Blogging The Boys

FISH on FOOTBALL: The Cowboys Stand For Everything That Is FIRST In The NFC East

2009-11-10T06:00:28Z

John Harbaugh, the Ravens coach formerly with Philadelphia, has a quote recently revealed in an Eagles-centric book that goes, "The Cowboys stand for everything that is wrong with the NFL.''

My response? If winning five Super Bowls is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

An assortment of post-Philly reflections on a Cowboys team that at this moment stands for everything that is first in the NFC East:

* Few teams make big plays like the Eagles offense makes big plays. McNabb is a quick-strike/deep-strike talent. Jackson catches nothing but 50-yard gainers, and I mean that as a compliment. Even the running back, Westbrook, seems when healthy like a home-run threat on every touch.

But what the Eagles do not do - and I think this was critical to the Cowboys' 20-16 victory at Philly on Sunday night - is sew together multiple series of little plays.

That's not an offensive team capable of grinding you down, of setting up third-and-2's, of facing a good defense (which Dallas certainly is right now) and pulling off a few eight-play/80-yard/eight-minute drives. They are explosive and they are scary, but an over-reliance on 50-yard pass plays means that when they aren't there, the Eagles lose. ..

The Eagles managed just two plays of 20-plus yards. So the Eagles lost.

* Now, compare that to what the Dallas offense did on a trio of late-game third-downs.

Third-and-2 with 2:02 left, a "little play'' for a first-down for Witten.

Before that, third-and- 13 with 8:13 left, and maybe because of Dallas' penchant for "little-play'' success, Philly bites on a pump fake and Romo lofts a beauty to Austin for a 49-yard catch-run-and-score.

Romo's passing on Sunday on third downs? He was 9-of-11. That's nine, nice "little plays.'' ...

* Jerry Jones catches a lot of hell for the swing-for-the-fences personnel moves that don't work out, but I think we take for granted the at-bats that do work out. Example: Jay Ratliff. Came from nowhere. Paid big money while on the cusp of reaching his peak. Now doing so while playing at an All-Pro level. Disbelievers, go watch the Philly-Dallas tape. The kid is taking on blockers as nose tackles must yet doing things not unlike what Vikings DT Kevin Williams does. And that's All-Pro level.

* I thought Felix ran way too "careful'' on kick returns. Was he trying to hit homeruns on every touch? Was he protecting a wound? Somebody needs to tell Felix that a north-south approach that allows the Cowboys decent field-position starts, say, at the 30, is advantage enough. ...

* I'm going to assume that clock operator in Philly doesn't even know how to Fall Back and Spring Forward because his work was an embarrassment to the league. You get home-towned on the clock in high school, not in the NFL.

* Some people might consider the unbalanced line to be a "High-School Harry'' trick. And indeed, when I coached kids, we did it all the time. Flipped our right tackle over to the left side - especially if that was the wide side of the field - and ran left. The other team had to know it was coming ... but they still had to consider staying balanced on defense and they still had to contend with my best blockers all pushing people around in front of the ballcarrier.

It's not a gimmick - it can be a staple. Besides, I dare you to tell Marc Colombo to his face that he's a "gimmick.''

And that's how to exorcise memories of 44-6. ...

* The defensive coordinator of this team - and his players - are starting to come up pretty big in mano-a-mano moments. Dallas had a large fourth-down stop in Denver that didn't result in a win. But Brooking-vs.-Nabb on fourth-and-1? That's practice, gameplanning, preparation and want-to.

Advantage, Cowboys. ...

Now, rookie defender Victor Butler grabbing McNabb's toe to prevent a third-down conversation and creating a situation where Philly never again got the ball back? I'm not sure how you plan for Victor Butler to grab McNabb's toe.

But whatever ... Advantage, Cowboys, again.

* I know conventional wisdom has it that Andy Reid is a genius and Wade Phillips is a doofus. But when Reid decided to kick a field goal with four minutes left to cut the lead to four - while the Eagles, I believe, had no timeouts remaining?

Goes to show you, sometimes everybody is a doofus.

* Roy Williams' positive reaction to Miles Austin's game-sealing TD catch in Philly was suitable for framing. Once all the talk and all the fake controversy was quieted, Roy was the embodiment of what your mama used to say about your character: "It's measured by how you behave when nobody is looking.''

Oh, and five-for-75 was helpful, too.

* Who does Michael Vick play for again? And why?

MNF Open Thread

2009-11-10T01:30:29Z

Good matchup tonight on MNF, the Steelers visit the Broncos.

This is an open thread for game chat.

The VRR: Cowboys Bring Down Their Third Consecutive Bird Team

2009-11-09T19:39:55Z

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

T-E-A-M! Once again, the Dallas offense and defense unite in victory.

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Since their bye week, the Dallas Cowboys have achieved home victories against the Atlanta Falcons, the Seattle Seahawks, and then hit the road to take down the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. They outscored these three bird teams 95-54. This run through the NFC aviary exemplifies how well the offense, defense, and special teams units in Dallas have come together to launch the team atop the division with a 6-2 record.

While scrolling through stories regarding last night's 20-16 victory over the Eagles, I noticed many writers use the same four-letter word when describing the Cowboys: team. Sure, Dallas did not play a perfect game, but it seems as if the coaches are getting the most out of each of their players. In turn, the players are responding by being in position to execute their playcalling. Simply put - the Cowboys are, all-together, clicking.

More VRR after the jump.

Pairing up a good pass rush with some nice coverage in the secondary is always a good recipe for defensive success.

Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware overwhelmed the Eagles' offensive line and stayed in quarterback Donovan McNabb's face throughout the game. McNabb was only 16-of-30 for 227 yards and he threw two interceptions. He appeared completely out of rhythm for much of the evening -- and the secondary played a large role in that. If you take away the deep ball from the Eagles, they're not much to look at. It's not like they can turn to a power running game.

"We took it personally that no one was giving us any respect," Jenkins said. "We've been shutting receivers completely down, but people weren't talking about it. I think we made a statement tonight. To come into their house and walk away with a win ... I think it's a big statement."

