Week 4 Quick Hits: In Defense of Tony Romo

The Falcons are still searching for an offensive identity. Did Bill Belichick find a defensive identity? And the Bills were reaquainted with a little reality. Here’s a quick look at every game of Week 4:

Lions 34, Cowboys 30

This season Tony Romo has gone from goat to G.O.A.T. back to goat. Not that the Romo haters will care, but two of Romo’s second-half interceptions on Sunday are explainable, perhaps even understandable. The first (to Bobby Carpenter) was simply a bad play. But the second was more about great defense than bad offense. Cornerback Chris Houston – who had trouble much of the afternoon against Laurent Robinson, a talented but injury-prone former second-round pick who looks something like a stretched version of Miles Austin – made an excellent jump on Robinson’s slant route. On the third pick, Romo correctly read no safety help over the top against Jason Witten. Problem was, with Kyle Vanden Bosch and Ndamukong Suh in his face, he underthrew the ball. Good read, poor execution.

The turnovers overshadow the fact that Dallas’s offensive line outplayed Detroit’s outstanding front four most of the afternoon. The Cowboy defense also stymied Matthew Stafford. Detroit’s saving grace on offense was that Calvin Johnson remained the most unguardable receiver in the game.

Bears 34, Panthers 29

Ahh….now that’s nice: A classic Chicago Bears game, as we’ve come to know. Against Carolina, Chicago’s offense was actually its defense and special teams. Defensive back D.J. Moore had a pick-six off a tipped pass (poor decision by Cam Newton to rifle a ball to unreliable Legedu Naanee against tight bracket coverage on the play). Matt Forte’s second-quarter touchdown run was set up by a 73-yard kick return from Devin Hester. The next time Hester touched the ball, he went 69 yards and somersaulted for his record-setting 11th career punt return score.

Jay Cutler finished with just 17 pass attempts, while Forte posted a career-high 205 yards on the ground. Maybe this will get the Panther fans talking about their own team’s run game. The one-two punch of Jonathan Stewart and $21 million man DeAngelo Williams combined for just 18 carries. The duo has combined for 20 carries or fewer in all four games this season, and the Panthers are now 0-3 when their wunderkind quarterback throws for more than 370 yards.

Bengals 23, Bills 20

Maybe the Bills can take solace in being good enough to fall for a trap game. They have experienced weekly trap games the past nine years, but never as the trapee. They have no choice but to shake this one off and move on. Doing so could be tough, particularly for the coaching staff. Buffalo’s coaches are the ones who know just how vulnerable their team is defensively. With a lackluster pass-rush and a struggling secondary (cornerback Leodis McKelvin has been especially shaky filling in for injured Terrence McGee), the Bills are not as good as their .750 record suggests.

As for the Bengals, the rookie wideout A.J. Green was an acrobat downfield Sunday, and Cedric Benson was a bell cow (19 carries, 104 yards). That’s their main formula, and it got them to 2-2.

Titans 31, Browns 13

Those who follow the Titans closely are saying FINALLY! Jared Cook breaks out! The 6-5, 246-pound ex-Gator is perhaps the most athletic young tight end in the A.F.C. But he has struggled to harness his gifts while sorting through the mental demands of playing in the N.F.L. With increased playing time this season, Cook appears to be thinking less and reacting more. We saw this on his 80-yard touchdown catch against the Browns. When Kenny Britt was sidelined, Cook became Tennessee’s best chance at creating mismatches through the air. Look for him to get more split-out opportunities as the season progresses.

Chiefs 22, Vikings 17

At least the Vikings did not blow a hearty halftime lead in this one.  Minnesota is on track for a pair of quarterback controversies: in 2011, Donovan McNabb or Christian Ponder? In 2012, Christian Ponder or Andrew Luck?

Redskins 17, Rams 10

Playing at home against what we’re realizing is a really good Redskins defense, Sam Bradford averaged 3.8 yards per pass attempt while completing less than 50 percent and taking seven sacks. Without having yet watched the film, it’s difficult to say whether this was a product of a great Redskin defense or an awful Ram offense. Like most things, it’s probably a combination of both.

The Rams limp into their bye week with an 0-4 record. It’s possible – in fact, probable – that four weeks from now, they’ll be 0-7. Their next three games are: at Green Bay, at Dallas and home vs. New Orleans. 0-7 might seem catastrophic, but in the N.F.C. West, it’s considered striking position. Six of the Rams’ last nine games are against feeble division opponents.

