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Underdog · 09-28-2009, 07:03 PM

Cowboys vs. Panthers
Cowboys Aim To Bounce Back On National Television

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GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (1-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-2)
WHEN: Monday, 7:30 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TELEVISION: ESPN (Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden)

BIG ISSUE: This is unfamiliar territory for the Cowboys with Tony Romo as the starter. Never have they started a season off worse than 3-0 with Romo under center. After a last-second Cowboys Stadium premiere loss to the Giants last week, it's no coincidence that another primetime, nationally televised game at the new stadium follows. The Cowboys will have a chance to redeem their reputation (and Romo's) by beating a Panthers team that has shown improvement since Week 1.

These Panthers don't seem to look like the 2008 Panthers who went 12-4 and won the NFC South. During Week 1, though, they did look like the Panthers team that played horribly against the Super Bowl-bound Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round of the playoffs, thanks to four interceptions and one fumble lost by quarterback Jake Delhomme. But Delhomme rebounded the next week in the midst of speculation about his job security, throwing for more than 300 yards and a touchdown. So the question remains - which Delhomme will the Cowboys get Monday Night?

NUMBERS, PLEASE: Many comparisons have been made between Delhomme and Romo this week, especially whether the Cowboys quarterback can have a bounce-back performance like his Panthers counterpart did in Week 2. So who historically plays better after a bad game? After games in which he accounted for two or more turnovers, Delhomme averages 225 yards passing, with 1.5 touchdowns, 0.6 interceptions and no fumbles. Under the same criteria, Romo is higher risk, higher reward. He averages 268 yards passing with 1.9 touchdowns, 0.7 interceptions and 0.5 fumbles.

Yes the Cowboys are dead last in the league with no sacks, but the Panthers, with their own sack master in Julius Peppers, isn't far ahead. Carolina has only accumulated two sacks in two games, tied for 24th in the league, and has allowed six. The Cowboys have allowed only one, so it makes sense that Dallas would win the sack battle in this game.

ONE-ON-ONE: The key to the Cowboys getting sacks will not be All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, but his counterpart, Anthony Spencer. Spencer was able to get several quarterback hits during the team's Week 1 game at Tampa Bay, but didn't get as much penetration against the Giants. Ware will be doubled the majority of plays, so it's up to Spencer to beat Panthers right tackle Jeff Otah, in his second year, in order to make more blockers account for him. If the Panthers know that paying too much attention to Ware means Spencer creating havoc, everyone will see a little more one-on-one blocking.

Panthers middle linebacker Jon Beason went to the Pro Bowl last year instead of Cowboys middle linebacker Bradie James, and while Beason didn't have James' sack numbers, he did record three interceptions last year and eight passes defensed. That means Tony Romo will have to be careful when throwing over the middle to his backs or to tight ends when the Panthers drop into zone coverage, because Beason will be there ready to spring up at any moment.

SUPPORTING ROLE: With starting running back Marion Barber listed as questionable for Monday night's game with a quad injury, the Cowboys' other two backs might have to carry a bigger role. Head coach Wade Phillips did not say this week whether former first-rounder Felix Jones would tote the ball more, or whether fellow second-year back Tashard Choice would see an increase in playing time. Choice filled in admirably for the Cowboys when both Barber and Jones were hurt, rushing for 88 and 90 yards against two strong run defense teams in 2008 - Pittsburgh and Baltimore, respectively. Choice may start and do his best Barber impression, leaving Jones as the change-of-pace back, or he may take a back seat to Jones, but he'll get his carries nonetheless, even if Barber plays.

The Panthers' rushing attack hasn't been as potent as last year, but they are still averaging 115 rushing yards a game, good enough for 15th in the league. But running the ball might become a little more difficult with starting fullback Brad Hoover out with a back injury. Now the Panthers running backs, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, will have to rely on fourth-round pick Tony Fiammetta, out of Syracuse, to open holes for them. Whether the six-foot, 242 pound rookie is up to the challenge remains to be seen.

HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys want to do everything possible to make Romo's job easier on Monday night, and that means priority number one is keeping him off his back and untouched in the pocket. That hasn't been a problem so far - the Giants' strong rushers couldn't get consistent pressure - but a player like Peppers, who has one sack in two games, can change that in a heartbeat. So the Cowboys could give Peppers the DeMarcus Ware treatment, doubling him early and often. Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams won't always be stuck on an island against Peppers, and should have help from tight ends and chipping running backs.

As usual, Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is the first option on offense, and Carolina surely will try to get him involved early. The Cowboys have allowed 606 passing yards in the first two games. If they can stop the run as well as they did in Week 2, defending the pass might be the key to winning the game. Since it's Mike Jenkins' turn to start at right corner opposite Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick will be manning the slot only, and he will need to have a rebound performance in order to halt the passing game. Newman will draw Smith in coverage at least some of the time.

HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys

There's only one starter on the injury report: running back Marion Barber, who is listed as questionable with a quad injury. Barber had limited participation in practice all week, and although he's said he'll be ready to go, Phillips maintains that he's a game-time decision. The rest of the injury report consists of rookies. Quarterback Stephen McGee (knee) is probable and should be the inactive third quarterback, and safety Michel Hamlin (wrist) and inside linebacker Jason Williams (ankle) remain out of practice and the game.

Panthers

The Panthers will definitely be down a starter on Monday. Starting outside linebacker Na'il Diggs has already been ruled out with a rib injury. Landon Johnson will likely start in his place. Three Panthers are listed as doubtful, including two starters: fullback Brad Hoover (back), safety Chris Harris (knee), and rookie defensive end Everette Brown (ankle). Everyone else on the injury report is listed as "probable": backup middle linebacker Dan Connor (shoulder), backup running back Mike Goodson (illness), starting tackles Jordan Gross (knee) and Jeff Otah (shoulder), starting defensive tackle Nick Hayden (toe), backup defensive end Charles Johnson (heat), rookie cornerbacks Sherrod Martin (knee) and Captain Munnerlyn (heat), starting wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad (ankle) and Steve Smith (ankle)

