Dallas Cowboys 24/7

The Cowboys netted 502 yards on offense in dominating the 0-4 St. Louis Rams 35-7 Sunday afternoon. After a slow, and often stomach-churning, start to the game, Dallas came out in the second half pumped up. Tony Romo threw for 339 yards with 3 touchdowns and1 interception. Most spectacular for Romo were his runs: one a high-snap that he bobbled on the turf before finally picking it up, avoiding a huge deep yardage sack, and running at least 30 yards for a first down. It was magical to see him do it. The play is a sure sign of winning teams that dominate games. This is how Dallas played during the Super Bowl years.

Patrick Crayton had a career day. After his disappointing dropped pass in the end zone last week, he came back on a mission. He caught 7 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Jason Witten had another great game with 6 catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.

The only score for St. Louis was a punt return for a touchdown. St. Louis had opportunities early to make this game competitive longer. But horrible play calling and a bizarre replay call from Rams head coach Scott Linehan sort of tucked this game away for the Cowboys. Plus, leaving Bulger in, with the banging he took, was just awful coaching. DeMarcus Ware had a sack, and Greg Ellis had 1.5 sacks on his first game back since a bad heel injury.

The Dallas Defense continues to improve, but there were some matters to be concerned about. The run defense was questionable at times, but the D made plays when they really, really mattered. The secondary was pretty good, but it had some plays that led to big Ram plays that could have made this game a lot more competitive if Bulger was hitting all cylinders. Ken Hamlin had probably the easiest INT of his life, when the Rams were driving, already down 28-7.

Although it looked as if Dallas may fall into the trap here, they didn't. The second half was pure domination from a team that is the strongest in the NFC, better than the Green Bay Packers, who are also undefeated.

I just hope Dallas can continue this winning stride. They play Buffalo next, and then the Patriots, Vikings and Eagles. That's a tough 3-game run. And we'll still have Green Bay later down the schedule in what could be the pre-NFC Championship matchup.

Notes: Isaac Bruce, the Rams WR who guaranteed a win, had 1 single catch. Yeah, that teaches him for opening his mouth. He'll have the foot out of it some time next week.
It is going to be an exciting year. We play some great teams coming up and all of this good fortune could turn around real fast. Terence Newman was injured in the first half. Little was said about his injury. Huge problem is he is gone or injured for a long period of time, which is one week for these Cowboys already playing on this CBs.

Greg Ellis gets his first sack of the year in his first game back from a season-ending injury last year, and the Dallas D starts the second half upbeat. Let's see how the offense does.

On the first series of the second half, Patrick Crayton scored on a 59-yard touchdown run. Wow. Horrible coverage defense left a wide open field for Crayton after the catch and a missed tackle. Good to see Crayton come back after that dropped TD pass last week. 21-7 Dallas

Rams get the ball back and do nothing. Rams Head Coach Linehan is a bonehead. He calls for a replay on an obvious no catch. I have a good friend who is a Rams fan and he complains all the time about the pitiful play calling and that Linehan does crap like this every game. This guy should be canned, now.

Dallas gets the ball again Crayton quickly scored another touchdown!!! I knew I should have started him!!!! Damn! The pass was perfect and Dallas leads 28-7.

Well, it becomes apparent that the Rams are awful, have poor coaching and no leaders. Why they keep Bulger in this game the way he is ailing is beyond me. So, with the Rams driving, Bulger thows a horrible pass and Hamlin has his easiest INT ever. I am going to stop with the updates and come back after the game is over.

Patrick Crayton is having a career day with 174 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Dallas leads 28-7 and driving.....

The Rams looked as if they wouldn't capitalize on the INT until a 3rd and long throw to Isaac Bruce. That hurt. It was a breakdown by Dallas and good execution by the Rams. The INT Drive continues. On 3rd and 5, a blitz rushed a pass that went out of the end zone. Rams MISSED a short field goal, and that horrible red zone offense continues. Dallas is lucky and it is still 0-0.

On the Cowboys first series of this quarter, the offense continued to sputter at first. But three passes in a row after a seven yard JJ run sparked some movement. Tony Romo recovered well after the INT and led Dallas to their first touchdown. He threw some great passes, chiefly one to Crayton. JJ gets his first touchdown of the year!!!! Good for him. Dallas 7 Rams 0

Rams get the ball again and they still can't move the ball. They may get one decent play, and did, but they cannot capitalize on it any further. Punt, with another penalty on the Rams.

Dallas gets the ball again. I sense a score. Did I just see that right? Two Barber stuffs in a row? I guess so. Shocking. Dallas can't move the ball and punt.

The punt was a disaster and Dante Hall scores.

Dallas 7 Rams 7

With 2:11 seconds left before half time, Dallas gets the ball back. Dallas opened the field up with some short passes. Then the center snaps the ball high over Romo's head. This leads to an amazing play by Romo, who avoids Rams players and runs for a first down. It was an amazing play, one that even made T.O. laugh. It was the highlight of the game so far. Tony Romo is for real.

Right after the Romo play, Crayton goes for 19 yards on a wide open catch. Witten gets 11 more and with 26 seconds left, we're at least in field goal distance. On 3rd and 10 and ROMO SCORES with a run, untouched, his second scoring run of the season! Dallas leads 14-7.

"And he goes nowhere."
That was the case for Julius Jones and his two carries for the Cowboys' first series. Two rushes in a row for 1 yard. Pathetic. He's is not waiting for any blocks to develop and he's being tackled too easily.

On the Rams first offensive series, a 3rd down and 6 conversion reaped no reward after a D-Ware sack left the Rams with 3rd and 19. A punt returns the ball to Dallas.

On the Cowboys second series, T.O. got his first catch, after a bomb sailed out of bounds. Julius Jones gets another 2-yard run. On 2nd and 8, Romo is sacked on a blitz. Now it's 3rd down and 16. A pass to T.O. was too high but nearly caught. Personally, T.O. should have caught that pass. Punt.

On the Rams second series, they ran the ball well. But the drive fizzled on another D-Ware tackle on a backside pursuit. Rams ran the ball on a 3rd and long, which made absolutely zero sense. Rams fans moan about the horrible playcalling, and that was one.

Cowboys third series was uneventful and an overturned T.O. catch on 3rd down killed the drive.

On the Rams third series, Anthony Henry sustained some sort of right leg injury. But the Rams go nowhere and punt.

Terence Newman makes a big mistake on the punt and leaves Dallas to start on its first yard line. Barber gets the ball and almost breaks it, and runs for 7 yards.

On the final play of the first quarter, Romo throws his third INT of the year. Rams run it back in deep into Dallas territory.

Score: 0-0

"And he goes nowhere."
That was the case for Julius Jones and his two carries for the Cowboys' first series. Two rushes in a row for 1 yard. Pathetic. He's is not waiting for any blocks to develop and he's being tackled too easily.

On the Rams first offensive series, a 3rd down and 6 conversion reaped no reward after a D-Ware sack left the Rams with 3rd and 19. A punt returns the ball to Dallas.

On the Cowboys second series, T.O. got his first catch, after a bomb sailed out of bounds. Julius Jones gets another 2-yard run. On 2nd and 8, Romo is sacked on a blitz. Now it's 3rd down and 16. A pass to T.O. was too high but nearly caught. Personally, T.O. should have caught that pass. Punt.

On the Rams second series, they ran the ball well. But the drive fizzled on another D-Ware tackle on a backside pursuit. Rams ran the ball on a 3rd and long, which made absolutely zero sense. Rams fans moan about the horrible playcalling, and that was one.

Cowboys third series was uneventful and an overturned T.O. catch on 3rd down killed the drive.

On the Rams third series, Anthony Henry sustained some sort of right leg injury. But the Rams go nowhere and punt.

Terence Newman makes a big mistake on the punt and leaves Dallas to start on its first yard line. Barber gets the ball and almost breaks it, and runs for 7 yards.

On the final play of the first quarter, Romo throws his third INT of the year. Rams run it back in deep into Dallas territory.