49ers 24, Eagles 23

You might say not all N.F.C. West teams are feeble;  the 49ers improved to 3-1. Considering the Niners just put together a come-from-behind win on the road against an alleged Dream Team (is it too predictable to call the Eagles a Bad-Dream Team?), all cries about the 49ers’ legitimacy will be received with respect for the next 48 hours. But Niner apologists beware: that’s still Alex Smith you’re vouching for.

As for the Eagles, they can look forward to a week of hyperventilation and  criticism over their fourth-quarter struggles. They’ve been outscored, 36-0, in their current three-game losing streak. In two of the losses, they were moving for a potential game-winning drive late only to have wideout Jeremy Maclin literally drop the ball. Maclin, who has otherwise played well this season, dropped a fourth-down catch with 1:45 remaining against Atlanta and carelessly fumbled with 2:15 left against San Francisco.

Saints 23, Jaguars 10

This from STATS Inc.: “The Saints (on Sunday) became the first team from the N.F.C. South to win in Jacksonville. New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta had been a combined 0-8 in the River City.”

Who knew Jacksonville was called the River City? And who knew it was possible for a team to gain 30 first downs and 503 yards of total offense but manage only 23 points? Good productive day for the Saints. Road wins are always welcomed.

Texans 17, Steelers 10

The Texans opened the game with a 19-play touchdown drive that took 10:55 off the clock. It was the longest drive the league has seen since the Saints went for 10:59 against the Raiders on Oct. 12, 2008.

Houston’s drive was a work of art, with Arian Foster rushing for 45 of his 155 yards and Matt Schaub completing five passes to either a back or a tight end. It wasn’t the first time this season that Pittsburgh’s front seven fell back on its heels in run and short pass defense.

But here’s the thing about long drives: they’re not nearly as productive as explosive plays. When you eat up so much clock, you’re not just limiting your opponents’ possessions – you’re limiting your possessions. This, by nature, helps keep a game close.

That’s partly why the Texans found themselves leaning on their defense to make a stand and win the game late in the fourth quarter after surrendering 10 points in a pair of third-quarter Steeler drives that totaled more than 13 minutes. Fortunately for the Texans, their defense responded. Pass-rushers Connor Barwin, Mario Williams and Antonio Smith were fantastic all afternoon. They sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times and constantly forced him to relocate his pocket. The Texans finished with five team sacks and eight quarterback hits and hounded Big Ben into two interceptions on the final drive (the first was called back by a roughing-the-passer penalty).

Giants 31, Cardinals 27

Every year we get a game that’s defined by a blown call at the end. Sometimes, as with the 2008 Broncos-Chargers game in which Ed Hochuli pre-emptively blew the play dead on a Jay Cutler fumble that he deemed an incomplete pass, it helps lead to rule changes (the N.F.L. became more lenient in continuing action on plays involving fumbles).

What will the reaction be to the erroneous ruling that Victor Cruz gave himself up before setting what should have been a live ball on the turf late in the fourth quarter at Arizona? Normally, a team in Arizona’s position can point to its own many mistakes as the real reason it lost. The game is always bigger than any single play. That remains true in this case – after all, the Cruz play was just one of 135  plays on the afternoon, and it directly provided zero of the Giants’ 31 points. But it could be extra difficult for the Cardinals to admit this given that they outrushed the ground-and-pound Giants, 156 to 54.

Falcons 30, Seahawks 28

We continue to monitor the Falcons’ search for an offensive identity. As stated in previous posts, the Falcons are built to pound the ball. But the huge price they paid for the first-round rookie Julio Jones could persuade them to attack more through the sky. That was the case in Week 3 at Tampa, and it appears to have been the case in Week 4 at Seattle. Jones was targeted 17 times (he had 11 catches). Those targets, however, could have been a reaction to his drastic mismatch against Seattle’s so-so right corner, Brandon Browner. We can’t pinpoint the Falcons’ identity until we get a little more data on them. But it’s looking like change is in the air…

Whether this sort of change would be wise remains debatable.

Packers 49, Broncos 23

Bronco fans, had you not been so rudely clamoring for Tim Tebow right out of the gate, John Fox probably would have given the Almighty Ex-Gator a chance in the fourth quarter. But Fox knew that a change under center, even in garbage time, would be viewed as an indictment of Kyle Orton. Probably not wanting that distraction, he kept Orton on the field and watched him throw his third interception late in the fourth quarter.

