Entries Tagged 'Previews and Predictions' ↓

Week 4 is highlighted by several ‘distance’ games - contests that will make a great difference in certain division favorites or contenders to put some distance between the trailing pack.

The matchup of the week is no doubt the Broncos at Colts on Sunday afternoon. It’s a bigger game for the Broncos than it is the Colts, who have had Denver’s number as of late. For the Broncos, this game is about getting back on track and keeping their lead atop the AFC West, but a loss would be their second straight, and would allow the Kansas City-San Diego winner to tie them at 2-2.

Speaking of that K.C.-S.D. game, that might be one of the biggest games of the early season, as both teams will be looking to get their star running backs on track and their teams off of a slide. L.J. and L.T. have combined for only 270 yards in the first three games. Considering what’s at stake, don’t be surprised if they hit that number on Sunday.

Elsewhere, there’s a big one in the NFC East, as Philly goes to the Meadowlands to face the Giants, for NBC’s Sunday night matchup. Both teams are 1-2 after picking up their first wins of the season last week, but are still very much in need of a win with the Cowboys in position to run away with the division very, very quickly, with a favorable schedule (minus New England, which is a home game) in the next few weeks.

In the NFC North, Green Bay goes to Minnesota looking to go to 4-0. Brett Favre has struggled in road games against the Vikings, but won the last time he was there. After the Packers have opened with three impressive wins, you can bet the Vikings want to knock them back down to earth, and close the gap in the division.

Chicago goes to Detroit with a new starting quarterback. Lovie Smith apparently has had enough of Rex Grossman’s inconsistencies, and is turning to Brian Griese for Sunday’s game. Maybe this is what Grossman needs to fire him up. But, it’s the perfect week for Griese to take over, as he’ll be slinging it against one of the worst pass defenses in the league. As for the Lions, a win over the Bears would be yet another step in the right direction, and erase the bad taste from that beatdown at the hands of Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.

In the NFC West, Seattle visits San Francisco in a pivotal early-season showdown. Both teams are 2-1, but could both easily be 0-3, if a couple of close games had gone the opposite way. The winner of this one will have an early leg up on the division title, and an automatic playoff spot. The question for San Francisco is this - Can they get the offense going? If they don’t soon, they’ll be in trouble, as Sunday’s game against the Steelers showed. They got away with it against the Cardinals and Rams, because they produced just enough to win, but just enough isn’t going to be enough most of the time.

In the AFC East, the race for second place goes into Week 4, as winless Buffalo goes on the road to face the 1-2 Jets. If the Jets win, things could get close in a heartbeat if the Bengals can knock off the Pats on Monday night.

That game is another ’distance’ game. A Patriots win would, at best, keep their two-game lead over the Jets, but if the Bills beat the Jets, they’ll already have a three-game lead, which is more than enough. Meanwhile, the Bengals need to shore up their weaknesses very quickly, because if they don’t bring their ‘A’ game on Monday night, they’re going to be yet another victim of the seemingly unstoppable Patriots’ train.

Baltimore goes to Cleveland in a pretty important matchup. The Ravens had a close call against the Cardinals at home on Sunday, and could very well get tripped up if Derek Anderson can stay on his feet long enough to get the ball to Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, and if Jamal Lewis can make the most of his first meeting against his old team.

That game, and the Bengals-Pats game, are big, because the Steelers are facing Arizona. The smart money says the Cardinals should give the Steelers’ D their biggest test to date, but the way the Steely McBeam’s are playing, the Cardinals might end up getting run over just like the Browns, Bills, and 49ers did.

The other games on the schedule are of great importance as well.

Tampa Bay and Carolina, both 2-1, face off at the Panthers’ den for the NFC South lead. A win for the Bucs would really signal their resurgence as a good team.

Houston goes to Atlanta, looking for win #3 and looking to keep the Falcons out of the win column. Matt Schaub faces off of against the team that (stupidly) traded him just before the Michael Vick mess came up, and has a chance to inflict more misery upon the Falcons, who aren’t catching many breaks right now. But, if Joey Harrington can build off his strong performance against the Panthers (361 yards, two TD, no picks), then maybe, just maybe Falcons’ fans will go home smiling on Sunday afternoon.

Jacksonville (2-1), Tennessee (2-1), Washington (2-1), and New Orleans (0-3) are off this week. The Redskins will be a close watcher of that Giants-Eagles game, as it will have bearing on if they have any room to breathe going into Week 5.

Week 4 Schedule

Chicago at Detroit
St. Louis at Dallas
Baltimore at Cleveland
Buffalo at New York Jets
Houston at Atlanta
Green Bay at Minnesota
Oakland at Miami

Seattle at San Francisco
Tampa Bay at Carolina
Kansas City at San Diego
Denver at Indianapolis
Pittsburgh at Arizona

Philadelphia at New York Giants (Sunday night)
New England at Cincinnati (Monday night)

The league’s #1 offense gets quite the test this week, as the 2-0 Cowboys go to Soldier Field to take on Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears.

Last time out, Dallas scored 27 points and forced four turnovers in the second half en route to a 37-20 win at Miami. The Cowboys picked off four passes, with Anthony Henry getting two of them. Tony Romo threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns, and Marion Barber III ran for 89 yards and two scores. Nick Folk remained perfect through two games, as he nailed three field goals and four extra points.

As for the Bears, they followed a season-opening loss to San Diego with a 20-10 win over Kansas City last week. The Bears, always known for their great defense, have lived up to their reputation through the first two games. But, the offense needs a bit of a spark, as Rex Grossman’s time under center may be on life support.

Last Time They Played…

The last time these two teams played was Thanksgiving Day in 2004, when the Cowboys were the ones showing the defensive prowess in a 21-7 victory.

This game was memorable for two reasons, besides the fact that Dallas held Chicago to less than 150 yards and no offensive touchdowns. The game was Drew Henson’s first and only start as a Cowboy, and it was Julius Jones’ personal coming-out party.

Henson was 4 of 12 for only 31 yards, and tossed an interception that R.W. McQuarters returned 45 yards for Chicago’s only touchdown. Henson was taken out at halftime and replaced by Vinny Testaverde, who was supposed to be sitting out the game with an injury.

Chicago squandered a couple of second-half opportunities. Paul Edinger missed a 48-yarder that would have given the Bears a 10-7 lead, and then, after McQuarters picked off Testaverde, he was stripped during a long return, and the Cowboys recovered the ball.

Testaverde rebounded from the pick, and he and Jones led the Cowboys to the victory, as the ageless wonder going 9 of 14 for 92 yards, and the tiebreaking touchdown to Darian Barns early in the fourth. Jones, who opened the scoring in the first with a 33-yard score, capped off the victory and his big day with a 4-yard run midway through the final quarter. Jones rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, and would be a bright spot down the stretch for what would be a 6-10 team, rushing for 819 yards and seven touchdowns in only seven games.

Chicago totaled only 140 yards on the day, and a great defensive effort by the Cowboys, along with the Bears just being terrible on offense, was the reason. Eric Ogbogu had a huge day, racking up 3.5 sacks. The Bears would finish 5-11 on the season, and Dick Jauron was out after compiling a 35-45 record in five seasons.

LOOKING AT THE BEARS

Offense

It hasn’t exactly been a dream start for Grossman and the Bears offense.

Grossman was only 12 of 23 with an interception in Week 1 vs. the Chargers, and last week against the Chiefs, was picked off twice. Grossman had his first injury-free season last year and helped lead the Bears to the NFC Championship Game, but was as streaky as they come. He had eight interception-free games, and threw for three or more touchdowns three times on the way to tossing 23 TD passes, but had more games where he threw at least three picks (five). That kind of inconsistency is why you have to be on the watch for him having a huge game this week, and why time might be running out for him as the Bears’ starter.