Score: 0-0

Well, he we are in Week 4 of the NFL season. Here's my predictions:

Houston vs Atlanta
I am not sure why several people are picking Atlanta to win and several fantasy experts are telling me to sit Matt Schaub. Why? Atlanta is not good. They will win probably just three games this year. With that said, Houston is a much-improved team. They look good but one important factor in this improved season is the play of WR Andre Johnson, who has a bum shoulder. So, the game will be closer. Houston 14 Atlanta 10

Jets vs Buffalo
It's hard to believe the Bills are 0-3 after almost beating the Broncos in Week 1. It's the defense, which has just been bad for the Bills this year. Losing rookie linebacker Posluszny doesn't help. The Bills have won three of the last five against the J-J-Jets. But they won't win today. Expect Jets TE Chris Baker to get another TD, sending the fantasy freaks in a frenzy to grab him, and a win for the Jets 21 Buffalo 14.

Baltimore vs Cleveland
Baltimore is one of the worst 2-1 teams in the NFL. Their offense is crap and Steve McNair only has 1 touchdown. Meanwhile, every Cowboys fan on Earth is hoping the Cleveland Browns lose every single game left because we have their first round pick. So, to remain consistent, the Ravens are going to win this game, and let's hope McNair's leg doesn't fall off.
Baltimore 24 Cleveland 10

Chicago vs Detroit
I think the big Dallas win last week really hurt the Bears. Their defense is in shambles with all of the key injuries. But the quarterback change with Griese could spark a fire underneath this offense. Highly unlikely, but it could. Then there is Detroit, with magic man John Kitna, who sustained a concussion this year only to return in the final quarter to win the game. If Detroit wins, they stay a game behind the Packers. If they lose, they fall two games behind, as will the Bears. I think the Lions pull this out only because of the Bears injuries on defense. Detroit 28 Chicago 20

Oakland vs Miami
With Trent Green at the helm, not many figured Miami would be this bad. But they are. Oakland, however, looks slightly improved, but not great. So you would think this game is a toss up. It is. I say pick the team with the most rushing yards, and that would be the Raiders. Jordan has a 5.1 yards per carry with 350 yards so far this season. Ronnie Brown has 177 yards. Yuck.
Oakland 28 Miami 24

Green Bay vs Minnesota
Does Green Bay finally got a loss this week? The Packers don't seem to have much of a running game, so if the Vikings concentrate on Favre and the passing game, they very well may get crushed with the running game that the Packers don't seem to have. The Packers have won three of the last four games in Minnesota. Will they make it four? Well, I know Favre will break the all-time touchdown record. But he'll also throw a couple of interceptions. And the Vikings defense likes to score. In fact, I predict the Viking defense scores to win this game. Green Bay 24 Minnesota 27.

Tampa Bay vs Carolina
David Carr gets his first start for Carolina. Both teams are fighting for the division lead in what might be the worst division in the NFL. Both the Saints and Falcons stink. I suspect the Panthers will give the ball a lot to Deshaun Foster, who will increase his 5.2 yards per carry with a decent game. Sit Cadillac Williams; he won't get much. The running game will be key in this matchup, and the Panthers win it. Tampa Bay 17 Carolina 31

San Fran vs Seattle
San Fran has to win this game if they are going to do anything this year. The Seahawks have dominated this division for the past few years and it appears they could do it again if the 49ers don't pick it up. Frank Gore has been unspectacular this year, and Shaun Alexander has a bad wrist. It's hard to run and carry the football when your wrist is broken. But I still have a hard time picking the 49ers right now. Alex Smith is barely passing above .500 and Hasselback is solid. Seattle 24 San Fran 20

Pittsburgh vs Arizona
Pittsburgh has been a big surprise this year. Arizona has not. In comes old-timer Kurt Warner to see if he can better utilize what looks like on paper as an amazing corp of receivers for the Cardinals. Willie Parker is going to get the ball to slow this game down a bit. But the Steelers haven't gone 4-0 since 1979 and that's a long, long time ago. Steelers 41 Cardinals 21

Denver vs Indianapolis
If Denver is any good, you'd figure they'll have to beat the Colts. Are they any good? It's hard to say. But when you compare Jay Cutler to Peyton Manning you can't help but want to pick the Colts. Addai is looking solid again and yet Travis Henry has a 5 yard per carry stat right now. But the Colts still have Adam Vinatieri, a clutch kicker who won the game for the Colts last year. He'll do it again. Denver 34 Colts 37

Kansas City vs San Diego
San Diego will pick it up for this game and defeat one of the worst teams in football. LT needs to have a good, no a great, game this week. Maybe it will boost this team and catapult them to stardom again. It's hard to believe how bad the Chargers look right now. The Chiefs are hopeless.
Kansas City 17 San Diego 34

Giants vs Eagles
Was Donovan McNabb amazing last week or what? I think he found his groove after a season-ending injury last year. Meanwhile, the Giants have somehow been able to remain competitive, and they beat the Redskins last week. But the Giants have too many injuries this week, with Burress and backup RB Ward hurt. That's too much for the Giants to win. Eagles 35 Giants 14

New England vs Cincinnati
The Patriots got a breath of new life with the smart pick up of Randy Moss in the off season. He's performed like his Viking days. A majority of folks is picking the Patriots to win it all, but it is way too early. We know Cinci is not going to win anything. They just can't get a rushing attack going. New England has one. Just too many weapons. Patriots 38 Bengals 17

Cowboys vs Rams
Ahh, yes. Isaac Bruce guaranteed a win in this game. In three hours we'll find out what this guy is made of. Listen, the Rams won't win this game. Although their defense is ranked 7th in the league, that doesn't mean a whole lot when you look at whom they've played. The Cowboys offense is potent and the Rams haven't faced players like this yet. Then, on the Rams offense, QB Marc Bulger has two broken ribs and RB Steven Jackson is not playing with a bad groin. How in the world will the Rams win this game? Only if the Dallas secondary has a complete fall out. It won't.
Dallas 38 Rams 21

Rams head coach Scott Linehan says here that Jason Witten is "one of the best weapons in football."

Jason Witten, a five-year veteran, is on his way to attaining career highs in all stats. He has 14 catches for 233 yards and 16.6 yards per catch, which is incredible.

Tony Romo and the Dallas offense has been able to use Witten miraculously well. We haven't had a tight end perform like this since Jay Novacek. I couldn't agree more with Linehan's assessment. Witten is a great weapon on the Dallas offense.

Here is a comparison of Novacek's and Witten's stats:

Witten

Career Stats			Receiving								Rushing					Fumbles
Season	Team	G	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	Lng	YAC	1stD	TD	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD	Fum	FumL
2003	Dallas	15	35	347	23.1	9.9	36	3.1	18	1	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
2004	Dallas	16	87	980	61.3	11.3	42	4.0	44	6	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	2	1
2005	Dallas	16	66	757	47.3	11.5	34	4.4	40	6	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
2006	Dallas	16	64	754	47.1	11.8	42	4.1	37	1	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
2007	Dallas	3	14	233	77.7	16.6	38	6.1	12	2	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
Career		66	266	3071	46.5	11.5	42	4.1	151	16	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	2	1

Novacek

Year  TM |   G |   Rec  Yards   Y/R   TD |
+----------+-----+-------------------------+
| 1985 stl |  16 |     1      4   4.0    0 |
| 1986 stl |   8 |     1      2   2.0    0 |
| 1987 stl |   7 |    20    254  12.7    3 |
| 1988 pho |  16 |    38    569  15.0    4 |
| 1989 pho |  16 |    23    225   9.8    1 |
| 1990 dal |  16 |    59    657  11.1    4 |
| 1991 dal |  16 |    59    664  11.3    4 |
| 1992 dal |  16 |    68    630   9.3    6 |
| 1993 dal |  16 |    44    445  10.1    1 |
| 1994 dal |  16 |    47    475  10.1    1 |
| 1995 dal |  15 |    62    705  11.4    5 |
+----------+-----+-------------------------+
|  TOTAL   | 158 |   422   4630  11.0   29 |

Witten's stats are much stronger than Novacek's. What made Novacek so great was how he always made catches in the clutch, and he was a great third-down receiver. Teams still double covered Irvin, and it allowed Novacek to find seams in the defense.

I just visited Witten's Myspace page. His song playing is by Terrell Owens. Yes, I said T.O. I didn't know he's a rapper. "And I've got to say WOW boy."

I love glancing at opposing teams' blogs to read what the fans are saying before and after a match-up against Dallas. The Miami fans were especially funny after the loss.

