Cowboys' passage anything but smooth against Giants
Congratulate or heckle Spectrum sportswriter Doug Cary about his picks at dcary@thespectrum.com.
The boat to the NFL promised land that players, coaches and fans of the Dallas Cowboys banked on their team riding after a 13-3 finish in 2007 has been shot full of holes with injuries to several key players, including quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.
The boat to the NFL promised land that players, coaches and fans of the Dallas Cowboys banked on their team riding after a 13-3 finish in 2007 has been shot full of holes with injuries to several key players, including quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.
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While Dallas (5-3) hopes to get Romo back after their bye week, can the Cowboys wait that long to find a way to win tough games, like they did with backup QB Brad Johnson at the helm against the Buccaneers at home last weekend? Not that the Cowboys were really playing that well before those key losses to their lineup.
The schedule doesn't ease up for the 'Boys any this week either. They paddle into New York to face the World Champion Giants (6-1, 8½-point favorites), the team that stomped their Super Bowl dreams in last season's playoffs.
Despite the waves they hit in Cleveland a couple weeks ago, the Giants remain on course for, at the very least, a division title. They find ways to win tough games as they did against the Steelers last week.
There's still enough talent on the Cowboys' side to see them navigating a tough test successfully on the road, and the motivation from last season's playoff loss could fuel them too, but are their psyches right to pull off the upset? Can Wade Phillips lead them through adversity, or will their rodeo of injuries prove his undoing as Dallas' head coach with the eye of owner Jerry Jones upon him?
I see the Cowboys eventually weathering the storm, but they won't have enough to withstand the winds of Eli Manning and Giants' defense this week. Giants 26, Cowboys 17
(Home team in CAPS)
MINNESOTA (3-4) 4.5 over Houston (3-4): The Texans are beginning to hit their stride after a slow start. The roller-coaster Vikings are entertaining to watch, but hard to get a grasp on in this crazy picking game. Oh well, here goes É Vikings 23, Texans 20
Jacksonville (3-4) 7.5 over CINCINNATI (0-8): Just when it looked like one team in the AFC South would challenge the Titans, the Jags fall to Cleveland. At least they have someone they can take it out on this week. Jaguars 34, Bengals 6
Tampa Bay (5-3) 8.5 over KANSAS CITY (1-6): The Buccaneers' strong defensive performance went to waste in last week's loss at Dallas. If the Chiefs could only run against the Bucs É but they won't. Buccaneers 19, Chiefs 13
CLEVELAND (3-4) 1.5 over Baltimore (4-3): The Browns are finally showing signs of playing like the 10-win team of a season ago. The Ravens will test the Dawgs' new-found gusto. Still got to pick the home team here. Browns 27, Ravens 23
BUFFALO (5-2) 5.5 over N.Y. Jets (4-3): The Bills are 3-0 at home. The Jets, even with Brett Favre, are 1-2 on the road. Bills 33, Jets 27
Arizona (4-3) 3 over ST. LOUIS (2-5): The favored Cardinals return to their long-lost city to play the Rams. Can the Cards stop battering Ram Steven Jackson, even if he's not 100 percent? Former Rams and current Cardinals QB Kurt Warner will pass, pass, pass on that one. Cardinals 35, Rams 31
BEARS (4-3) 12.5 over Lions (0-7): The law of averages dictate that Detroit Ð 5-2 at this point last season Ð will break through for a win sometime this season. Wonder what week that will happen? Bears 44, Lions 7
TENNESSEE (7-0) 5 over Green Bay (4-3): The Titans silenced more detractors with Monday's win over the Colts. The Packers won't push over in this one, but Jeff Fisher's team continually finds ways to win tough games. Titans 29, Packers 21
DENVER (4-3) 3 over Miami (3-4): Hard to imagine at the beginning of the season that these teams could have close to the same record the way they each began the year. That's life in the crazy NFL this season. Going with what's left of my Orange and Blue heart; Broncos 30, Dolphins 27
Atlanta (4-3) 3 over OAKLAND (2-5): The Falcons' offense isn't as potent away from home, though a few visiting teams have made the Black Hole home this season. Falcons 22, Raiders 17
Philadelphia (4-3) 6.5 over SEATTLE (2-5): Donovan McNabb continues to guide the Eagles under the NFC East radar. Brian Westbrook will help the Philly Birds make another blip on the screen. Eagles 31, Seahawks 21
INDIANAPOLIS (3-4) 6 over New England (5-2): Kind of odd odds the odds makers made (say that five times fast) considering the team's records. It's still hard to let go of Peyton Manning's mystique in Indy and the absence of some Patriot named Tom Brady. Colts 24, Patriots 20
Monday night
WASHINGTON (6-2) 2 over Pittsburgh (5-2): Bet the Steelers didn't think this game would carry much clout when they saw it on their schedule before the season. On the eve of the election, hmmm É to whom shall I cast my vote? Ooh, I know. Redskins 17, Steelers 16
The boat to the NFL promised land that players, coaches and fans of the Dallas Cowboys banked on their team riding after a 13-3 finish in 2007 has been shot full of holes with injuries to several key players, including quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.
