Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Sunday, October 10, 2010, 4:15 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Cowboys -7
Current Line: Cowboys -7
Opening Total: 41.5
Current Total: 42.5
Money Line: Cowboys -310 / Titans +260
Odds taken from Bookmaker Sportsbook
The Dallas Cowboys (1-2) hope to pick up where they left off before their bye week when they host the Tennessee Titans (2-2) on Sunday. The Cowboys (-7 on the current NFL odds) have won following their bye week each of the last five years and picked up their first win of the season at Houston two weeks ago with a 27-13 victory over the Texans.
Dallas will face a tough challenge though from a Tennessee team that has won 10 straight games against NFC opponents, the latest coming against another NFC East foe in the Giants two weeks ago. The Titans won that game 29-10 on the road and will need to get running back Chris Johnson going again if they are going to extend that winning streak.
Johnson has been outstanding in Tennessee’s two wins so far with 267 rushing yards, but he has been below average in the two losses with 87 total. Denver limited him to 53 yards on 19 carries in a 26-20 road win last week, and he might need quarterback Vince Young to step up back in his home state of Texas in order to bust loose against the Cowboys.
Young has beaten Houston twice on the road and will be looking to improve to 3-0 in the state where he led the Texas Longhorns to the national championship in 2005. He may have to use his legs to help the Titans because wide receiver Justin Gage could miss the game with a hamstring injury. Young has struggled in the passing game so far this season, failing to throw for more than 173 yards and one touchdown since the season-opening win over Oakland.
The Cowboys have not had much of a running game this year and might have a difficult time getting that part of their offense going against a Tennessee defense that has held opponents to an average of 92 rushing yards per game. The Titans have allowed only one rushing touchdown this season and have given up less touchdown passes (three) than they have interceptions (four).
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo seems to be at his worst when he has to throw too much, proven by the team’s 0-2 start when he threw an NFL-high 98 pass attempts. Romo had 284 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Texans and will need to avoid the pressure from Tennessee. The Titans are tied with Green Bay for the most sacks in the league with 16.
The Cowboys have won the last two regular-season meetings with Tennessee both straight-up and against the spread since Tennessee shut them out 31-0 on Christmas Day 10 years ago. The total went OVER in both of those games and is 12-4 in the last 16 games for Dallas during the month of October.
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