Cowboys at Cardinals
THE STORY: The Dallas Cowboys did not make it easy on Thanksgiving, but they did get their fourth straight win. The Cowboys are now in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, leading the struggling New York Giants by one game. Dallas still has to face the Giants twice and hosts division foe Philadelphia on Christmas Eve, so nothing is certain yet. Things would get clearer if the Cowboys were able to grab a win at the former division rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals have won three of four after losing six straight, though those three wins came against teams with a combined 6-16 record. Arizona is optimistic about the return of quarterback Kevin Kolb, who has missed the last four games with turf toe.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Cowboys -4.5, O/U 45.5
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (7-4): Dallas’ surge has coincided with the rise of rookie running back DeMarco Murray, whose skills in both the running and passing games have opened things up for Tony Romo. The Cowboys just barely escaped the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving, stealing a 20-19 win on Dan Bailey’s 28-yard field goal as time expired. Romo threw two touchdown passes in the win and Murray rushed for 87 yards.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (4-7): One thing the Cowboys will have to avoid is punting the ball to rookie Patrick Peterson, who set an NFL record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown of over 80 yards last week. Peterson has had to provide some points because John Skelton, who has started in place of Kolb, has five interceptions and no touchdowns for a 19.3 rating over the past two games. Arizona squeezed out its 23-20 win over the St. Louis Rams last Sunday thanks to Peterson and running back Beanie Wells, who posted a franchise-record 228 yards to go along with a touchdown.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Murray was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for November after collecting 590 yards from scrimmage in four games.
2. The Cowboys are going to have receiver Dez Bryant return punts for the remainder of the season.
3. Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald needs 112 receiving yards for his fifth straight 1,000-yard season.