But these Rams fans, all seven of them in the world, actually think they have a chance to win this game Sunday. How exactly do they think they can win?
Hail Mary. Yes. Hail Mary. Throw the bomb to Tory Holt or Isaac "I guarantee a win" Bruce. Or to one of their four tight ends. And do it all game. Forget the fact that Marc Bulger has two broken ribs and DeMarcus Ware may break three more.

This game plan sounds good to the Rams fans because they saw the Giants game in Week 1. Now, keep in mind that the Giants game was Wade Phillip's first game as head coach of the Cowboys. It was Jason Garrett's first game as offensive coordinator. It was Brian Stewart's first game as a defensive coordinator. To say the Cowboys may come out of the shoot a little rusty wouldn't shock most fans.

But what all the naysayers fail to see is how the Dallas Cowboys have improved each week. In Miami, they manhandled the Dolphins in the second half. In Chicago, they creamed the Bears. It wasn't even close. They place a lot of blame on Wrecks Grossman, but it's misplaced. Where was that Pro Bowl, Super Bowl defense? And where was their hardcore, hard hitting running back to pull some of the pressure of Wrecks? We destroyed the defending Super Bowl NFC team.

So, when the Rams come to Dallas this Sunday, I hope the Rams fans and the rest of the world takes a real hard look at this Dallas Cowboy team. Only one time did we start the season 3-0 and finish like a turtle, and that was in 1999.

So, to quote the famous, or possibly infamous, Dennis Green: The Dallas Cowboys "are who we thought they were!"

I'm not sure if everyone has heard it yet but there's a pretty big rumor floating that Tony Romo's new agent, Tom Condon, has requested a guaranteed $30 million to be included in a new Romo deal. Romo is a free agent after this year and many believe he will be tagged as the franchise player, which means he'll get at least $10.7 million for one year.

If Condon asks for that kind of money, it would put Romo in the same category as Peyton Manning, for whom Condon is also an agent. How ironic. Manning is signed to 2012. His largest salary will be in 2010 at $15.8 million. One league source allegedly said Condon and Romo would have accepted Matt Schaub-range money, which is six years, $48 million with $7 million guaranteed and $20 million over three years if something had gotten done before the season started. But that is impractical to think the Cowboys management would do that.

I am one of the fans who argued against giving Romo a longterm contract after his performance last year, and said the management should wait. It's a dicey proposition and one the Cowboys have failed on too many times over the past 10 years. Quincy Carter, Drew Bledsoe and Drew Henson all stunk it up.

I couldn't imagine losing Romo next year. But these agents are pugnacious and can squeeze blood from turnips. I think they ruin the game. But then again, I think I have been a horrible negotiator for my own pay, and if I had an agent maybe I'd me making a few thousand more (which is millions more in football terms).

So, the question is: How will Romo handle this? How will the Cowboys handles this? A 10-year, $90 million deal? A 7-year, $85 million deal? A five-year, $75 million deal? Will Romo hold out? Will he fight? Will mid-season negotiations screw everything up? Or will we move smoothly and sign him mid-season so that everyone is happy.

After three games, Romo appears to be the real deal. But is he worth $100 million dollars?

Will the insanity ever end? First, it was Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce predicting his team would be beat Dallas. They lost. Then it was Jason Taylor in Miami making similar predictions. They got crushed. The Bears decided to keep their mouths closed. Still crushed.

However, today I got wind of the funniest prediction of the year. You can read it here. Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce has 14 catches for 179 yards and ZERO touchdowns this year. He plays on a Rams team that many picked to win the division. The Rams are 0-3 and look like a Division II college team. Their defense is awful. Their offensive line is riddled with injuries. Yet, Isaac Bruce has the audacity to say: "I guarantee a win this week."

Is he kidding? Usually mild mannered, Bruce has lost his cool. If there were any people who thought Dallas may overlook this match up, you might as well stop. This is certainly going to be stamped on the bulletin board Sunday morning to remind the Cowboys that the woeful Rams think they can beat them.

Stephen Jackson is the only bright spot so far on this team, and he only has 3.4 yards per carry right now. AND HE'S NOT EVEN PLAYING! To make matters worse, QB Marc Bulger has two broken ribs because he's been sacked eight times already.

One of my best friends is a Rams fan. He refuses to watch them this year. "I hate this team," he told me Sunday night. He dislikes the coach, he is tired of Tory Holt, he's annoyed with the injuries, and he's angry the Rams did NOTHING to improve its defense from last year. The special teams still stinks, too.

How could anyone pick the Rams over Dallas this Sunday?

The Rams Blog has nothing about this Bruce Prediction, probably because he is too embarrassed to even print such drivel. I only print it as fodder for the game and readers, because I like to offer some form of comedic value time to time.

Any football fans who had doubted Dallas can rest assured tonight that this team is once again a force in the National Football League.

Romo led the charge of an offense that slowly, but surely dismantled a very tough defense. Romo avoided the pass rush and made some amazing moves to keep drives alive. He was spectacular. The only major error in the entire game was Patrick Crayton's dropped ball in the endzone. Minus the penalties, the performance was stellar. The Bears lost four Pro Bowl starters in this game.

More surprising is how the defense played. Anthony Henry is well on his way to becoming a Pro Bowler. Demarcus Ware finally got a sack--two to be exact--and rookie Anthony Spencer got one too. He is ensuring himself security when Greg Ellis finally does return from injury.

At halftime, I was concerned with where exactly the Cowboys would be able to take this game. The refereeing was questionable in the first half, which makes this win that more impressive.

The Dallas Cowboys crushed the defending NFC champions and showed a national audience that America's Team is back.

Marion Barber had another spectacular performance, ending with a 54 yard run and a 1-yard touchdown. He tied an NFL record of eight straight games with more than 6 yards per carry.

T.O. had eight catches for 145 yards. The Bears just couldn't cover him.

Anthony Henry had another awesome game, amassing two interceptions including one for a touchdown that wrapped this game up.

The Cowboys were allowing an average of 386 yards on defense but they held the Bears to 230 yards of total offense.

The bad: 12 penalties for 100 yards is not going to help us farther in the season. We can just live with the fact the Flozell Adams is going to have at least two damn penalties a game, but the rest of the team can shape up.

Dallas is going to make a point to keep the ball out of Hester's hands. And on the first kick off, they kicked it out of bounds. Sure beats a 100 yard touchdown run.

Right off the bat, the Bears are running over Dallas. But the defense recovers on a nice run tackle, pass defense and pass rush for a 4th and 8 punt.

On Dallas' first offensive series, it became apparent quickly that Romo may not be able to avoid sacks like he has against the Giants and Dolphins. The Bears defense is the fastest in the league.

No score on both first series.

I was tempted not to use this post to make predictions, instead using it to make some in-depth, widely acclaimed piece on the Cowboys, but I just don't have it in me this morning. I'm on my vacation. But, this is my 100th blog post, and that's something to cheer about.

Now on to the predictions:

Arizona vs Baltimore
Arizona is an improved football team but not that improved. It's a wonder to me how with Edgerrin James and a receiver corps the likes of Fitzgerald and Boldin and QB Matt Leinhart that this Cardinals haven't convinced anyone they're a powerhouse. It's because they're not--yet. Meanwhile, the Ravens have just looked horrible, partially because they are trying to win with an old, crippled quarterback. So far, McGahee has been a wash for the Ravens, and if he can't pick it up expect a pretty awful season for the birds this year.
Cardinals 23 Ravens 13

San Diego vs Green Bay
Listen, don't jump on the GB bandwaggon just yet. I'm not a believer right now. Just too lucky. San Diego on the other hand has probably surprised every fan out there with their slow start. LT has been a non-factor, at least when rushing yards have a lot to do with winning. He'll pick it up today. And Brett Favre will throw 3 INTs to help his team lose this one.
San Diego 24 Green Bay 17

St. Louis vs Tampa Bay
The Rams...oh the Rams. Their defense is awful and in the off season, they did very little to improve it by picking up a halftime starter from the Lions. Yikes. And if the Rams offense isn't grinding it out then it is a recipe for disaster. Tampa Bay isn't much better but they looked great last week and could surprise all of us with a decent season this year. Doubt it. Watch the Rams rebound today in a big way.
Rams 35 TB 30

