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CHICAGO — The Cowboys begin an all-important December run with a must-win game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
Everything remains in front of the Cowboys (8-4) with four games left in the season.
But they are currently in second place in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles (9-3) and would be out of the playoffs if the postseason started today because of an inferior conference record.
So the Cowboys must keep pace with a win against the Bears.
But what’s also true is that the Cowboys, following their 33-10 loss to the Eagles on Thanksgiving Day, need a win to avoid all those questions about another December meltdown.
The Cowboys have a 27-43 record in December since 1997, including a 10-17 mark behind quarterback Tony Romo since 2006.
But the Cowboys are confident this year will be different because they are built differently to past years.
This team is led by NFL-leading rusher DeMarco Murray and the league’s best offensive line, rather than the pass-happy ways of Romo in years gone by.
The Cowboys plan to lean on Murray and the offensive line down the stretch, starting Thursday against the Bears (5-7). On his local radio show, owner Jerry Jones said:
I think we’re not the same team. We have not prepared this team in the way that we have other seasons. This team is built for the challenge that we got on the road. It’s built mainly because we’re a physical running team.
Now, there’s one of the points about [the 33-10 Thanksgiving Day loss to Philadelphia]. We didn’t show to be that physical running team that we had been in earlier parts of the season. We’d like to think we are. We’re a team that can do that in Chicago. It’s a must.
Murray leads the NFL with 118.9 rushing yards per game. He has rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of the 12 games this season behind a powerful and physical offensive line, led by three former first-round picks in left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin.
Things won’t be easy against a Bears team that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all season and is giving up just 105.5 rushing yards per game.
After beating up on lackluster RBs, #Bears rush defense will get a real test in #Cowboys' DeMarco Murray http://t.co/DVJcmaqxxc
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) December 3, 2014
But Murray and the Cowboys offensive line are smarting from last week’s loss against the Eagles. He rushed for a season-low 73 yards in what was the first game the line has not had their way with an opponent up front. However, Murray is "very confident" that the running game will bounce back against the Bears:
Obviously it was a struggle for us last week, a good Philadelphia team, going up against a good Chicago Bears team, we know what happened last year in similar circumstances so we’re focused on trying to play a good game, execute a great offensive game plan against a good team on the other side, so we’re excited.
How bad was the offensive line against the Eagles last week?
Philadelphia recorded four sacks and had eight tackles for losses.
“It’s disappointing because we know we’re capable of a lot more,” Martin said. “We didn’t take care of business, but we’re on to the next one. We have to bounce back and get back to executing across the board.”
GARRETT: "As a whole, our offense didn't play as well yesterday...our offensive line is certainly a part of that." #Cowboys
— Jared Sandler (@jsandlerESPN) November 28, 2014
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was admittedly surprised his young and hungry offensive line got handled the way it did against the Eagles. But he has no doubts it will bounce back with a dominant performance on Thursday:
They’ll respond the right way. I think they’re a heck of a group. I think they’re really good football players, and they’re the right kind of guys. I think they’re tough physically and mentally, and I think they’ll respond well. They have a tremendous amount of pride in being a good unit. I think they’ll watch the tape and they’ll try to rectify things.
They will have to rectify things, as the Cowboys are looking to lean on and the offensive line over the final four games of the season.
It’s a must because three of the last four games are on the road and because of the cold weather expected for those games in Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington.
The Cowboys are undefeated on the road this season; Murray is averaging 120.6 yards in those games.
DeMarco Murray on playing on the road: "For me, that turns me on a little bit to come into someone’s house and hear the boos and all that."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 1, 2014
It’s also their only option because leaning on the run and controlling the clock was the foundation to their success in winning six of their first seven games.
If they have any hopes of closing strong and making the playoffs, it will be on the backs of Murray and the offensive line, starting Thursday against the Bears.
“You can say that,” Murray said. “Obviously we put ourselves in a great position at 8-4. We got a couple [of] games left but we’re just taking it one game at a time. We’re excited about the matchup this week. I’m sure our O-line will be ready to play.”
