Cowboys to escape Big D -- drama -- long enough to cover

[clevfan]

Oct. 11, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Cowboys to escape Big D -- drama -- long enough to cover

Review-Journal sportswriter Matt Youmans


Dull moments are few and far between with the Dallas Cowboys, on and off the field, and the stars in the soap opera usually are quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Terrell Owens.

This week, the main character has been cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, who brawled with his bodyguard in a hotel bathroom.

Whether he's admired or despised -- and he's probably more despised -- Jerry Jones deserves credit for being one of the NFL's best owners. He's in the business of winning games and entertaining people, and he makes certain the Cowboys do both.

Jones has turned Dallas into America's most dramatic team.

Whether or not the Cowboys are the league's top team at the moment is an irrelevant argument. They just need to be about a touchdown better than the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

It's always amazing how quickly the world turns in the NFL. Today's hot team is one game from becoming next week's overrated team.

Dallas was a popular Super Bowl favorite two weeks ago. Now, after two flat home performances, including a loss to Washington, the Cowboys are being criticized and picked apart.

Two weeks ago, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner pondered retirement after throwing three interceptions, losing three fumbles and watching wideout Anquan Boldin get carted off on a stretcher in a 56-35 loss to the New York Jets. Now, after a blowout victory over Buffalo, Warner says he loves the game and wants to keep his gloves on as long as possible.

All nonsense aside, the Cowboys look to be a good bet as 5-point road favorites over the Cardinals. The Cowboys are simply better, and they tend to play with more focus on the road, where they are 2-0.

In the latest Las Vegas Sports Consultants Oddsmakers Power Poll, Dallas ranks No. 1 in the league and Arizona ranks 20th. LVSC opened the line on this game at 61/2.

Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald is a matchup concern for the Cowboys' secondary, but Boldin is out, and that makes a difference.

With running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones opening up the field for Romo to find Owens and tight end Jason Witten, Dallas should win an entertaining shootout.

Four more plays for Week 6 (Home team in CAPS):

• Panthers (+2) over BUCCANEERS: It's tough to resist Carolina as an underdog. The Panthers are 20-8-2 in their past 30 games when getting points. They also have won five in a row at Tampa Bay. Carolina's defense ranks fourth in the league, and its offense displays excellent balance with quarterback Jake Delhomme, running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and wideout Steve Smith. Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia is momentarily out of the doghouse and expected to start, but he's on a short leash.

• Bears (-21/2) over FALCONS: The key to beating Atlanta is stopping running back Michael Turner and putting pressure on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. Chicago's tough front seven can do that. The Bears' offense is maturing as QB Kyle Orton, running back Matt Forte and wideout Devin Hester gain confidence.

• Jaguars (+31/2) over BRONCOS: With quarterback David Garrard slumping, look for the Jaguars to hit the ground running and try to grind it out with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Last year, Denver also was a 31/2-point home favorite over Jacksonville, and the Jaguars won, 23-14. The Broncos, who will miss injured running back Selvin Young, have won their three home games by one, two and three points.

• Eagles (-41/2) over 49ERS: The San Francisco offensive line has allowed 20 sacks, which is bad news for J.T. O'Sullivan against the blitzing Philadelphia defense. After two losses, expect Donovan McNabb to rally the Eagles, even without Brian Westbrook.

Last week: 3-1-1 against the spread

Season: 15-8-2