Orton wasn’t the culprit for this loss, though. Denver’s defense was…sort of. The D struggled mightily, but given the brilliance of Aaron Rodgers – career highs 408 yards passing and two touchdowns running – criticizing it feels almost like blaming Bryon Russell for Jordan’s final jump shot as a Bull.

Patriots 31, Raiders 19

Bill Belichick’s best feature is his ability to remold his defense in a way that compromises the opponent’s greatest strength. Pinpointing Oakland’s greatest strength isn’t hard. Needing to stop Darren McFadden in order to stop the Raiders, the Patriots opened the game in bear defensive looks, which, in essence, meant five-man defensive lines. Aside from a 40-yard McFadden scamper, the approach worked. The Raiders got just 35 yards out of McFadden’s other 10 carries and had to retrofit their gameplan around Jason Campbell. Campbell threw the ball well but had two costly (and terrible) interceptions, including one directly to Patrick Chung in the end zone.

Chargers 26, Dolphins 16

Typical Chargers game: nice weather, mediocre opponent, solid but not jaw-dropping performance and Dan Fouts calling the action for CBS.

Ravens 34, Jets 17

This game would have made more sense if they’d just let the two defenses line up and fist-fight each other for 60 minutes. The Jets should have major concerns about facing  Vince Wilfork and the Patriots without Nick Mangold next week. The Ravens can be concerned about Joe Flacco if they want, but some simple run-pass balance in the play-calling would go a long ways toward ironing things out.

Andy Benoit is an NFL analyst for CBSSports.com and founder of NFLTouchdown.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLTouchdown.com or @Andy_Benoit.

In N.F.L., the Cost of Doing Business Through the Air

For excitement, the first two weeks of the N.F.L. season have exceeded expectations. Scoring and passing yardage are at near-record levels, and Sunday’s Dallas-San Francisco game was just one example of the many games that have been decided by big passing plays at the finish.

But for teams with futures heavily dependent on their starting quarterbacks, and that is just about every team, there is an inherent risk.

Already, a seemingly large number of high-profile quarterbacks have absorbed debilitating hits. Philadelphia’s Michael Vick walked off the field spitting up blood after sustaining a concussion against the Falcons. The Vikings’ ferocious pass rush also drew blood against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman as he led the Buccaneers to a come-from-behind 24-20 victory.

There is more. Dallas’s Tony Romo delivered his deciding 77-yard pass to Jesse Holley in overtime against the 49ers as he was fighting the effects of a cracked rib and punctured lung that had knocked him out of the game in the second quarter. And Chicago’s Jay Cutler has given new meaning to the term “picking yourself up off the mat”; he has been battered by an N.F.L.-leading 11 sacks in the first two games.

Other quarterbacks among the walking wounded include Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, who nearly had a serious knee injury against Seattle; Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, who has been sacked nine times; and the Jets’ Mark Sanchez, who on his first play of the 2011 season was body-slammed to the turf by Dallas’s DeMarcus Ware. Sanchez also absorbed some heavy hits against the Jaguars on Sunday.

Be careful  what you wish for, football fans, your big-play quarterback could be next.

Romo Admits It Was His Fault

Sometimes a quarterback points the finger at himself to shield a teammate from criticism. It can be part of leadership.

And sometimes the quarterback is simply telling the truth.

So let’s give the Cowboys’ Tony Romo credit for honesty. He couldn’t be assigned much credit for anything else in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Jets on Sunday.

“Really this game just came down to one or two plays,” Romo said. “Those plays were plays that I gave them the ball.”

First he fumbled on a third-down dive at the Jets’ goal line. Then came what Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger called Romo’s masterpiece of stupidy.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated described the game as a total, absolute, utter debacle for Romo:

With a minute to go and the score tied, only the Lord knows what Romo was looking at. He badly underthrew Dez Bryant, and the interception into the waiting arms of Darrelle Revis led to the winning field goal.

Romo and Bryant could be seen discussing the route after the interception, and it made you think that Romo was expecting Bryant to come back for the ball. But Romo set things straight after the game. And the postgame quotations from the coaches indicated that a zone coverage by the Jets’ secondary, disguised as man-to-man, tripped him up.

From DallasCowboys.com:

Dez Bryant said after the game that he had run his route correctly.

“We wanted to get in a formation and a protection that we felt could block up some of their pressure and give Tony a chance to work the outside the receivers,” Jason Garrett said. “It looked like they went to what we call (cover) 2-man, played up underneath it, and I don’t know if Tony was fooled by it a little bit, but unfortunately we made that turnover and gave them a chance to win the ballgame.”

Jets Coach Rex Ryan said: “Mike Pettine might have had the call of the day. We have this play called ‘Jet Mike Mix’ that we call, and we’d been getting a lot of one-on-one’s on the outside. We wanted them to think it was one-on-one, but we actually had help on top. Revis was able to undercut it and get the interception.”

It might have also been questonable for Romo to focus on Bryant in the first place. Bryant sustained a quad injury earlier in the game on a punt return, and was also hobbled by cramps.

“I cost us the football game tonight,” Romo said. “That’s frustrating. It’s disappointing to work very hard to make sure that you’re put in those positions to win the game, and it’s hard to swallow a game like that. I’ve got to be better. That’s the bottom line.”

Extra point There has always been the feeling that if Romo could eliminate dunderhead plays late in games, he could be considered an elite quarterback (and lead Dallas to a title). Romo fans and Dallas fans have been waiting for that to happen, for experience to kick in. Instead, they keep getting kicked in the teeth. Is there still a chance that Romo can mature into a champion? Or is what you see what you get?

2011 Dallas Cowboys Season Preview

The Dallas Cowboys got to their typical late-season meltdown much faster than usual last year. By the second week of November they were 1-7 and handing Coach Wade Phillips his walking papers. Though there were questionable tactical measures, the losing was primarily a consequence of sloppy execution. Many players simply lost their focus.

It speaks volumes about the team’s character that this happened under an easygoing coach like Phillips. It’s one thing for players to lose respect for a polarizing personality like a Brad Childress or a Bill Callahan; it’s another  for them to lose respect for someone who specifically tries not to make their lives miserable. The Colts never laid down on Tony Dungy.

But fangless coaches, like the late-season meltdowns, are another of the Cowboys’ repeated patterns. It’s no secret that Jerry Jones has a fondness for hiring softy head coaches who can double as yes-men. Remember Dave Campo? Chan Gailey? Barry Switzer? Everyone, especially the players, knew these “leaders” were second in command to Jones.

The only two head coaches who did not settle for riding shotgun were Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson, both of whom, not coincidentally, spearheaded the personnel decisions and built long-lasting foundations for success. Johnson brought forth the early-90s dynasty; Parcells stockpiled this current club with many of the cogs you see today (Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Andre Gurode, Jason Witten, Jay Ratliff, Bradie James, DeMarcus Ware and Terence Newman).

So which category does Jason Garrett fall into? Distant observers who heard about Garrett’s new sheriff attitude and  his extra padded practices late last season, and who saw the Cowboys go 5-3 under him, would surmise that he’s in that Johnson-Big Tuna camp. But those closer to the organization say no, he’s another “really nice guy.”

Despite what our talking heads culture says, it’s impossible to analyze and predict the effect that personalities will have on a football team. Eric Mangini was a hardnosed disciplinarian when he won in New York and a first-class jerk when he lost in Cleveland. Tom Coughlin supposedly couldn’t relate to his players…until the Giants won a Super Bowl in the 2007 season. Tony Dungy was too nice a guy to push a team over the hump…before he did with the ’06 Colts.

The Cowboys remain one of the most talented teams in football (good thing, too, because no matter what, we get stuck watching them in prime time at least five times a year). Discussing nebulous elements like their focus and desire is fruitless until it can be done in hindsight. So let’s ignore the giant big screens, crisp white uniforms, glaring national spotlights and tabloid magazines and actually try to answer the only question about America’s Team that matters: what can be done on the field to make up for 16 years’ worth of unfulfilled ambition?

Offense

Tony Romo’s “leadership” and “demeanor” have little to do with the Cowboys’ fate. What counts is how complex a game plan Jason Garrett can design with him. The answer thus far has been “only a modestly complex one.” Romo has the athleticism to make sandlot plays. But sandlot plays can only be counted on…well, in sandlot games. In grownup football, a quarterback must read defenses well enough to adjust routes, timing and protections before the snap. Then he must process those adjustments at lightning speed after the snap. It’s only when a quarterback fails to do this that he relies on sandlot skills.

Talented quarterbacks can still excel with a sandlot style. We’ve seen Michael Vick redefine his position; Ben Roethlisberger has two rings (though he’s the only pure sandlot quarterback to win a title). Romo is gifted enough to make it work – he moves well, has an incredibly quick release and can throw from different platforms (i.e. on the run, falling away, side-armed, over-armed, etc.).

Still, impressive as these traits are, it’s difficult to ride this style for great distances, as it’s too prone to mistakes and inconsistencies. It forces wide receivers to improvise – which very few can, since that’s the opposite of how they’ve been taught to play the position. And it compels play-callers to think twice about turning to the juiciest pages of their playbook.

We’ve seen this play out with Romo and the Cowboy offense over the years. Why do you think Dallas operates out of so many basic formations and personnel packages? (Hint: It’s not because fullback Chris Gronkowski and backup tight end Martellus Bennett are simply too good to come off the field.)

It’s not that Romo is too stupid to run a complex system – he’s just not a sharp enough quarterback to thrive under hazardous conditions. The only quarterbacks who are, really, are Manning, Brady, Brees and Rodgers. Unlike those first-tier players, Romo needs big-time targets and reliable protection to excel consistently. Mediocre resources aren’t enough.

Romo at least has the big-time targets. Miles Austin is a stout but sinewy playmaker with a good feel for making quick adjustments. Dez Bryant is as explosive as any player to enter the league in the past 20 years. Maturity is a major concern – especially since you get the sense that Jerry Jones is willing to cut Bryant  slack and grant him special privileges – but in terms of talent, the Cowboys couldn’t ask for more. And, of course, tight end Jason Witten is the consummate pro. He’s not dynamic enough to create mismatches, but he feasts on the mismatches others create for him.

The Cowboys’ passing game lacks depth. Quick but unspectacular Kevin Ogletree figures to work ahead of sixth-round rookie Dwayne Harris as the No. 3 wideout, while Martellus Bennett and John Phillips will vie for the No. 2 tight end duties. Phillips is the more fluid receiving weapon and might have snatched the job a year ago if not for a season-ending knee injury last August. Bennett, unreliable as he has been since being drafted in the second round in ’08, has actually evolved into a good in-line blocker, which is critical because he has not become the receiving weapon that many expected.

As for the offensive line…that’s where Dallas’s resources could fall short. It depends on whether everyone can stay healthy (there’s absolutely no proven depth to fall back on) and whether the newcomers can step forward. The two weakest links from last year’s front five – right guard Leonard Davis and right tackle Marc Colombo – were released. In Davis’s place is frequently overweight veteran Montrae Holland. In Colombo’s place is first-round rookie Tyron Smith, who, at 21, is one of the greatest but greenest pure talents to come off U.S.C.’s O-line.

If the right side of the line can somehow make magic, this offense could look like the one that ranked second in scoring four years ago. The rest of the line is stable. Andre Gurode has uncommon power for a center; Kyle Kosier, if over the foot and knee issues that have bothered him two of the last three years, offers adequate mobility; and developing left tackle Doug Free – while a bit overpaid in his new four-year, $32 million contract ($17 million guaranteed) – is supremely athletic as an open-space run-blocker and has shown encouraging signs of improvement as a pass-blocker.

Laws of probability suggest the Cowboys won’t quite manage a top-flight passing attack. This makes the running back tandem of Tashard Choice and Felix Jones all the more important. Expect Jones to start – he’s a former first-round pick. But don’t censure the Cowboys if they give the heavier load on Choice. He has fantastic lateral agility, a sounder inside running style and better durability than the electrifying Jones. Third-round pick DeMarco Murray, barring injuries like the hamstring that sidelined him during the start of training camp, will also figure into the rotation. Murray, like the veterans ahead of him, is a finesse runner.

Defense

It’s a football crime that we’ve gone this far without covering new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. The former Browns coordinator brings his bag of defensive riddles to a Cowboys team that had been operating in a 3-4 scheme built on fairly basic 4-3 principles (one gap stuff).

Ryan’s scheme will push (hopefully not break) the intellectual aptitude of what has recently been an embarrassingly undisciplined defense. The chances of it bearing fruit in 2011 are fifty-fifty. The scheme relies on players being versatile and handling myriad assignments out of myriad personnel packages. It will be classified as a 3-4 but frequently morph into a 2-5. Or a 1-6. Or 6-1. Or whatever Ryan thinks will create the most confusion. It’s a lot for players to learn – especially when the only firsthand lessons they’ve had before training camp are a week’s worth of illegal pre-lockout cram sessions.

Ryan’s first concern should be whether the secondary can handle it. It was their ineptitude that felled this defense last season. The Cowboys gave up 33 touchdowns through the air, which tied Houston for the most in the state of Texas (oh, and for the most in all of football).

Ryan could have his work cut out for him. Nickelback Orlando Scandrick is a liability in man coverage. Cornerback Mike Jenkins followed his ’09 Pro Bowl campaign with a ’10 stink bomb that was highlighted by a lack of toughness, fundamentals, focus and effort. Veteran Terence Newman is still effective, especially in off-coverage, but being 33 (come September) and afflicted with Vince Carter Syndrome (a disease that causes frequent minor injuries throughout the course of a game), he can no longer shadow wideouts every down on an island.

The late addition of former Browns free safety Abe Elam was huge. Elam gives this secondary a physical presence and source of firsthand experience with Ryan’s system. His arrival also bumps Alan Ball back to a more natural dime back role, where he’ll play more underneath and in the flats (as opposed to over the top and in centerfield, where he was iffy last year). This keeps overmatched youngster Bryce McCann off the field. Gerald Sensabaugh returns as the strong safety, though don’t be surprised if his athleticism is used in more of a joker role.

Speaking of joker roles….think Ryan might have some plans for DeMarcus Ware? The leading sacker in the N.F.L. over the last five years was used as a de facto weakside defensive end in Wade Phillips’s scheme. This was done to create one-on-one matchups. If he wants, Ryan can stick with that approach given how adept the other outside linebacker, Anthony Spencer, is at shedding blocks on the strong side.

Spencer, like a lot of his teammates, must bounce back from a down year. If he doesn’t, Jerry Jones and the front office may take into consideration his expiring contract and decide that it’s worth seeing what third-year pros Victor Butler and Brandon Williams can do with more snaps.

The Cowboys may run into a few issues with stopping the run in 2011. A more proactive front office like Philadelphia’s or Pittsburgh’s probably would have cut 35-year-old Keith Brooking this past off-season and settled for throwing last year’s second-round pick, Sean Lee, into the lineup. Better a year too early than a year too late with these things. But as it stands, Lee will continue to handle nickel linebacking duties (he’s an excellent direction-changer in space) behind Bradie James. Brooking is a smart, fiery leader, but his recent struggles with untangling from blocks is concerning.

Ryan will have to tweak his defensive line approach to take full advantage of the gap-shooting prowess of Jay Ratliff. At 290 pounds, Ratliff simply doesn’t have the girth to be an everydown two-gap nose tackle. But quickness and a tenacious motor make him special. One way to ensure one-on-one matchups for Ratliff is to use what coaches call “bear fronts,” which would squeeze defensive ends Igor Olshansky and Marcus Spears to the inside of the line. Neither Spears nor Olshansky has great quickness, but both anchor well.

It’s surprising the Cowboys recently gave Spears a five-year, $19.2 million contract. He has not been nearly the underachiever his critics claim, but with sixth-year nickel D-lineman Jason Hatcher capable of handling more first and second down snaps, and ex-Brown Kenyon Coleman following Ryan here, the Cowboys had positions in greater need of investment than defensive end. One final name to note: Josh Brent. The backup nose tackle was a seventh-round supplemental pick last season and showed a very encouraging initial burst.

Special Teams

Kicker David Buehler (Buehler? . . . Buehler?) has good distance but needs to be more consistent in mid-range after missing three of his seven field-goal attempts from 30-39 yards. Mat McBriar is one of the best punters in the game when it comes to both height and placement. In the return game, Dez Bryant is a frightening home run threat.

Bottom Line

Three things need to happen for the Cowboys to solidify themselves as a playoff threat: 1. Good health (this, of course, is a need for all teams but especially so here considering the poor depth on offense); 2. The young players grow up quickly; and 3. The defense immediately comes to life in Ryan’s complex scheme. Each of these things is more of a long shot than probability.

Predicted Finish: 2nd N.F.C. East

Andy Benoit is the founder of NFLTouchdown.com and covers the N.F.L. for CBSsports.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLtouchdown.com.