San Fran vs Pittsburgh
To me, this game is a toss up because I cannot figure out how either team will eventually end up this year. On paper, I want to point to San Fran and say they are better, but I can't. Big Ben started this season a lot better than last year. And San Fran has looked mediocre, still unsure if Alex Smith is 'the one.' I don't think he is.
Pittsburgh 24 San Fran 10

Detroit vs Philly
Detroit is inspired by no other than John Kitna. He's like their force and he'll win some games for them, like today. See, the Eagles just don't have a team. And I fully expect McNabb to whine all year and be traded by the end of the year. The Ravens could use another old quarterback. The Lions are for real in my opinion because they can strike like a good team strikes. When I say "for real" I mean they won't finish below .500 again.
Detroit 27 Philly 20

Miami vs NY Jets
No one should win this game. It may be a tie. Both stink, and the odor is bad. Miami, as we all know, got it handed to them last week. And the Jets looked just as bad. But I still believe the Jets are a better team here, only slightly. The score should show this.
Jets 13 Miami 10

Buffalo vs New England
Gosh I wish the Bills could win this, but they can't. The Patriots by far have looked like the toughest team in the NFL, but nothing is permanent and a lot can change over the next 14 weeks. But not today. Tom Brady is going to have a real good game again, as will Randy Moss, who is playing like a Pro Bowler.
New England 38 Buffalo 14

Minnesota vs Kansas City
Minnesota is starting Kelly Holcomb at QB, as if this is going to help at all. I mean come on, what are they thinking? Funny thing is, they could start me at QB and win this game. The Chiefs are probably the WORST team in the NFL. But the Vikings will show today that the Chiefs can play ball and compete. If you're a fan of either of these teams, expect to be bored...and disgusted.
Vikings 21 Chiefs 17

Colts vs Houston
I told you all Houston is for real. But so are the Colts. The Colts almost blew it against the Titans last week. And Houston is actually a better ball team this year. Can they do it? Let me say this: If the Texans do win today, consider them a true contender finally and an NFL powerhouse team. If the Colts slide by again, we may end up seeing them in the Super Bowl again. But Andre Johnson is a game-time decision. He's awesome. If he doesn't play, who the hell will Schaub pass to? No clue. But the Colts are healthy and they'll barely win this one.
Colts 31 Houston 30

Cincinnati vs Seahawks
The Seahawk era is officially over. And the Bengals can't seem to get their new era off the ground. I am confident the Bengals win this one, but I am not confident to say by how much. So, I will go out on a whim and say Chad Johnson has 3 TDs.
Bengals 21 Seahawks 10

Cleveland vs Oakland
Wow, Cleveland looked great last week. And the Raiders can't seem to pull one out. Expect another squeaker for the Raiders, but they'll pull this one out at home in the worst NFL stadium.
Oakland 21 Cleveland 19

Jaguars vs. Denver
Denver is just getting bye and that's scary for any fan. Travis Henry has looked good for Denver but the RB duo in Jacksonville hasn't done much, which is why this team is struggling. You can't reply on David Garrard to win the games for the Jags. I think you can rely on Jay Cutler though. Denver 23 Jags 13

NYGiants vs Deadskins
Yuck. Watching this game will be like watching the World Knitting Championships. Neither team has a real offense, but the Deadskins do have a better defense. Still though, the Giants can win this game. And they will. Jason Campbell is going to throw a few INTs to lose this game for the Deadskins. Clinton Portis will break a leg.
Giants 9 Deadskins 7

Carolina vs Atlanta
Carolina is going to rebound after a tough loss to the Texans last week. Atlanta went out and grabbed Byron Leftwich to eventually replace Joey Harrington, who probably couldn't start on the Oregon Ducks right now. I like Jake D. to have a big game and Steve Smith to do all the catching.
Carolina 28 Atlanta 10

Dallas vs Chicago
The night game ought to be a doozy. And I am going to change my prediction. I think Barber and Jones will have a great game and the Dallas offense will just overpower the Bears defense with a mixture of pass-run plays, confusing them to all hell. Will we score 45 points? No. But we will score the most points on the Bears this year, and we'll also intercept Rex GROSSman a few times to to win it.
Dallas 29 Bears 17

Tennessee vs New Orleans, Monday night
I predicted New Orleans would be a dump team this year. No matter how awesome they looked, something just didn't seem right with that team. The Titans, however, are coming back again, fresh with a new QB who isn't disappointing anyone. New Orleans has to win one and I do think this is the week. Expect Reggie Bush to get a few screen plays for long runs.
NO 24 Titans 21

Sunday night's game against the Bears will be the Cowboys' first big test. What's been a high-powered offense will face a speedy, quality defense ranked as one of the best. It seems Dallas is the underdog in this game, and that's fine with me. The Bears are favored by 3 points.

Why? Dallas is 24-12 in the month of September when they play as the underdog and 15-9 when the road underdog. This bodes well for the Cowboys. Also, no matter how awesome the Bears' D is, the offense is very poor. Why this team continues to stick with Rex Grossman is beyond me. With 220 yards a game, they rank second to last in the NFL. They scored 20 points on a horrible Kansas City team and just 3 against a struggling Chargers team that were lit up last week by the Patriots.

Dallas 23 Bears 17

As I head for vacation to San Fran, I am lucky enough to have a pitstop at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, at which I have never been. Should I look for something special here during my 3 hour holdover?

Anyway, while I am waiting for my plane in Richmond, I thought I'd bring up the news that embattled former Bears tackle Tank Johnson says he'll be a Cowboy after his suspension for a weapons-related probation violation ends. He is suspended for the first eight games.

As ESPN says, Johnson has never been a nose tackle, but you can bet your bottom dollar that's why we are eying the defensive player. The season-ending injury of Jason Ferguson was a crushing blow to an already injury-riddled team. Although Jay Ratliff has filled in nicely for the Cowboys, the powers-at-be obviously feel as if they need to shore up another player for that position as a safety net. I'm OK with that, even though I've seen no action to secure another cornerback or even a receiver after Crayton's mangled finger.

Personally, I would think we need a larger force for this run-stopping position. Johnson is about the same size as Ratliff, at 300 pounds. Johnson had 3.5 sacks last year for the Bears and 22 solo tackles. The Bears picked Johnson with their second pick in the 2004 draft. He played at Washington U.

I don't think adding TJ to the team will cause any friction. If he screws up, we dump him. I think the team right now has a solid mindset and plays well together. Even T.O. is behaving and that's a huge signal. I think this team wants to prove something to former Coach Bill Parcells, that his 80s coaching style doesn't work anymore and that if he just changed his mindset a little bit he may have had another ring. I just hope Johnson is working out and in good shape, ready to play for a contender, which is what we are.

Atlanta Falcons QB Joey Harrington has made some interesting comments during post-season press conferences so far this season. Somehow, this guy has become the leader of this woeful team. Don't ask me how. But tonight's press conference just made me laugh.

I feel a bit bad for him. The guy has been sacked 13 times in two games and seven times today. Ouch. "It happens," he says. "It's not discouraging. There's a difference. It's not discouraging. It's frustrating."

Poor guy.
"We know we can move the ball. We've shown that. Now it's a matter of finishing off some of those drives."

The press continued to hound him on the team's performance. What ticks me off is no one should be surprised this team stinks after the Vick fiasco.

"We've got to play better," Harrington says.

What's happening to Harrington right now reminds me of the hard times with the Cowboys. It was hard to watch the change of quarterbacks and the losses. I am lucky enough to have been able to see Dallas during one of their most powerful and best eras. I'm not ready to say Dallas wins the NFC, but I am feeling pretty good going into Week 3 against the Bears.

Dallas is 2-0 for the first time since 1999.

Highlights: Another great game from Tony Romo, who looks more comfortable in the pocket. Marion Barber had 14 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns including a 40-yard jaunt, the longest of his career. Romo was 14 for 29, 189 yards and 2 touchdowns. T.O. was the leading receiver with five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. The defense played better, with four interceptions and two sacks. Although the secondary still had problems, the turnovers helped even it out. Anthony Henry had two interceptions and Ken Hamlin had his first of the year.

The troubling: The offense sputtered for awhile, partially from an ineffective Julius Jones, who ran the ball 15 times for 32 yards. He looked awful once again. The Miami run defense was tough to break through and we just tired them out at the end.