After playing second fiddle to Thomas Jones in his first two seasons, Cedric Benson is the man in the Bears’ backfield. The former Texas star and #4 overall pick in 2005 rushed for 647 yards and six touchdowns in 2006, and has rushed for 143 yards in two games so far. He notched his second career 100-yard game last week, picking up 101 yards on 24 carries against the Chiefs. He does have yet to reach the end zone, however.

Bernard Berrian is the team’s leading receiver, with 10 catches for 148 yards. Muhsin Muhammad, the marquee name in the receiving corps, has only two catches for 15 yards through the first two games.

Return man extraordinaire Devin Hester, who came into the league as a corner, has made the move to offense (well, duh!) so that the Bears can utilize his talents (read: blazing speed) the most. However, he hasn’t seen the ball on offense in the first two games. But, that should change this week, as Lovie Smith has said that he wants to get the ball in his hands (good thinking, Lovie).

Defense

If the Bears didn’t have a defense (and Hester), they would probably be as bad as they were during most of Dick Jauron’s days. But, they do, and it’s one of the best in the league, so it’ll likely be anything but a piece of cake to move the ball and put points on the board on Sunday.

Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs might be the best 1-2 linebacker duo in the league. Urlacher might be the most intimidating player in the league (it’s all about the bald head), and has recorded 100+ tackles in six of seven NFL seasons (and would be seven-for-seven if he hadn’t missed seven games in 2004). Briggs is a tackling machine, having racked up more than 100 tackles in the last three seasons, including 134 last season.

The defensive line is solid all across, with ends Adawale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson, and tackles Tommie Harris and Darwin Walker.

The secondary might be the best overall unit, however, with Charles Tillman on the left and the duo of Nathan Vasher and Ricky Manning on the right at corner, and safeties Danieal Manning and Adam Archuleta, who has gotten his Bears career off to a good start, with 12 tackles in two games.

Special Teams

Former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould is the Bears’ placekicker. He’s nailed all three of his field goals and both of his extra points this season, and is 56 of 66 in two-plus seasons in the league. Last season, Gould was 32 of 36 on field goals, including 12 of 14 from 40+ yards.

Veteran punter Brad Maynard is questionable, and Dirk Johnson did most of the punting last week against Kansas City. But, Johnson was cut earlier this week, so if Maynard can’t go, Gould will handle the punting duties.

Hester is the game’s top return man, without a doubt. There’s a reason why he’s no longer a cornerback (besides his average cover skills). As a rookie in 2006, he returned six kicks for touchdowns (three kickoffs, including one in the Super Bowl, and three punt returns, including two in one game). And, he took that total to seven last Sunday, as he returned a punt 73 yards for a score against K.C. Soon enough, teams might petition to be able to have 15 guys on the field for his kick returns. Then again, they still might not be able to stop him. In fact, the only person who can really stop Hester is himself, as he has had a history of fumble issues. He had eight fumbles last season, though his six touchdowns made that easy to ignore. He’s held on to the ball so far this season, so maybe that problem has been taken care of.

Four of the NFL’s nine unbeaten teams face off on Sunday, and along with those two contests, several early must-win games highlight the Week 3 slate.

There is, of course, Dallas’ matchup with Chicago at Soldier Field on Sunday night, which is a pretty big one, but outside of that, there are several goodies on the schedule.

Surprise 2-0 Houston is going to get a real test of how far they’ve come when they take on the Colts (2-0) on Sunday afternoon at Reliant Stadium. The Texans have dispatched of their first two opponents comfortably, but a game against the defending champs will be an early test to see if Gary Kubiak’s team still has a ways to go, or if they’re for real.

In the other matchup of unbeaten, San Francisco also faces a test of their worth when they go to Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 49ers have pulled out two close wins against NFC West foes Arizona and St. Louis, but they’re going to have to play much better if they want to beat the Steelers, who have been extremely impressive in bashing the Browns and Bills. Sure, it’s the Browns and Bills, but it looks like the Steelers are well on their way to being back. And, a win on Sunday would help confirm that.

Green Bay, Detroit, and Washington have all started 2-0, but those unbeaten records will be on the line Sunday. The Packers welcome the Chargers to town, and it’s as big of a game for the Chargers as it is for the Pack. L.T. and the Chargers’ offense has gotten off to a slow start under Norv Turner, and coming off of a beating at New England, it’s proving time for San Diego. For the Packers, a win would be their third straight against a playoff-caliber team, and show that Brett Favre, who is inching ever closer to Dan Marino’s touchdown mark, may well have at least one more run left in him.

Detroit goes to Philadelphia, in another game that’s big for both teams. Who’d have thought that the Lions would be 2-0, and the Eagles would be 0-2? Well, if you did, you must be a millionaire now. Jon Kitna and the Lions have gotten off to a great start, while the Eagles have flopped in losses to Green Bay and Washington. A win for the Lions would restore excitement not seen since the Barry Sanders days, and probably get Matt Millen a lifetime extension. If the Eagles lose, the calls for Kevin Kolb are going to start getting louder and louder. For Donovan McNabb’s sake, Brian Westbrook best stay healthy, because if he’s out, that takes away the Eagles’ best offensive threat (besides #5).

I wasn’t too high on the Redskins going into the season, but they’ve proved me and a lot of other people wrong so far in starting 2-0. Their Monday night win at Philly was a big one for Joe Gibbs and Co., but knocking off the Giants would be yet another step in the right direction. And, as for the Giants, well, they’re staring at 0-3, and Tom Coughlin is staring at a pink slip.

It could be that, at the end of Week 3, that the Cowboys and Redskins have a three-game lead over the Giants and Eagles. Wow?

The other two unbeaten teams, New England and Denver, face off against Buffalo and Jacksonville respectively. The Patriots silenced a lot of people with a convincing 38-14 whipping of the Chargers on Sunday night, and look to be well on their way to another AFC East crown (and losing their #1 pick). And, as for the Broncos, their offense hasn’t looked this good since John Elway and a healthy Terrell Davis were leading the Mile High men to two straight Super Bowl titles.

In Sunday’s other early games, the Dolphins take on the Jets in a battle of 0-2 teams. Someone, anyone, needs to give the Pats a little bit of a challenge in the division, otherwise it’s going to be another runaway for New England. That team was supposed to be the Jets, but they haven’t looked like anything like a contender so far. The winner of this game will have a leg up on the race for second, but given how many teams are in contention for playoff spots, second might mean you stay home in January.

St. Louis visits Tampa Bay looking for their first win of the season. The Bucs throttled the Saints on Sunday, and all of a sudden look like a team that could step up and win an NFC South that appears to be a little down right now.

Minnesota goes to K.C. looking to go to 2-1. The Vikings are a serviceable QB away from being 2-0, after Tarvaris Jackson’s four interceptions cost them in a 20-17 loss at Detroit. But they do have Adrian Peterson, who’s looking like an early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Chiefs have looked pretty horrible in two losses, and don’t really have much going for them right now, especially with their offense desperately searching for a heartbeat. It’s about time to go to Brodie Croyle, who played well in mop-up duty on Sunday. And, L.J., you know how to run, so do it!

Matt Leinart and the Cardinals go to Baltimore to face off against the Ravens in the last early afternoon game. The Cardinals racked up well over 400 yards in a win over Seattle on Sunday, and are a drive away from being the one that’s leading the NFC West instead of the 49ers. Will it turn into a passing showdown between two former Pac-10 star Qbs in Leinart (USC) and Kyle Boller (Cal), who looked good in Baltimore’s win over the Jets on Sunday? Or will Baltimore’s defense make Leinart’s day miserable?