'Twas a quiet night for the Eagles' young WRs.

Although speedy wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin looked as if they could break a huge play at any moment, they never did. The Cowboys' secondary held them in check while a fierce rush and a heavy blitz maintained serious pressure on McNabb that produced four sacks and two interceptions.

Jackson, who had at least one 50-yard play in five of the first seven Eagles games, was limited to two catches for 29 yards. Four Dallas wide receivers caught passes for more yards.

Again, Jason Garrett, Tony Romo, and Miles Austin combined to break the opposition's heart at a crucial point in the game.

Austin beat Brown badly off the line of scrimmage to make the catch all alone at the 24. He then cut inside to race untouched into the end zone, where he celebrated by firing the ball into the net behind the goal post.

"They had a double move there," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Sheldon played a heck of a game, but they got him on a double move there."

Romo helped sell it with a pump fake. "I thought they had been jumping it a little bit throughout the game, so we went with it," Romo said. "They bit on the fake, a couple of guys went to it, and I just gave him the ball and he did the rest."

The four-play, 55-yard drive that ended with Austin’s score began after the Cowboys made their biggest defensive play of the season. On fourth-and-one from the Dallas 45, Donovan McNabb tried to sneak it over right guard only to get stopped cold by Marcus Spears with 10:49 left. The Eagles challenged the spot, but the play was upheld, costing them their final timeout.

With the game on the line, when you need just one more first down, go to Jason Witten.

"That’s just the way it is . . . I understand it, we have to get it blocked," Witten said. But on the third-and-3 late in the fourth quarter, Witten knew the final pass was going to him."Yeah, that was the play," said Witten. "I knew I was going to get the chance to make it."

And he did, catching his seventh passes of the game for 43 yards. But it was those last five yards that put the game away. When it comes to wanting the ball, Witten really is no different than any other receiver. He feels like he’s good enough to make the play when it counts.

The "spread" offense continues as Romo hit seven different receivers.

One game after Romo spread the ball around to 10 pass-catchers, seven caught balls Sunday totaling 307 yards, Romo’s fourth 300-plus-yard game of the season. And, yes, his perfectly placed 49-yard bomb to Austin in the fourth quarter was the back-breaker.

But Romo’s best achievement might have finally been getting him and struggling receiver Roy Williams on the same page. Williams caught a season-high five balls for 75 yards. Most impressive was the percentage Romo completed to him. Romo threw his way eight times, completing five. Entering the game, the two had connected just 38 percent of the time.

Razorback > Wildcat.

"It was good to see us get that working tonight," center Andre Gurode said. "To us (linemen), it's really not anything different. We're still blocking like any play. But we knew it's something that can be successful."

(Leonard) Davis, who paved the way on the three rushing plays, said the always-vocal Choice gives him a personal pep talk before each play in the huddle.

"He goes up to me and says . . . 'Big Leonard, I'm running it up right behind you . . . I'm running it behind you,'" Davis said of Choice. "He gets excited about it. I already know before we run the play, I already know what the results are going to be. It's just something you have to study the look and how they're going to scheme against it. It's like any other run play -- when we have the numbers, it's going to be hard to stop."

Another new offensive weapon came through for the 'Boys: WR Kevin Ogletree.

Twice Ogletree snatched third-down screen passes from quarterback Tony Romo, for 20 and 17 yards, to put the Cowboys inside the Eagles’ 5-yard line both times, setting up the first touchdown and a field goal late in the first half.

Ogletree also recorded the first run of his career, picking up 6 yards on an end-around, a play used mostly for Patrick Crayton and then last week for Miles Austin for the first time.

Some Cowboys bumps & bruises:

Felix Jones strained his neck. Andre Gurode sprained an ankle. Mike Jenkins "jammed" his wrist. All are expected to be fine. Also, Anthony Spencer suffered a groin injury, which we should learn more about in Coach Phillips' press conference today. It doesn't sound too worrisome, though.

Philly writer, Bob Ford, uses last night's game to question the strength of the NFC East.

"We battled our tails off," Reid said. "It was two heavyweights swinging at each other, a tough, hard-fought game."

That might be how he saw it, but the two teams combined for three turnovers, 11-for-27 third-down efficiency, and more than 150 penalty yards. These teams looked like welterweights at best. It has been difficult all season to figure out how good the Eagles might be. Until last week, when they thumped the Giants, their only meeting with a legitimate opponent had ended in a loud defeat against the New Orleans Saints. They also managed to lose to the Oakland Raiders along the way, which is the textbook definition of being unpredictable.

The Cowboys split their first four games, losing to the Giants and the Denver Broncos, and have now won four straight.

The Giants, meanwhile, won their first five games, have lost their last four, and head into their bye on fumes.

The question is whether these are three very good teams taking turns pounding each other, or whether these are three inconsistent teams that show up sometimes and not others. Watch a game like last night's and it's tempting to say the latter. Apologists and head coaches will tell you that tackle football is a messy business and that motivated opponents can make any team look sloppy. There's some truth there, too, but it doesn't account for stupid penalties and unimaginative play-calling.

Here's a cool, new website to check out if you plan on attending a sporting event. It's stadiumjourney.com. They even have an awesome review of Cowboys Stadium...he, he.

Highlights of the Cowboys' 20-16 victory over the Eagles.

2009-11-09T15:50:23Z

Highlights of the Cowboys' 20-16 victory over the Eagles.

Understudy Sunday: the Cowboys Outslug the Eagles 20-16

2009-11-09T06:43:11Z

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

I only need one catch to break your Eagles hearts -- this one! (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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And the reserves shall lead them.

The Eagles tried to take Dallas' big play makers out of the game last night and succeeded, for the most part. Jason WItten didn't make any big carries. Miles Austin was near invisible for 55 minutes. The running game produced in spurts.

While the Cowboys big names fought their big name Eagles counterparts to stalemates, the understudies, the situational guys, the rotation rookies, shouldered the load. An understudy honor role:

-- Kevin Ogletree had a Deion Sanders-like offensive package. He had maybe three plays on his card, and he made them count. He ran a reverse for a sizable gain on Dallas' first scoring drive and converted two third and longs on flanker screens where he slithered and spun past Eagles defenders.

-- Tashard Choice had his own special package, running the Cowboys' wildcat to great effect. He followed an unbalanced scrum for an easy three yard touchdown to open the game's scoring.

-- Stephen Bowen blew up an Eagles' trap run at him on a critical 3rd-and-3 late in the first half. Bowen kept his contain, knocked the pulling guard backwards, then stuffed LeSean McCoy for no gain. The stop, the first of many by the Cowboys in 2nd, 3rd and 4th-and-short situations, forced the Eagles to accept a field goal, keeping Dallas in the lead at 7-6.

-- Former lead Patrick Crayton made the most of his snaps, running a 64 yard seam route just after the Eagles field goal, pushing the Cowboys halftime lead to 10-6.

-- Rookie Victor Butler continues to make more big plays per down than perhaps any player on the roster. He hasn't seen many plays from scrimmage but he makes them count. He settled the Panthers game with two sacks of Jake Delhomme on that game's final drive. Last night, he kept the Eagles from answering Dallas' late TD and tying the game at 20 a piece.

With the Eagles facing a 3rd and 10 at the Dallas 38, Andy Reid called a two man route, with Jeremy Maclin running a post from the right flanker spot and DeSean Jackson running a crossing route from the split end spot against Mike Jenkins. Dallas was playing man, with free safety Ken Hamlin rotation over to help Terence Newman and Maclin. Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh was in the short middle as a spy on Donovan McNabb.

McNabb floated away from the Dallas rush and had two apparent options. He could tuck the ball and run for the first down and perhaps a score. Sensabaugh had an angle but he was not going stop McNabb before he gained the necessary ten yards to keep the drive alive.

McNabb appeared to be rolling wide to wait for Jackson, who was breaking free from Jenkins and might have scored had he received the ball.

It was moot, because Butler made a diving tackle of McNabb before the QB could pass or scramble. Andy Reid took a third David Akers field goal with just under five minutes left and Philadelphia never saw the football again.

-- Roy Williams (yeah, he's an understudy too, judging from the abuse he's taken lately) showed he could provide the thunder to Miles Austin's lightning bolts. Williams worked over all the Eagles corners, catching a 20 yard slant in front of Asante Samuel, an 11 year stop fade over Sheldon Brown and a neat 22 yard smoke route past Ellis Hobbs that helped Dallas tie the game at 13-13 early in the 4th. The timing is coming and if we can expect 70-80 yards of dirty work in the short zones and in the middle of the field, Roy Willie will more than do his part.

-- Anthony Spencer continues to do the things that help the Cowboys win, even if he's not putting much ink on the stat sheet. His second quarter inside charge knocked Winston Justice off of Jay Ratliff, allowing the NT to loop wide and sack Donovan McNabb. He had two key stops on the Cowboys' mid-field stand, when the Eagles failed to convert a 2nd and 1 with the score tied early in the 4th.

These big plays by the lesser known Cowboys kept the game tied so the big names, the Romos, the Austins, the Wares and Barbers, could close it out late. Everybody did their part tonight and these wins, the hard, 60 minute grinds over quality opponents, are far more satisfying than the blowouts like last week's.

Notes:

-- Can Tony Romo claim this as a big game? It seems he couldn't claim the Falcons win as a big one last week.

-- Mike Jenkins wears number 21, but his play reminds me of Mel Renfro. He's quick to recover and feels the ball belongs to him once it leaves the quarerback's hand. His bait and pick of McNabb late in the third ignited the Cowboys comeback.

-- Miles Austin's 49 yard game winner may have looked familiar, because it is. Austin ran a slant and go up the left sideline against Sheldon Brown with Dallas facing a 3rd and 13. Brown jumped at Tony Romo's pump fake and Austin got behind Brown. The pump froze Quintin Mikel, who was underneath and the Eagles free safety, who was slow to rotate over. Austin cut back to the center of the field and outraced Brown for the game winning score.

Jason Garrett called this exact same play for Terrell Owens in the first quarter of last year's 41-37 win over the Eagles and T.O. burned Brown and Sean Considine for a long score.

-- The Cowboys used an unbalance line as a changeup against Atlanta two weeks ago and made it the basis of their wildcat set tonight. The Cowboys would flip RT Mark Colombo to the left side, outside Flozell Adams. Leonard Davis was the only lineman to the right of center Andre Gurode, though he was flanked by a tight end. Davis pulled at the snap, and Tashard Choice would follow him and the other four Cowboys linemen to his left. He scored easily behind this stampede from the Eagles' three.

The Anatomy of a Stand

Eagles, 1st and 10 at their own 46. McNabb throws a comeback left to DeSean Jackson, who is tackled by Mike Jenkins at the Dallas 45.

2nd and 1.: The Eagles run a stretch play right for McCoy. Marcus Spears drives Winston Justice backwards and Demarcus Ware stands up Brent Celek at the point of attack, causing McCoy to dither, waiting for a hole. This allows Anthony Spencer to crash down from the backside and drop McCoy for no gain.

3nd and 1: The Eagles line up in an I with two tight ends flanking Jason Peters left. At the snap, Bobby Carpenter crashes the gap inside Peters and spins the OT laterally. Igor Olshansky mashes one of the tight ends backwards. McCoy tries to bull between his TE escourts but is stopped by Spencer, Gerald Sensabaugh and Bradie James a foot short of the yard marker.

4th and a foot: The Eagles attempt a McNabb sneak right. Jay Ratliff wedges between the center and right guard. Spears submarines under Justice and drives him backwards. Keith Brooking flies over the pile and hammers his fists down on McNabb's back. McNabb claims he slid over Justice's back past the first down marker but the officials rule him down where he was when Brooking pins him to his own lineman. The measurement leaves the Eagles a foot short.

Dallas cashed out the momentum. Austin scored four plays later and the Cowboys were gone.

Andy Reid compounded the failure by challenging the call. He was overruled, costing the Eagles their final time out with 10:49 left in the game. He could not stop the clock on Dallas' final drive when Marion Barber was running over and over again.

Enjoy this one, folks. It's a quality win.

Cowboys First In East, Beat Philly 20-16

2009-11-09T05:12:52Z

More photos » by Mel Evans - AP

Tashard Choice and Miles Austin scored TDs, propelling the Cowboys over rival Philadelphia.

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What do we have here? Yes, it's the 6-2 Dallas Cowboys who are sitting alone atop the NFC East standings after a superb win on the road over the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-16. This was a typical NFC East slug-fest, but the team that punched the hardest was the Cowboys.

Big props to a defense that held the Eagles superweapons in check all night long. The Cowboys were not going to get beat over the top, so naturally they gave up some rushing yards and some short passing, but in the end the Eagles were only able to get 16 points on the board. That's well below their game average thanks to some good pass rush from Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware and solid secondary play.

Mike Jenkins is turning into a stud. His interception was a big-time play.

The stop on 4th and 1 was a testament to a defense that seems to be getting better as the season rolls on.

On the offensive side of the ball, Tony Romo wasn't spectacular, but he was patient, efficient, and in the end, a winner. Roy Williams finally got involved, Jason WItten had a big game, and Miles Austin only needed one catch to change the game.

The introduction of the WIldcat paid off as Tashard Choice had a few good runs including a touchdown.

This game was a street fight, on the enemies turf, with first place in the East on the line, and this Cowboys team came to win.

Raf will be by later tonight for some analysis. In the meantime, use this thread to celebrate good times.

Box Score.

ESPN NFC East blog.

Cowboys @ Eagles: Gameday Open Thread IV 11/08/09

2009-11-09T04:02:48Z

New open thread for the Cowboys @ Eagles game.

Cowboys @ Eagles: Gameday Open Thread III 11/08/09

2009-11-09T03:11:13Z

New open thread for the Cowboys @ Eagles game.

Cowboys @ Eagles: Gameday Open Thread II 11/08/09

2009-11-09T02:12:56Z

New open thread for the Cowboys @ Eagles game.

Cowboys @ Eagles: Gameday Open Thread 11/08/09

2009-11-09T01:00:31Z

Open Thread

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, Nov. 8th, 2009
8:20 PM EST, TV: NBC
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

This is an open thread for game chat.

Early Games Open Thread

2009-11-08T17:45:14Z

It's going to be a long wait for the game we all want to see. So keep busy and help pass the time by watching the rest of the NFL play today.

Also, sources are reporting that Brian Westbrook will not play tonight contrary to previous reports.

This is an open thread for game chat.

Pickin' & Grinnin' Week Nine

2009-11-08T06:28:40Z

More photos » by Bruce Bisping - AP

Fans line up early to see the picks. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Bruce Bisping)

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We're back, bolder and badder than ever!

Game	Aaron	Dave	Rafael
Cards @ Bears	Bears	Bears	Cardinals
Ravens @ Bengals	Bengals	Ravens	Ravens
Packers @ Bucs	Packers	Packers	Packers
Texans @ Colts	Colts	Colts	Texans
Chiefs @ Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Dolphins @ Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots
Redskins @ Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Panthers @ Saints	Saints	Saints	Saints
Lions@ Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Chargers @ Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Titans @ 49ers	49ers	49ers	Titans
Cowboys @ Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys	Eagles
Steelers @ Broncos	Steelers	Broncos	Steelers
Last week	9-4	9-4	10-3
Year to date	77-43	80-40	78-42

What the Eagles are saying about Cowboys' WR Miles Austin: "I told our guys here about a year...

2009-11-08T02:30:33Z

What the Eagles are saying about Cowboys' WR Miles Austin:

"I told our guys here about a year back, ‘This guy right here, in the next year or two, he's going to be one explosive guy,'" (Andy) Reid said. "They asked, ‘Why?' He's fast, knows how to run routes and is great after the catch — even in his limited role before he showed those things. Now he's doing it all the time."

The Eagles are expected to stick ball-hawking cornerback Asante Samuel on Austin. Samuel has a team-high five interceptions.

"He's a heck of an athlete," Samuel said of Austin. "The biggest challenge is that he has a big lower body. And that's how he breaks through those arm tackles and goes the distance. So you just have to make sure you wrap him up when he catches the ball."

SAEN

DeMarcus Ware Mic'd Up

2009-11-07T18:44:43Z

DeMarcus Ware Mic'd Up

Week Nine: Fantasy Focus on the Cowboys

2009-11-07T12:00:20Z

by LM Otero - AP

YAC plays, such as this one by WR Sam Hurd, have helped Tony Romo's fantasy numbers tremendously.

View full size photo »

It's Saturday, so it's time to talk some fantasy football! Let's preview and predict which Cowboys can help you achieve victory as they fly to Philly to take on the Eagles.

Make the jump for the Week 9 Fantasy Focus

QB Tony Romo - If the last two seasons suggest anything about the Cowboys/Eagles matchups, it's that the trend is the first game results in a shootout and the second game is a defensive struggle. In '07, Romo threw for 324 yards in a 38-17 thumping of the Eagles, and then in the season finale, he was limited to 214 yards in a 6-10 loss. Last season, he threw for 312 yards in a 41-37 victory, and then 183 in a 6-44 loss. With this being the first game between these two division foes, expect a shootout.

WRs Miles Austin and DeSean Jackson are the two of the biggest deep threats in the NFC. Because of this, both Romo and Donovan McNabb will look to outduel each other under the big lights on Sunday Night Football.