Overall, Dallas was able to win this game because of five Miami turnovers.

Next week will be a real tough match as we head to Chicago to play the Bears. If we beat them, we're the top team in the NFC.

MVP goes to Marion Barber III and Anthony Henry.

The final minutes of the game.....

I walk away to get my dinner and Green throws a lob pass to Hagan for a TD. Did the secondary give up for that series? What bothers me about this play is the receivers were covered. The corners and safeties just didn't stay with the receivers and Hagan got open as Roy Williams drifted away. Dallas 30 Miami 20 with 3:26 left.
Dallas barely gets the onside kick back and it's time to run the clock out with Marion Barber. WOW, did I get that right!! Marion Barber scored on a 40 yard touchdown for his second of the night and the longest TD run in his career. Dallas 37 Miami 20

Dallas gets the back and gives it to JJ for for yards. Ugh. A quick pass to Hurd didn't work and was scary looking. On 3rd and 6 Barber gets about a yard. On 4th and 4 Dallas can either go for it or give Folk a 51 yard field goal chance. I say give the field goal a chance. Dallas goes for it and TOUCHDOWN to T.O.!!! What a call by offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Dallas leads 30-13.

Miami second series and on the second place Anthony Henry picks off his second pass of the game!!! Henry beats Chambers to the ball and jumps right in front of it, falling to the ground. Great play.

Dallas gets the ball back and it's time to put this game away: JJ gets tackled behind the line, again. On 1st and 22 Jones gets it again for a yard. On 2nd and 20 Romo runs for 18 yards with no one near him. He could have possibly gotten the first down but he went down to be safe. On 3rd and 3 JJ gets the ball again and DAMN IT he is tripped up for a 2 yard gain. He brings it inside when the outside was wide open. Horrible. Punt.

Miami's first fourth quarter series: On 1st and 15, Green is almost intercepted by Henry. On 2nd and 15 Green passes to Chambers for 7 yards. On 3rd and 8 Roy Williams brings down Jesse Chatman on a nice arm tackle, saving a first down run. Miami punts.

Dallas starts the fourth quarter with the ball. On 1st and 10 Romo runs it for 8 yards after a play action play. On 2nd and 2 Barber gets four yards on a second effort run. On 1st and 10 Flozell Adams gets his second false start. On First and 15 Barber runs for 10 on the left side. On 2nd and 5 Barber gets pummeled by Renaldo Harris for no gain, or maybe Barber pummeled him after I watched the replay. On 3rd and 5 Romo throws to Sam Hurd for a first down but an offensive pass interference and holding calls brings it back. On 3rd and 15 another false start, this time on Marc Columbo. On 3rd and 20 Romo throws out of bounds after getting hit at the knees. Nick Folk for 47 yards is good!! That's his longest field goal of the season. Dallas leads 23-13.

THIRD QUARTER (Miami turnovers keep Dallas in this game, and in the lead)

Dallas gets the ball right back for its fourth series and Romo throws the ball away deep. On 2nd and 10 Barber only gets three yards but he stays on his feet. The Miami run defense is tough. On 3rd and 7 Romo throws to T.O. for a first down. Third quarter ends.

On Miami's fourth series Chris Chambers was wide open for 23 yards. Anthony Henry is nowhere to be found and Ken Hamlin is late again. On 1st and 10 Green fumbles the snap and J. Ratliff RECOVERS.

On Dallas' third series after a turnover, Marion Barber runs for five yard to the right. On 2nd and 5 Romo has no one to pass to and he runs for no gain. On 3rd and 5 Romo avoids some several almost-sacks and throws to T.O. in the endzone, but he drops it out of bounds. Romo might have been better of holding on to that. Rookie kicker Folk gets his second field goal. Dallas leads 20-13.

On Miami's third series Ted Ginn is tackled shy of the 15 yard line on great kick off coverage. On 1st and 10 Jacque Reeves finally has a nice play, breaking up a pass to Chris Chambers. On 2nd and 10 Booker gets a first down on a 16 yard catch. Once again, horrible pass coverage and this appeared to be Henry. On 1st and 10 Green overthrows right into the hands of Ken Hamlin for his first INT. He returns it for 35 yards.

Dallas' second series starts with a band on Crayton's 55 yard kick off return. We begin at the Dolphins 30. However, a Dolphins penalty negated what was a negative-run punt return earlier. On 1st and 10 Romo has all day to complete a 14 yard pass to Witten. JJ is stuffed again for two yards. On 2nd and 8 Romo is pressured and throws it off to Crayton, but it's over his head. However, Dolphins get called for a pass interference call. Crayton was held and he very well may have caught the pass if not held. On 1st and Goal we have three TEs and WOW!!!! Romo, while almost sacked, throws it to TE Tony Curtis for a TD. Romo was nearly sacked and throws it to Curtis just as he gets smacked in the face. Dallas leads 17-13. 4:41 left

On Miami's second series, Dallas gets a penalty on the punt return. On 1st and 10 a quick pass to Chambers ends with a Demarcus Ware tackle. Boy, Ware has been silent and hasn't been a factor in this game yet. On 2nd and 4 Brown gets two yard up the middle. On 3rd and 2 Dallas could use a big stop here. The play: Green's pass it tipped and Miami has to punt. Finally, a defensive stop.

On Dallas' first series in the second half they start at the 19 yard line. On 1st and 10 Romo throws to a triple-teamed Witten. Huh? T.O.was in one on one coverage wide open. On 2nd and 10 Romo throws to Hurd for a first down, and Hurd's second catch. On 1st and 10 JJ is stuffed for a 3 yard gain. 2nd and 7 and FB Oliver Hoyte drops a short pass. 3rd and 7 Romo had plenty of time to pass but throws a little high for T.O. who can't make the catch and takes a big hit after the drop. Punt.

Miami starts the third quarter. On 1st and 10 Ronnie Brown runs through a big hole for a gain of 12. A play action pass to Chambers is good for 13 yards and another first down. On 1st and 10 Ronnie Brown runs up the middle for eight more yards. On 2nd and 3 Browns initially looked like he might be stuffed but he finds a hole and gains enough for a first down. On 1st and 10 Chambers makes a nice 9 yard catch on poor pass coverage from Jacque Reeves. Brown gets the ball again for no gain. On 3rd and 1 Green gets his second QB sneak for a first down. On 1st and 10 TE David Martin gets another first down. What the hell was Roy Williams doing? He blitzes right into a blocker and Martin is wide open. On 1st and 10, Ginn gets a hand off for a 3 yard loss. On 2nd and 13 Booker scores a touchdown on a 18 yard pass. Booker had some nice inadvertent foot work to stay in bounds. Horrible pass coverage from Jacque Reeves again, as he was completely beat and out of position. Miami takes 13-10 lead.

SECOND QUARTER (Crayton injures pinky, possibly broken. Report is Crayton is on the sidelines and will play. Thanks Silver&Blue4Life for the details)
Dallas has 10-6 halftime lead. Barber scores only touchdown. Dallas D looks much improved.

Highlights: Bradie James is stuffing Ronnie Brown. Anthony Henry had a great coverage INT. The pass rush has improved and we are rushing Green on some passes. But, there are still holes in the secondary.

Romo has looked great in the pocket. T.O. despite his one drop has been money. Witten hasn't been a huge factor yet.

On Miami's fourth series Green throws a duck to Hagan but he's out of bounds. Chatman gets a nine yard run. On 3rd and 1 Green QB sneaks for a first down. 1:21 seconds left in the second quarter. On 1st and 10, incomplete pass to Booker. 2nd and 10 Green throws too high to rookie Ted Ginn, no good. On 3rd and 10 Booker is wide open in the middle for a first down to the Dallas 42. WHERE IS THE SECONDARY? No pass rush either. Hamlin is backing up as if he is playing deep prevent and backs himself 10 yards out of the play. 1st and 10 Green escapes a sack and then tosses the ball for a gain of 1. On 2nd and 10 Green fires a nice pass for a first down to Chris Chambers. 29 seconds left and Miami is driving in Dallas Territory. A bizarre throw down attempt actually was a fumble and Miami loses 13 more seconds. Hilarious. On 3rd and 11 Green throws it in the back of the endzone. 10 seconds left and the field goal team comes in for a 44 yarder: Good. Dallas leads 10-6.