On Sunday afternoon, the offensive juggernaut that is the Cleveland Browns looks to go over .500 when they go to Oakland. The Raiders are 0-2, and trying to regain their prowess on defense. So, either Derek Anderson and Jamal Lewis have another big day, or the Browns are quickly brought back down to earth. Hey, Lane Kiffin, Mike Vanderjagt is available, in case you were wondering.

Carolina took it on the chin at home to Houston last Sunday, but thankfully, they get to play the Falcons this week. Atlanta, in desperate need of a pick-me-up, signed ex-Jaguars’ QB Byron Leftwich, who will likely to take over for the ineffective Joey Harrington (time’s up, piano man?) this week or next. Maybe Leftwich will be the lift the Falcons need to stem the flood of sales of Brian Brohm replica jerseys. The way things are looking in the NFC South means that things are up for grabs right now, so the Falcons aren’t out of it…yet.

Cincinnati goes to Seattle, off the heels of their 51-45 loss to the Browns. When you score 45 points in a game, you expect to win 99 percent of the time. But, we’re talking about the Bengals, whose defense tends to be invisible more than any NFL unit should. They should be able to move the ball well against the Seahawks, who were pretty sieve-like against the Cardinals, allowing Matt Leinart to throw for nearly 300 yards and Edgerrin James to rush for over 100. But, the question is, can they stop the Seahawks enough to help Carson Palmer out? Palmer could throw for 4,500 yards or more and 40+ touchdowns, but Cincy could end up under .500 if they don’t play a little D consistently.

On Monday night, New Orleans will be looking to stop their horrid early-season form when they take on Vince Young and Tennessee. The Saints have looked pretty bad in losses to Indy and Tampa Bay, and look like the team that won the AFC South and made it to the NFC title game last year. Is the mojo gone? Reggie Bush needs to lay off of the Kim Kardashian and focus on making highlights of another kind. The Titans, meanwhile, need to win so that they don’t fall behind Indy and Houston. Lest we forget, this one’s a matchup between two guys that possibly should have been #1 in last year’s draft. If both play up to their talents, then Monday Night Football will be anything but a snoozer.

Week 3 Schedule

Buffalo (0-2) at New England (2-0)
Minnesota (1-1) at Kansas City (0-2)
Indianapolis (2-0) at Houston (2-0)
San Diego (1-1) at Green Bay (2-0)
Arizona (1-1) at Baltimore (1-1)
St. Louis (0-2) at Tampa Bay (1-1)
San Francisco (2-0) at Pittsburgh (2-0)
Detroit (2-0) at Philadelphia (0-2)
Miami (0-2) at New York Jets (0-2)
Cincinnati (1-1) at Seattle (1-1)
Jacksonville (1-1) at Denver (2-0)
Cleveland (1-1) at Oakland (0-2)
Carolina (1-1) at Atlanta (0-2)
New York Giants (0-2) at Washington (2-0)
Dallas (2-0) at Chicago (1-1)
Tennessee (1-1) at New Orleans (0-2) - Monday night

The Cowboys got their 2007 season off to the perfect start with a 45-35 win over NFC East rival New York.

It wasn’t all perfect, as starting defensive tackle Jason Ferguson suffered a torn right biceps injury in the first quarter, and is out for the rest of the season.

But, the Cowboys have gotten some positive injury news this week, as starting CB Terence Newman (out since before the Denver game) and outside linebacker Greg Ellis (out since the second day of camp) both returned to practice, and may be able to play as soon as Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, Dallas will make their first road trip of the season, as they face the Miami Dolphins, who play their second straight NFC East opponent. The Dolphins started their season with a 16-13 overtime loss at Washington.

Last Time They Played…

The Dolphins spoiled Thanksgiving for the Cowboys in 2003, winning the Turkey Day contest in a 40-21 rout.

Jay Fiedler was 16 of 20 for 239 yards, and hooked up with Chris Chambers for three scores. Ricky Williams (who?) led the Dolphins on the ground with 104 yards.

For the Cowboys, it wasn’t that great of a day, even though it was only 17-14 until the Dolphins scored on the second Fiedler to Chambers hookup with sixteen seconds left in the first half. Quincy Carter threw for 288 yards and two scores, but was picked off three times, and a third quarter fumble was returned by Jason Taylor for a 34-yard touchdown that made it 30-14 in favor of Miami at halftime.

The Cowboys rushed the ball only 16 times that day, as opposed to the Dolphins going to the ground game over 40 times, which helped chew up the clock in the second half when the game was well in hand.

The Cowboys would follow up that loss with a 36-10 loss at Philadelphia the following week, but won two of their last three games to finish 10-6 and make the playoffs in Bill Parcells’ first season.

The Dolphins, who were also 8-4 after the game, would lose their next two games, but won their last two to finish 10-6. However, they would miss the playoffs, as the Broncos, who also finished at 10-6, edged them out for the final AFC postseason slot, in what would be the next-to-last season in the Dave Wannstedt era.

Looking at the Dolphins

OFFENSE

The Dolphins are led at quarterback by veteran Trent Green, who is in his first season in South Florida, after spending the last several as the starter in Kansas City. Green was 24 of 38 for 219 yards in the loss at Washington, and threw a touchdown.

Ronnie Brown is the workhorse in the backfield. Brown, the former Auburn star and #2 pick in 2005, ran for 1,008 yards in his sophomore professional season. Against the Redskins, he wasn’t much of a presence, rushing for 32 yards on 11 carries.

Green’s go-to guys are veterans Chambers and Marty Booker. Chambers caught six passes for 92 yards in the opener, and has 380 career catches for 5,365 yards and 43 scores in six-plus seasons. Booker caught three passes for 20 yards against the Redskins, and has 462 catches for 5,775 yards and 33 scores in eight-plus seasons, five of which were spent in Chicago, where he was a Pro Bowler in 2003.

David Martin is the starting tight end. He caught one pass for seven yards on Sunday, but was covered tightly most of the game, and also made a big drop on a third-down play in the fourth quarter. That might open the way for Justin Peelle to see more time, after he caught two passes for 12 yards, and the lone touchdown against Washington.

DEFENSE

The man on defense for the Dolphins is likely Future Hall of Famer Taylor, who has been one of the NFL’s best defensive players since early in his career. Taylor, now in his 11th season, has 107.5 sacks, after recording one on Sunday.

The other longtime presence in the Miami defense is linebacker Zach Thomas, now in his 12th season. Thomas still has plenty left in him, as shown by his 13-tackle performance against the Redskins, in which he also recorded a sack. Thomas has been a tackling machine his entire career, recording at least 99 tackles in all 11 prior seasons.

The Dolphins have a solid mix of young talent, with second-year starting LB Channing Crowder and DE Matt Roth complementing Taylor, Thomas, new LB Joey Porter, and veteran DT Keith Traylor in the front seven.

The secondary has starters all with extensive NFL experience, in starting safety Renaldo Hill and CB Will Allen. The secondary took a huge blow on Sunday, when starting strong safety Yeremiah Bell tore his Achilles’ in the third quarter on Sunday, and will miss the rest of the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Jay Feely is the starting placekicker for the Dolphins, having replaced longtime Miami kicker Olindo Mare prior to this season. Feely made both of his field goals against the Redskins.

Rookie Brandon Fields is the Dolphins’ punter. Fields averaged 42.7 yards on his seven punts on Sunday.

The lead return man is rookie speedster Ted Ginn, Jr., who the Dolphins drafted ninth overall in April. Ginn returned three kickoffs for 70 yards on Sunday, including a 34-yard return. The former Ohio State star also returned four punts for 20 yards.

