The Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Rams each recorded morale-boosting victories on Sunday afternoon to kick start their respective 2014 NFL campaigns. They both have a chance to go 2-1 when they face each other in a vital Week 3 clash at St. Louis this coming Sunday.
Can the injury-plagued St. Louis Rams buck the odds once again and record their second consecutive victory? Or will Tony Romo and a suddenly resurgent Cowboys defense spoil their party? Read on for a complete preview of this matchup and while you’re at it you can also check out our preview of the Pittsburgh vs. Carolina game.
[sc:Football ]Dallas Cowboys vs. St. Louis Rams Preview
When: Sunday, September 21, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
Line: Dallas Cowboys at St. Louis Rams – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Dallas Cowboys
After a disappointing Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys bounced back in a big way on Sunday afternoon beating the Tennessee Titans 26-10 to improve their record to 1-1.
[sc:NFL240banner ]After an error-filled season debut where he threw three interceptions, quarterback Tony Romo was solid this time around as he completed 19 of 29 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and more importantly no picks. His performance was aided by the star turn of running back DeMarco Murray who punished the Titans defense with a total of 167 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Murray’s contributions were not lost on Dallas coach Jason Garrett who said, “He ran hard and he ran downhill. When you can do that, drive the football again, again and again and control the football and control the game it gives you a great chance to win.
Indeed possession was the name of the game for the Cowboys as they controlled the ball for majority of the match. They held the ball for 41 minutes and 11 seconds as they finished the game with a 368-314 advantage in total offense.
What is turning out to be a revelation for the Dallas Cowboys this early in the season, however, is their ever-improving defense. A year after they surrendered the third-most yards in league history, the Cowboys are definitely holding their own on the defensive end this time around.
Through two games this year, the Cowboys are 12th in the league in defense, allowing a total of 316.5 yards per game. To put that into perspective, last year, the Cowboys allowed a league-worst 415.3 total yards per game.
In the game against the Titans, the Cowboys were relentless allowing just 82 rushing yards against a team which ran for 162 yards in their season opener against the Chiefs. They limited the Titans to just 13 first downs, way below their output of 24 in their opening game.
In the absence of linebacker Justin Durant, Rolando McClain stepped up big time for the Cowboys defense as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft led Dallas with seven tackles and one sack.
McClain and the rest of the Cowboys can further lay down a marker when they face the St. Louis Rams who are also coming off a morale-boosting win last Sunday when they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There is still some uncertainty, however, with the Rams’ offense with QB Sam Bradford’s unexpected injury and this is the perfect opportunity for a suddenly resurgent Cowboys defense to impose their will and continue their impressive start to the season.
It will definitely go a long way in determining the Cowboys’ fate this season. The Cowboys have won their last two meetings against the Rams, including a 31-7 whitewash against St. Louis just last September. They are 3-1 in their last four away games, dating back to November of last season.
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Betting on the St. Louis Rams
When Rams starting QB Sam Bradford reinjured his ACL in his left knee in a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, many expected the St. Louis Rams to just give up this season. Surely a blow that big, weeks before the start of the new NFL season is simply too much for a team to overcome.
There is no quit however with this St. Louis team and they proved it in a big way on Sunday when they edged past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-17 to even their record to 1-1.
QB Austin Davis played like a grizzled veteran even though he was making his first NFL start, completing 22-of-29 passes for 235 yards with no interceptions to help guide the Rams to a morale-boosting victory after their disappointing season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
What makes Davis’ performance so impressive is that he isn’t supposed to be here playing. He is the Rams’ third-string quarterback behind Bradford and Shaun Hill but injuries to the two have provided the 25-year-old the opportunity and he has certainly grabbed it with gusto.
Helping Davis in the stunning win were running back Zac Stacy who rushed for 71 yards and had a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Greg Zuerlein whose four field goals were the difference in the match.
No one is expecting much from this Rams team but as they have proven in their game against the Bucs, if they can just keep the game tight until the last few moments, they are more than capable of sneaking in and stealing the victory. That should be the case once again when they face the Cowboys this Sunday and they will have the added advantage of playing in front of their home support.
The last time the Rams faced the Cowboys in St. Louis back in October 2008, the Rams handed out a 34-14 shellacking to the visitors. They are 0-1 however this season at home, following their lopsided 34-6 defeat to the Vikings on opening day.
Writer’s Prediction
The Cowboys hold off the Rams to improve to 2-1.
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