Cowboy: USA report
Dallas Cowboys
NEWS AND INFORMATION Team report Roster Schedule Depth chart Player notes
IN-DEPTH STATS Overall Home Away Grass Turf
NFC East Standings
W L T PCT PF PA
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1.000 24 10
Dallas 0 1 0 .000 17 24
New York 0 1 0 .000 21 26
Washington 0 1 0 .000 16 19
Team Stat Leaders
Passing Att Cmp Yds TD Int
Bledsoe 33 16 246 1 3
Rushing Att Yds Avg TD Long
J. Jones 17 72 4.2 1 23t
Barber III 3 13 4.3 0 8
Receiving Rec Yards Avg TD Long
Owens 6 80 13.3 1 21t
T. Glenn 4 81 20.3 0 51
Schedule/Results
Date Opponent Score
9/10/2006 at Jacksonville L 17 - 24
Date Opponent Time
9/17/2006 Washington 8:15pm
10/1/2006 at Tennessee 1:00pm
10/8/2006 at Philadelphia 4:15pm
10/15/2006 Houston 1:00pm
10/23/2006 N.Y. Giants 8:30pm
10/29/2006 at Carolina 8:15pm
11/5/2006 at Washington 1:00pm
11/12/2006 at Arizona 4:15pm
11/19/2006 Indianapolis 1:00pm
11/23/2006 Tampa Bay 4:15pm
12/3/2006 at N.Y. Giants 1:00pm
12/10/2006 New Orleans 1:00pm
12/16/2006 at Atlanta 8:00pm
12/25/2006 Philadelphia 5:00pm
12/31/2006 Detroit 1:00pm
All Times Eastern
It's Week Two and the Cowboys' backs are against the wall.
Certainly there are no must wins in the month of September.
But after dropping their season opener to the Jaguars, the Cowboys have a sense urgency going into Sunday's matchup against the Redskins.
It's just losing the season opener.
That's not a death knell. The Cowboys still have time to rebound and become a Super Bowl contender as they hoped.
Remember, Seattle lost their season opener last season and made the Super Bowl. The Patriots got trounced 31-0 by the Bills in 2003 and went on to win the Super Bowl.
The Cowboys know this.
But they also know history is not on their side if they happen to drop game two against the Redskins.
No team that has started 0-2 has made the playoffs the last two years.
And in the Cowboys' tough early season schedule, this game is as much a must win as they come for the Cowboys.
Six of their first nine games are on the road, including three of their first four. This is their only home game in the first month of the season.
Add in the fact that it is a division opponent and their most hated rival, and it is even more crucial.
That the Redskins lost their season opener means both teams will have something to prove.
"It's very important to get something going because the more you go without winning, the more problems it creates for your team's confidence," Parcells said. "It's an important game in that respect.
"It's a division game. Those division games are more important generally than a game like the AFC, which we played last week. It is very important for both teams."
The Redskins game is especially important for the Cowboys and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who is coming off a bad performance in the opener that dates back to last season.
Bledsoe was horrible down the stretch last season when the Cowboys dropped four of their last six.
Now they have lost five of their last seven since starting 7-3.
Parcells said the Cowboys just need to win.
"I think you always try to keep your team on an urgent level," Parcells said. "So we just have to sustain better execution for a longer period of time. That is the most important thing we can do now."
SERIES HISTORY: 93rd meeting. Dallas leads the series 54-36-2. The Cowboys and Redskins have squared off 92 times, with Dallas winning 54 of those contests. The Cowboys have won 14 of the last 18 meetings, but Washington swept the series last season. Dallas' 54 wins over Washington ties Arizona for the most victories over any other team in the league. The Cowboys have faced only one team (Philadelphia — 93) more times than the 92 times they've faced the Redskins. The Cowboys won a series-high 10 consecutive games from 1997-2002. Washington swept the Cowboys last year.
