On the NFL: Dallas can score, but not early
The Cowboys are the NFL's second-best offensive team, but they struggle in the first quarter.
By Mark Craig, Star Tribune
There's an odd trend developing in Dallas that the Vikings might take advantage of today.
The Cowboys are averaging 33.8 points per game, which ranks No. 2 behind New England (38.3). But they also have not scored a first-quarter touchdown all season, and haven't scored a first-quarter point in four consecutive games.
So much for the theory that good teams start quickly.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said part of the problem is the Cowboys haven't been getting certain defensive looks that they've been expecting early on in games. Their scripted plays get all out of whack, and it takes time for offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to make the proper adjustments to a multitude of oddball defensive schemes.
"We're getting new stuff each week and some of the stuff we call is geared to certain things, and then we don't get it," Romo said. "Then we get an idea and we start rolling. I'm sure we're going to try and call different things to get us in position early in games."
The Cowboys' six first-quarter points are tied with Arizona for last in the league. The Vikings, meanwhile, have outscored opponents 21-14.
That's the good news for Vikings fans. The bad news is it's nearly impossible to keep pace with the Cowboys in the second half, when they've scored 132 points. That is more than the total points scored by 23 of the league's 31 other teams.
The Vikings have scored 57 points in the second half and 101 overall.
By Mark Craig, Star Tribune
There's an odd trend developing in Dallas that the Vikings might take advantage of today.
The Cowboys are averaging 33.8 points per game, which ranks No. 2 behind New England (38.3). But they also have not scored a first-quarter touchdown all season, and haven't scored a first-quarter point in four consecutive games.
So much for the theory that good teams start quickly.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said part of the problem is the Cowboys haven't been getting certain defensive looks that they've been expecting early on in games. Their scripted plays get all out of whack, and it takes time for offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to make the proper adjustments to a multitude of oddball defensive schemes.
"We're getting new stuff each week and some of the stuff we call is geared to certain things, and then we don't get it," Romo said. "Then we get an idea and we start rolling. I'm sure we're going to try and call different things to get us in position early in games."
The Cowboys' six first-quarter points are tied with Arizona for last in the league. The Vikings, meanwhile, have outscored opponents 21-14.
That's the good news for Vikings fans. The bad news is it's nearly impossible to keep pace with the Cowboys in the second half, when they've scored 132 points. That is more than the total points scored by 23 of the league's 31 other teams.
The Vikings have scored 57 points in the second half and 101 overall.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:27 PM
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