Sunday 19 October 2014 15:57, UK
The Dallas Cowboys look to maintain their flying form as they play host to NFC East rivals New York Giants in Sunday’s second live game on Sky Sports.
Are these Dallas Cowboys for real? We’ve been asking that question throughout the last couple of weeks but last Sunday’s win in Seattle served notice that America’s team are genuine contenders this year.
Dallas have now won five on the spin to sit on 5-1 and after beating the reigning Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle, has made the entire NFL sit up and take back the usual scepticism which surrounds the Cowboys.
With their recent form, a home contest with the streaky Giants should be no problem, but knowing exactly which Big Blue will turn up, as they strung three good wins together before a humiliating shutout loss to Philadelphia.
Cowboys riding Murray
Running back DeMarco Murray has been a revelation this season as he joined Jim Brown as the only two players to run for 100 yards in the first six games of the season, and what a way to achieve it with 115 yards and a score against Seattle’s fearsome defence.
Murray already has 785 yards, 243 yards more than his nearest rivals, and six TDs while clocking up 130.8 yards per game. The one worry will be that Murray has been given a huge workload by Dallas, with his 149 rushing attempts being 43 more than any other player in the league this season.
Back-up Joseph Randle is being used a bit more to lighten the load but while Murray is hot he’ll be given plenty to do – and his injury issues in the past mean that you’re never quite certain of his durability, although up to now he’s been arguably the major offensive weapon in the NFL this season.
Romo efficiency
The annual Tony Romo-bashing started in the very first game this season with three interceptions in a loss to San Francisco, but he’s been a model of efficiency ever since, with ten touchdowns against just two picks in the last five wins.
Perhaps it’s a stronger, more effective offensive line giving him more time, but most likely the presence of such a dominant running game has taken the onus off Romo to carry the team’s fortunes, and he’s obviously thriving in the role.
191 pass attempts through six games is Romo’s lowest since total since getting the starting job in Dallas – and with the team averaging an NFL-most 33.3 rushing attempts per game make no mistake these Cowboys are a run-first outfit.
Fallen Giants
After a slow start, New York really picked up with three impressive wins coming with an average of 35 points a game as Eli Manning had all sorts of protection, and Rashad Jennings looked like a franchise running back.
However, they capitulated completely against Philly and the offensive line reverted to their leaky old selves allowing Manning to be sacked eight times by the Eagles, their most sacks allowed in six years.
Manning was also hit seven more times in their 27-0 blowout loss which really brought them dive bombing back down to earth with a bump to leave them on 3-3 but with all kinds of questions to answer again.
Randle plays
Murray’s back-up Randle has avoided a suspension despite being arrested for shoplifting on Monday when he was caught stealing underwear and aftershave from a mall in Dallas.
The bizarre incident has result in Randle being hit with a large fine but no suspension. He ran for 52 yards last week and will be a key player coming up for Dallas as they look to save Murray’s legs and keep him for what they hope will be a postseason push.