NOTES, QUOTES
—QB Drew Bledsoe is still not using his sore back as an excuse for his poor play in the season opener. He said his back is fine. And believes he will play well against the Redskins after throwing three interceptions against the Jaguars.
"What ultimately defines you as a player is how you respond to (adversity)," he said.
"I've always taken pride in being able to bounce back and keep going forward regardless of what happened. That's what I'm doing now."
—A year ago on Week 2's Monday night in Dallas, "one of the greatest moments in sports for me" took place, according to Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs. There were the Cowboys, on top 13-0 with 5:58 left in the game. And there was fleet Santana Moss with 39- and 70-yard TD catches from Mark Brunell in the final 3:46 for a shocking 14-13 Washington victory.
"You've got to learn to close the show," said Dallas head coach Bill Parcells. "We didn't do that." It was the first Washington triumph in Dallas in 10 years (1995), and Gibbs' first win in his last nine meetings with Parcells. Three months later, he tacked on another in a 35-7 Redskins victory for their first series sweep in 10 years.
—The Cowboys own a 31-14-1 record in home openers, including a 24-10 record at Texas Stadium. Dallas has had streaks of seven (1975-81), six (1965-70) and six (1994-99) straight home opening victories. The Cowboys have been victorious in 10 of their last 16 home opening contests. Sunday marks the eighth time the Cowboys have hosted the Redskins in a home opening game. This is just the first time Dallas will host a home opener on Sunday night.
—The Dallas Cowboys have played on Sunday night 26 times and hold a 10-13 record. This week's game marks the first time Dallas has opened their home schedule on the Sunday night stage. The Cowboys have played a game on Sunday night nine times in the last 10 seasons and have faced 14 different teams on Sunday night, taking on the Cardinals the most — four times. Dallas has lost their last seven games when playing on Sunday night.
—During his 18-plus years as an NFL head coach, Bill Parcells coached teams have faced the Washington Redskins 25 times. Parcells coached teams have recorded a 15-10 record against the Redskins, including a victory by his 1986 Giants team in the NFC Championship Game on their way to the Super Bowl XXI title. Parcells coached teams have posted a 13-8 record against Joe Gibbs coached teams.
BY THE NUMBERS: Fun or unusual quick stat, like 26 different starting offensive lines in 1999.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Yes, sure thing. I've always believed that the human being only responds to one thing and that's pressure. Some respond favorably and others respond negatively. I believe that, Ok. And the people that say pressure doesn't affect me one way or another, they just haven't had the right kind of pressure yet." — Cowboys coach Bill Parcells on pressure being a good thing for quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES
—QB Drew Bledsoe is still not using his sore back as an excuse for his poor play in the season opener. He said his back is fine. And believes he will play well against the Redskins after throwing three interceptions against the Jaguars.
"What ultimately defines you as a player is how you respond to (adversity)," he said.
"I've always taken pride in being able to bounce back and keep going forward regardless of what happened. That's what I'm doing now."
—LT Flozell Adams missed last season with a knee injury and then was hobbled throughout the preseason with calf strain. Yet, leading up to last week's season opener, he repeatedly told coach Bill Parcells he was fabulous when asked about his condition. Adams was less than fabulous against the Jaguars, allowing two sacks and committing a holding penalty. Parcells will not take his word for it this week. He said Adams would have to show him something in practice to earn a start against the Redskins on Sunday.
—WR Terrell Owens opened his Cowboys career by leading the team in receptions with six catches for 80 yards and a 21-yard touchdown reception at Jacksonville.
—RB Julius Jones averaged 4.2 yards-per-carry in the opener with a 23-yard first quarter touchdown run. Jones came into the season with a 4.0 career average.
—WR Terry Glenn: After leading the NFC in yards-per-reception in 2005 with an 18.3-yard average, Glenn picked up where he left off by averaging 20.3 yards on four catches at Jacksonville.