I’ll be back soon with part two of my preview, which includes the keys to success, the key matchups, my predictions, and a couple more notes on Sunday‘s matchup.

This is how I think the division will shake out this season. If I end up being wrong, don’t hold me to it. If I’m right, a steak dinner would be nice.

1. Cowboys - Sure, the Cowboys have a new coach. But, they also have the best all-around talent on offense, and the best defense in the division. Many people are questioning Tony Romo’s abilities, but if he makes full use of the talent at his disposal and continues his development into a leader, that’ll shelve any doubts about his worth as a franchise quarterback.

More importantly though, is the performance of the defense. The expectations are high, with Wade Phillips’ new 3-4 seemingly a perfect fit for the Cowboys’ defensive personnel, and if the front seven disrupts, disrupts, disrupts for 60 minutes, that’ll relieve the pressure there is on the secondary to have to be all over the place.

The key for the Cowboys is overcoming the injury bug. The quicker Terence Newman’s foot becomes less of an issue, the less there is to worry about. And, the returns of Greg Ellis and Terry Glenn will make the team much stronger in those positions. There are places that depth could be an issue (corner, defensive line, receiver), but in the end, it’s all about finding a way to win, through injuries or any other problems that arise. And, it will make a great difference to have an even-keeled coach like Phillips, who won’t let his team get too far ahead of themselves, and on the flip side, get too overwhelmed if there are any bumps in the road.

2. Eagles - If McNabb stays healthy, the Eagles are going to be at least a playoff team. The question is: How will the defense play? Defensive struggles were a problem last season, and that’s the one thing that could really deter them from being a serious contender.

3. Giants - They’re the wild card in the division. If they put it together, Eli Manning and Co. could challenge the Cowboys and Eagles for the division. But, there are many areas where they could struggle, and that’s why they could very well end up under .500 just as easily. Tom Coughlin’s job is on the line (at least it should be!), so we’ll see how his team rallies behind him, and behind Manning, who has to show just how much of a leader he is, not only to shut Tiki Barber up, but to get the best out of his guys.

4. Redskins - There’s hope. But, in a division where the other three teams are all capable of doing well in the playoffs, it might be tough sledding for the ‘Skins. But, an improved Jason Campbell, a healthy Clinton Portis, and an improved defense could mean Washington at least has some sort of role in deciding the division, maybe not as an actual contender, but as a spoiler.

Key Game

Eagles at Cowboys, Week 15: Last season, the division was decided in Week 16. Just a few weeks prior, the division title seemed to be firmly within Dallas’ clutches, and the Eagles were trying to overcome Donovan McNabb’s second straight season-ending injury and a 5-6 record.

But, three straight wins for Philadelphia and two losses in three games made the Christmas night game in Dallas the division decider.

Philly was the coal in the Cowboys‘ stockings, as backup Jeff Garcia threw for 238 yards and a touchdown, Brian Westbrook ran for 122 yards, and the defense shut down the Cowboys’ offense in a 23-7 victory. The win completed the season sweep for the Eagles, which gave the Eagles the pivotal tiebreaker, which they didn’t need when a Philly win and Dallas loss the next week sealed the Eagles’ division title.

It may well come down to a matchup in Dallas again. It’ll be the Cowboys’ final home game before finishing up at Carolina and Washington, and they can’t afford to let a repeat of last year happen, because you don’t want to go into the final two games with ground to make up, or with someone right on your tail.

Names You Need to Remember

Chris Canty, Cowboys: If there’s anyone that might have benefited the most from the new defensive scheme, it’s Canty. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to get into the backfield this season, and given how much of a matchup problem he presents to opposing linemen because his size and his mobility, that could mean a big year for the third-year end, especially when defenses might be paying more attention to the linebackers regularly trying to wreak havoc, and with Marcus Spears on the other side.

Reggie Brown, Eagles: Brown had a solid second year in Philadelphia, catching 46 passes for 818 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s the #1 guy now, and with the Eagles sure to put the ball in the air with regularity, the former Georgia Bulldog could end up over 1,000 yards and in double digits in touchdowns.

Brandon Jacobs, Giants: Now that Tiki’s in the studio, it’s Jacobs’ turn to carry the load. In his first two seasons, he scored 16 touchdowns in only 137 carries. As a rookie, he had seven touchdowns in 38 carries, and last season scored nine in 99 carries, while averaging nearly 4.5 yards per carry. He doesn’t need to rush for 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns, but if he can consistently run well, that’ll keep the pressure off of Eli Manning to have to win every game with his arm.

Rocky McIntosh, Redskins: Warrick Holdman was a liability at linebacker last season. McIntosh is going to take over at that spot, and the former Miami star, Washington’s first-round pick in 2006, is going to have a key role in shoring up the Redskins’ defense.

While the Eagles and Giants are trying to make a push for the NFC East title, along with the Cowboys, for the Redskins, the goal needs to be to get better, and avoiding finishing in the cellar yet again. Could this be Joe Gibbs’ last season, or will there be enough positives to keep owner Daniel Snyder’s checkbook in his pocket?

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

2006 record: 5-11, last in NFC East
Key Offseason Losses: LB Lamar Marshall (cut), K John Hall (cut)
Key Offseason Additions: S LaRon Landry (6th overall pick - LSU), LB London Fletcher (from Buffalo), LB Randall Godfrey

QUICK TAKE

The Redskins did finish 5-11 last season, but that could very easily have been 11-5. Washington lost six games by six points or less, including four by three points or less.

But, in the end, there are reasons a losing team is a losing team, and there were plenty, most of which center around the inability to stop most of their opponents on offense. If you can’t make stops on defense, you can’t expect to come out on top in the tight games.

Can they shore up their defensive weaknesses and give themselves a chance to be respectable? Or, will injuries, inconsistency, and ineptitude continue to stand in their way?

OFFENSE

At QB, Jason Campbell is now the guy, and will look to build off of what he did in seven starts at the end of 2006. After riding the pine for a season and a half, Joe Gibbs finally put him in the starting lineup in November, and even though the Redskins went 2-5 with him as the starter, he had pretty respectable totals, throwing for nearly 1,300 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His two main targets will be receiver Santana Moss and tight end Chris Cooley, who was signed to a huge contract extension following last season. Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El will need to make significant contributions in the passing game as well.

Clinton Portis was well on his way to his fifth straight 1,000+ yard season when he was injured midway through the the year, and missed the last eight games. In his place, Ladell Betts came up big, running for 1,154 yards. Portis enters the season with injury questions lingering, but having a reliable #2 in Betts helps take some of the pressure off of Campbell to have to do too much with his arm.

Ideally, Joe Gibbs would like to be able to rely on the running game, with a healthy Portis and Betts, and have Campbell somewhere between 25-30 attempts per game. This isn’t to say that Campbell isn’t capable of putting the ball up 40 times, but him having to do that will usually mean Washington is having to battle from behind.

DEFENSE

After finishing among the league’s best defenses in Gibbs’ first two seasons back at the helm, the Redskins were one of the worst defensive teams in the league last seaosn, ranking 27th in points, and 29th in yards.

The pass defense was absolutely atrocious, getting burned for 30 touchdowns, while picking off only six passes, both of which were last in the league. The run defense wasn’t much better either, as they allowed teams to rush for an average of 137 yards per game.

So, improvement is a definite must. To bolster the secondary, the ‘Skins picked up Landry with their first pick. Landry was the top secondary prospect on the board, and had an excellent career at LSU, making 315 tackles and 12 interceptions. He’s also a big hitter as well, giving the ‘Skins two ferocious hitters at safety, along with Sean Taylor. Speaking of Taylor, he’s goin to have to step up the consistency this season, because he got burned one too many times last season. If those two can play to the level that their talents warrant, that’ll make the secondary a heck of a lot better instantly.