The Eagles will get after Romo, as they always do, with various blitz packages. Fortunately, the Cowboys' offensive line is coming off a stellar game against the Seahawks. Dallas has relied on its passing game much more lately; and as a result, the running backs have each grown into good blockers on the blitz pickup. That has definitely helped Romo in his quest to take better care of the football. Through three games he has yet to throw an interception. It's a tall order to expect him to extend that streak to four games against an Eagles secondary that ranks 10th against the pass (193.7 YPG), but the Dallas offense (ranked 2nd in the league averaging 411.1 YPG) is too hot right now for fantasy owners to justify sitting Romo.

RBs Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice - With all three backs healthy enough to play, the wrinkles have been ironed out in regards to how the Cowboys use them. Barber is a good start this week, as the Cowboys will rely on his physical-style of running to move the chains. In goalline situations, he's been the man.

Felix Jones is getting his own series sprinkled in earlier in games and he even started the second half last week against the Seahawks. Dallas is really beginning to find mismatches for him out of the backfield, so he could be a nice start in PPR leagues. The dominating manner in which the punt return unit has been blocking for Patrick Crayton may also find its way on the kick return unit, which could spring him for a score real soon. He returned one for a TD last season against the Eagles. This game could be a productive one for Jones. Consider starting him as a flex option.

Choice remains the third-down back, but that does not warrant a fantasy start because Barber and Jones are being featured by the Dallas offense right now.

WRs Miles Austin - Keep starting him if you have him. The Eagles will look to take him out of the passing game, but they can't double him on every play. When not doubled, he will be going up against two 5'10" CBs in Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown. At 6'3", Austin has a favorable size advantage in one-on-one matchups.

Roy Williams - As a Lion, he's had some fine days at Lincoln Financial Field. Williams has also been staying after practice to get in some extra work with Romo. Until that extra work shows up in a game situation, you should probably go with a more consistent player at WR.

Patrick Crayton -Crayton's recent success as a punt returner (2 TDs in the last two games) has inflated his fantasy value. He could be a decent bye-week fill in if Philly tries to take away Austin on the outside. With Williams remaining as the X receiver, Crayton is at home in the slot. He's not going to put up huge numbers, but the Cowboys will find a way to get him a few catches.

TEs Jason Witten - Before last week's game, the Eagles were giving up the second-most fantasy points to TEs. Then, the Giants' Kevin Boss caught 3 passes for 70 yards and a TD on them. Witten still has only one TD on the year. If he is going to get himself another, Philly would be an ideal team for him to get one on.

Cowboys D/ST - This game could easily be a shootout. In terms of points scored, the Eagles rank 3rd in the league with an average of 29 PPG. On a positive note, the Dallas defense has been improving. Pair that up with the exceptional job special teams coach Joe DeCamillis is doing, and together these units have been consistent in maximizing the amount of field opposing offenses have to go to score. Last week's game against Seattle was more lopsided than the 38-17 score suggested because the offense gave up a garbage-time fumble deep in enemy territory, which led to a quick Seahawks TD.

Fantasy owners have a coin to flip here. While the Philadelphia offense can put up a lot of points to reduce Dallas' D/ST fantasy points, the Dallas defenders have greatly improved their pass rush and are forcing turnovers on a regular basis.

After eight weeks of fantasy footballing on FleaFlicker, one team still remains undefeated in the BTB and BTB Part Deux fantasy leagues. This week, there is a huge division matchup between the undefeated, kill everbody, and the 6-2 Maui Paniolo Boyz. With Favre and A.P. on their bye this week, the mighty has a good chance of falling for the first time this year.

Here's how both leagues are shaping up:

The Mighty Has Yet to Fall! (8-0)

kill everbody

Where the Cowboys are Headed (6-2)

Maui Paniolo Boyz

WheresWare?

Where the Eagles are Headed (5-3)

StarBoys

Paper Cranes

BigRigga31's Team

Static

Quincyyyyy

The Speed of Dark

.500 (4-4)

Official Spoiler

Apes

Flashlights

BTBfantasyCHAMPS

Doomsday Redux

Dillababies

Felix Jones At Every Position

No Doubter

Dallas Destroyers

Reykjavik Roughnecks

Triple H (3-5)

The Doomsday Defense Reborn

Second Chance

Twosies (2-6)

high505

My Team Sucks
Brady's a b!tch
NameBrandj

One is the Loneliest Number (1-5)

Damage,Inc.

If you've got a fantasy dilemma, feel free to post it here for your BTB brethren to analyze. Let's help each other out!

And, for all your fantasy football needs, SBNation's fantasy webpage is chock full of informational updates to help you set up your team from week-to-week.

For your convenience, here's the link: sbnation.com/fantasy.

The VRR: Cowboys (5-2) @ Eagles (5-2)

2009-11-06T20:05:51Z

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

The Dallas secondary could try to bump DeSean Jackson out of Andy Reid's gameplan.

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How do you defend the hottest receiving threat in the NFC East? Both the Dallas and the Philadelphia defenses could be asking themselves this very question all the way up to the Cowboys @ Eagles matchup on Sunday Night Football.

It could be tough for us, fans, to relax and watch the day games without twiddling our thumbs in anxiety over such thoughts as, "will Miles Austin's touchdown streak continue?" or "can the secondary stop DeSean Jackson?" Certainly, there are many other stories to the game to focus on, but lately it has been the continued emergence of these two weapons that has greatly increased the threat of these teams' respective offenses.

When that first ball kicks off, though, we will forget this week's headlines and get caught up in the hard-hitting, well-balanced contest that this should turn out to be. Playing physically has helped put the Cowboys where they are today. Continuing to do so could help produce on the scoreboard, and better yet, lead to a 6-2 record come Monday.

Can the physical play of Mike Jenkins stop DeSean Jackson? Eagles' safety Quintin Demps says, "no".

"Just be physical," Jenkins said Wednesday. "Go out and hit them in the mouth."

If that means playing press coverage, Jenkins might want to re-think that stance, Philadelphia safety Quintin Demps suggested in a phone interview.

"I've never seen a guy that fast and quick at the same time," Demps, a Roosevelt graduate, said of Jackson. "And he's smart. He knows how to play off of leverage and get off press coverage."

