Cowboys using extra day to scheme for Eagles
By TED MADDEN / WFAA-TV
No NFL team has won more Monday Night Football games than the Dallas Cowboys.
"It's a big deal nationally," says nose tackle Tank Johnson. "It's such a big game to see guys go out there and play when it's the only game in town. "
The Cowboys host NFC East rival Philadelphia Monday night, both teams had dominating performances to open this season giving this game even more meaning.
"Monday Night Football makes it a little special because you know everybody's watching, so you want to put your best performance out there," says defensive end Chris Canty.
If the Cowboys can beat Philadelphia in their home opener, it will give them 41 Monday night wins in their history.
But winning won't be easy.
The Eagles blew out St. Louis, 38-3, Sunday and have been playing well since late last season.
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, the Eagle had three 100-yard receivers and running back Brian Westbrook ran for 91 yards and scored twice.
"You look at them, Westbrook is as important as anybody on their offensive unit," says Canty. "He's in so many diff places, and he's got so many different talents, it makes it hard to key in on him.
"McNabb, when he's playing at his best, he can hurt you outside the pocket, he can hurt you inside the pocket just straight drop back if you don't get any pressure on him, so we got our work cut out for us."
Along with the excitement and the national audience that comes with playing on a Monday night, the Cowboys will also get an extra day of practice and they plan on using it wisely.
"I think you get extra film work, you get extra time to talk about things," says quarterback Tony Romo. "We'll probably get a little more red zone work, things you like to get every week, but you just don't have time."
And it's the same for the defense.
"They do a good job getting the ball to Westbrook and what we want to do is try to bottle him up," Johnson says, "with this extra day that we have, we want to use it to prepare, get this physical part out of the way so we can work on this mental part."
No NFL team has won more Monday Night Football games than the Dallas Cowboys.
"It's a big deal nationally," says nose tackle Tank Johnson. "It's such a big game to see guys go out there and play when it's the only game in town. "
The Cowboys host NFC East rival Philadelphia Monday night, both teams had dominating performances to open this season giving this game even more meaning.
"Monday Night Football makes it a little special because you know everybody's watching, so you want to put your best performance out there," says defensive end Chris Canty.
If the Cowboys can beat Philadelphia in their home opener, it will give them 41 Monday night wins in their history.
But winning won't be easy.
The Eagles blew out St. Louis, 38-3, Sunday and have been playing well since late last season.
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, the Eagle had three 100-yard receivers and running back Brian Westbrook ran for 91 yards and scored twice.
"You look at them, Westbrook is as important as anybody on their offensive unit," says Canty. "He's in so many diff places, and he's got so many different talents, it makes it hard to key in on him.
"McNabb, when he's playing at his best, he can hurt you outside the pocket, he can hurt you inside the pocket just straight drop back if you don't get any pressure on him, so we got our work cut out for us."
Along with the excitement and the national audience that comes with playing on a Monday night, the Cowboys will also get an extra day of practice and they plan on using it wisely.
"I think you get extra film work, you get extra time to talk about things," says quarterback Tony Romo. "We'll probably get a little more red zone work, things you like to get every week, but you just don't have time."
And it's the same for the defense.
"They do a good job getting the ball to Westbrook and what we want to do is try to bottle him up," Johnson says, "with this extra day that we have, we want to use it to prepare, get this physical part out of the way so we can work on this mental part."
posted by The Gryphon at 5:53 PM
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