Every week during the 2011 NFL season, gridiron expert Hatley Vittitow dissects America's Team and its challengers.
PHILADELPHIA--Rob Ryan was the biggest off-season addition to the Dallas Cowboys.
Ryan's ability to get his players in the right spot to create pressure and cause turnovers has paid dividends. His defense is ranked seventh in total yards per game; in 2010, many of these same players combined for 23rd overall. Ryan's defense is allowing six less points than a 2010 squad that ranked 31st.
In all three games that the Cowboys have lost this season, Ryan has put together the best game-plans on the field. In those games, the Cowboys were considered underdogs, but the defense kept them in it until the end. Of course, iconic late mistakes by the offense have spelled doom in each loss. Ryan and his defense have been impressive so far this season, and one would hope that his rugged appearance keeps him from being hired as a head coach in the near future. He definitely has the wherewithal to be a top dog.
PHILADELPHIA--Rob Ryan was the biggest off-season addition to the Dallas Cowboys.
Ryan's ability to get his players in the right spot to create pressure and cause turnovers has paid dividends. His defense is ranked seventh in total yards per game; in 2010, many of these same players combined for 23rd overall. Ryan's defense is allowing six less points than a 2010 squad that ranked 31st.
In all three games that the Cowboys have lost this season, Ryan has put together the best game-plans on the field. In those games, the Cowboys were considered underdogs, but the defense kept them in it until the end. Of course, iconic late mistakes by the offense have spelled doom in each loss. Ryan and his defense have been impressive so far this season, and one would hope that his rugged appearance keeps him from being hired as a head coach in the near future. He definitely has the wherewithal to be a top dog.
During training camp, Ryan caused a media ruckus by calling the Philadelphia Eagles the "All-Hype Team." Apparently, Ryan knew something that no one else did because this Eagles team has played hollow, anemic football. The Eagles added big-name free agents such as Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young, Cullen Jenkins, and Ronnie Brown--bolstering their already loaded roster--but they have little to show for it. They're ranked third overall in total offense, averaging over 440 yards and 24 points per game. But, their defense has struggled mightily giving up over 340 yards and 24 points per game. They won their first game on opening day against the floundering St. Louis Rams, and their only other win came 35 days later against the fraudulent Washington Redskins.
In December 2008, the Cowboys went into Lincoln Financial Field and were clobbered, 44-6, in one of the worst losses in the franchise history. Since then, the Cowboys are 2-0 at the Linc, and 4-1 overall (including playoffs) against the Eagles.
The Cowboys found a running game in rookie DeMarco Murray. His 253-yard performance last week against the Rams is the Cowboys' single-game rushing record and ninth best in NFL history. Naysayers who quell the feat by citing the floundering opponent need to reconsider their argument. No other running back this season has run for 200+ yards on the Rams. The next closest was Redskins' running back Ryan Torain with 135 yards. And only eight other running backs in the 91-year history of the NFL have run for 253 yards or more in a single game. That's saying something for the Oklahoma rookie.
Head coach Jason Garrett has yet to decide whether or not Murray will be the starter at running back, but with Felix Jones out for at least one more game and Tashard Choice quietly waved over the weekend, he won't have a choice but to ride him in the short term. Murray should benefit from facing yet another porous rushing defense. The Eagles rank 23rd overall against the run, giving up 124 yards a game on the ground. Philly's struggles on defense have been attributed to their young and inexperienced linebackers, but I put the majority of the blame on first-year defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, who until this season was their offensive line coach.
The Eagles are coming off a tumultuous bye week, during which cornerback Asante Samuel stirred up controversy with their front office, saying that team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman are "playing fantasy football" with owner Jeff Lurie's money. The Eagles have tried to diffuse the situation publicly, but it's obvious that he's upset that they tried trading him during training camp. The downside about bringing in famous faces is how quickly the added pressure ruins locker room chemistry. Moreover, Brown and Young have been expensive tackling dummies for their new employer.
The 2011 Eagles have been undone by bloated names and bad press, much like the 2010 Cowboys.
Andy Reid sports a 12-0 record in games after the bye as the Eagles' head coach. But all good things must come to an end.
A week ago, I might have erred on the side of caution and picked the Eagles because they're the more desperate team right now with an extra week to prepare. However, with this sudden emergence of a running game for the Cowboys and with Rob Ryan's ability to put together tremendous game-plans going against dynamic quarterbacks, I feel inclined to believe that the better team comes away Sunday night, victorious. The past two Sunday night games in Philly, the Cowboys have won: 38-17 in 2007 and 20-16 in 2009. Every odd year they play in Philly on SNF and win. It continues in 2011, the Cowboys win, 24.20.
Season Record: 3-1.
Bold: Dez Bryant will have 100+ yards receiving against the Eagles' vaunted secondary (Bryant only has one career 100-yard game).
Not Bold: Michael Vick will score a rushing touchdown for the fifth time in his last seven home games.
-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow
In December 2008, the Cowboys went into Lincoln Financial Field and were clobbered, 44-6, in one of the worst losses in the franchise history. Since then, the Cowboys are 2-0 at the Linc, and 4-1 overall (including playoffs) against the Eagles.
The Cowboys found a running game in rookie DeMarco Murray. His 253-yard performance last week against the Rams is the Cowboys' single-game rushing record and ninth best in NFL history. Naysayers who quell the feat by citing the floundering opponent need to reconsider their argument. No other running back this season has run for 200+ yards on the Rams. The next closest was Redskins' running back Ryan Torain with 135 yards. And only eight other running backs in the 91-year history of the NFL have run for 253 yards or more in a single game. That's saying something for the Oklahoma rookie.
Head coach Jason Garrett has yet to decide whether or not Murray will be the starter at running back, but with Felix Jones out for at least one more game and Tashard Choice quietly waved over the weekend, he won't have a choice but to ride him in the short term. Murray should benefit from facing yet another porous rushing defense. The Eagles rank 23rd overall against the run, giving up 124 yards a game on the ground. Philly's struggles on defense have been attributed to their young and inexperienced linebackers, but I put the majority of the blame on first-year defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, who until this season was their offensive line coach.
The Eagles are coming off a tumultuous bye week, during which cornerback Asante Samuel stirred up controversy with their front office, saying that team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman are "playing fantasy football" with owner Jeff Lurie's money. The Eagles have tried to diffuse the situation publicly, but it's obvious that he's upset that they tried trading him during training camp. The downside about bringing in famous faces is how quickly the added pressure ruins locker room chemistry. Moreover, Brown and Young have been expensive tackling dummies for their new employer.
The 2011 Eagles have been undone by bloated names and bad press, much like the 2010 Cowboys.
Andy Reid sports a 12-0 record in games after the bye as the Eagles' head coach. But all good things must come to an end.
A week ago, I might have erred on the side of caution and picked the Eagles because they're the more desperate team right now with an extra week to prepare. However, with this sudden emergence of a running game for the Cowboys and with Rob Ryan's ability to put together tremendous game-plans going against dynamic quarterbacks, I feel inclined to believe that the better team comes away Sunday night, victorious. The past two Sunday night games in Philly, the Cowboys have won: 38-17 in 2007 and 20-16 in 2009. Every odd year they play in Philly on SNF and win. It continues in 2011, the Cowboys win, 24.20.
Season Record: 3-1.
Bold: Dez Bryant will have 100+ yards receiving against the Eagles' vaunted secondary (Bryant only has one career 100-yard game).
Not Bold: Michael Vick will score a rushing touchdown for the fifth time in his last seven home games.
-- Hatley Vittitow
Twitter: @hatley_vittitow
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