More Cowboys @ Eagles after the jump.

If Miles Austin and DeSean Jackson get voted into the Pro Bowl, it would be the first time a WR from both teams make it to Hawaii since the early 90s.

Now our guy Adam Schefter has unearthed the interesting nugget that a Cowboys and Eagles wide receiver haven't gone to the Pro Bowl in the same season since Michael Irvin and the immortal Fred Barnett both made it in 1992. Before that, you have to go all the way back to Tony Hill and Mike Quick.

Former Dallas defensive coordinator, Brian Stewart, may have not have much insight to offer Andy Reid in regards to Wade Phillips' defense.

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid tried to downplay the importance of having former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart on his staff. Reid said whatever insight Stewart offers in advance of Sunday's game would be offset by coach Wade Phillips' ability to be unpredictable with his defense.

"Wade is a pretty creative guy," Reid said. "We have talked to ... [Stewart], but at the same time I know they've made changes."

Since taking over the Cowboys, Phillips is 2-2 against Reid. For his career as a head coach and defensive coordinator, Phillips is 4-5 against Reid.

Roy Williams had two of his best games in Philadelphia.

Going to Philadelphia could rouse Roy Williams from his funk. With Detroit, he had nine catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns at Philadelphia in 2004 and nine catches for a career-high 204 yards and one touchdown in 2007.

S Brian Dawkins is a tough presence to replace in the Philly secondary.

The Eagles have used a three-man rotation his place: rookie Macho Harris, Sean Jones and Quintin Demps. Harris started the first six games, but Jones replaced him for last week's win over the New York Giants. The Eagles have not committed to a starter against the Cowboys.

LB Chris Gocong is doubtful, but Brian Westbrook will be ready.

In other injury news, running back Brian Westbrook was held out of practice on Friday after a strong two days of practice by Reid, but he is expected to play and contribute in a significant manner on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

Wide receiver Kevin Curtis is the only player listed as out.

Rookie seventh-round pick Moise Fokou will start as the strongside linebacker if Gocong is unable to go. Coach Reid said he had plenty of confidence in Fokou to get the job done.

"He's worked hard," Reid said of Fokou. "Even when Chris was healthy, he worked in there during practice."

Cowboys @ Eagles injury report, courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com.

CuJo and K.O. to play against the Eagles?

Based on the special teams practices all week, it appears linebacker Curtis Johnson and wide receiver Kevin Ogletree will both be in uniform for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.

Marion Barber's quad is inching closer to being at full strength.

It could take up to 10 weeks for Barber to be 100 percent, according to the Cowboys. But Wade Phillips said Barber is getting better every week and starting to show some of that old explosiveness.

"He’s got a little more juice," Phillips said. "It’s an injury that you lose strength. It’s not something where you’re going to get injured again. He lost some power in one leg. He could play, and I thought he had his best game last week. He looked good today. I think more and more we’ll see the Marion Barber that we know and love."

Barber blogged about getting ready for the Eagles on his website.

My left thumb is still a little bit jammed from our game in Kansas City. I jammed it pretty good during pass protection but it's alright now. It doesn't affect my ability to carry the ball or anything.

Miles Austin has been coming up big for us recently and it's no surprise to anyone on the team. He's been balling out there and he's gonna continue to do so. We have a lot of guys who can produce and it's a great feeling. We have three guys in the backfield who are all dangerous too. That's a big plus for us because we work really well together. Nobody worries about who gets the touches, we all just want to win. There's no jealousy.

Stephen Bowen's hard work and athleticism are really starting to show this season.

Bowen, who carries 306 pounds on a 6-foot-5 frame, started playing football when he was 7. He said his height was average until the ninth grade, when he had a growth spurt that continued until he was big enough to move from linebacker to defensive line at Hofstra.

Bowen also played running back in high school. As a senior, he amassed 565 yards of total offense and scored four touchdowns.

"A lot of guys think I have good feet, and it's because I wasn't always big," Bowen said.

Bowen's athleticism was on display when he batted down Hasselbeck's pass on third-and-10 from the Dallas 25-yard line during Seattle's opening possession. Had the ball found its way to running back Justin Forsett, he likely would have scored on a perfectly set up middle screen. Instead, the Seahawks had to settle for a field goal.

With his impressive leg strength, David Buehler will reassess what his touchback goals are for this season.

No other team has more than 13 touchbacks. Buehler, who came into the season, with the goal of leading the NFL in the category said it's time to revise his goal.

"Instead of leading the league in touchbacks," Buehler said, "I can try and push past everybody and be in a league of my own."

The series history between these two clubs:

The Cowboys hold a 53-43 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, including a conventional split of last year's home-and-home. Dallas won a 41-37 home thriller when the teams met in Week 2 of last season, but as previously mentioned, were drilled by a 44-6 count with a playoff berth on the line at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 17. Dallas last won in Philly in 2007, coming up a 38-17 winner in a primetime game there.

In addition to their regular season advantage, the Cowboys have a 2-1 edge in the postseason series. The Eagles were 20-7 winners in the 1980 NFC Championship, while Dallas won NFC Divisional Playoff games over Philadelphia following the 1992 and 1995 seasons.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid has a career record of 14-6 against the Cowboys. Dallas' Wade Phillips is 3-2 all-time against both Philadelphia and Reid all- time, with the first of those wins coming in the form of a 26-0 rout for Phillips' Bills over the Eagles in 1999.

Raf breaks down the key matchups in his post here.

Here is the NFL Game Center for the Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles.

If you're away from the TV, but have access to a computer Sunday night, you can watch the game live here.

Vote for some Cowboys to make the 2010 Pro Bowl here.

You've got 21 days left to vote Emmitt Smith on Van Heusen Fan's Choice.

Week 9 Preview: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

2009-11-06T16:14:57Z

Week 9 Preview: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

The Cavalry Has Rescued Dallas AND Philly Lately. Who Gets Saved This Week?