Clarence Hill covers the Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
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Everything remains in front of the Cowboys (8-4) with four games left in the season.
But they are currently in second place in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles (9-3) and would be out of the playoffs if the postseason started today because of an inferior conference record.
So the Cowboys must keep pace with a win against the Bears.
But what’s also true is that the Cowboys, following their 33-10 loss to the Eagles on Thanksgiving Day, need a win to avoid all those questions about another December meltdown.
The Cowboys have a 27-43 record in December since 1997, including a 10-17 mark behind quarterback Tony Romo since 2006.
But the Cowboys are confident this year will be different because they are built differently to past years.
This team is led by NFL-leading rusher DeMarco Murray and the league’s best offensive line, rather than the pass-happy ways of Romo in years gone by.
The Cowboys plan to lean on Murray and the offensive line down the stretch, starting Thursday against the Bears (5-7). On his local radio show, owner Jerry Jones said:
I think we’re not the same team. We have not prepared this team in the way that we have other seasons. This team is built for the challenge that we got on the road. It’s built mainly because we’re a physical running team.
Now, there’s one of the points about [the 33-10 Thanksgiving Day loss to Philadelphia]. We didn’t show to be that physical running team that we had been in earlier parts of the season. We’d like to think we are. We’re a team that can do that in Chicago. It’s a must.
Murray leads the NFL with 118.9 rushing yards per game. He has rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of the 12 games this season behind a powerful and physical offensive line, led by three former first-round picks in left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin.
Things won’t be easy against a Bears team that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all season and is giving up just 105.5 rushing yards per game.
After beating up on lackluster RBs, #Bears rush defense will get a real test in #Cowboys' DeMarco Murray http://t.co/DVJcmaqxxc
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) December 3, 2014
But Murray and the Cowboys offensive line are smarting from last week’s loss against the Eagles. He rushed for a season-low 73 yards in what was the first game the line has not had their way with an opponent up front. However, Murray is "very confident" that the running game will bounce back against the Bears:
Obviously it was a struggle for us last week, a good Philadelphia team, going up against a good Chicago Bears team, we know what happened last year in similar circumstances so we’re focused on trying to play a good game, execute a great offensive game plan against a good team on the other side, so we’re excited.
How bad was the offensive line against the Eagles last week?
Philadelphia recorded four sacks and had eight tackles for losses.
“It’s disappointing because we know we’re capable of a lot more,” Martin said. “We didn’t take care of business, but we’re on to the next one. We have to bounce back and get back to executing across the board.”
GARRETT: "As a whole, our offense didn't play as well yesterday...our offensive line is certainly a part of that." #Cowboys
— Jared Sandler (@jsandlerESPN) November 28, 2014
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was admittedly surprised his young and hungry offensive line got handled the way it did against the Eagles. But he has no doubts it will bounce back with a dominant performance on Thursday:
They’ll respond the right way. I think they’re a heck of a group. I think they’re really good football players, and they’re the right kind of guys. I think they’re tough physically and mentally, and I think they’ll respond well. They have a tremendous amount of pride in being a good unit. I think they’ll watch the tape and they’ll try to rectify things.
They will have to rectify things, as the Cowboys are looking to lean on and the offensive line over the final four games of the season.
It’s a must because three of the last four games are on the road and because of the cold weather expected for those games in Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington.
The Cowboys are undefeated on the road this season; Murray is averaging 120.6 yards in those games.
DeMarco Murray on playing on the road: "For me, that turns me on a little bit to come into someone’s house and hear the boos and all that."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 1, 2014
It’s also their only option because leaning on the run and controlling the clock was the foundation to their success in winning six of their first seven games.
If they have any hopes of closing strong and making the playoffs, it will be on the backs of Murray and the offensive line, starting Thursday against the Bears.
“You can say that,” Murray said. “Obviously we put ourselves in a great position at 8-4. We got a couple [of] games left but we’re just taking it one game at a time. We’re excited about the matchup this week. I’m sure our O-line will be ready to play.”
Clarence Hill covers the Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...