—SS Roy Williams registered the Cowboys' first takeaway of the year at Jacksonville with his second quarter interception of a Byron Leftwich pass.
—CBs Anthony Henry and Terence Newman led Dallas in tackles in the season opener at Jacksonville with eight and seven stops respectively.
—LB DeMarcus Ware, who led the Cowboys in tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year (11), returned to form in the opener by again topping all Dallas defenders in tackles behind the line of scrimmage with two.
—CB Terence Newman has always saved his best for the Redskins. He has 28 tackles — including one tackle for a loss, six pass deflections and five interceptions in six games — including 10 stops @ Washington (9/27/04). He had three interceptions at Washington (12/14/03). Five of his 11 career thefts have come against Washington, including one in three of the last five games.
GAME PLAN: Clearly, the Cowboys must cut down on their penalties and avoid game-turning miscues. That means quarterback Drew Bledsoe must take care of the ball. They will use the run game to try to set up the pass against the Redskins, particularly considering how much Redskins strong safety Sean Taylor likes to bite down on the run. Defensively, the Cowboys must stop Clinton Portis and the ground game and find a way to limit big plays from receiver Santana Moss.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Redskins WR Santana Moss vs. the Cowboys secondary. Moss, one of the league's most dangerous receivers, burned the Cowboys last year with two touchdowns in the final moments of a comeback victory. The Cowboys haven't forgotten. Just in case they needed extra motivation to play well, they can use their suspect play in the season opener against the Jaguars.
—Cowboys WR Terrell Owens vs. the Redskins cornerbacks. The Redskins might be playing without their top cover man in Shawn Springs. He missed the season opener and is questionable for the Cowboys. Owens would be a tough cover for Springs but he is certainly licking his chops if Springs is not there.
"I am looking forward to the challenge," Owens said. "I am sure they are too. They know what they are going to get from me on Sunday."
INJURY IMPACT: WR Jamaica Rector is listed as questionable with a sprained ankle. But he practiced all week and should play against the Redskins. He is the team's primary punt returner.
NEWS AND INFORMATION Team report Roster Schedule Depth chart Player notes
IN-DEPTH STATS Overall Home Away Grass Turf
NFC East Standings
W L T PCT PF PA
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1.000 24 10
Dallas 0 1 0 .000 17 24
New York 0 1 0 .000 21 26
Washington 0 1 0 .000 16 19
Team Stat Leaders
Passing Att Cmp Yds TD Int
Bledsoe 33 16 246 1 3
Rushing Att Yds Avg TD Long
J. Jones 17 72 4.2 1 23t
Barber III 3 13 4.3 0 8
Receiving Rec Yards Avg TD Long
Owens 6 80 13.3 1 21t
T. Glenn 4 81 20.3 0 51
Schedule/Results
Date Opponent Score
9/10/2006 at Jacksonville L 17 - 24
Date Opponent Time
9/17/2006 Washington 8:15pm
10/1/2006 at Tennessee 1:00pm
10/8/2006 at Philadelphia 4:15pm
10/15/2006 Houston 1:00pm
10/23/2006 N.Y. Giants 8:30pm
10/29/2006 at Carolina 8:15pm
11/5/2006 at Washington 1:00pm
11/12/2006 at Arizona 4:15pm
11/19/2006 Indianapolis 1:00pm
11/23/2006 Tampa Bay 4:15pm
12/3/2006 at N.Y. Giants 1:00pm
12/10/2006 New Orleans 1:00pm
12/16/2006 at Atlanta 8:00pm
12/25/2006 Philadelphia 5:00pm
12/31/2006 Detroit 1:00pm
All Times Eastern
It's Week Two and the Cowboys' backs are against the wall.
Certainly there are no must wins in the month of September.
But after dropping their season opener to the Jaguars, the Cowboys have a sense urgency going into Sunday's matchup against the Redskins.
It's just losing the season opener.
That's not a death knell. The Cowboys still have time to rebound and become a Super Bowl contender as they hoped.
