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ARLINGTON – Embrace Garrett’s mantra: The Cowboys had their heads down after the 31-30 meltdown last week in Detroit, but cornerback Brandon Carr lists the club’s eternally optimistic coach as one reason he’s confident they will bounce back against the Vikings. “He’s always got a positive outlook, always upbeat, encouraging,” Carr said of Jason Garrett. “He’s a pretty smart guy and he always finds a way to reach us, to motive us, to challenge us, to get guys to respond.” Garrett’s mantra of “passion, emotion and enthusiasm” sounds corny at times, but it may be just what the Cowboys need to rebound from the Ford Field fiasco.
Patrol Peterson: The Cowboys have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season, but Detroit’s Reggie Bush came close last week with 92 yards on 21 carries. If the Vikings are to pull off the upset, they need a big outing from Adrian Peterson, who has produced just 150 yards on 36 carries the past three weeks. With Minnesota employing two pedestrian passers in Christian Ponder and Josh Freeman, expect the Cowboys to use plenty of eight-man fronts, a strategy that helped them shut down LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia two weeks ago.
Keep away from Cordarrelle: Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey will have to be at his best against Vikings rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, who ranks first in the NFL with a 39.1-yard average on 18 returns with two touchdowns. Fortunately for Dallas, Bailey is tied for second in the NFL with 34 touchbacks on 48 kickoffs (66.5 percent), the main reason why the Cowboys rank second in average drive start on kickoffs (20.0-yard line). But even with Bailey’s big leg, the coverage team has to be on its toes, considering Patterson has returns of 109 and 105 yards this season.
Prediction: COWBOYS 27, VIKINGS 17. Minnesota defends the pass nearly as poorly as Dallas does and has injury issues in its secondary, so Dez Bryant will be all smiles on the sideline.
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Patrol Peterson: The Cowboys have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season, but Detroit’s Reggie Bush came close last week with 92 yards on 21 carries. If the Vikings are to pull off the upset, they need a big outing from Adrian Peterson, who has produced just 150 yards on 36 carries the past three weeks. With Minnesota employing two pedestrian passers in Christian Ponder and Josh Freeman, expect the Cowboys to use plenty of eight-man fronts, a strategy that helped them shut down LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia two weeks ago.
Keep away from Cordarrelle: Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey will have to be at his best against Vikings rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, who ranks first in the NFL with a 39.1-yard average on 18 returns with two touchdowns. Fortunately for Dallas, Bailey is tied for second in the NFL with 34 touchbacks on 48 kickoffs (66.5 percent), the main reason why the Cowboys rank second in average drive start on kickoffs (20.0-yard line). But even with Bailey’s big leg, the coverage team has to be on its toes, considering Patterson has returns of 109 and 105 yards this season.
Prediction: COWBOYS 27, VIKINGS 17. Minnesota defends the pass nearly as poorly as Dallas does and has injury issues in its secondary, so Dez Bryant will be all smiles on the sideline.
Continue reading...