Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys
Texas Stadium
1615 EST / 2115 GMT
CBS (US) / Sky Sports Xtra (UK)
Why it matters
Finish off the turkey and cranberry sauce early because the second game on the Thanksgiving Day double-header is a cracker. Doubts still surround the Cowboys and the Broncos but, before a national TV audience, both teams have the chance to banish them and stake their claims as potential playoff threats.
Dallas won six and lost 10 last season and, despite the changes brought about by coach Bill Parcells in his third year - a new quarterback in Drew Bledsoe, a solid running game and a young, big, speedy defensive front - they have been far from convincing in some of their seven wins so far this term. They have so far shown a tendency to leave it to the last minute to secure victory, rather than dominate from the off, as is the Parcells style.
The Broncos were a surprise playoff side last year, without impressing regularly, and no one who saw their 34-10 opening defeat to Miami this September could have predicted their subsequent success. Playing at altitude in Denver often inflates their record - their two defeats so far have come away from home - but they have combined no-frills passing attack with a rushing game ranked second-best in the league and a defense that performs particularly well against the run. This may be the game in which they confirm they are worthy of being compared to John Elway's Super Bowl-winning Broncos side of 1997 and '98.
Team talking points
Rather than employing a single running-back, as is the NFL standard, both these sides have adopted a strategy of running by committee, using two backs to establish the ground game. Critics say a side that chops and changes its runners will struggle to find its rhythm. Supporters point to the statistics. Denver are second in the league in yards per game on the ground while Dallas have overcome injuries to stand 13th.
Dallas thought they had their running-back of the future last season when they drafted Julius Jones in the second round, and saw flashes of brilliance despite an injury-hit season from the 24-year-old. Marion Barber III was supposed to be insurance when he was selected in the fourth round this summer but, with Jones out for three games with an ankle injury, Barber had a chance to showcase his hard-running ability. Jones is likely to be used early, when there is space to showcase his dazzling moves, with Barber coming in for third downs as he is better at bulldozing short yardage and at picking up blitzers on passing plays.
Much of Denver's success on the ground has been put down to the simple-yet-effective "zone blocking" system used by the offensive line. The beneficiaries this season are Mike Anderson, who gets the bulk of the action on first and second down, and Tatum Bell, who comes in when the chips are down. Just four backfield pairings in NFL history have managed to pass the 1,000-yard mark in the same season, but these two look like they just might manage it.
Star players
Terry Glenn, #83, WR, Cowboys
The receiver, who collected a vital 20-yard pass against Philadelphia a fortnight ago with 3min 17secs remaining, is the man Bledsoe looks to when the game is on the line. The fastest of the Cowboys' receiving corps, when not making game-breaking catches, he is often drawing coverage away from others, or stretching the field so that the rushing game can prosper.
Jake Plummer, #16, QB, Broncos
Last season, his second with the Broncos, Plummer broke Denver legend Elway's single-season record in passing yards with 4,089 and tied his single-season touchdown mark, with 27. But he also completed just 58.2% of his passes and threw 20 interceptions. This year that percentage is up to a more respectable 61.4, and he has thrown just three picks in his first 10 games with a new the low-risk strategy, a major reason behind the team's improvement.
What to look for
Denver may shut down Dallas' young backs so the key to this game might be how quickly Parcells lets his quarterback cut loose, and how Bledsoe responds. As long as the Dallas offensive line holds up – and they have shown weakness at tackle so far this season so a question mark remains – the veteran passer will respond if he is allowed to.
Jake "The Snake" Plummer will be tested by the Dallas defense, who will put him under pressure and are likely to cut off the short options he has favoured this year, but they are vulnerable deep, especially as cornerback Anthony Henry is a doubt because of a groin injury. Plummer could prosper if he gambles, but that would mean giving in to the temptation he has averred so far this season. Denver may prefer to plug away with their running game, unless they are forced into going for broke.
Tip
Denver's susceptibility to the pass, combined with their relative mediocrity away from home, give the edge to Dallas, 34-27, with another late score.
(Last week 2-1; season 3-1)
Interesting trivia
The Terrell Owens soap opera continues to simmer, with Dallas becoming a widely-tipped destination for the Eagles cast-off next season. Dallas owner Jerry Jones, and coach Parcells have, both separately and collectively, managed to get the most out of troublesome players in the past but neither has yet been drawn on their interest. And, yes, this is the player who inspired loathing in Big D when he danced on the star at midfield after scoring for San Francisco five years ago.
This is a rematch of Super Bowl XII, which Dallas won 27-10 in New Orleans in 1977. The teams have only ever faced each other eight times in the regular season, with four wins each.
Denver are 2-6 on Thanksgiving Day, but one of those wins was over Dallas by a 26-24 verdict in 2001.
The Cowboys have played at home on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1978, winning 15 and losing 11 in that time.
Former Cowboys QB Gary Hogeboom is one of the contentants in "Survivor Guetemala", which follows the football on the CBS network on Thursday night. Hogeboom, who joined the Cowboys in 1980, replaced Danny White at the helm in 1984 and '85, before spending three years in Indianpolis and one with the Cardinals.
1615 EST / 2115 GMT
CBS (US) / Sky Sports Xtra (UK)
Why it matters
Finish off the turkey and cranberry sauce early because the second game on the Thanksgiving Day double-header is a cracker. Doubts still surround the Cowboys and the Broncos but, before a national TV audience, both teams have the chance to banish them and stake their claims as potential playoff threats.
Dallas won six and lost 10 last season and, despite the changes brought about by coach Bill Parcells in his third year - a new quarterback in Drew Bledsoe, a solid running game and a young, big, speedy defensive front - they have been far from convincing in some of their seven wins so far this term. They have so far shown a tendency to leave it to the last minute to secure victory, rather than dominate from the off, as is the Parcells style.
The Broncos were a surprise playoff side last year, without impressing regularly, and no one who saw their 34-10 opening defeat to Miami this September could have predicted their subsequent success. Playing at altitude in Denver often inflates their record - their two defeats so far have come away from home - but they have combined no-frills passing attack with a rushing game ranked second-best in the league and a defense that performs particularly well against the run. This may be the game in which they confirm they are worthy of being compared to John Elway's Super Bowl-winning Broncos side of 1997 and '98.
Team talking points
Rather than employing a single running-back, as is the NFL standard, both these sides have adopted a strategy of running by committee, using two backs to establish the ground game. Critics say a side that chops and changes its runners will struggle to find its rhythm. Supporters point to the statistics. Denver are second in the league in yards per game on the ground while Dallas have overcome injuries to stand 13th.
Dallas thought they had their running-back of the future last season when they drafted Julius Jones in the second round, and saw flashes of brilliance despite an injury-hit season from the 24-year-old. Marion Barber III was supposed to be insurance when he was selected in the fourth round this summer but, with Jones out for three games with an ankle injury, Barber had a chance to showcase his hard-running ability. Jones is likely to be used early, when there is space to showcase his dazzling moves, with Barber coming in for third downs as he is better at bulldozing short yardage and at picking up blitzers on passing plays.
Much of Denver's success on the ground has been put down to the simple-yet-effective "zone blocking" system used by the offensive line. The beneficiaries this season are Mike Anderson, who gets the bulk of the action on first and second down, and Tatum Bell, who comes in when the chips are down. Just four backfield pairings in NFL history have managed to pass the 1,000-yard mark in the same season, but these two look like they just might manage it.
Star players
Terry Glenn, #83, WR, Cowboys
The receiver, who collected a vital 20-yard pass against Philadelphia a fortnight ago with 3min 17secs remaining, is the man Bledsoe looks to when the game is on the line. The fastest of the Cowboys' receiving corps, when not making game-breaking catches, he is often drawing coverage away from others, or stretching the field so that the rushing game can prosper.
Jake Plummer, #16, QB, Broncos
Last season, his second with the Broncos, Plummer broke Denver legend Elway's single-season record in passing yards with 4,089 and tied his single-season touchdown mark, with 27. But he also completed just 58.2% of his passes and threw 20 interceptions. This year that percentage is up to a more respectable 61.4, and he has thrown just three picks in his first 10 games with a new the low-risk strategy, a major reason behind the team's improvement.
What to look for
Denver may shut down Dallas' young backs so the key to this game might be how quickly Parcells lets his quarterback cut loose, and how Bledsoe responds. As long as the Dallas offensive line holds up – and they have shown weakness at tackle so far this season so a question mark remains – the veteran passer will respond if he is allowed to.
Jake "The Snake" Plummer will be tested by the Dallas defense, who will put him under pressure and are likely to cut off the short options he has favoured this year, but they are vulnerable deep, especially as cornerback Anthony Henry is a doubt because of a groin injury. Plummer could prosper if he gambles, but that would mean giving in to the temptation he has averred so far this season. Denver may prefer to plug away with their running game, unless they are forced into going for broke.
Tip
Denver's susceptibility to the pass, combined with their relative mediocrity away from home, give the edge to Dallas, 34-27, with another late score.
(Last week 2-1; season 3-1)
Interesting trivia
The Terrell Owens soap opera continues to simmer, with Dallas becoming a widely-tipped destination for the Eagles cast-off next season. Dallas owner Jerry Jones, and coach Parcells have, both separately and collectively, managed to get the most out of troublesome players in the past but neither has yet been drawn on their interest. And, yes, this is the player who inspired loathing in Big D when he danced on the star at midfield after scoring for San Francisco five years ago.
This is a rematch of Super Bowl XII, which Dallas won 27-10 in New Orleans in 1977. The teams have only ever faced each other eight times in the regular season, with four wins each.
Denver are 2-6 on Thanksgiving Day, but one of those wins was over Dallas by a 26-24 verdict in 2001.
The Cowboys have played at home on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1978, winning 15 and losing 11 in that time.
Former Cowboys QB Gary Hogeboom is one of the contentants in "Survivor Guetemala", which follows the football on the CBS network on Thursday night. Hogeboom, who joined the Cowboys in 1980, replaced Danny White at the helm in 1984 and '85, before spending three years in Indianpolis and one with the Cardinals.
posted by MG at
6:16 PM
1 Comments:
Two outstanding defenses went toe-to-toe, Dallas especially forcing unusual mistakes from their opponents - witness Jake Plummer's first interception in almost 300 passes.
But the tie-breaker was Ron Dayne, whose career since he won the Heisman Trophy as college football's outstanding player in 1999 has been considered one big disappointment until now.
Dayne replaced Dallas native Tatum Bell, whose bruised chest saw him ruled out just before the game. And, showing some great moves and acceleration, he made two game-breaking plays, a 16 yard touchdown run in the third quarter and the 55-yard dash in overtime to set up the winning field goal.
Unable to establish the running game, Dallas found a good plan B in short throws, over the middle to tight end Jason Witten, who caught nine passes for 82 yards, and in the quick throw to Keyshawn Johnson on the sideline, allowing the receiver to use his size and quickness to beat a single defender.
By
MG, at 2:55 PM
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