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Quarterback: Advantage Dallas
Running backs: Advantage Dallas
Receivers: Advantage Dallas
Offensive line: Advantage Dallas
Defensive line: Advantage Dallas
Linebackers: Advantage Dallas
Secondary: Advantage Dallas
Pass rushers: Advantage Dallas
Special teams: Advantage Dallas
Depth: Advantage Dallas
Coaching: Advantage Dallas
Prediction Dallas 42 Buffalo 10
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Get tight end Jason Witten involved early. The Cowboys are loaded with offensive talent with wide receivers Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton and running backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber III. But Witten provides a safe haven and go-to guy for Romo and the big tight end has some of the softest hands in the NFL. He is a smart route-runner and understands how to get open against both man and zone coverage. Romo needs to get the ball to Witten early to keep the Bills' ever-revolving safeties, Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott, from ignoring the middle of the field and flying outside to the help cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Terrence McGee against Owens and a red-hot Crayton.
2. Pound Barber inside. Barber is a powerful runner who runs under his pads very well. He is hard to bring down on first contact and breaks arm tackles. When running behind the massive offensive line of Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis and Mark Colombo, the Cowboys should attack the heart of the Bills' defense. Undersized defensive tackles Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams both struggle to hold ground at the point of attack. With a new linebacker corps and safeties rolling in and out of the game, the Cowboys' running game can pick up huge gains right up the gut.
3. Unleash DeMarcus Ware. Right tackle Langston Walker is a decent athlete, but he will have his hands full with Ware, one of the game's best pass rushers. Ware seems to get better with each game as he gets more accustomed to Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense. When going up against Walker, Ware should be able to use his long arms and tremendous leverage to get under the pads of the Bills' right tackle and force him back into the pocket.
Bills Keys For Success
1. Get the ball to Lee Evans. Evans is the Bills' top receiver and should continue to be rookie Trent Edwards' go-to guy against the Cowboys. He must become an even bigger part of the offense if the Bills expect to win the game. He has a connection with the rookie QB and is the Bills' lone true deep threat. Edwards will need to do everything in his power to get Evans the ball deep against the Cowboys' vulnerable cornerbacks.
2. Run inside. The Bills have two solid blocking tackles in Walker and Jason Peters, but both are better pass protectors than run blockers. So the Bills must focus their rushing attack on the middle of the Cowboys' defense, behind center Melvin Fowler, left guard Derrick Dockery and right guard Brad Butler. The Bills also have a favorable matchup, going against nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Look for rookie running back Marshawn Lynch to use his speed and exceptional short burst to hit holes inside for huge gains.
3. Blitz the right side of the Cowboys' offensive line. Linebackers Angelo Crowell and John DiGiorgio time up their blitzes well. By attacking the right side of the Cowboys' offensive line, Crowell or DiGiorgio can pull Colombo outside to pick up the stunt and leave the powerful but slow-footed Davis one-on-one with the Bills' best pass rusher, Aaron Schobel. Schobel should be able to beat the Davis with a dip-and-swim move or an up-and-under move to get into Romo's face.
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