Remember, Seattle lost their season opener last season and made the Super Bowl. The Patriots got trounced 31-0 by the Bills in 2003 and went on to win the Super Bowl.
The Cowboys know this.
But they also know history is not on their side if they happen to drop game two against the Redskins.
No team that has started 0-2 has made the playoffs the last two years.
And in the Cowboys' tough early season schedule, this game is as much a must win as they come for the Cowboys.
Six of their first nine games are on the road, including three of their first four. This is their only home game in the first month of the season.
Add in the fact that it is a division opponent and their most hated rival, and it is even more crucial.
That the Redskins lost their season opener means both teams will have something to prove.
"It's very important to get something going because the more you go without winning, the more problems it creates for your team's confidence," Parcells said. "It's an important game in that respect.
"It's a division game. Those division games are more important generally than a game like the AFC, which we played last week. It is very important for both teams."
The Redskins game is especially important for the Cowboys and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who is coming off a bad performance in the opener that dates back to last season.
Bledsoe was horrible down the stretch last season when the Cowboys dropped four of their last six.
Now they have lost five of their last seven since starting 7-3.
Parcells said the Cowboys just need to win.
"I think you always try to keep your team on an urgent level," Parcells said. "So we just have to sustain better execution for a longer period of time. That is the most important thing we can do now."
SERIES HISTORY: 93rd meeting. Dallas leads the series 54-36-2. The Cowboys and Redskins have squared off 92 times, with Dallas winning 54 of those contests. The Cowboys have won 14 of the last 18 meetings, but Washington swept the series last season. Dallas' 54 wins over Washington ties Arizona for the most victories over any other team in the league. The Cowboys have faced only one team (Philadelphia — 93) more times than the 92 times they've faced the Redskins. The Cowboys won a series-high 10 consecutive games from 1997-2002. Washington swept the Cowboys last year.
NOTES, QUOTES
—QB Drew Bledsoe is still not using his sore back as an excuse for his poor play in the season opener. He said his back is fine. And believes he will play well against the Redskins after throwing three interceptions against the Jaguars.
"What ultimately defines you as a player is how you respond to (adversity)," he said.
"I've always taken pride in being able to bounce back and keep going forward regardless of what happened. That's what I'm doing now."
—A year ago on Week 2's Monday night in Dallas, "one of the greatest moments in sports for me" took place, according to Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs. There were the Cowboys, on top 13-0 with 5:58 left in the game. And there was fleet Santana Moss with 39- and 70-yard TD catches from Mark Brunell in the final 3:46 for a shocking 14-13 Washington victory.
"You've got to learn to close the show," said Dallas head coach Bill Parcells. "We didn't do that." It was the first Washington triumph in Dallas in 10 years (1995), and Gibbs' first win in his last nine meetings with Parcells. Three months later, he tacked on another in a 35-7 Redskins victory for their first series sweep in 10 years.
—The Cowboys own a 31-14-1 record in home openers, including a 24-10 record at Texas Stadium. Dallas has had streaks of seven (1975-81), six (1965-70) and six (1994-99) straight home opening victories. The Cowboys have been victorious in 10 of their last 16 home opening contests. Sunday marks the eighth time the Cowboys have hosted the Redskins in a home opening game. This is just the first time Dallas will host a home opener on Sunday night.
—The Dallas Cowboys have played on Sunday night 26 times and hold a 10-13 record. This week's game marks the first time Dallas has opened their home schedule on the Sunday night stage. The Cowboys have played a game on Sunday night nine times in the last 10 seasons and have faced 14 different teams on Sunday night, taking on the Cardinals the most — four times. Dallas has lost their last seven games when playing on Sunday night.
—During his 18-plus years as an NFL head coach, Bill Parcells coached teams have faced the Washington Redskins 25 times. Parcells coached teams have recorded a 15-10 record against the Redskins, including a victory by his 1986 Giants team in the NFC Championship Game on their way to the Super Bowl XXI title. Parcells coached teams have posted a 13-8 record against Joe Gibbs coached teams.
