Cowboys-Rams
Time: Noon CST
Spread: DAL -2
Total: 44.5
Betting Odds c/o Bovada
The Dallas Cowboys came back after a Week 1 loss to one of the toughest teams in the league, San Francisco, then took care of business in Week 2, by beatin the Tennessee Titans on the road 26-10. The Rams have been very good with the rush in its first two weeks, mostly due to DeMarco Murray.
Murray has carried the ball in a full 1/5ths of the rushes, for a total of 285 yards, two touchdowns, and a 5.6 yard per carry average. Murray rushed last season for 1,121 yards on 217 attempts for a 5.5 yard per carry average in 2013, but played just 10 games last year, and was less effective (4.1 yards per carry). He seems ready to breakout this year after rushing for 167 yards against the Titans. He’s scored a TD in both weeks 1 and 2, and has fumbled the ball for a loss in each game, as well.
Tony Romo bounced back after a tough week 1 (three INTs) and completed 19-of-29 passes for 176 yards, with just no interceptions. His QB rating for the Titans matchup was 93.5 Last season, Romo completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 3,828 yards for 31 TDs and 10 INTs. He was often criticized however, for failures in late game situations. No. 1 receiver Dez Bryant has caught 14 receptions this season for 158 yards and one TD. No other receiver has more than 70 yards (Terrance Williams).
The Cowboys have a tough shot at beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East this season and will face the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks in Weeks 5 & 7, before facing two division rivals in the Giants and Redskins. Getting another victory here would put Dallas in a very favorable situation.
The Rams have been very good against the pass this year defensively, ranking 5th in passing yardage allowed in the NFL. The opposite holds true for the run, ranking 29th (171 yards per game).
The Saint Louis Rams were embarrassed Week 1 but the Minnesota Vikings 34-6, but bounced back in Week 2 to take down the Tampa Bay Bucs 19-17. Greg Zuerlin hit his fourth field goal of the game to clinch it for the Rams, though there was 38 seconds remaining on the clock at that point. The Rams had a solid drive to put Zeurlin in field goal range (it was 38 yard attempt), and it was done through a 13, 15 and 27 yard play sequence.
Austin Pettis ran the ball for 27 yards on a third-and-9 and Fisher said “he just made really good decisions against a good defense, an injury depleted defense, but a good one.”
Austin Davis completed 22-of-29 passes for 235 yards. Davis made his debut due to Shaun Hill’s injury. Fisher said “he gave recivers opportunities to play…we ran the football and protected fairly well.” Though Davis was sacked twice, he did not fumble. Davis now has 427 yards on the season, but has not thrown for a TD.
