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By Doug Kretz
Scouts Inc.
San Diego at Dallas
When: 4:15 PM ET
Watch: CBS
Preview
More scouting reports: Week 14
Scouts Inc. Position Advantage
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach
After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Chargers-Cowboys matchup.
1. San Diego needs to sustain the momentum: The Chargers are on a roll with seven consecutive wins as they travel to Dallas for this game. Quarterback Philip Rivers is playing with a lot of confidence and the team is close to clinching a playoff berth. If the Chargers manage to get off to a quick start, they could easily ride the momentum to a crucial victory in Dallas.
2. Expect the Chargers to use their size advantage in the passing game: With only eight defensive interceptions, the Cowboys are ahead of only one team, Cleveland (six). The Cowboys' cornerbacks are undersized, and San Diego probably will look for single coverage on its tall receivers to take advantage of size mismatches. San Diego's top three wide receivers are all in the 6-foot-5 range and that is quite an advantage against 5-10 cornerbacks.
3. San Diego must protect the football: The Chargers have turned the ball over once in the past four games and that was a fumble. Rivers has been electric with his accuracy, and when the Chargers can end up in the plus column when it comes to turnovers, they have an excellent chance to come out on top. The Cowboys are an extremely opportunistic team and get a lot of points after turnovers, so it is extremely important that San Diego protects the football this week.
4. Look for the Chargers to be physical with TE Jason Witten: Witten is Dallas QB Tony Romo's security blanket. Witten excels at finding the seams in zone defenses and is consistently the guy Romo looks to when he can't find one of his wide receivers downfield. Look for the Chargers' outside linebackers to disrupt Witten coming off the ball and make him alter his routes to get downfield.
5. Matchup to watch: San Diego LT Marcus McNeill versus Dallas ROLB DeMarcus Ware: For fans of action in the trenches, this is a matchup made in heaven. The massive McNeill (6-7, 336 pounds), one of the elite left tackles in the NFL, is extremely agile and plays light on his feet. Ware is one of the premier edge rushers in the league. Both players can rely on athleticism and quickness or switch to power and strength when needed.
6. Dallas will stick with the run: The Cowboys are second in the NFL with an average of 5 yards per carry. They have a stable of backs who have the speed and acceleration to give Dallas explosive runs with a single missed tackle. The Chargers can give up yards on the ground in chunks (4.35 yards per carry). If the Cowboys' running game is working, Romo's play-action passing game becomes more effective.
7. The Cowboys can't give up explosive plays: One of the most damaging plays in the Cowboys' Week 13 loss to the Giants was Brandon Jacobs' 74-yard touchdown off a short swing pass. Dallas coach Wade Phillips likes to bring the heat, especially in obvious passing situations, with linebackers coming off the edge or up the gut. Rivers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at making defenses pay for the blitz by hitting his release valve for big plays.
8. Dallas needs to spread the ball around: With FS Eric Weddle out of action because of a knee injury, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will be tempted to attack the middle of San Diego's secondary. Romo has a lot of weapons in the passing game and needs to avoid becoming predictable by spreading the wealth.
9. Gain positive yards on first and second down: This is one of the few games where Dallas is the less explosive team on offense. The Cowboys' offense needs to control the clock and keep the ball out of Rivers' hands. To do that, the Cowboys need to see more third-and-short situations, which means avoiding losing yards on first and second down.
10. Matchup to watch: Dallas WR Miles Austin versus San Diego CB Antonio Cromartie: Miles has exploded onto the scene this year and leads the Cowboys in explosive plays and touchdowns (nine) and is averaging 18 yards per catch, the third-highest mark in the league. He is a big target with good downfield speed and excellent ball skills. Cromartie is leading the Chargers with three interceptions and has the size to match up with the likes of Miles.
Prediction
San Diego 27
Dallas 26
Scouts Inc.
San Diego at Dallas
When: 4:15 PM ET
Watch: CBS
Preview
More scouting reports: Week 14
Scouts Inc. Position Advantage
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach
After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Chargers-Cowboys matchup.
1. San Diego needs to sustain the momentum: The Chargers are on a roll with seven consecutive wins as they travel to Dallas for this game. Quarterback Philip Rivers is playing with a lot of confidence and the team is close to clinching a playoff berth. If the Chargers manage to get off to a quick start, they could easily ride the momentum to a crucial victory in Dallas.
2. Expect the Chargers to use their size advantage in the passing game: With only eight defensive interceptions, the Cowboys are ahead of only one team, Cleveland (six). The Cowboys' cornerbacks are undersized, and San Diego probably will look for single coverage on its tall receivers to take advantage of size mismatches. San Diego's top three wide receivers are all in the 6-foot-5 range and that is quite an advantage against 5-10 cornerbacks.
3. San Diego must protect the football: The Chargers have turned the ball over once in the past four games and that was a fumble. Rivers has been electric with his accuracy, and when the Chargers can end up in the plus column when it comes to turnovers, they have an excellent chance to come out on top. The Cowboys are an extremely opportunistic team and get a lot of points after turnovers, so it is extremely important that San Diego protects the football this week.
4. Look for the Chargers to be physical with TE Jason Witten: Witten is Dallas QB Tony Romo's security blanket. Witten excels at finding the seams in zone defenses and is consistently the guy Romo looks to when he can't find one of his wide receivers downfield. Look for the Chargers' outside linebackers to disrupt Witten coming off the ball and make him alter his routes to get downfield.
5. Matchup to watch: San Diego LT Marcus McNeill versus Dallas ROLB DeMarcus Ware: For fans of action in the trenches, this is a matchup made in heaven. The massive McNeill (6-7, 336 pounds), one of the elite left tackles in the NFL, is extremely agile and plays light on his feet. Ware is one of the premier edge rushers in the league. Both players can rely on athleticism and quickness or switch to power and strength when needed.
6. Dallas will stick with the run: The Cowboys are second in the NFL with an average of 5 yards per carry. They have a stable of backs who have the speed and acceleration to give Dallas explosive runs with a single missed tackle. The Chargers can give up yards on the ground in chunks (4.35 yards per carry). If the Cowboys' running game is working, Romo's play-action passing game becomes more effective.
7. The Cowboys can't give up explosive plays: One of the most damaging plays in the Cowboys' Week 13 loss to the Giants was Brandon Jacobs' 74-yard touchdown off a short swing pass. Dallas coach Wade Phillips likes to bring the heat, especially in obvious passing situations, with linebackers coming off the edge or up the gut. Rivers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at making defenses pay for the blitz by hitting his release valve for big plays.
8. Dallas needs to spread the ball around: With FS Eric Weddle out of action because of a knee injury, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will be tempted to attack the middle of San Diego's secondary. Romo has a lot of weapons in the passing game and needs to avoid becoming predictable by spreading the wealth.
9. Gain positive yards on first and second down: This is one of the few games where Dallas is the less explosive team on offense. The Cowboys' offense needs to control the clock and keep the ball out of Rivers' hands. To do that, the Cowboys need to see more third-and-short situations, which means avoiding losing yards on first and second down.
10. Matchup to watch: Dallas WR Miles Austin versus San Diego CB Antonio Cromartie: Miles has exploded onto the scene this year and leads the Cowboys in explosive plays and touchdowns (nine) and is averaging 18 yards per catch, the third-highest mark in the league. He is a big target with good downfield speed and excellent ball skills. Cromartie is leading the Chargers with three interceptions and has the size to match up with the likes of Miles.
Prediction
San Diego 27
Dallas 26
...they have'nt all season...did this guy not see the stat sheet from last week?...c'mon man...