The addition of Fletcher to the front seven will be a great benefit. Fletcher has been one of the league’s top tacklers for the last several seasons, and will be counted on to be all over the place. Second-year linebacker Rocky McIntosh is taking over where Warrick Holdman struggled last season, and his improvement will be key to the Redskins’ ability to prevent ball carriers from getting too many big gains. With Marcus Washington out for the first couple of weeks after a dislocated elbow in the preseason, former Cowboy Randall Godfrey is going to fill in until Washington’s elbow fully heals.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Former Cowboys kicker Shaun Suisham, who kicked for both Dallas and Washington last season, is now the full-time placekicker for the Redskins. He made 8 of 9 kicks (9 of 11 with both teams) for Washington, and made all 12 of his extra points (14 for 14 combined). Derrick Frost handles the punting duties, and averaged nearly 43 yards per kick last season.

Rock Cartwright was the team’s primary kick returner in 2006, and returned one kickoff for a touchdown. Randle El is one of the top return men in the league, and will look to add to his career total of six return touchdowns (one kickoff, five punt).

OUTLOOK

Even if the ‘Skins improvement, it’s going to be a tough task to finish any better than third in the division. The defense is going to have make some big strides, because while the offense is more than capable of putting up points, they’re not really the kind of team that’s suited for shootouts or big comebacks.

If only Joe Gibbs’ success as a race team owner could translate to success on the football field. Maybe Tony Stewart needs to strap on some pads and try his luck on the gridiron. But, a healthy Portis and an improving Campbell can drive the Redskins to Victory Lane a few times, provided there aren’t any unexpected mechanical breakdowns or spotter errors. Oops, wrong blog…

Anyway, If the Redskins finish below .500 again, it’ll be time to revive the debate on whether or not it’s time for Gibbs to retire from coaching for good. There’s hope, but if the ‘Skins want to bring some smiles to the folks in FedEx Field, they’re going to need to do better than 1-5 in division games, and at least post a .500 or better record at home (they were 3-5 at home in ‘06).

Last season, the Eagles finished the season on a tear, winning five in a row to take the NFC East from the grasp of the Cowboys in the final couple of weeks.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

2006 record: 10-6, won NFC East, lost in divisional round to New Orleans 27-24
Key Offseason Losses: LB Jeremiah Trotter (cut), WR Donte’ Stallworth, S Michael Lewis
Key Offseason Additions: WR Kevin Curtis (from the Rams), LB Takeo Spikes (trade from Bills), DT Monte Reagor, QB Kevin Kolb (second-round pick), DT Ian Scott

Quick Take

How much will coach Andy Reid be in the game after all of the offseason issues he’s had to deal with? Maybe the football field will be a welcome distraction, and his team will give him something to smile about. The Eagles have made the playoffs in six of his eight seasons, and have another playoff-worthy team in 2007.

OFFENSE

A healthy Donovan McNabb = a great offense. When #5 is healthy, he puts up great numbers. In ten games last season, McNabb threw for 2,647 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only six interceptions, with three of those picks coming in one game, a last-second loss to Tampa Bay in Week 7.

The receiving corps may not boast that many familiar names, but did add former Rams receiver Curtis, who is finally out of the shadow of Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. And, McNabb has a rising talent in Reggie Brown, who caught 46 passes for 818 yards and eight touchdowns in ‘06, and rookie TE Brent Celek could make an immediate contribution, if L.J. Smith isn’t healthy.

Brian Westbrook continues to develop into one of the league’s top all-purpose backs, and posted a career high in rushing yards in ‘06 with 1,217. After accounting for 1,916 total yards last season, surpassing 2,000 yards is a definite possibility for the former Villanova star. He can be counted on for at least 70+ catches, which means McNabb doesn’t have to worry about enough people to spread the ball around to.

DEFENSE

After being a strong point during most of Andy Reid’s first several seasons in Philly, the Eagles’ defense has fallen off in the past couple of years. The Eagles’ offense scored 21 or more points in 14 of 16 games, but the defense gave up that same amount in nine games, five of which were losses, and gave up 20 and 27 in the two playoff games.

DE Trent Cole had eight sacks last season, and his improvement helps offset the fact that Jevon Kearse’s status continues to be uncertain. The addition of the two experienced tackles should help aid the development of Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley.

At linebacker, cutting Trotter might have been a surprise, but Spikes, if healthy, can be counted on to produce just as many tackles as Trotter did in his time as an Eagle. And, second-year ‘backer Omar Gaither is poised for a real breakout year after recording 64 tackles as a rookie.

The secondary is full of hard hitters and play makers. Few people can forget the hit that corner Sheldon Brown laid on Reggie Bush in their playoff game in January. I think Reggie can still feel that one. Fellow corner Lito Sheppard had six picks last season, and 14 in the last three seasons.

At safety, there’s the ever-dependable Brian Dawkins, who’s entering his 12th season. And, there’s another talented young player at strong safety in third-year secondary man Sean Considine, who became a starter during last season and racked up more than 100 tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

David Akers has been the Eagles’ regular placekicker for the last seven seasons, and that doesn’t look to change anytime soon. Akers hit on 18 of 23 field goals last season, and has connected on 81.6 percent of his kicks during his NFL career.

There is a new punter in Australian Sav Rocca, who looks like he should be playing in the front seven, at 6′5 and 265. Like former Chargers punter Darren Bennett, he’s a former Australian rules footballer, and at 33, he’s the league’s oldest-ever rookie.

OUTLOOK

If Donovan McNabb’s injury woes creep up again, that will the cue for rookie Kolb. McNabb didn’t initally react too favorably when the Eagles used a second-round pick on him, and he had a reason to worry. Kolb was one of the best QBs statistically in NCAA history, and had an excellent preseason. He may be the QB of the future, but if McNabb gets hurt, he’ll be Mr. Right Now.

Whoever is under center will be the leader of what should be a really good team. The question mark isn’t on offense, even if McNabb’s injury situaton is tenuous. It’s on defense, where the talent has to come together to avoid getting the offense into too many shootouts.

The schedule doesn’t do them any favors, with road games at Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, and the Jets, and home games against Chicago and Seattle, along with their division tilts. 10-6 sounds like a reasonable record, or even 11-5, but will it be enough to get them the NFC East?

The regular season gets underway tonight as the defending champion Colts host the Saints in what should be a matchup of epic offensive proportions.

Most of the action gets underway on Sunday, including the Cowboys-Giants tussle at Texas Stadium on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Then, on Monday, we’ve got a MNF doubleheader (for those who can’t get enough football).

Outside of thsoe two matchups, there are a few pretty good ones going on this week. The Patriots get a tough test right out of the gate when they go to the Meadowlands to face the Jets. New England is being touted for a return to the Super Bowl, but the Jets are coming off of a big turnaround season, and a big win out of the gate could be a springboard for a run at the Patriots’ dominance in the AFC East.

Tennessee goes to Jacksonville in the first game of the post-Byron Leftwich era. Can either of these teams legitimately challenge Indy, or is this the ‘Second-Place Showdown?’ Vince Young’s (let’s hope Matt Schaub makes that feeling of regret go away in Houston) great rookie season brought the Titans close to the playoffs last season, and if Travis Henry can take off from making babies long enough to be a good runner again, Jeff Fisher might ask Roger Goodell to suspend Pacman for a little while longer.