On Dallas' fourth series from their own 40 JJ is hit in the backfield for a loss. JJ drops off a pass from a pressured Romo. On 3rd and 10 Romo has all day again to pass and throws a nice pass to T.O. BUT ANOTHER DAMN holding penalty sends it back. THAT HURTS! On 3rd and 15 Romo has all day and finds T.O again at the Miami 37! T.O. is hit hard and throws the ball. Another flag is a delay of game on T.O. for a five yarder because he throws the ball away. On 1st and 10, JJ gets 2 yards. On 2nd and 8 Romo passes for a first to backup tight end Anthony Fasano for 12 yards. Romo looks great in the pocket. On 1st and 10 Julius Jones is wrapped up for a short gain. On 2nd and 10 Romo throws to Witten on a play action for a gain of 13 yards and another first down. ROMO LOOKS GREAT FOLKS! On 1st and 10 Romo throws to Sam Hurd for 8 yards, and Hurd's first catch. On 2nd and 2 at the Miami 7 Romo calls a time out. After the time out a quick screen to Barber is dropped. That was a bad play and a horrible call. The right side of the field wasn't even open for a play like that. An audible should have been called. On 3rd and 2 we have a Flozell Adams false start. On 3rd and 7 Romo passes to Owens for a first down and almost breaks a shoelace tackle for a touchdown. Owens has 51 yards so far. On 1st and Goal Barber takes it to the 1, unable to break through a hole. He should have scored here. On 2nd and Goal Barber scores a touchdown and a nice two-yard run! He is so unstoppable in the red zone!!!!! Dallas leads 10-3! Romo was 5/7 for 71 yards on this drive.

On Miami's third series and Chambers takes a 4 yard catch. On 2nd and 6 Bradie James almost gets a safety on a blitz! No one picked him up. On 3rd and 15, Miami runs for a few yards and have to punt deep in their territory. Dallas D looks much improved.

Dallas' third series starts at their 37 yard line. Barber gets the ball and gains 8. On 2nd and 2 Barber breaks through the front line and gains about 10 yards. On 1st and 10 Barber strips away from Jason Taylor and gains 4. Barber is running hard. On 2nd and 6 Romo play actions and throws deep to Witten, who bobbles a difficult pass. Romo threw that in double coverage and might have been better off looking for someone else to pass to. On 3rd and 6 Romo has all day to pass, dodges a few people, and decided to run for a first down, making a nice juke at the end. A Romo pass to Patrick Crayton was almost intercepted. Crayton dislocates his pinky on the play, maybe even broken it. On 2nd and 10 Romo throws it to Witten, who gets hit hard by Thomas, throwing the ball in the air and it's nearly intercepted. On 3rd and 10 Julius Jones breaks more tackles and gets a first down, but it's negated with a holding call. On 3rd and 18, JJ slips and falls for no gain. We punt.

Miami's second series starts with a Ronnie Brown stuff for no gain. On 2nd and 10, Anthony Henry picks off a bomb intended for Marty Booker. SWEET. Henry was in great position for this and easily caught it. Great defensive play. Ken Hamlin was late, but it didn't matter.

FIRST QUARTER ends 3-3 tie

On Dallas' second series, Miles Austin doesn't try to run it back and takes the touchback. Dallas starts at their 20 yard line. Romo dumps it off to Julius Jones who breaks a tackle and runs for almost 20 yards. ROmo hands off to him again for 1 yard. Romo loses his footing and throws the ball to T.O. for an incomplete pass, but the defense was off sides. On 2nd and 5, Romo runs it for 1 yards and gets hit hard. On 3rd and 4 Romo has all time to pass and completes it to T.O., who juggles the ball a little bit. Nonetheless, it's a first down. A nice end around to Owens goes for about 5 yards. Originally the play looked wide open but the defence closed in fast, thanks to Zach Thomas. On 2nd and 5 Romo hands off to Julius Jones who breaks a tackle and gets a first down with a 6 yard run. Romo attempts a pass that is broken up and falls right into the hands of Keith Traylor, who drops it. Lucky us. On 2nd and 10 Barber gets his first run, barreling through the line, his helmet popping off. Another personal foul, this time on Jerry Porter, gets us a first down. Porter ripped off Barber's helmet like the scum bag he is. I hate Jerry Porter. On 1st and 10, barber runs through Zach Thomas for 4 yard, and the two shake hands after that hit. Thomas is pissed. On 2nd and goal Barber is stuffed at the line. On 3rd and goal we have split backs and Romo int he shotgun. He makes a short pass to Barber who is tackled for a loss of 2 yards. Barber was trying to break the tackle, but ended up backing up too much. Dallas kick a short field goal to tie it 3-3.

The Cowboys start the game with a less than stellar kick off return by Thompson, but then a defensive kick-off personal foul turned it into a sweet kick off return. Thanks idiot Dolphin.
Julius Jones runs for 6 and then a pass play to T.O. is broken up. Surprising to see them throw to T.O. so quick. Romo had plenty of time. On 3rd and 4, Romo throws to T.O. who drops it. His first drop of the season ends the first series. Owens was wide open and Romo had all day to pass it.

Miami's first series starts at their own 37 after a nice 20-yard punt return. Ronnie Brown gains about 4 yards, and the offensive line seemed to easily push the Dallas D line. Not a good sign. Brown is hit hard and forced back by Bradie James. It was a nice play for the defense. On 3rd and 6 the defense jumps off sides but it doesn't matter after a pass up the middle to Hagan. First down Miami. No pass rush. Didn't we know they'd be passing? Green runs for 6 yards after some decent pass rush. Spencer catches him. Ronnie Brown just cannot gain yards and he was stopped again for less than 3 yards. On 3rd and 2 and Miami runs a nice play, a misdirection play to Jesse Chatman. Another first down. Why did we blitz on that play? Ronnie Brown is stuffed again by Bradie James. A horrible miss tackle after a nice catch by Ronnie Brown gives Miami 1st and 10 at the Dallas 19 yard line. Not sure who missed that tackle, but it was awful. Brown is stuffed again for 1 yard, with Anthony Henry getting the tackle. On 2nd and 10 Miami does an end around to Chambers, and although Roy Williams misses the damn tackle, we still get them for a loss of 4. On 3rd and 14, Green is under pressure and throws it away.
To summarize, the Dallas D looks slightly better this week. They are getting to Green and stuffing the run. Miami gets a 36 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Houston vs Carolina
Houston is no joke this year. And I think Carolina played a team last week with a horrible defense. Nonetheless, this game should be close. Andre Johnson looks great and Matt Schaub is paying dividends. Jake Delhomme looked great. Keep in mind that the Panthers are 20-2 when Deshaun Foster carries the ball more than 15 times. Houston 21 Carolina 20

Cincinnati vs Cleveland
I plan to pick against Cleveland every week because I am biased. Dallas has Cleveland's No. 1 Pick in 2008 and wouldn't it be great to get the first pick in thw draft. Cinci 43 Cleveland 10

Indianapolis vs Tennessee
Think the Colts are going to run roughshod over the Titans? Think again. It appears QB Vince Young is for real despite his questionable brain power and that Chris Brown is better than we all thought. However, we know how good the Colts are. Titans D needs to show up or else it will be a long night. Colts 32 Titans 24

New Orleans vs Tampa Bay
Who looked worse in Week 1? On paper, the Saints shouldn't have a problem with beating the Bucs. But they don't play the games on paper. The Saints had a great run last year. They won't this year. Jeff Garcia can win 8 games for the Bucs if they find a running game. Tampa Bay 20 Saints 17

San Francisco vs St. Louis
Both teams were unimpressive in Week 1. Sloppy and questionable play calling hurt both teams. So who wants this game more? Personally, I think the 49ers too. They are younger and the defense is much better than the woeful Rams. But, the Rams offense is still potent, despite last week's game. Look for Frank Gore to have a big game. 49ers 30 Rams 21

Buffalo vs Pittsburgh
What a tough loss for Buffalo last week. I will say this, rookie runner Marshawn Lynch is for real. He's powerful and fast. He may be rookie of the year. But the Bills have a serious quarterback problem. JP Losman is just awful, and it's too bad, because they have a lot of pieces in place to contend. Pittsburgh looked great last week, eh? Ben Roethlisberger had 4 TDs and even I thought it was a misprint. He won't do it today. Buffalo 24 Pittsburgh 10

