Official GDT - Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals

[ty]

Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, October 12, 3:15 P.M. (Central)
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ - FOX



This should be an easy kill on the road to the Super Bowl! Go Cowboys!

^ pun intended.

[alby]

I predict Romo will have his first real breakout game this season. 4+ TDs. Call the fire department, because I'm a flaming Romosexual!

I also predict the defense and/or special teams will score a TD.

41 - Dallas Cowboys
24 - Arizona Cardinals

[FINtastic]

I'm sure hoping so. I've got three pretty darn good fantasy quarterbacks right now with Romo, Cutler, and Warner, but I'm hoping for pretty big things for Romo against that shoddy Arizona secondary.

[FINtastic]

And seriously, why don't we ever have noon games anymore?

[alby]

I think we have one next week if I'm not mistaken, I'm just too lazy to look it up.

[BGMaverick9]

I looked it up, lol.
The next two are noon games. After that, only two more left in the season! Wow.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

I looked it up, lol.
The next two are noon games. After that, only two more left in the season! Wow.

PRIME TIME, BABY!!!!


(gotta let the West Coasters revel in our glory too!)

[BGMaverick9]

They ARE America's Team!

[Underdog]

Cowboys vs. Cardinals
No Matter What Cowboys Must Brace For Cards


GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 p.m. (CDT)
WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TELEVISION: Fox (Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver)

BIG ISSUE: You wouldn't know it by the team's recent media coverage, but the Cowboys will be playing a game on Sunday. While the national media seems to have forgotten that fact, the Cowboys can't afford to make the same mistake. The Cardinals have a potent offense that can keep pace with that of the Cowboys, and they know how to beat teams they're not supposed to beat - just look at last week's 41-17 drubbing of the then-undefeated Buffalo Bills. The Cowboys can't afford to lose focus because of what cornerback Adam Jones did or did not do, no matter how many decorative glass umbrellas are broken. With the way the NFC East is stacked up right now, the Cowboys need to win just to keep pace. If the Giants beat the Browns, they'll be 5-0, and if the Redskins beat the Rams, they'll be 5-1, meaning a Cowboys win would still place them essentially in third place in the NFC East, since Washington currently holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Even with recent events, the Cardinals might see more Cowboys jerseys in the stands than anti-Pacman signs, which are sure to be abundant. So while the Cardinals are undefeated at home so far this season (2-0), Sunday's game might be much less of a home atmosphere than they're used to. Despite being a game behind the Cowboys in the conference standings, the Cardinals are outright leaders in the NFC West. The 49ers are one game out of the lead, but they have the unfortunate task of playing the Eagles on Sunday. But even if the Cardinals lose to the Cowboys, they'll still find themselves atop their division, since they've beaten San Francisco already this season.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: The comparisons between Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner are obvious given their respective rises to stardom. But their numbers are even more similar than their roads to NFL success. Warner's stats are better than Romo's so far this season, although only slightly. Warner has thrown for just more than 100 yards than Romo (1,472 to 1,368), which comes out to only 20 more yards a game. Warner also has the better completion rating (69 percent to 64 percent), and while people think all the Cardinals do is throw the ball, Warner only passes four more times than Romo a game (36 to 32). Romo has a narrow lead in touchdowns (11 to 10), but also has one more interception than Warner so far (5 to 4).

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips has said the Cardinals are tough to beat at home, and recently that's been true. Since Warner has been the starter (midway through last season), the Cardinals are 6-2 at home, winning their last five. And generally, those wins have been big ones - the average margin of victory 15.5 points.

ONE-ON-ONE: Cardinals left tackle Mike Gandy will be trying to stop history on Sunday. Cowboys outside linebacker and sack specialist DeMarcus Ware has recorded a sack in eight consecutive games dating back to last season, and he doesn't plan on ending that streak in Arizona. It probably won't end there, since the Cardinals have given up the 10th most sacks in the league through five games (12). Still, it's not as if Gandy is inept at his position. He's been in the league eight years after coming out of Notre Dame, and has been a fulltime starter since joining the Bills in 2005. Plus, there may be added motivation in playing the team he grew up rooting for when he was in high school in Garland, Texas.

They say the Cowboys offense stops and starts with wide receiver Terrell Owens, but whether it's stopped or started, tight end Jason Witten is productive. Witten hasn't had fewer than six catches in a game all season, and on Sunday, Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson will try and keep that streak from reaching its sixth game. Wilson, although listed as limited on the practice report and questionable for the game, played last week against the Bills despite missing all practices leading up to the game, even if it was mainly on third downs. Still, Wilson is able to deliver huge hits - just ask Bills quarterback Trent Edwards since he's still feeling the effects of the concussion Wilson gave him last week and now Wilson is feeling the effects of a whopping $25,000 NFL fine for the hit. Nonetheless, Witten has taken his share of hard, helmet-removing hits, and is a mismatch against most safeties in the league.