On Sunday afternoon, the defending NFC champion Bears face off with the Chargers in San Diego. Norv Turner’s a head coach again, and this is the best chance he has to be successful, with two of the league’s top players on both sides of the ball, and a rising quarterback in Philip Rivers. Let’s hope A.J. Smith doesn’t keep that power trip going and try to take over the play-calling in the third quarter with the Chargers up by 17.

And, on Monday night, Baltimore goes to Cincinnati. Ravens defense vs. Bengals offense. A defense is what’s separating the Bengals from being the favorite in the AFC North, which Baltimore is. If the Bengals can somehow score 24 points or more, it’s in the bag.

The Rest of the Action

Sunday

Atlanta at Minnesota
K.C. at Houston
Philadelphia at Green Bay
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Denver at Buffalo
Miami at Washington - If it was 1972, this would be a great matchup
Carolina at St. Louis
Tampa Bay at Seattle - one QB per quarter for Bucs in this one?
Detroit at Oakland - a future star is born? (and no, it’s not you JaMarcus Russell!)

Monday

Arizona at San Francisco

Are you ready for some football? I am!

There are many questions surrounding the Giants coming into the season. They could very well be a playoff-caliber team, but at the same time, they could end up finishing last in the division.

How do things shape up for the G-Men going into ‘07? Will we see Tiki Barber gloating from his seat in the NBC studio if they falter, or will Eli Manning and Co. shut up their former running back?

NEW YORK GIANTS

2006 record: 8-8, finished 3rd in NFC East, lost in Wild Card round at Philly 23-20
Key Offseason Losses: RB Tiki Barber (retired), LB Jesse Armstead (retired), LB LaVar Arrington (cut), LB Carlos Emmons (cut), LB Brandon Short (free agency), K Jay Feely (free agency)
Key Offseason Additions: CB Aaron Ross (1st round draft pick), WR Steve Smith (2nd round pick), LB Kawika Mithcell (from the Chiefs), K Lawrence Tynes (from the Chiefs), RB Reuben Droughns (trade from the Browns)

Quick Take:

After all that’s happened, it’s almost a little surprising that coach Tom Coughlin is still there. But, he’s got one more year to get it done, or his chances will be up. Barber went out with a bang, and hasn’t yet learned the meaning of going quietly. While the Giants were busy going 1-3 in the preseason, the biggest story regarding the Giants was about Michael Strahan and whether or not he was going to play or not, due to contract negotiations that weren’t going his way.

The Big Question: Is this the year Eli Manning cements his place as an elite NFL QB? Keep in mind that it was several seasons before his brother Peyton started putting up the numbers that he is now. But, if Eli needs any extra motivation entering his fourth season (and third as a full-time starter), he definitely got it when Tiki dissed his leadership skills on national TV.

The addition of Smith is a nice one for the Giants, because it gives Eli a solid four-deep receiving corps. Smith was overshadowed by Dwayne Jarrett at USC, but was a catch machine for the Trojans. With Plaxico Burress, veteran Amani Toomer, second-year speedster Sinorice Moss, Smith, and Pro Bowl TE Jeremy Shockey, there aren’t any excuses for Eli to not do well. And, he’s going to get plenty of chances to throw the ball and be the focal point of the offense, now that Barber is wearing a suit instead of a helmet and pads.

OFFENSE

This is the year for Eli Manning. The offense is his now, and he’s got to back that up. But, will Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns be able to do enough to ensure that the Giants’ offense isn’t one-dimensional? Jacobs ran for 423 yards and nine touchdowns in only 99 carries last season, but what can we expect now that he’s the #1 guy? There’s definitely potential for a great running game, if Jacobs can translate his success in a limited role into consistent outputs throughout 16 games, and if Droughns can show some of his form from 2004-05, when he had back-to-back 1,200+ yard seasons with Denver and Cleveland.

DEFENSE

The offense is going to be need to be good, because there are so many question marks on defense. The Giants are breaking in a new defensive coordinator, following the firing of former coordinator Tim Lewis after the defense gave up more than 20 points in 12 of 17 games, including eight of the last nine.

The front four isn’t devoid of talent, in the least. Along with the veteran Strahan, there’s Osi Umenyora and second-year end Mathias Kiwanuka, who could become the next sack machine to line up for the Giants. And, they added former Penn St. tackle Jay Alford with their third-round pick, adding to a depth chart at tackle that already has three good tackles in veteran Fred Robbins, William Joseph (who has yet to fulfill his full potential), and Barry Cofield, who had an impressive rookie season in ‘06.

At linebacker, Antonio Pierce is the only returning full-time starter, and while he’s a darn good one (140 tackles in ‘06). But, the Giants acquired Mitchell in the offseason, who put together back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons in his last two years in K.C., so that leaves only one real hole to be filled.

The secondary is the biggest question mark. Safety Will Demps was recently placed on injured reserve, and veteran corner Sam Madison won’t be playing in the season opener. Gibril Wilson has become one of the league’s top young safeties, but who’s going to fill in for Demps? Odds are that it will be Michael Stone, a former second-round pick from Memphis who really hasn’t done all that much in his NFL career. And, at corner, who will step in while Madison is out, which could be for a few weeks? Ross might be counted on to have an impact right away. The Giants had one of the league’s worst pass defenses last season, finishing 28th in yards allowed per game, and recording only 17 interceptions (and only 32 sacks). So, some people are going to have to step it up very quickly (like third-year corner Corey Webster, another with tons of potential), otherwise the G-Men might suffer with some of the league’s premier QBs on their schedule.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The most unforgettable memory of Jay Feely in a Giants uniform is when he missed multiple game-winning opportunities in a 2005 game against the Seahawks, a contest the Giants eventually lost in OT. He’s now in Miami, and his replacement is Tynes, who made 68 of 87 field goals in three seasons with the Chiefs. He’s 48 of 52 inside 40 yards, so he can be counted on to make the ones he’s supposed to. And, at punter, the Giants return ‘Ironman’ Jeff Feagles, who’s entering his 20th NFL season.

OUTLOOK

From the looks of it, the Giants have far too much talent to not succeed. But, potential and talent must translate into results on the field in order for a team to do well. Three seasons under Coughlin have produced a 25-23 record, and in the last two seasons, the defense has been one of the worst in the league.

But, if new D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (formerly of the Eagles) and his blitz-happy scheme can turn things around, then the Giants have the elements to be a contender, and to save Coughlin’s job. The offense may be able to offset some of the defensive weaknesses, but in the end, the defense is going to need to step up, and step it up. But, whether or not the offense will be as potent as possible will depend on what the run game produces, and if Manning can crack 4000 yards and push for 30 touchdowns, like he has the talent and the people around him to.

If things go well, New York could have two playoff teams for the second year in a row. But, if things go sour yet again, Giants fans could be in for another long, turmoil-filled season, and another 8-8 record, and sneaking into the playoffs won’t be good enough to save Coughlin from getting the boot.

Well, thank goodness we’re here. I’m ready for the regular season to start, and I”m sure everyone else is too. The preseason finishes up over the next two days, with 14 games on tap for tonight, and two for tomorrow night.

I can’t say I particularly like the short week here, but that’s the way it is. I may only do pre-game and post-game tonight, though I may do a few in-game posts, if there is anything noteworthy to report. The starters won’t be playing that much, but there are some decisions that will be made based on tonight, like the cornerback situation, the kicking job, and the depth charts at receiver and fullback, to name the most important ones.

NFC East

New York Giants at New England
New York Jets at Philadelphia
Washington at Jacksonville

The Rest

Buffalo at Detroit (already underway)
Miami at New Orleans
Kansas City at St. Louis
Houston at Tampa Bay
Green Bay at Tennessee
Cleveland at Chicago
Pittsburgh at Carolina
Arizona at Denver
Oakland at Seattle
San Francisco at San Diego

Friday Night

Indianapolis at Cincinnati
Baltimore at Atlanta

Baltimore, K.C., and Arizona will all be looking for end the preseason with a win, while Chicago will be looking to be the only team to go unbeaten in the preseason.

