Cowboys go to Pittsburgh after easy wins
The Associated Press
NEW YORK: The Dallas Cowboys will find out on Sunday whether quarterback Tony Romo, back from his broken finger, can be as effective against one of the NFL's elite teams as he has been against also-rans.
Dallas has won three straight games since Romo returned, but the last two have been at home against the struggling San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. This week, the Cowboys go to Pittsburgh to take on the AFC North-leading Steelers, who beat the New England Patriots 33-10 last week when they forced five straight turnovers to start the second half.
Romo seems fine now, but two of Dallas' best players have injury problems: Linebacker DeMarcus Ware (knee) and running back Marion Barber (foot), although both say they expect to play.
The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a combination of other results, but the Cowboys are basically playing for a wild-card playoff spot; one more win by the New York Giants clinches the division.
"I think we are kind of a nicely boring team," Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Smith said. "We just come out and find a way to win."
That might apply to the Pittsburgh offense. But not the defense, where outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have accounted for 25 1/2 sacks between them. Harrison has 14 sacks, one off the team record, and six forced fumbles, two of them last week against New England.
Still, Dallas' three straight wins after losing in Romo's absence have the Cowboys in a positive frame of mind at 8-4.
"I think the physical health is getting better, but mentally we've got the right approach," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "That doesn't guarantee wins, but what it does for us is help us understand what the challenges are. I think this team is excited about the opportunity it has, and really it's almost kind of like we're the underdog during the whole thing."
Including against the Steelers.
The Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos all can clinch their divisions this week.
New York wins the NFC East by beating the Philadelphia Eagles or if Dallas loses to Pittsburgh. The Giants also clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win.
Arizona wins the NFC West with a win over the St. Louis Rams or a San Francisco loss at home to the New York Jets. Tennessee clinches the AFC South with a victory against the Cleveland Browns or an Indianapolis Colts loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Denver wins the AFC West with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs combined with a San Diego Chargers loss to the Oakland Raiders late Thursday.
The Giants' preparations for Philadelphia have been overshadowed by Plaxico Burress' suspension by the team following his arrest on gun possession charges this week. But New York has won the three games Burress has missed this season by a total of 62 points.
"Every time Plaxico doesn't play, those receivers sure seem to play well," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
The Eagles put themselves in desperation mode by tying the lowly Bengals and losing to the Baltimore Ravens after Reid benched quarterback Donovan McNabb at halftime. So they probably have to win the rest of their games to have a shot at making the playoffs as a wild card. Not easy against a Giants team that's won seven straight, six over winning teams, including a 36-31 victory in Philadelphia less than a month ago.
In other Sunday games, Minnesota is at Detroit; Houston at Green Bay; Atlanta at New Orleans; Jacksonville at Chicago; Miami vs. Buffalo at Toronto; New England at Seattle; and Washington at Baltimore.
On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers meet for the sole lead of the NFC South. Both have 9-3 records.
The Buccaneers beat the Panthers 27-3 last month, and have a 3-1 record within the division, another tiebreaker that could come into play in a three-way race with the Atlanta Falcons. Next week, the Buccaneers play Atlanta, which was a win behind the two leaders.
Steve Smith, whose remarkable catch set up the winning touchdown in a 35-31 shootout against the Green Bay Packers last week, took that win lightly. Not this game.
"It just means we're 9-3," Smith said of the Green Bay win. "It's nothing to go start making T-shirts about. It's just a record. We've got a very good opponent coming in our house on Monday. That's our next focus."
NEW YORK: The Dallas Cowboys will find out on Sunday whether quarterback Tony Romo, back from his broken finger, can be as effective against one of the NFL's elite teams as he has been against also-rans.
Dallas has won three straight games since Romo returned, but the last two have been at home against the struggling San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. This week, the Cowboys go to Pittsburgh to take on the AFC North-leading Steelers, who beat the New England Patriots 33-10 last week when they forced five straight turnovers to start the second half.
Romo seems fine now, but two of Dallas' best players have injury problems: Linebacker DeMarcus Ware (knee) and running back Marion Barber (foot), although both say they expect to play.
The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a combination of other results, but the Cowboys are basically playing for a wild-card playoff spot; one more win by the New York Giants clinches the division.
"I think we are kind of a nicely boring team," Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Smith said. "We just come out and find a way to win."
That might apply to the Pittsburgh offense. But not the defense, where outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have accounted for 25 1/2 sacks between them. Harrison has 14 sacks, one off the team record, and six forced fumbles, two of them last week against New England.
Still, Dallas' three straight wins after losing in Romo's absence have the Cowboys in a positive frame of mind at 8-4.
"I think the physical health is getting better, but mentally we've got the right approach," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "That doesn't guarantee wins, but what it does for us is help us understand what the challenges are. I think this team is excited about the opportunity it has, and really it's almost kind of like we're the underdog during the whole thing."
Including against the Steelers.
The Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos all can clinch their divisions this week.
New York wins the NFC East by beating the Philadelphia Eagles or if Dallas loses to Pittsburgh. The Giants also clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win.
Arizona wins the NFC West with a win over the St. Louis Rams or a San Francisco loss at home to the New York Jets. Tennessee clinches the AFC South with a victory against the Cleveland Browns or an Indianapolis Colts loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Denver wins the AFC West with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs combined with a San Diego Chargers loss to the Oakland Raiders late Thursday.
The Giants' preparations for Philadelphia have been overshadowed by Plaxico Burress' suspension by the team following his arrest on gun possession charges this week. But New York has won the three games Burress has missed this season by a total of 62 points.
"Every time Plaxico doesn't play, those receivers sure seem to play well," Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
The Eagles put themselves in desperation mode by tying the lowly Bengals and losing to the Baltimore Ravens after Reid benched quarterback Donovan McNabb at halftime. So they probably have to win the rest of their games to have a shot at making the playoffs as a wild card. Not easy against a Giants team that's won seven straight, six over winning teams, including a 36-31 victory in Philadelphia less than a month ago.
In other Sunday games, Minnesota is at Detroit; Houston at Green Bay; Atlanta at New Orleans; Jacksonville at Chicago; Miami vs. Buffalo at Toronto; New England at Seattle; and Washington at Baltimore.
On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers meet for the sole lead of the NFC South. Both have 9-3 records.
The Buccaneers beat the Panthers 27-3 last month, and have a 3-1 record within the division, another tiebreaker that could come into play in a three-way race with the Atlanta Falcons. Next week, the Buccaneers play Atlanta, which was a win behind the two leaders.
Steve Smith, whose remarkable catch set up the winning touchdown in a 35-31 shootout against the Green Bay Packers last week, took that win lightly. Not this game.
"It just means we're 9-3," Smith said of the Green Bay win. "It's nothing to go start making T-shirts about. It's just a record. We've got a very good opponent coming in our house on Monday. That's our next focus."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:48 PM
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