver, Steve Smith, has been affected by Newton’s struggles. He has yet to reach the end zone this year. The Cowboys’ pass defense, ranked first in the NFL despite looking vulnerable the last two games, hopes to keep Smith locked down.
Edge: Cowboys
Special teams
This season, the Cowboys have fumbled on a kickoff, had a punt blocked and yielded a 108-yard touchdown return. Special teams, in no uncertain terms, have been a disaster for the Cowboys. That much was obvious long before Dan Bailey missed a 51-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds against Baltimore. Amazingly enough, Carolina’s special teams haven’t been much better. The Panthers have turned the ball over twice on returns and have had a punt blocked. But Carolina has allowed a lower average return on kickoffs than any other team.
Edge: Panthers
Intangibles
Despite losing 31-29 to Baltimore last Sunday, the Cowboys were encouraged by their performance. Now they face Carolina, a team that the Cowboys have defeated in eight of their nine previous meetings. Dallas knows that this is perhaps the least-challenging opponent it will face in its next four games – three of which will be on the road. The Cowboys’ chances at claiming a playoff berth would be reduced significantly if they lose Sunday. They should be motivated.
Edge: Cowboys
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Trackers and Scoreboards
View game stats and scores online while you watch or listen to the game. Click HERE
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Sounds of the game
Listen to the “Voice of the Dallas Cowboys” Brad Sham on KRLD in Dallas. Click HERE. Don’t live in the Dallas area? Click HERE.
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Watch the game on TV or online
Watch on TV, tune to FOX. Click HERE to watch online (NFL Sunday Ticket)
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Bookmark The Boys Are Back blog
The Boys Are Back blog | Read | Listen | Watch | Comment
Check back here for box scores, videos, pictures, highlights, resources, recaps, interesting articles, and Dallas Cowboys information all season long. Signup for email alerts, RSS feeds, or add The Boys Are Back to your favorites.
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Enjoy the game!
GAMEDAY RESOURCES: Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers postgame coverage
Dallas Cowboys Postgame Show
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