BY THE NUMBERS: Fun or unusual quick stat, like 26 different starting offensive lines in 1999.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Yes, sure thing. I've always believed that the human being only responds to one thing and that's pressure. Some respond favorably and others respond negatively. I believe that, Ok. And the people that say pressure doesn't affect me one way or another, they just haven't had the right kind of pressure yet." — Cowboys coach Bill Parcells on pressure being a good thing for quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES
—QB Drew Bledsoe is still not using his sore back as an excuse for his poor play in the season opener. He said his back is fine. And believes he will play well against the Redskins after throwing three interceptions against the Jaguars.
"What ultimately defines you as a player is how you respond to (adversity)," he said.
"I've always taken pride in being able to bounce back and keep going forward regardless of what happened. That's what I'm doing now."
—LT Flozell Adams missed last season with a knee injury and then was hobbled throughout the preseason with calf strain. Yet, leading up to last week's season opener, he repeatedly told coach Bill Parcells he was fabulous when asked about his condition. Adams was less than fabulous against the Jaguars, allowing two sacks and committing a holding penalty. Parcells will not take his word for it this week. He said Adams would have to show him something in practice to earn a start against the Redskins on Sunday.
—WR Terrell Owens opened his Cowboys career by leading the team in receptions with six catches for 80 yards and a 21-yard touchdown reception at Jacksonville.
—RB Julius Jones averaged 4.2 yards-per-carry in the opener with a 23-yard first quarter touchdown run. Jones came into the season with a 4.0 career average.
—WR Terry Glenn: After leading the NFC in yards-per-reception in 2005 with an 18.3-yard average, Glenn picked up where he left off by averaging 20.3 yards on four catches at Jacksonville.
—SS Roy Williams registered the Cowboys' first takeaway of the year at Jacksonville with his second quarter interception of a Byron Leftwich pass.
—CBs Anthony Henry and Terence Newman led Dallas in tackles in the season opener at Jacksonville with eight and seven stops respectively.
—LB DeMarcus Ware, who led the Cowboys in tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year (11), returned to form in the opener by again topping all Dallas defenders in tackles behind the line of scrimmage with two.
—CB Terence Newman has always saved his best for the Redskins. He has 28 tackles — including one tackle for a loss, six pass deflections and five interceptions in six games — including 10 stops @ Washington (9/27/04). He had three interceptions at Washington (12/14/03). Five of his 11 career thefts have come against Washington, including one in three of the last five games.
GAME PLAN: Clearly, the Cowboys must cut down on their penalties and avoid game-turning miscues. That means quarterback Drew Bledsoe must take care of the ball. They will use the run game to try to set up the pass against the Redskins, particularly considering how much Redskins strong safety Sean Taylor likes to bite down on the run. Defensively, the Cowboys must stop Clinton Portis and the ground game and find a way to limit big plays from receiver Santana Moss.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Redskins WR Santana Moss vs. the Cowboys secondary. Moss, one of the league's most dangerous receivers, burned the Cowboys last year with two touchdowns in the final moments of a comeback victory. The Cowboys haven't forgotten. Just in case they needed extra motivation to play well, they can use their suspect play in the season opener against the Jaguars.
—Cowboys WR Terrell Owens vs. the Redskins cornerbacks. The Redskins might be playing without their top cover man in Shawn Springs. He missed the season opener and is questionable for the Cowboys. Owens would be a tough cover for Springs but he is certainly licking his chops if Springs is not there.
"I am looking forward to the challenge," Owens said. "I am sure they are too. They know what they are going to get from me on Sunday."
INJURY IMPACT: WR Jamaica Rector is listed as questionable with a sprained ankle. But he practiced all week and should play against the Redskins. He is the team's primary punt returner.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:16 PM
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