SUPPORTING ROLE: Adam Jones will be starting his second consecutive game in place of the injured Terence Newman, who is out with a slight abdominal strain which could possibly be upgraded to a sports hernia. Jones more than held his own in the defense last week against the Bengals, although he dropped a couple interceptions. If he can get his hands on, and keep them on a few more errant passes this Sunday, he might quiet some of the negative talk about his off-the-field situation.

With starter Anquan Boldin still recovering from a vicious hit he suffered two weeks ago against the Jets, second-year receiver Steve Breaston will be starting in his place. Breaston is more than a capable starter, catching seven balls for 77 yards against the Bills last week to go along with nine catches and 122 yards against the Jets the week before. Until that breakout, Breaston really hadn't made much of an impact in his first two seasons. The Cardinals will also rely on rookie Early Doucet and fifth-year receiver Jerheme Urban, who spent training camp with the Cowboys last year after being on their practice squad in 2006.

HEADSET GAMES: Although the players declined to reveal their game plan for Sunday, one facet of it will include getting Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens more involved. Owens only had three touches last week, one of which was on a running play, and said teams are blanketing him in double- and triple-coverage to take him out of the game. To combat this, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is likely to move Owens around the field more, rather than just lining him up exclusively out wide. By lining Owens up in the slot, or having him motion out of the backfield, the Cowboys can more effectively identify the coverage being thrown at the receiver and figure out how to beat it.

One thing the Cowboys don't want to do is give Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner enough time in the pocket to pick their injury-depleted secondary apart. The Cowboys secondary has played a lot of zone coverage recently, sticking to its mantra of not giving up the big play, but that has come at the cost of fewer sacks, since quarterbacks have been taking more three-step drops and getting the ball out quicker. This week, the Cowboys are likely to try more man coverage. Not only does that disrupt the timing between the quarterback and receivers, but it also takes longer to get open, meaning Warner will spend more time in the pocket. The longer Warner's in the pocket, the longer the Cowboys' pass rushers have to sack him.


HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
There seems to be only two injury options for Cowboys this week - probable and out. The players who are out are no surprise - starting safety Roy Williams (forearm), starting left guard Kyle Kosier (foot), starting cornerback Terence Newman (abdomen) and backup safety Pat Watkins (neck). Listed as probable are starting fullback Deon Anderson (knee), starting center Andre Gurode (ankle), starting tight end Jason Witten (shoulder), backup nose tackle Tank Johnson (ankle) and backup defensive end Stephen Bowen (hamstring). All the probables practiced all week.

Cardinals
The Cardinals are a banged-up club, and have many injury issues going into the game. Only one player is officially out - wide receiver Anquan Boldin (head). Backup tight end Ben Patrick (knee) did not practice all week and is doubtful. Six Cardinals are listed as questionable for Sunday - starting safety Adrian Wilson (hamstring), starting cornerbacks Roderick Hood (groin) and Eric Green (groin), backup defensive end Bertrand Berry (groin), backup linebacker Clark Haggans (groin) and reserve tight end Jerame Tuman (hamstring). Starting tight end Leonard Pope (ankle) participated fully in practice all week and is listed as probable.

[Underdog]

Just Like Old Times
Cowboys Must Beware Of This Throwback Warner


IRVING, Texas - When he came into the league not many gave much thought to a 27-year-old former grocery store bagboy and AFL player.

Now Kurt Warner, 11 years later, has won one Super Bowl, played in another, won two NFL MVP awards and has beaten out the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner for the Arizona Cardinals starting job this season.

Even amid rumors and brief consideration of retirement, Warner leads the NFC in passing and is third in the NFL at age 37.

With top receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, Warner has revived the career thought to be over before it began. Throwing for 1,472 yards and 10 touchdowns so far in five games this season, only Drew Brees and Jay Cutler have thrown for more yards and only Brett Favre and Philip Rivers have a higher QB rating than his 102.5.

Still, Warner understands his football mortality, and especially at his increasing age.

After seeing Boldin taken off on a stretcher following a head-hunting hit a few weeks back against the Jets, Warner sent a text message to his wife saying, "I don't know how much longer I want to do this," then continuing on to say he would evaluate what he wants to do when the season is completed.

"It wasn't a situation where I was ready to retire at that moment in the middle of the season," Warner said the other day in a conference call. "It was really just one of those situations where I have never been up close and personal to something like I saw happen to Anquan (fractured sinus)."

Nevertheless, the 37-year-old quarterback will be under center for the Cardinals this Sunday when they meet the Dallas Cowboys at a sold out University of Phoenix Stadium, the 3-2 Cardinals and in first place in the NFC West trying to knock off the 4-1 Cowboys. And the Dallas defense knows what that means.

"He's a very experienced guy, he's not a guy who's gonna run around a lot," Cowboys outside linebacker and sack leader DeMarcus Ware said. "But if it's 60 plays, they're probably going to pass the ball probably about 50 times a game. His passing rating is very good, he doesn't throw a lot of interceptions - a lot of quick passes. We have a lot on our hands, they're a very high powered offense."