2009-11-06T05:47:16Z

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

Will Witherspoon has spurred a major Eagles' turnaround the last two games. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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The Cowboys and the Eagles

Two bitter rivals, on parallel season tracks. Both opened with impressive wins. Dallas ripped Tampa Bay's suspect secondary. Philadelphia forced seven Panthers turnovers in a walkover.

Both suffered turnoveritis and lost in week two, Dallas in the waning seconds against the Giants and the Eagles in a home shootout with the Saints, who dropped 48 heavy points on their heads. Both suffered painful second losses, with Dallas ending two yards short of overtime in Denver and the Eagles facing the music after an eye-popping and irritating 13-9 loss to the woeful Raiders.

It was the week five games that turned each teams' season around. Dallas found its resolve -- and Miles Austin -- in its sloppy overtime win at Kansas City. The Cowboys got no style points and were abused in the press for "almost losing" to the then winless Chiefs, but the Cowboys level of play has risen dramatically since they escaped Arrowhead Stadium with the W.

Everybody Cowboys fan knows the rest. Tony Romo has regained his zip, the turnovers and penalties have gone way, way down, the pass rush has emerged and the good times have returned, as Dallas has risen from 3-2 to 5-2.

The story is similar in the Eagles' camp. They've patched their mistakes and have also risen from 3-2 to 5-2. Their repair work suggests there is little to distinguish these two teams heading into Sunday Night.

The Eagles faced major injury issues leaving camp. They lost the Andrews brothers, Stacy and Shawn. The team also saw left guard Todd Herremens hobbled by injury. The team has made do on the fly, getting impressive play from RG Max Jean-Gilles, who looked good in '08 before an ankle injury ended his season early, and from Winston Justice, who has been a steady Eddie at right tackle. This is not the same Justice who flailed in his debut at left tackle two years ago, though I do expect Dallas to match Demarcus Ware against him more than usual. (More on this in a moment.)

On defense, the Eagles had to scramble to replace middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, who went on IR after tearing a knee ligament in preseason. The Eagles base 4-3 relies on big MLBs who can mash with centers. Jeremiah Trotter was the prototype at 260 lbs. Bradley weighs 255 and was steadily improving each season.

Philly auditioned several linebackers off its active roster, and brought Trotter out of retirement after Omar Gaither was also lost to injury. Trotter's head and heart may be as willing as ever, but his legs have gone. The Raiders targeted him with lots of tight end crosses in their upset.

That game also brought out the bad Andy Reid. Reid will sometimes fall in love with the pass and forget his running game. The signing of Stacy Andrews in free agency and the trade for LT Jason Peters, a dominant run blocker, were supposed to inaugurate a new era, where the Eagles would hammer the ball behind their massive line, the NFL's largest (Jay Ratliff called it one of the two toughest he's faced) and give Donovan McNabb more support.

That plan was forgotten in Oakland, where Reid again went pass happy early and never came back. He called only 14 runs on his 60 offensive downs, a 24:76 percent run-to-pass ratio.

Pressure focuses the mind. As Romo, Wade Phillips and the Cowboys knuckled down in games six and seven, so did Reid and his Eagles. He's called almost perfectly balanced games the last two weeks, with the run:pass ratio shifting to 51:49. Consequently, his runners have gained over 300 yards on the ground in Philly's two wins.

On defense, the Eagles quickly admitted to themselves that their MLB was not on the roster and worked a deadline trade for former Panthers and Rams standout Will Witherspoon. He has been an instant tonic to their front seven, scoring a touchdown off an interception early in his debut against the Redskins.

The Eagles have regained form with two impressive divisional wins. They've found their play calling balance on offense and their run stopping balance on defense. They're every bit as steady as Dallas. They were ripped for years for saddling Donovan McNabb with pedestrian receivers. Now, they have two speedsters in rookie Jeremy Maclin and big-play man extraordinaire DeSean Jackson, who hasn't found a secondary yet he could not get behind.

McNabb has overcome a fractured rib to post an impressive 9-1 touchdown to interception ratio. They're not beating themselves on offense anymore.

They're taking games away on defense, with a league-best, plus-12 turnover ratio. They got seven opening week and have continued to pilfer footballs. They have a 12-2 turnover edge the last month.

Both teams are in a groove. One may knock the other off-balance, or, we may in due for a classic game.

Key Matchups

Flozell Adams vs.Trent Cole

When Dallas went 13-3 two years ago, Adams shut Cole down. He's the man Cowboys fans love to hate, because of his copious false starts. But when he's on, he can shut down any top rusher. And Flo has been on recently. He stumped John Abraham two weeks ago and has not committed a penalty since K.C.

He's always a liability on the road, because he's deaf in his right ear. This will be his first road game since Arrowhead. I'll gladly take a five yard flag or two if he blocks Cole the way he did Abraham.

Demarcus Ware vs. Jason Peters and Winston Justice.

The Cowboys flop their linebackers a lot, putting Anthony Spencer over the tight end and Ware on the weak side as much as possible. Against Atlanta, they gave the struggling Spencer more rush reps at right end, where he played in college, and it seemed to help him; He looked far more comfortable coming off the QBs weak side and carried that strong performance (he shared a sack and recovered a Matt Ryan fumble) to Seattle, where he showed more power and certainty from his usual left end spot.

The Cowboys will flop Ware and Spencer again, I imagine, looking for Ware's best match-up. Jason Peters has struggled in pass protection, allowing 14 sacks in '07 and '08. He was dinged in the Washington game but returned last week. If Ware gets him early, Dallas may keep Ware on Peters all day. Look however, for the Cowboys to get Ware some early reps against Justice.

Jason Witten vs. Will Witherspoon

The Eagles love to blitz their corners and safeties, meaning WItten will get a lot of man coverage. Look for Dallas to run Witten on deep outs and crosses early, to see how the newbie Witherspoon covers in space.