Green Bay vs NY Giants
Without Eli Manning, the Giants are just a pretty poor ball team. Their defense is porous and the run game won't be as good as it was last week. Derrick Ward? Please! Green Bay surprised a lot of people in Week 1. But the Eagle's pitiful special teams punt return problems was the sole reason for that loss. Green Bay will win this game, too. But not easily. Green Bay 17 Giants 7

Atlanta vs Jacksonville
Atlanta looked awful, and we all expected that. Joey Harrington should just use stats from the preseason because he always does well. Put him in for a real game and he just blows it as usual. His post-game press conference was hilarious. He won't help this team win 1 game. Jacksonville, on the other hand, didn't look much better. The Jags will pull this one out and might use it to catapult them to a contender this year. If they lost, stick a fork in them. Atlanta 7 Jacksonville 20

Seattle vs Arizona
Seattle isn't that good folks. Arizona should be a lot better than they are. So what gives? Each time I watch the Seahawks, I wonder: "How does this team win?" Shaun Alexander is the most overrated runner in the league and I may get bashed for saying that. Edgerrin James plays real well against the 'Hawks. He will today, too. Seattle 17 Arizona 24

Minnesota vs Detroit
Did anyone see the Lions pull it out over the Raiders? The Raiders had a nice comeback and then Detroit just put the stake in them with an overwhelming offense and some decent defensive plays. Could this be the year of the Lions? No. Heck no. But they won't be a doormat of the league. Minnesota's rookie running back Adrian Peterson was money. He is money. But they have quarterback problems and they really ought to look at Byron Leftwich. Minnesota's defense looks good, too. But they didn't face the receivers last week that they will face this week. Expect a good game and Lions win. Detroit 30 Minnesota 17

Oakland vs Denver
Denver looked pretty bad last week. Oakland looked better. But Oakland isn't better than Denver. Jay Cutler threw for 304 yards last week. He will again this week. Look for Daunte Culepeper to have a decent game to in his effort to become the Raiders starter. Denver's O will be too much though. Denver 34 Raiders 21

Kansas City vs Chicago
Kansas City is a painful team to watch. Chicago's defense is so damn fast. Expect Chicago to rebound big after last week's disappointing loss to the Chargers. Kansas City, even with LJ, just won't be good this year. Chicago 35 Kansas City 10

New York Jets vs Baltimore
Would the Jets have won last week if the Patriots didn't cheat? No. But the Patriots are still scummy cheaters. The Jets can be good, but they need their defense to show up every game. Baltimore has quarterback problems, too. This game could be a toss up if Mangini didn't want this win so bad. Don't be surprised if the Jets rebound, and rebound big. The Ravens have ZIP for offense. Jets 45 Baltimore 20

San Diego vs New England
Watch what happens when you can't cheat anymore. No one is picking the Patriots this week because we all hate cheaters. San Diego had it rough last week, but in the late second half, they looked tough...real tough. Believe it or not, it'll actually be easier for the Chargers in Week 2. The Patriots aren't going to win them all. Chargers 24 Patriots 13

And Finally
Dallas v Miami
I love the cocky Miami fans thinking they'll win this game. It's laughable, not laudable. Point is, Dallas will see improvement on the defense, at least with pass rushing. The secondary may still be iffy. But I don't see Chris Chambers doing anything that amazing. Romo will have three touchdowns and will pass for 300 yards. Terrell Owens will catch all the TDs tonight. And Witten will do well, again. Expect problems with the running game this week, but that's OK. Dallas 27 Miami 13

Wanna get pumped up for tomorrow's game? A Dolphins fan visited a popular message board today. He made a prediction. Before I post it here, I just want to make a few statements:

1. You couldn't even gain 100 yards rushing against Washington. None of your backs averages more than 2.5 yards a play. You are 28th in the league in rushing.
2. Your best receiver, Chris Chambers, had 6 catches for 90 yards. That was your offense.
3. Ronnie Brown sucks. Julius Jones is better than Ronnie Brown.
4. You are 19th in the league is offensive yards.
5. Washington had 400 total net yards to your 273.

I am going to stop there to prevent further embarrassment.

Now, I will release this dolts post:

I just came here to say that you guys have no shot at beating us for several reasons.
1. You can't throw passes from your back, as Romo will be on it all afternoon.
2. Trent Green looked great, which means we aren't starting another Joey Harrington.
3. Your defense gave up 35 points to Eli Manning and made him look like his brother. (I laughed my *** off)
4. Your team is the most overrated team in football, even in the nfc I can easily name 5 teams who are much better than you.
1.Chicago
2.New Orleans
3.Philly
4.Seattle
5.Carolina
I also think San Francisco and St. Louis are better but I could see the debate.
5. We are at home and we are hungry. I love t.o. but he won't be able to do anything because romo won't have any time.
Basically I'm not here to talk trash I'm just here to give you a preview of the 24-10 spanking we are gonna give you.
Have fun watching the game Sunday.

No, "JasonTaylor99," you have fun watching the game Sunday.

It's difficult to take one game, the very first of the season, and be overly critical of a team. But in the case of the Dallas Cowboys game Sunday night, doing so is a little easier. Giving up 35 points to a Giants team that lost its mediocre running back, had an injured quarterback and just one receiver is pretty poor.

Roy Williams is getting a lot of punishment on the Dallas Cowboy message boards.
Too lackadaisical, some are saying. Poor pass coverage. If it weren't for Tony Romo's arm and Witten's hands, Roy Williams could have very well been blamed for missing plays that could have cost Dallas that game. He was completely out of position on Burress' second and third touchdowns. This new scheme of having him play closer to the line of scrimmage was a failed first-game experiment. He becomes a wasted player doing that if the opposing team runs the ball. If you are going to bring Williams closer to the line of scrimmage to blitz, you better damn well know it's a passing down, or a run in his path. At least twice I saw him attempt to blitz and then just stop cold when the Giants ran to the opposite side of the field. One of those times was a double-digit yard jaunt by the Giants third-string running back. Pathetic.

The defensive fiasco Monday night isn't all Williams' fault. I'd be the first to post that on the message board. The pass rush was nowhere to be found (one sack). The linebackers made few plays. Heck, the defensive player of the game was Jay Ratliff, a backup nose-tackle. No matter how painful it was to hear Dallas lost Jason Ferguson for the year, it was surprising to see Ratliff play well.

I have no idea if the Dallas D can be great this year. Odds are against them because of injuries. The defense needs to improve at every facet, and that's discouraging. There really wasn't one good thing to say about how the entire defense played Sunday night.

So, in comes Miami, where the main newspaper is talking about the Dallas offense, not the defense everyone else was talking about in the preseason. Here's a snippet:

The Dolphins might learn a valuable lesson here. Seems the team that once upon a time would start seasons without hesitation has sputtered like an old jalopy when the flag has dropped on the past few seasons.
Since 2004, the Dolphins are 5-17 in the months of September and October, no doubt evidence of multiple coaching and system changes and the transitions those require.
But the Cowboys this season were faced with similar challenges the Dolphins faced the past three seasons. And there are no excuses about it coming out of Valley Ranch where the team trains.
''Once you get into the eighth or ninth game everybody knows how good your team is,'' Phillips said. ``But you always want to start up good and keep going.''

The comments to this article are hilarious. But I am not sure what is more funny: the fact that I could only find one Pro-Dolphin message on a Miami newspaper Web site, or the sheer number of Cowboy fans overwhelming the message board with comments on how we are going to kick some Dolphin ass. Here's the lone dork Miami fan:

From "Attitude", The Fins are going to spank them cowgirls this weekend. They have pride and in our house they will pick it up. The defense will not permit Romo to run around like he did.

Gee, Attitude, that was enlightening.

