By Rich Bergeron
In almost any other year in the NFL, the Cowboys matching up with the Cardinals wouldn’t turn many heads. Any other year, it would be difficult to get fans not rooting for the participating teams to feel any excitement at all about this game. This year is different.
The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of a 6-2 season with high expectations for a team that’s made a habit out of ending the season with an 8-8 record or worse in recent years. Part of the team’s success is directly attributed to the tough, hard-nosed approach of Veteran QB Tony Romo (165-242, 1,998 yards, 15 TDs, 6 INTs). Despite being sacked 17 times for a loss of 146 yards, Romo’s best passing performances have been the perfect complement to a career year for Cowboys Running Back DeMarco Murray (206 carries, 1,054 yards, 7 TDs). He also has 239 yards on 26 receptions.
The 6-1 Arizona Cardinals are off to their best start in 40 years, a far cry from their 5-11 2012 season record. Quarterback Carson Palmer (94-154, 1,136 yards, 8 TDS, INT) isn’t having the same kind of year as Romo, but he’s been more accurate and has been taken to the deck by defenders only 4 times in his drop backs. The running and catching of Andre Ellington (128 carries, 464 yards, 2 TDs, 28 receptions, 274 yards, TD) is also huge part of the Cardinals winning season.
Defensively, the Cardinals have just seven sacks. They make up for their shortfall there with 10 interceptions. The Cowboys come in with nine sacks and eight interceptions. Dallas is also ranked 15th against the pass and 19th against the run. The Cardinals are ranked 3rd in the league against the run (77.9 yards per game) and 32nd against the pass.
Tony Romo’s back injury might limit his effectiveness if he plays Sunday. If he doesn’t play, he has a perfectly capable backup in Brandon Weeden. Either way, this promises to be a gunslinging battle on offense. Both teams will rely on their rushing games to free up passing lanes. The Cardinals might not have the same success against the run as they’re used to, but it could still be a bad day for Murray.
Prediction: Cardinals win 28-24 in a back and forth battle that comes down to a key 4th quarter drive. If Romo plays he will not last through the entire game, a victim once again of multiple 3rd down blitzes as Arizona is sure to examine and learn from the film of the Redskins game last week. Murray barely breaks 100 on the ground to keep his streak alive, but he fails to break into the end zone Sunday. The Arizona defense gets a pick 6, Palmer throws for two scores and Ellington gets the final score.