DeSean Jackson vs. Terence Newman and Ken Hamlin

Jackson is the Eagles' igniter, with six plays of over 50 yards this year. He torched Pacman Jones on a bomb in the week two match-up last year. He got Newman on an early seam route in the season ender which set up the Eagles' second score.

Keeping Jackson in front of the secondary would go a long way towards winning the game, but it's far easier said than done. Dallas will surely give Newman, who has been the targeted Dallas corner lately, help over the top with FS Hamlin. They don't need a big early Jackson pass to help the Eagles off to another quick start.

Miles Austin vs. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel

The Eagles may roll coverage to Austin's side, but that's not their style. They have two big-money corners and they let them play. Brown has been hot and cold in recent years but he's red hot so far this year. Dallas will likely run Austin at Samuel, who plays the ball-hawk in their scheme. He'll give up some big plays going after picks, and he's good at getting them.

Jason Garrett burned both Eagles corners last year with stop and go moves, taking advantage of their aggressiveness. He may use Austin in this same way Sunday night.

The Dallas special teams vs. DeSean Jackson

He's a deadly return man, but the Cowboys coverage teams have been on all year. The winner of this match-up could tip the game.

Tony Romo vs. Eagles' DC Sean McDermott

Romo in the first games against the Eagles, '07 and '08 -- 79 points, two wins.
Romo in second games vs. Philly '06 through '08 (Drew Bledsoe played the first '06 game): 19 points, three losses.

Romo and his OC Jason Garrett have ripped the Eagles in their first meetings the last two seasons. The Eagles have stopped them cold in the rematches. Will the '07 and '08 templates hold, or will we see a wildly different result?

The Cowboys' 'No. 1 Receiver'? All That Matters Is That They Have One

2009-11-06T01:00:30Z

by Charlie Riedel - AP

Who's #1? Who cares, as long as Dallas wins.

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Roy Williams is the fourth-most productive pass-catcher on the Dallas Cowboys, and if the glass is half-full, well, heck ... somebody's got to be No. 4.

We are being inundated this week with mainstream-media panic (not to mention quotes from Roy that make it sound like he's panicking, too) due to what I find to be a collection of disappointing-but-acceptable facts. Example: Roy's 14-catches-of-37-targeted passes is the NFL's lowest ratio.

The numbers are undeniable. But the panic - Williams' quotes qualified him for a breathless lead story on "SportsCenter'' this morning - is unnecessary.

Because it doesn't matter if Roy Williams performs like a No. 1 receiver.

It only matters that SOMEBODY does.

Some quick takes that might calm anyone who cares to listen:

* I believe Roy ran a couple of routes that were destined for failure due to his disinterest. No matter the low level of numbers and no matter the high level of expectations, that is impossible to justify.

* "I'm the No. 1 receiver," Williams says of his pecking-order role in the passing game. "But things are just going No. 2's way."

The MSM is failing to understand this. He doesn't mean "I'm the star.'' He means "I play the X, which is the primary receiver in an offense.''

However ...

* And I think this is the central point here: It doesn't matter who is No. 1 in terms of being targeted, in terms of catching passes or in terms of scoring touchdowns. All that matters is that somebody does.

And somebody is.

Tony Romo's timing with with Roy might be off. But (if you want to find blame) Romo's timing with everyone else seems to be impeccable. Miles Austin (with his NFL-record 482 yards in his first three starts, plus five TDs on his 21 receptions) has vaulted into a vacancy left by Roy.

That wasn't necessarily the Cowboys plan ... though I do recall receivers coach Ray Sherman telling us in training camp that he thought Dallas might have four guys catch 50-to-60 passes and no single guy catching 90-to-100. ... but it's the plan now.

This story - if indeed it really is a story at all - is loaded with sidebar issues. "Roy is the Cowboys' third-highest paid player.'' "Roy cost the Cowboys three draft picks, including a first and a third.'' "Roy's gotta be as good as T.O. was.'' "Jason Garrett needs to figure out how to use him.'' "But he's a good blocker.'' "Roy is overrated.'' "Irvin says he's not receptive to teaching.'' "Maybe they are rolling coverages at him.''

But at this point - the Cowboys have won three straight and are poised to go to Philly on Sunday and really get into this NFC East race - Williams and the Cowboys needn't concern themselves with what might be.

What is will do. And here is what is:

The Cowboys do have an answer atop the receiving totem pole. And when the MSM says, "If the Cowboys want to win big (in Philly and beyond), Roy is going to have to play big,'' the MSM is wrong.

That would be true if he was "the No. 1 receiver.'' But right now, Williams isn't a lousy No. 1. He's a promising No. 4. ...

And maybe the real story here isn't that the Cowboys have "problems'' with an old star receiver, but rather than they have "promise'' with a new star receiver.

Cowboys @ Eagles Injury Update

2009-11-05T22:45:11Z

From ESPNDallas:

Dallas Cowboys

Marion Barber (thumb), Jay Ratliff (knee), Allen Rossum (hamstring), Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb) and DeMarcus Ware (foot) were on the injury report. Only Rossum did not practice, and don't expect him to play Sunday at Philadelphia.

We did notice that Rossum was wearing a practice jersey.

Also, Miles Austin, who tweaked his groin during the Seattle game last Sunday, isn't on the injury report.

Make the jump.

From DC.com:

Philadelphia Eagles

DE Victor Abiamiri (knee -- did not participate)
DT Brodrick Bunkley (knee -- did not participate)
DE Chris Clemons (shoulder, elbow -- did not participate)
G Nick Cole (knee - full participation)
WR Kevin Curtis (knee - out)
LB Chris Gocong (quadriceps, hamstring -- did not participate)
S Macho Harris (ankle - full participation)
G Todd Herremans (foot -- full participation)
DE Darren Howard (ankle -- full participation)
WR DeSean Jackson (foot -- full participation)
G Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder -- full participation)
WR Jeremy Maclin (foot -- full participation)
CB Dimitri Patterson (quadriceps, hand -- full participation)
T Jason Peters (ankle -- full participation)
RB Brian Westbrook (concussion -- full participation)