Here's a real Dolphin fan who's being honest:

The Dolphins are not that good on offense. Period. Trent Green is OK, but is already suffering from Post-Marino Dolphins' Quarterback Disease, short-arming his throws, throwing off his backfoot, throwing while leaning backwards, and using the three step drop and fire, and the 2 second scan downfield and dump off to a back. This disease can be directly linked to prolonged exposure to a sub-NFL caliber offensive line caused by a Randy Mueller infection in the Dolphin front office. This disease has been known to be fatal to careers of both quarterbacks and coaches. Cam Cameron's exposure and probable infection by the Mueller virus is evidenced by his choice of Ted Ginn, Jr. instead of Brady Quinn in the first round of the draft. By the way Mr. Ginn also seems to be exhibiting symptoms of "Over-rated-itis", probably contracted from Chris Chambers. Please Wayne H., sign the wavier for the surgery and have that malignant Randy Mueller surgically removed from our beloved franchise before it's too late. It'll be a lo t less painful than you think and your team and its fans can all get on the road rehab and recovery sooner rather than later.That's my diagnosis.

Yours Truly,
The Dolphin Doctor

I don't expect to lose this game Sunday. In fact, I don't even expect it to be close. But I am not going to go out on a limb and say the defense will turn it around in Week 2. There are just too many holes in Week 1 to fill in seven days.

Dallas 27 Miami 13

When you look at the numbers from last night's game, one could say that Marion Barber and Julius Jones are equal. Jones rushed 16 times for 66 yards, with a longest run of 21 yards.

Barber ran 11 times for 65 yards, and scored one touchdown. His longest run was 19 yards.

But stats don't show heart. Stats don't show effort. And stats certainly don't tell strength. Barber was the stronger back last night. His acrobatic touchdown run was amazing. He broke tackles. He ran over the opposing defense. He ran aggressively and pumped up the team.

Julius Jones, on the other hand, fell down too easily. He didn't break away from tacklers. While trying to run the clock out, he takes an up-the-middle run and turns it outside to avoid tacklers, but then runs out of bounds, which stopped the clock. Fans on message boards starting calling him "Julia." His runs seemed mediocre, at best. That might be overstated. He looked poor. But I am comparing him to Barber, who in my opinion, is the better runner.

The two-back system in Dallas should be scrapped now. Marion Barber should become the full-time back for the Dallas Cowboys immediately. Barber has carried the ball 273 times in the last two seasons for 1192 yards and an amazing 19 touchdowns. That is what we could expect from Barber running full-time for the Dallas Cowboys. We'd probably get more from him if he knew he was our sole back, or should I say "soul" back. Just for comparison, Larry Johnson ran the ball 416 times last year and 336 times in 2005, far more carries than Barber has had in just two seasons.

Julius Jones ran the ball last year almost as much as Barber has in his entire career. Jones ran 267 times, for 1084 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hardly an elite back. Hardly comparable to those of Barber.

But stats don't show effort, right? Stats don't show heart?

Well, playing on the field and performance does show effort and heart. We, the fans, can see it. And I'd love to have one person argue to me that Julius Jones deserves to start for the Dallas Cowboys, how he deserves a majority of the runs, and how he deserves to start the game and run the ball during the most important part of the game: when Dallas is down. Barber has shown time and time again that he's a stronger back, has more heart, and plays harder than his counterpart.

When will the coaches in Dallas recognize this? Hopefully by Sunday.

The Giants, with 2:08 left, turned the ball over on downs. WHEW!!!! Dallas gets the ball on the Giants 44.

Barber carried the rest of the game and ran out the clock. We'll get to the Barber debate later.

What a game!! The Dallas offense looked amazing. Romo naysayers, you look foolish. He had one a career night. Romo goes 15-24, for 345 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT. WOW.

The defense was pathetic. 1 sack by J. Ratliff and the rest is awful history. Giving up 35 points to the woeful Giants is a bad sign when your coach is known for his defensive schemes. I don't care about the injuries...just no excuse for what happened tonight.

Here is a breakdown on the receiving:

Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
J. Witten	6	116	1	38
T. Owens	3	87	2	47
P. Crayton	3	51	0	25
S. Hurd	1	51	1	51
M. Barber	1	29	0	29
J. Jones	1	11	0	11

Here is a rushing breakdown:
Rushing ATT YDS TD LG
J. Jones 16 66 0 21
M. Barber 11 65 1 19
T. Romo 3 11 1 9

I am tired and will give a full review of the game tomorrow night, with comments and some harsh reaction. This was a scary game, but I am glad we won. I will have a great week at work!

MVP goes to Tony Romo!!!

Dallas gets the ball back, leading by just three points. They immediately give it to Julius "Julia" Jones who runs for about two yards. Flozell Adams "leads the world in false starts" quipped Madden. I won't doubt that. Another false start on Adams and it is 2 and 12. JULIUS Jones gets it again and runs out of bounds. Unbelievable. 3rd and 7: SAM HURD SCORES on his first catch of the night, 51 yards!!! WOW!!!! This game is insane!!!!!!

That was a huge play and with 3:03 left, we lead 45-35.

Julius Jones is a huge disappointment. Why is he still in the game?? Give it to Marion!!!!

Did we just put this game out of reach?

UPDATED 4th Quarter:

Romo throws a bizarre interception in the middle and Giants immediately get the ball back in Dallas territory. We cannot put this game away. Romo was flawless almost until then. That was not good. 6:30 left in the game.

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Giants continue to drive the ball and on a 3rd and 3 on Dallas 15, a pass to a rookie is good for a first down. THE DEFENSE NEEDS TO STEP UP!!!! NOPE. Burress scores his third damn touchdown on a cross route in the middle of the damn end zone. Pathetic. Roy Williams provided no help. Dallas still leads 38-35, after leading by 16. My golly. This is too close!

-------------------------------

After the Ward run, the Dallas D holds in the red zone. Giants kick another field goal, making it 31-22 Dallas. We can put the game away here with another touchdown.
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Dallas starts with a nice 25-yard gain via Romo to Crayton. The Giants are TIRED. Julius Jones gets stuffed again. He hasn't looked too good. Never really has. Marion Barber should get the rest of the caries this quarter. We'll see.
T.O. BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a throw by ROMO!!! T.O. takes it up the middle for about a 45 yard catch and run. WOW baby!!!! Dallas offense looks great with a 38-22 lead. Owens has 3 catches, 87 yards, and two touchdowns, all in the second half!
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Giants continued to move the ball on Dallas, with runs and passes. With 8 minutes left, the Giants easily drove the ball into Dallas red zone. It was another pathetic exhibit from the defense. And Ward scores on a nice run. Giants go for 2: Anthony SPENCER gets his first great play and keeps this a two-score game. 38-28 Dallas.

Can we PLEASE stop the Giants third string running backs?? Our defense is like Swiss cheese. Not good, folks. Not good. Wade Phillips is a defensive coach. What the hell!!!!

Dallas comes out of the third quarter early with some strength. T.O. makes his first catch with 12:38 in the 3rd. Just a cross route. The ball was a little high and T.O. made a nice catch. Julius Jones also had a nice run.

Right back to T.O. for an amazing one-handed touchdown!!! An incredible catch. FINALLY!!!! Dallas up 24-16.

But how will the defense fare in its first series of the second half?
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The Giants fumbled the kick off, but recovered. The crowd booed loudly. It wasn't even a fumble, the replay showed. Still, the secondary cannot make a play and gives up a first on a 3rd and long---another pass to Burress. 10 minutes left in the 3rd.

The 3rd continued with the same: no pass rush and Manning has plenty of time to pass to either Toomer or Burress. The Giants first second-half series ends with a decent play by Reeves in the end zone. Giants kick a 48-yard field goal. Dallas 24 Giants 19.

We can put this game firmly in our hands with a score here. Let's see what happens!
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Dallas didn't do anything on their series and it was 3 and out. Giants did the same and back to Cowboys with 3:08 left in the 3rd.

Time for a rum and ginger, folks!

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Witten continues to have an amazing game. The play action pass play calling has worked well for Dallas. Witten has 6 catches for 116 yards and 1 TD. We reach the Giants red zone when Romo runs it in for a 10-yard touchdown! WOW!!!! What a play by ROMO!!!! Dallas is now pumped and the crowd is roaring!!! 1:12 left and Dallas is up 31-19.
Mann

Romo is 12 for 20, 222 yards and two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He is outplaying the highly touted Eli Manning.
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The Giants end the third quarter with a huge run from no name Derick Ward. It's shocking how the Dallas D can make a name out of nobody like this. Giants start fourth in scoring position, but down by 11 points.

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