The boat to the NFL promised land that players, coaches and fans of the Dallas Cowboys banked on their team riding after a 13-3 finish in 2007 has been shot full of holes with injuries to several key players, including quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.
Building Strength and Muscle without Illegal Substances
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While Dallas (5-3) hopes to get Romo back after their bye week, can the Cowboys wait that long to find a way to win tough games, like they did with backup QB Brad Johnson at the helm against the Buccaneers at home last weekend? Not that the Cowboys were really playing that well before those key losses to their lineup.
The schedule doesn't ease up for the 'Boys any this week either. They paddle into New York to face the World Champion Giants (6-1, 8½-point favorites), the team that stomped their Super Bowl dreams in last season's playoffs.
Despite the waves they hit in Cleveland a couple weeks ago, the Giants remain on course for, at the very least, a division title. They find ways to win tough games as they did against the Steelers last week.
There's still enough talent on the Cowboys' side to see them navigating a tough test successfully on the road, and the motivation from last season's playoff loss could fuel them too, but are their psyches right to pull off the upset? Can Wade Phillips lead them through adversity, or will their rodeo of injuries prove his undoing as Dallas' head coach with the eye of owner Jerry Jones upon him?
I see the Cowboys eventually weathering the storm, but they won't have enough to withstand the winds of Eli Manning and Giants' defense this week. Giants 26, Cowboys 17
(Home team in CAPS)
MINNESOTA (3-4) 4.5 over Houston (3-4): The Texans are beginning to hit their stride after a slow start. The roller-coaster Vikings are entertaining to watch, but hard to get a grasp on in this crazy picking game. Oh well, here goes É Vikings 23, Texans 20
Jacksonville (3-4) 7.5 over CINCINNATI (0-8): Just when it looked like one team in the AFC South would challenge the Titans, the Jags fall to Cleveland. At least they have someone they can take it out on this week. Jaguars 34, Bengals 6
Tampa Bay (5-3) 8.5 over KANSAS CITY (1-6): The Buccaneers' strong defensive performance went to waste in last week's loss at Dallas. If the Chiefs could only run against the Bucs É but they won't. Buccaneers 19, Chiefs 13
CLEVELAND (3-4) 1.5 over Baltimore (4-3): The Browns are finally showing signs of playing like the 10-win team of a season ago. The Ravens will test the Dawgs' new-found gusto. Still got to pick the home team here. Browns 27, Ravens 23
BUFFALO (5-2) 5.5 over N.Y. Jets (4-3): The Bills are 3-0 at home. The Jets, even with Brett Favre, are 1-2 on the road. Bills 33, Jets 27
Arizona (4-3) 3 over ST. LOUIS (2-5): The favored Cardinals return to their long-lost city to play the Rams. Can the Cards stop battering Ram Steven Jackson, even if he's not 100 percent? Former Rams and current Cardinals QB Kurt Warner will pass, pass, pass on that one. Cardinals 35, Rams 31
BEARS (4-3) 12.5 over Lions (0-7): The law of averages dictate that Detroit Ð 5-2 at this point last season Ð will break through for a win sometime this season. Wonder what week that will happen? Bears 44, Lions 7
TENNESSEE (7-0) 5 over Green Bay (4-3): The Titans silenced more detractors with Monday's win over the Colts. The Packers won't push over in this one, but Jeff Fisher's team continually finds ways to win tough games. Titans 29, Packers 21
DENVER (4-3) 3 over Miami (3-4): Hard to imagine at the beginning of the season that these teams could have close to the same record the way they each began the year. That's life in the crazy NFL this season. Going with what's left of my Orange and Blue heart; Broncos 30, Dolphins 27
Atlanta (4-3) 3 over OAKLAND (2-5): The Falcons' offense isn't as potent away from home, though a few visiting teams have made the Black Hole home this season. Falcons 22, Raiders 17
Philadelphia (4-3) 6.5 over SEATTLE (2-5): Donovan McNabb continues to guide the Eagles under the NFC East radar. Brian Westbrook will help the Philly Birds make another blip on the screen. Eagles 31, Seahawks 21
INDIANAPOLIS (3-4) 6 over New England (5-2): Kind of odd odds the odds makers made (say that five times fast) considering the team's records. It's still hard to let go of Peyton Manning's mystique in Indy and the absence of some Patriot named Tom Brady. Colts 24, Patriots 20
Monday night
WASHINGTON (6-2) 2 over Pittsburgh (5-2): Bet the Steelers didn't think this game would carry much clout when they saw it on their schedule before the season. On the eve of the election, hmmm É to whom shall I cast my vote? Ooh, I know. Redskins 17, Steelers 16
posted by The Gryphon at 10:09 AM
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