And with the game being played in Arizona, Warner's numbers only get better. He is a career 28-13 when playing home games. But it's not just Warner, the Cardinals have won five straight games at home, including two this season. In those two games, they have outscored their opponents, 72-27.

In the Cardinals' loss to the Jets in Week 4, Warner had issues holding onto the football, though. Not only did he throw three interceptions, but also fumbled the ball four times, losing three of them.

So Warner has enlisted the help of his kids in order to help remind himself how important it is to take care of the football.

"After the Jets game, as I was chasing my kids around the house, I picked up a ball and put it in both hands and try and secure it with both hands," Warner said.

"Just messing around, figuring out that any little thing couldn't hurt as far as getting more comfortable with ball security."

The other goal for Warner and the Cardinals offense is handling the Cowboys' pass rush - especially dealing with DeMarcus Ware, who has a sack in eight straight games.

But the Cowboys defense doesn't expect the Cardinals to change their scheme come Sunday. They expect Warner to take a lot of short drops, allowing him to get the ball out quicker. And there is a good chance the Cardinals, knowing the Cowboys will be without Pro Bowl corner Terence Newman and having to rely on a bunch of youngsters on their change-up defenses, will liberally employ their three-receiver sets.

"What they're doing has been successful, and anytime you're an offensive guy, or quarterback or offensive coordinator and something you've been doing has been real effective you probably wont get away from it," Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said.

So the Cowboys must deal with a veteran quarterback who has revived his career, a throwback to his days with the St. Louis Rams when he made a name and career for himself.

And if he keeps playing at this high level, these other NFL teams will only be hoping he retires.

[DubOverdose]

Anyone have a way for me to watch this game after it is finished? I'll be in flight during the whole game...which includes leaving Dallas, and not coming back for a few weeks.

[FINtastic]

Well this doesn't directly have to do with the game at hand, but the reports are that Newman had surgery and will miss another month of the season. Let's hope this set of cornerbacks play well today because it looks like we'll be seeing them out there for a while. And let's really hope for mercy from Gooddell for young Adam Jones.

Here's the story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

[DirkFTW]

FUDGESICLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Windmill360]

lol what the hell? SERVER TOO BUSY? on a sunday with no mavs game? all around bad start.... no one paying attention anywhere.


We're in trouble. Arizona is a good team and I believe one of the top tier teams in the NFC.

[chumdawg]

Kill me now.

[BGMaverick9]

why has the server been slow?

Dallas looks as lethargic as our server....yup, I said it.

[Windmill360]

We're gonna get blown out. I feel it.

[chumdawg]

Romo needs to take better care of the football. Damnit.

[DirkFTW]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... WTH, TO is not 15 feet tall!

[Kirobaito]

Bruuuutal.

[alby]

LOL ROMO YOU LUCKY S.O.B.

[FINtastic]

I don't mind the interceptions he's had so far (he's on pace right now to have less than last year), but these fumbles need to stop. He's being a little too loose with holding the football and teams are making him pay for it.

[FINtastic]

Come on Boys I have 100 million vCash riding on this game don't make me go down in flames.

[Bayliss]

It's almost as if Dallas believes their own hype. They aren't good enough to just step on the field and win. They have to work.

And if they win today they are back in the driver's seat in the NFC East (technically).

[BGMaverick9]

The question of the year, What has happened to Tony Romo?

Something happened after the Browns game, he hasn't had a solid game since. Numbers might be ok, but he got bailed out on some big plays.

[FINtastic]

It's the succubus he is dating. He's never been the same since she sucked the life out of his soul.

[Windmill360]

un EFFING believable

[chumdawg]

What is the deal with Romo and the fumbles???

[FINtastic]

Seriously Romo?

[Bayliss]

Yep, should have stuck with Underwood.

[alby]

ROMO'S TURNOVER STREAK GOES TO 9 GAMES!

[BGMaverick9]

Some put Romo on a Milk Carton...seriously.

[DirkFTW]

Someone put a boot up Romo's butt right now.

[DirkFTW]

Yikes. TO chewing out Gurode... Please get this stuff together! Thank goodness the D is on or this could be a looot worse.

[alby]

Ratliff, Witten, Ware, McBriar are the only probowlers on this team so far this season IMHO.

[Bayliss]

Romo puts so much pressure on Dallas's defense it isn't even funny. He forces the Dallas's defense to bail his @ss out every damn game.

It will probably cost the Cowboys in the playoffs. Romo has ot to be able to manage a football game. And he still hasn't learned that.

[FINtastic]

Even Barber is sucking today. What is the deal? It's Felix time, we need a spark.

[FINtastic]

And now Witten dropped a gimme. Did anyone show up today? This is pathetic.

[alby]

Hamlin is such a ball hawk.

[FINtastic]

So much for the offensive showdown, both sides are looking pretty atrocious on offense.