St. Louis @ Dallas preview
AT&T Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) St. Louis 19, Dallas 20
The St. Louis Rams are the only NFL team that has yet to allow a sack this season, but DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas Cowboys are ready to make that statistic a distant memory. Sam Bradford will try to stay upright Sunday when St. Louis visits Dallas in a matchup of teams looking to get above .500. Bradford actually has not been sacked in four straight games dating to last season, but Ware has two of the Cowboys' seven sacks in 2013.
Bradford will look to continue his improved play in 2013, while Tony Romo of the Cowboys hopes to maintain his early-season chemistry with Dez Bryant. Bradford passed for 352 yards in last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons and threw two of his three touchdowns to rookie speedster Tavon Austin. Of course, Bradford and Austin have a long way to go to reach the level of Romo and Bryant, who hooked up for nine receptions, 141 yards and a score in a Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox. LINE: Cowboys -4. O/U: 47.
ABOUT THE RAMS (1-1): St. Louis is attempting to start 2-1 for the first time since 2006. The Rams will look for more consistency out of high-priced free agent signing Jared Cook, who caught seven passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 but managed only one grab last weekend. One player who has given St. Louis plenty of consistency is defensive end Robert Quinn, who leads the NFC with four sacks after recording 10.5 sacks a year ago.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (1-1): The last time the Cowboys faced the Rams, DeMarco Murray rushed for a franchise-record 253 yards on Oct. 23, 2011. However, Murray only managed 25 yards on 12 attempts in last week's loss to the Chiefs, a game in which Dallas was unable to force any turnovers after creating six miscues against the New York Giants in Week 1. The Cowboys could use some help from Murray, as Romo (ribs) is expected to take a painkilling shot for the second straight week prior to Sunday's game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. If the Rams are going to slow the Cowboys' dangerous pass rush, they likely will need OT Roger Saffold to play - and play effectively - despite being listed as day-to-day with a knee injury.
2. Neither team's rushing offense has been impressive, with St. Louis ranking 25th in the NFL and Dallas coming in 26th.
3. The Rams are facing a short week, as their matchup with the Cowboys is followed four days later by a Thursday night showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.
PREDICTION: Cowboys 31, Rams 21