Dallas must play better defense
Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- There is a simple message for the Dallas Cowboys defense this week after the problems they had stopping Detroit.
"Don't play like that," defensive end Marcus Spears said.
While the Cowboys (12-1) rallied to win in the final minute Sunday at Detroit and clinch the NFC East title, they gave up a season-worst 152 rushing yards. The Lions scored on their first four drives.
If the Cowboys have another performance like this Sunday against Philadelphia in their regular season home finale, Brian Westbrook might single-handedly beat Dallas.
"He's going to get the football. We expect them to try to run it on us since we didn't have great success last week," coach Wade Phillips said. "But he can (also) catch it out of the backfield. So he's a threat."
Westbrook had the last 100-yard rushing game against the Cowboys, on Christmas Day last season. This year, Westbrook is fourth in the NFL with 1,110 rushing yards and tied for fifth in the NFC (matching Terrell Owens) with 74 catches. Westbrook has 12 total TDs (seven rushing, five receiving), second in the NFC behind only Owens' 14.
Still, the Cowboys insist they're not too worried about their recent defensive woes:allowing 27 points in consecutive games, and at least 124 rushing yards in both.
"Are we overly concerned from what happened last week? No. Now there are some corrections to be made, but we're not overly concerned," defensivecoordinator Brian Stewart said Thursday. "It's a long season, you're
not going to play lights-out every game. We had a game where it wasn't a stellar performance. ... There's no panic. We're fine. We played well enough to win."
War of words: Owens and Keyshawn Johnson had an interesting war of words this week.
Both played for Bill Parcells in Dallas, though not together, and both have obviously different opinions of the former coach. Parcells is working again as an ESPN analyst, along with Johnson since the receiver retired from playing after last season.
Johnson said during an NFL pregame show Sunday that Owens needed to quit needling Parcells and give the coach credit for the foundation that was in place for the Cowboys this season. Owens doesn't think Parcells used him properly last year.
"Everybody wants to make a big deal that this is the team (Parcells) built," Owens said. "My thing is give credit to Wade. The difference between Wade and Parcells is this: Parcells, he didn't use me as a playmaker; Wade, he got the staff, and that's what I'm being used as."
Owens also lashed out at Johnson.
"For me, if he's gonna be hater and throw me under the bus, (it's) because he and Bill are real good friends," Owens said. "My thing is, we came out the same year. He was a first-rounder, I was a third-rounder. I'm still playing, he's not. ... I'd challenge him to come out and try to make this team. He'd be a third or fourth receiver at this point."
T-New and T-Glenn:Cornerback Terence Newman returned to practice Thursday, a day after sitting out because of a sore big right toe and a slight knee injury.
"It seems like he will play, looks like he will play," Phillips said. "He looked better today. There's a possibility he will start."
Terry Glenn went through drills for the second straight day, his first workouts since twooperations on his right knee. All seems good with Glenn, but he's not expected to play Sunday.
"It would be unlikely that he would play," Phillips said.
IRVING, Texas -- There is a simple message for the Dallas Cowboys defense this week after the problems they had stopping Detroit.
"Don't play like that," defensive end Marcus Spears said.
While the Cowboys (12-1) rallied to win in the final minute Sunday at Detroit and clinch the NFC East title, they gave up a season-worst 152 rushing yards. The Lions scored on their first four drives.
If the Cowboys have another performance like this Sunday against Philadelphia in their regular season home finale, Brian Westbrook might single-handedly beat Dallas.
"He's going to get the football. We expect them to try to run it on us since we didn't have great success last week," coach Wade Phillips said. "But he can (also) catch it out of the backfield. So he's a threat."
Westbrook had the last 100-yard rushing game against the Cowboys, on Christmas Day last season. This year, Westbrook is fourth in the NFL with 1,110 rushing yards and tied for fifth in the NFC (matching Terrell Owens) with 74 catches. Westbrook has 12 total TDs (seven rushing, five receiving), second in the NFC behind only Owens' 14.
Still, the Cowboys insist they're not too worried about their recent defensive woes:allowing 27 points in consecutive games, and at least 124 rushing yards in both.
"Are we overly concerned from what happened last week? No. Now there are some corrections to be made, but we're not overly concerned," defensivecoordinator Brian Stewart said Thursday. "It's a long season, you're
not going to play lights-out every game. We had a game where it wasn't a stellar performance. ... There's no panic. We're fine. We played well enough to win."
War of words: Owens and Keyshawn Johnson had an interesting war of words this week.
Both played for Bill Parcells in Dallas, though not together, and both have obviously different opinions of the former coach. Parcells is working again as an ESPN analyst, along with Johnson since the receiver retired from playing after last season.
Johnson said during an NFL pregame show Sunday that Owens needed to quit needling Parcells and give the coach credit for the foundation that was in place for the Cowboys this season. Owens doesn't think Parcells used him properly last year.
"Everybody wants to make a big deal that this is the team (Parcells) built," Owens said. "My thing is give credit to Wade. The difference between Wade and Parcells is this: Parcells, he didn't use me as a playmaker; Wade, he got the staff, and that's what I'm being used as."
Owens also lashed out at Johnson.
"For me, if he's gonna be hater and throw me under the bus, (it's) because he and Bill are real good friends," Owens said. "My thing is, we came out the same year. He was a first-rounder, I was a third-rounder. I'm still playing, he's not. ... I'd challenge him to come out and try to make this team. He'd be a third or fourth receiver at this point."
T-New and T-Glenn:Cornerback Terence Newman returned to practice Thursday, a day after sitting out because of a sore big right toe and a slight knee injury.
"It seems like he will play, looks like he will play," Phillips said. "He looked better today. There's a possibility he will start."
Terry Glenn went through drills for the second straight day, his first workouts since twooperations on his right knee. All seems good with Glenn, but he's not expected to play Sunday.
"It would be unlikely that he would play," Phillips said.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:49 AM
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