And, of course, the Cowboys take on the Vikings in Minnesota, and it’ll be underway in less than half an hour.

When you’re coming into camp, and there’s only one starting job that’s really up for grabs, then you can feel pretty comfortable about your personnel.

That one spot was kicker, where Martin Gramatica, who came in late last season and resurrected his career with a good run down the stretch, and rookie kicker Nick Folk, who the Cowboys drafted in the sixth round.

The two have waged quite the battle in the preseason, with both missing only a handful of kicks throughout the entire camp, and alternating kicking duties in the first three preseason games.

But, the battle is getting close to a resolution, and it looks like the rookie from Arizona has more than a fair chance to claim the starting duties all for himself.

In this tight of a battle, you can’t afford too many mistakes or bad breaks, and that’s where Folk has gotten the tiniest bit of separation. He has made all of his kicks in the preseason, including a 52-yarder in the win over Denver. Gramatica has been pretty accurate overall, but has missed one field goal and, last Saturday, missed an extra point against the Texans.

There are two important questions to ponder, though: 1) Would Wade Phillips put his trust into a rookie kicker? 2) Would the Cowboys be able to have room for two kickers on the roster?

Well, Folk may be a rookie, but he has a great deal of a scout’s two favorite words: potential and upside. He has an extremely strong leg, andhas shown it off both on his kickoffs and field goals. And, he has greatly improved his long-range accuracy, as he’s consistently been on target from beyond 40 yards in practice, and that 52-yarder against the Broncos was a no-doubter with a few yards to spare.

And, a lot of consideration will probably be given to keeping two kickers, because backup plans are nice to have, but…there are other positions where keeping an extra guy might be more reasonable, like O-line, corner, or receiver. And, considering Gramatica is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, that could be taken into consideration when the decision is made (though Folk looked like he had already moved ahead before Gramatica got hurt).

Folk is going to have the chance to potentially seize the job tomorrow night, when he’ll handle all of the kickoff and field goal duties against the Vikings. Gramatica’s hamstring injury has kept him on the sidelines this week, and will kept him out of tomorrow night’s game. And, it may well signal the end of his time as a Cowboy.

In the end, it might not be such a bad idea to have two kickers. Given how much of a factor kicking played into some losses last season, it’d be good to have a backup option there and ready just in case the starter struggles. But, at the same time, if one wins the job and roster spot over the other, then it’s a sign that the coaching staff is putting a lot of faith and confidence in that one guy, which will boost him in those clutch situations, when confidence is almost as important as getting a good snap.

At punter, there aren’t any question marks, as the Cowboys have one of, if not the league’s best in Aussie Mat McBriar. McBriar isn’t going to make many tackles (as he showed on Saturday), but that’s not what he’s paid for. What he’s paid for is what he did better than anyone in the league last season, when he averaged an astounding 48.2 yards per punt. You don’t want to have to see your punter too often, but when you do, you want to be able to count on him. Winning the field position battle is key to winning the scoreboard battle, so having a guy that can regularly pin the opposition around or inside their 20 puts you in a good position, and that’s what the Cowboys are in with their Pro Bowl punter.

Kickoff returns will likely be handled by Tyson Thompson and Miles Austin, though at this point, Austin’s status isn’t a certainty, since he hasn’t quite dazzled in the preseason.

Who will handle the punt returns, well, you tell me! Terence Newman and Patrick Crayton handled those duties last season, but Newman is currently injured, and when he returns, I don’t think Wade Phillips would want him risking anything by returning kicks. Crayton would seem like the likeliest candidate to do it at this point, though Jerheme Urban is a potential candidate, if he remains on the roster after this weekend. At some point, we could see Isaiah Stanback back there, but it might be a little while yet.

If there is one thing that needs improvement, it’s kick coverage. The Cowboys have given up a number of good returns in the preseason, including Jacoby Jones 91-yard punt return TD in Saturday’s loss. Anything you gain momentum-wise can be negated when the other team busts a good return. So, hopefully there’s some extra focus on coverage from now until the season opener, because special teams is the one place you don’t want to (or need to) get beat.

To say that depth in the secondary is important is just a bit of an understatement.

After watching the corners get burned against the Texans on Saturday, it’s understandable if a few people are a little worried right now, given Terence Newman’s uncertain injury situation.

While the consensus is that the front seven is going to be very strong this season, we’re not sure what to expect out of the secondary at this point, or parts of it at least.

Over the last five games of last season, the Cowboys gave up an average of 287 yards per game and 16 total touchdowns, including letting Drew Brees (384 yards, 5 TDs), Michael Vick (237 yards [a lot for him], 4 TDs), and Jon Kitna (306 yards, 4 TDs) absolutely rip them apart.

All of that came after the secondary had given up only nine touchdowns through the air in the first eleven games.

We know who to depend on at three spots, but even those have question marks.

A lot will be determined on Newman’s health. If he’s in the lineup, then we can breathe a little easier. But, if he is limited at any point in the season, that potentially opens up a whole host of potential problems not just at left corner, but in the entire secondary, given Newman’s importance and versatility.

Anthony Henry is the man at right corner, and if Newman is a question mark, then Henry’s significance is going to be magnified. He hasn’t come close to reaching his rookie mark of 10 interceptions in Cleveland in 2001, but five is a reasonable goal.

Roy Williams is going to be the X-factor. He’s gotten himself into better shape, which will help him in an expanded role in pass rushing. He gets ragged on quite a bit, but if he can back up his offseason improvements with a big year in ‘07, then the whispers will at least lessen a little.

At free safety, Ken Hamlin is going to be counted on to be a difference maker. Keith Davis and Pat Watkins split time there last season, and both have potential, but Dallas decided to hit the market and pick up a proven commodity in the former Seahawks man. Hamlin made a great comeback from a serious, season-ending head injury in 2005 to record nearly 100 tackles and three INTs for Seattle last season. He missed a week of practice early in camp after suffering a knock to the head, and that’s the only worry about him. But, having someone of his abilities back there paired with Roy Williams gives the Cowboys one of the top safety tandems in the league, provided both play to the level we know they can.

With Newman’s health a concern right now, that means that the guys behind him are going to have to step up. Saturday night wasn’t the kind of performance anyone was hoping for, but there have to be some guys who can rise to the challenge. Veteran corner Aaron Glenn is the next in line at left corner behind Newman, and he’s been among the top in his position for a long time, but he is 35, so he might not be able to be a every-down guy. But, given his experience, there’s no doubt he can be counted on in a pinch if needed. But, we’re going to need to see the likes of Jacques Reeves, Joey Thomas, and others to be more than fillers on the roster.

Even though Hamlin is going to be the guy at free safety, it might be worth it to give either one of them a look at corner, if depth really becomes an issue. It’s not something the staff would like to do, but if the guys already on the team aren’t sure bets, and the waiver wire doesn’t produce anything, then some other options might have to be considered.

Whatever combination of guys end up having to take care of coverage duties, one thing’s for sure: If they can play as they did in the two thirds of 2006, then we don’t have anything to worry about. But, if Saturday night happens too often, or the lapses of the last five games of last year crop up again, from giving up big pass plays, to missing tackles, to just being inconsistent in general, then that could do a lot to negate all that the front seven might do.

