Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Pro Picks: Playoff positioning on the line in Dallas
By Dave Goldberg, AP Football Writer
Thursday, December 18, 2008 | No comments posted.
The Dallas Cowboys are known for the relationships (or lack thereof) among the various parts of their offense, notably Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and now Jason Witten.
But it’s their defense that’s been keeping them alive for a playoff spot.
Which means it’s likely to be another physical battle when the Cowboys play their final game at Texas Stadium on Saturday night against Baltimore, a team known for defense but operating with a better offense than usual this season.
Both teams enter the game 9-5 and in the thick of the wild-card races in their conferences.
Neither can win their divisions, although Dallas beat the NFC East champion Giants 20-8 last Sunday night, sacking Eli Manning eight times. That was just after the Ravens were eliminated from the AFC North, losing to Pittsburgh by an inch or so when referee Walt Coleman ruled that Santonio Holmes barely had the ball over the goal line on his winning TD catch in Baltimore.
The Cowboys are favored by five points, but that could change. The Giants’ game was also a physical contest for Dallas and Tony Romo, battered by New York’s defense, is sore and questionable.
“He is going to try to play,” coach Wade Phillips says, which almost certainly means that Romo will be there, perhaps for another battering by the Ravens.
This probably won’t be quite as low-scoring as the Steelers-Ravens game, which was 9-6 until the Steelers scored in the final minute.
But don’t expect a shootout.
COWBOYS, 16-13
Pittsburgh (plus 1) at Tennessee
For home-field advantage in the AFC. Can the Titans OL keep the pass rush off Kerry Collins?
STEELERS, 13-10
Carolina (plus 3) at N.Y. Giants
For home-field advantage in the NFC. The Panthers are notably weaker on the road.
GIANTS, 19-17
Atlanta (plus 31⁄2) at Minnesota
The Falcons upset the Vikings in the Metrodome in the 1998 NFC title game. Again? No.
VIKINGS, 24-20
Indianapolis (minus 61⁄2) at Jacksonville (tonight)
The Colts have won seven straight, but even Detroit caused them problems.
COLTS, 27-21
Green Bay (plus 4) at Chicago
(Monday night)
Maybe the Packers will find a way to get inspired for their traditional rival. But the Bears have too much at stake.
BEARS, 24-16
Arizona (plus 8) at New England
Every week, the Cardinals demonstrate how lucky they are to play in a weak division.
PATRIOTS, 31-20
Philadelphia (minus 5) at Washington
It was only Oct. 5, but it seems like centuries ago that the Redskins won in Philly.
EAGLES, 30-10
New Orleans (minus 61⁄2) at Detroit
The Lions have been coming close, so it’s tempting to suggest ...
Let’s go with it.
LIONS, 45-44
Buffalo (plus 7) at Denver
The Broncos SHOULD finally clinch the West this week, shouldn’t they?
BRONCOS, 28-20
San Diego (plus 3) at Tampa Bay
The Chargers SHOULD finally lose the West this week, shouldn’t they?
BUCS, 25-17
N.Y. Jets (minus 41⁄2) at Seattle
The Jets are 0-3 on the West Coast (San Diego, Oakland, San Francisco) and are owed a loss after lucking out last week. Mike Holmgren’s last home game in Seattle.
SEAHAWKS 20-19
Miami (minus 4) at Kansas City
Will the Chiefs try to win one for the departed Carl Peterson? No, but they might relax because ...
Never mind.
DOLPHINS, 23-20
Houston (minus 7) at Oakland
Most years, once the Texans are eliminated from contention, they start winning.
TEXANS, 24-15
San Francisco (minus 51⁄2) at St. Louis
The 49ers are quietly going from bad to mediocre.
49ERS, 27-10
Cincinnati (plus 3) at Cleveland
Ryan Fitzpatrick over Ken Dorsey.
BENGALS, 20-19
But it’s their defense that’s been keeping them alive for a playoff spot.
Which means it’s likely to be another physical battle when the Cowboys play their final game at Texas Stadium on Saturday night against Baltimore, a team known for defense but operating with a better offense than usual this season.
Both teams enter the game 9-5 and in the thick of the wild-card races in their conferences.
Neither can win their divisions, although Dallas beat the NFC East champion Giants 20-8 last Sunday night, sacking Eli Manning eight times. That was just after the Ravens were eliminated from the AFC North, losing to Pittsburgh by an inch or so when referee Walt Coleman ruled that Santonio Holmes barely had the ball over the goal line on his winning TD catch in Baltimore.
The Cowboys are favored by five points, but that could change. The Giants’ game was also a physical contest for Dallas and Tony Romo, battered by New York’s defense, is sore and questionable.
“He is going to try to play,” coach Wade Phillips says, which almost certainly means that Romo will be there, perhaps for another battering by the Ravens.
This probably won’t be quite as low-scoring as the Steelers-Ravens game, which was 9-6 until the Steelers scored in the final minute.
But don’t expect a shootout.
COWBOYS, 16-13
Pittsburgh (plus 1) at Tennessee
For home-field advantage in the AFC. Can the Titans OL keep the pass rush off Kerry Collins?
STEELERS, 13-10
Carolina (plus 3) at N.Y. Giants
For home-field advantage in the NFC. The Panthers are notably weaker on the road.
GIANTS, 19-17
Atlanta (plus 31⁄2) at Minnesota
The Falcons upset the Vikings in the Metrodome in the 1998 NFC title game. Again? No.
VIKINGS, 24-20
Indianapolis (minus 61⁄2) at Jacksonville (tonight)
The Colts have won seven straight, but even Detroit caused them problems.
COLTS, 27-21
Green Bay (plus 4) at Chicago
(Monday night)
Maybe the Packers will find a way to get inspired for their traditional rival. But the Bears have too much at stake.
BEARS, 24-16
Arizona (plus 8) at New England
Every week, the Cardinals demonstrate how lucky they are to play in a weak division.
PATRIOTS, 31-20
Philadelphia (minus 5) at Washington
It was only Oct. 5, but it seems like centuries ago that the Redskins won in Philly.
EAGLES, 30-10
New Orleans (minus 61⁄2) at Detroit
The Lions have been coming close, so it’s tempting to suggest ...
Let’s go with it.
LIONS, 45-44
Buffalo (plus 7) at Denver
The Broncos SHOULD finally clinch the West this week, shouldn’t they?
BRONCOS, 28-20
San Diego (plus 3) at Tampa Bay
The Chargers SHOULD finally lose the West this week, shouldn’t they?
BUCS, 25-17
N.Y. Jets (minus 41⁄2) at Seattle
The Jets are 0-3 on the West Coast (San Diego, Oakland, San Francisco) and are owed a loss after lucking out last week. Mike Holmgren’s last home game in Seattle.
SEAHAWKS 20-19
Miami (minus 4) at Kansas City
Will the Chiefs try to win one for the departed Carl Peterson? No, but they might relax because ...
Never mind.
DOLPHINS, 23-20
Houston (minus 7) at Oakland
Most years, once the Texans are eliminated from contention, they start winning.
TEXANS, 24-15
San Francisco (minus 51⁄2) at St. Louis
The 49ers are quietly going from bad to mediocre.
49ERS, 27-10
Cincinnati (plus 3) at Cleveland
Ryan Fitzpatrick over Ken Dorsey.
BENGALS, 20-19
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines