|
 'America's team' ended the regular season with four straight
wins, including emphatic victories in the last two -- a 42-7 rout of
the Indianapolis Colts and a 44-17 cruise against the Washington
Redskins.
On Sunday, the Cowboys host the Detroit Lions in the final game of
the wildcard weekend.
The action starts with the Arizona Cardinals, hoping to advance to
the Super Bowl which will be played at their own stadium, up against
the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers, who enter the playoffs
despite a losing 7-8 record.
Saturday's other game features two Northern powerhouses who are in
the post-season despite being unable to live up to their recent best
-- the Baltimore Ravens and the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Colts on Sunday before the Cowboys
take center stage.
 CAREER-BEST SEASON
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has enjoyed a career-best season with
34 touchdowns, just nine interceptions and 3,705 passing yards.
"His decision making has been excellent," Cowboys head coach Jason
Garrett told USA Today.
"I think we have done a really good job with the environment around
him. Obviously we are significantly better than we have been up
front, running the ball better than we have in a long time and he
has benefited from that.
"But there is no question in my mind he has orchestrated the whole
thing. His leadership of the offensive unit has been outstanding."
The other two outstanding players for Dallas this year have been
running back DeMarco Murray, who broke Emmitt Smith's single season
franchise record with 1,845 yards, and receiver Dez Bryant, who
enjoyed a Cowboys record of 16 touchdowns.
[to top of second column] |
The Lions faced the prospect of being without key defensive tackle
Ndamukong Suh, suspended a game for treading on the leg of Packers
quarterback Aaron Rodgers before the Lions had that ban overturned
on appeal.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford has two excellent receivers in
Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson.
'Megatron' Johnson had 14 catches for 329 yards, the second best
performance by a receiver in NFL history, when the teams last met -
the Lions winning 31-30 in 2013.
Tate has been on fire this season, putting up 1,331 yards on 99
receptions, so the Cowboys pass defense will need to be alert to two
offensive threats.
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