09-28-2009, 07:03 PM	#1
Underdog Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 41.21.1 Posts: 36,143	OFFICIAL GDT - Cowboys vs Panthers!!! Cowboys vs. Panthers Cowboys Aim To Bounce Back On National Television link GAME SET WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (1-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-2) WHEN: Monday, 7:30 p.m. (CT) WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas TELEVISION: ESPN (Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden) BIG ISSUE: This is unfamiliar territory for the Cowboys with Tony Romo as the starter. Never have they started a season off worse than 3-0 with Romo under center. After a last-second Cowboys Stadium premiere loss to the Giants last week, it's no coincidence that another primetime, nationally televised game at the new stadium follows. The Cowboys will have a chance to redeem their reputation (and Romo's) by beating a Panthers team that has shown improvement since Week 1. These Panthers don't seem to look like the 2008 Panthers who went 12-4 and won the NFC South. During Week 1, though, they did look like the Panthers team that played horribly against the Super Bowl-bound Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round of the playoffs, thanks to four interceptions and one fumble lost by quarterback Jake Delhomme. But Delhomme rebounded the next week in the midst of speculation about his job security, throwing for more than 300 yards and a touchdown. So the question remains - which Delhomme will the Cowboys get Monday Night? NUMBERS, PLEASE: Many comparisons have been made between Delhomme and Romo this week, especially whether the Cowboys quarterback can have a bounce-back performance like his Panthers counterpart did in Week 2. So who historically plays better after a bad game? After games in which he accounted for two or more turnovers, Delhomme averages 225 yards passing, with 1.5 touchdowns, 0.6 interceptions and no fumbles. Under the same criteria, Romo is higher risk, higher reward. He averages 268 yards passing with 1.9 touchdowns, 0.7 interceptions and 0.5 fumbles. Yes the Cowboys are dead last in the league with no sacks, but the Panthers, with their own sack master in Julius Peppers, isn't far ahead. Carolina has only accumulated two sacks in two games, tied for 24th in the league, and has allowed six. The Cowboys have allowed only one, so it makes sense that Dallas would win the sack battle in this game. ONE-ON-ONE: The key to the Cowboys getting sacks will not be All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, but his counterpart, Anthony Spencer. Spencer was able to get several quarterback hits during the team's Week 1 game at Tampa Bay, but didn't get as much penetration against the Giants. Ware will be doubled the majority of plays, so it's up to Spencer to beat Panthers right tackle Jeff Otah, in his second year, in order to make more blockers account for him. If the Panthers know that paying too much attention to Ware means Spencer creating havoc, everyone will see a little more one-on-one blocking. Panthers middle linebacker Jon Beason went to the Pro Bowl last year instead of Cowboys middle linebacker Bradie James, and while Beason didn't have James' sack numbers, he did record three interceptions last year and eight passes defensed. That means Tony Romo will have to be careful when throwing over the middle to his backs or to tight ends when the Panthers drop into zone coverage, because Beason will be there ready to spring up at any moment. SUPPORTING ROLE: With starting running back Marion Barber listed as questionable for Monday night's game with a quad injury, the Cowboys' other two backs might have to carry a bigger role. Head coach Wade Phillips did not say this week whether former first-rounder Felix Jones would tote the ball more, or whether fellow second-year back Tashard Choice would see an increase in playing time. Choice filled in admirably for the Cowboys when both Barber and Jones were hurt, rushing for 88 and 90 yards against two strong run defense teams in 2008 - Pittsburgh and Baltimore, respectively. Choice may start and do his best Barber impression, leaving Jones as the change-of-pace back, or he may take a back seat to Jones, but he'll get his carries nonetheless, even if Barber plays. The Panthers' rushing attack hasn't been as potent as last year, but they are still averaging 115 rushing yards a game, good enough for 15th in the league. But running the ball might become a little more difficult with starting fullback Brad Hoover out with a back injury. Now the Panthers running backs, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, will have to rely on fourth-round pick Tony Fiammetta, out of Syracuse, to open holes for them. Whether the six-foot, 242 pound rookie is up to the challenge remains to be seen. HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys want to do everything possible to make Romo's job easier on Monday night, and that means priority number one is keeping him off his back and untouched in the pocket. That hasn't been a problem so far - the Giants' strong rushers couldn't get consistent pressure - but a player like Peppers, who has one sack in two games, can change that in a heartbeat. So the Cowboys could give Peppers the DeMarcus Ware treatment, doubling him early and often. Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams won't always be stuck on an island against Peppers, and should have help from tight ends and chipping running backs. As usual, Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is the first option on offense, and Carolina surely will try to get him involved early. The Cowboys have allowed 606 passing yards in the first two games. If they can stop the run as well as they did in Week 2, defending the pass might be the key to winning the game. Since it's Mike Jenkins' turn to start at right corner opposite Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick will be manning the slot only, and he will need to have a rebound performance in order to halt the passing game. Newman will draw Smith in coverage at least some of the time. HEALTH WATCH: Cowboys There's only one starter on the injury report: running back Marion Barber, who is listed as questionable with a quad injury. Barber had limited participation in practice all week, and although he's said he'll be ready to go, Phillips maintains that he's a game-time decision. The rest of the injury report consists of rookies. Quarterback Stephen McGee (knee) is probable and should be the inactive third quarterback, and safety Michel Hamlin (wrist) and inside linebacker Jason Williams (ankle) remain out of practice and the game. Panthers The Panthers will definitely be down a starter on Monday. Starting outside linebacker Na'il Diggs has already been ruled out with a rib injury. Landon Johnson will likely start in his place. Three Panthers are listed as doubtful, including two starters: fullback Brad Hoover (back), safety Chris Harris (knee), and rookie defensive end Everette Brown (ankle). Everyone else on the injury report is listed as "probable": backup middle linebacker Dan Connor (shoulder), backup running back Mike Goodson (illness), starting tackles Jordan Gross (knee) and Jeff Otah (shoulder), starting defensive tackle Nick Hayden (toe), backup defensive end Charles Johnson (heat), rookie cornerbacks Sherrod Martin (knee) and Captain Munnerlyn (heat), starting wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad (ankle) and Steve Smith (ankle) __________________ These days being a fan is a competition to see who can be the most upset when your team loses. That proves you love winning more. That's how it works.