But, if the front seven wreaks havoc on a weekly basis. it can do a lot to take pressure of the secondary to have to be all over the place too much. One thing that didn’t help the cover guys a lot last season was the lack of backfield penetration, which gave quarterbacks time to throw, and receivers time to get open. If the aggressive defensive scheme pays off, that will limit the amount of chances there are for the secondary to get burned.

It’s safe to say that all of the Cowboys faithful will feel much better when Terence Newman returns to the field, and when we get a real look at what we might be able to expect from the guys in the defensive backfield, which will happen right off the bat, when Dallas faces Eli Manning, Trent Green, Rex Grossman, and Marc Bulger in the first four weeks of the season, and have to contend with the likes of Plaxico Burress, Chris Chambers, and Torry Holt. So, it won’t be long before we know if we don’t have anything to worry about, or if we do. And, if it’s the former, then hopefully it can last all season long, because it’ll make a big difference if the Cowboys’ hopes of winning the NFC East and getting a favorable playoff seeding.

So, get well soon Terence. We’re going to be needing you.

The Cowboys hit the road for the first time, taking their 2-0 preseason record to Reliant Stadium to face the Houston Texans on Saturday night.

The Cowboys have put together two excellent all-around performances in picking up wins over Indianapolis and Denver, and will look to stay unbeaten in the preseason against another AFC team. The Texans are 1-1 on the preseason, after dropping a close 20-19 decision to Chicago in their opener, and beating Arizona 33-20 on the road last Saturday.

THE MATCHUPS

Cowboys offense vs. Texans defense

Dallas has efficient through the air and on the ground so far, getting great contributions from both the starters and the backups. The Cowboys are averaging 187 yards passing and 162 yards rushing in the first two games.

Through the air, Tony Romo is 21 of 29 for 215 yards in the first two games, after playing a quarter against the Colts and the entire first half against the Broncos.

The run game, however, has been getting most of the attention, namely Marion Barber III and Tyson Thompson, who have shined in the first two games. Last week, Barber (57 yards, 2 TDs) and Thompson (75 yards on 16 carries) led a rushing attack that gained 190 yards against the Broncos’ defense. Thompson leads the team in rushing yards in the first two games with 109. Starter Julius Jones hasn’t gotten a ton of carries, but is averaging nearly four yards per carry (57 yards on 15 carries).

Given their success in the first two games, the Cowboys should have a field day against a Texans defense that has been porous, especially against the pass. The Texans’ pass defense has given up an average of nearly 290 yards in the first two games (273 vs. Chicago, 304 last week vs. Arizona). With Romo playing into the third on Saturday, that’ll give him the chance to carve up the Houston secondary and at least double his numbers up to this point. Terry Glenn is still out, but Romo and Co. will have plenty of receivers to throw to, including Isaiah Stanback, who’s sure to see several balls his way after impressing in his debut vs. Denver.

And, you can look for the offensive line to keep it going and open the way for continued success by the running backs. The Texans have done a decent job against the run so far, but haven’t had to face a rushing attack like the Cowboys have, and will be hard pressed to shut the ground game down, or at least limit its production. But, if the run game is able to keep up the momentum, it’ll be all the more beneficial for the aerial attack, and well, if you’re Houston, that could mean a long, long night.

Texans run offense vs. Cowboys run defense

The Texans rushed for 143 yards on 32 attempts against the Cardinals last week, but it’ll probablhy be a little tougher sledding against a much better defense this week. The Cowboys have held two good running teams to a total of 84 yards (on 34 attempts) in two games. Unless the Texans offensive line can create some holes, things might be much the same way they were for Houston against the Bears, when they averaged only three yards per carry and totaled only 75 yards against the Bears D. They do now have one of the NFL’s top backs in former Packer Ahman Green, but the offensive line still has a long way to go, and will be facing quite the stiff test against Dallas’ front seven.

Matt Schaub and the receivers may be able to do a little something against the Dallas secondary, but if the run game can’t get anything going, having to go to a one-dimensional attack will severely dent Houston’s chances, because Dallas’ pass defense is still more than capable of getting the job done, even without an injured Terence Newman.

THE PREDICTION

Expect to see a steady diet of the duo of Jones and Barber, and even though the starters will see the majority of the time, Thompson has earned his fair share of carries. And, Romo will have time to throw and plenty of people to throw to, so the passing game should do well also.

If the Houston defense is the same as it was the past two weeks, expect another excellent, balanced offensive game.

And, you can expect the defense to come to play yet again, and even though the Texans’ O-line seems to be improved, the Cowboys’ front seven is poised to be one of the league’s best. We may well see Anthony Spencer have his first big impact after being mostly quiet in his first two starts.

So, at the end of the night, expect Dallas to come out on top in their first road test, and a leave Reliant Stadium with an impressive win over their in-state neighbors.

I’ll be here tomorrow night with coverage of the game, from pre-game to post-game, but before then, I’ll have the weekly ‘Hub Headliner,’ which will take a ‘What If…’ look at Cowboys history and how things might have been if certain well-known (and a couple lesser thought of) things had or hadn’t happened.

Week 3 of the preseason gets underway tonight with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road at the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints on the road at the Kansas City Chiefs.

We’re just two weeks away from the start of the regular season, and it can’t get here fast enough. We’re going to start seeing more of the starters in the last two preseason games, but that means we’ll be seeing more caution, because no one wants to get their starters hurt this close to the start of the season.

This week features several matchups between in-state foes. There’s the Cowboys-Texans matchup at Reliant Stadium on Saturday, which I’ll be covering as usual, from start to finish. Along with those matchups, the Giants take on the Jets at the Meadowlands, the Ravens take on the Redskins at Fedex Field (I was tempted to call it RFK Stadium for a second), and the Eagles go to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Sunday night.

Outside of the NFC East, the Bucs take on the Dolphins in Miami. Monday Night Football will see the Falcons on national television on the same day of Michael Vick’s plea hearing, taking on the Bengals at the Georgia Dome. I’ll take a wild guess and say that the announcers might spend more time talking about something Vick-related than talking about the action on the field.

Here’s the complete Week 3 schedule.

Thursday

Jacksonville at Green Bay
New Orleans at Kansas City

Friday

Tennessee at Buffalo
New England at Carolina
St. Louis at Oakland

Saturday

Detroit at Indianapolis
Tampa Bay at Miami
Baltimore at Washington
San Francisco at Chicago
New York Jets vs. New York Giants
Dallas at Houston
Cleveland at Denver
Minnesota at Seattle
San Diego at Arizona

Sunday

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh

Monday

Cincinnati at Atlanta

Dallas, Detroit, Green Bay, and Miami will all be putting 2-0 starts on the line this weekend, and the Patriots, Colts, Bengals, Chiefs, and Cardinals will be looking to get their first wins of the preseason. Somehow, I don’t think the Colts, Patriots, and Bengals are too worried about going 0-2 their preseason starts, because they’ll likely be getting the wins when they really count. And, for the Lions, Packers, and Dolphins, we’ll know before long if the preseason is their high point of the year.

And, an injury note that won’t wait for today’s news roundup - CB Terence Newman likely won’t play in the last two preseason games because of a strained heel. The injury kept him out of the Broncos game, and I figured he’d be back for this weekend, but since it’s a strain, Wade Phillips is going to give Newman a couple of weeks to rest and recover so that he’ll be in tip-top shape for the season opener vs. the Giants. Aaron Glenn is the probable starter in his place.

I’ll have more Dallas and NFL news later on, and tomorrow,I’ll preview the Texans game and have the weekly ‘Hub Headliner’ feature. It’s a little late this week, since I’ve been running around like a headless chicken trying to take care of a lot (including a new site that will be launching in the next couple of days), and some things have had to be pushed back. But, I’m catching up now, and I’ll most certainly be here this weekend.