Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Saturday, December 25, 2010, 7:30 pm EST, TV: NFL
Opening Line: Cowboys -6.5
Current Line: Cowboys -7
Opening Total: 44.5
Current Total: 45
Money Line: Cowboys -300 / Cardinals +250
The Dallas Cowboys (5-9) will try to continue their strong offensive play under interim head coach Jason Garrett when they visit the Arizona Cardinals (4-10) in this Christmas Day matchup. The Cowboys (-7) are 4-2 under former offensive coordinator Garrett after starting the season 1-7 and have seen a huge offensive improvement that has resulted in several consecutive high-scoring games.
In fact, the OVER has cashed in 11 straight Dallas games since the team’s bye in Week 4. The first five games had a lot to do with a lack of defense, as opponents were averaging nearly 36 points before Wade Phillips got fired as head coach. Phillips had been known as a defensive guru over the years, which obviously explains why he is no longer with the Cowboys.
Since Garrett took over, their defense has been slightly better – giving up 27.3 points per game – but the offense has averaged 32.2. Dallas was held to 27 points in both of the two losses over the last six games but totaled 33 or more in each of the four wins. The Cowboys will get an excellent opportunity to continue that trend here against an Arizona defense that ranks 29th in the NFL in points allowed, surrendering 26.4 per game.
The Cardinals also rank 27th in the league in yards allowed (373.8 per game), although the Dallas defense is not much better. The Cowboys are giving up 365.2 yards per game and are actually worse in points allowed at 28.3 per game. Those trends continue to point towards a shootout unless you consider that Arizona is starting a rookie quarterback who has yet to perform well.
John Skelton got the benefit of playing against a brutal Denver defense in his debut for the Cardinals two weeks ago but still did not throw a touchdown pass in a 43-13 victory. Skelton completed 15 of 37 passes for 146 yards against the Broncos and led five drives that ended with field goals while kicker Jay Feely and running back Tim Hightower combined for three rushing touchdowns and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett added another score on a fumble recovery.
The former Fordham signal caller was not much better last week in a 19-12 loss at Carolina, throwing for 196 yards with an interception. Arizona struggled to run the ball against the Panthers as well, with Hightower and Beanie Wells combining for just 27 rushing yards on 14 carries. Carolina ranks 24th in points allowed (25 per game) but held the Cardinals to one touchdown and a pair of field goals.
Dallas is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings with Arizona and 5-1 ATS under Garrett. The only game the Cowboys failed to cover during that recent stretch came last week in a 33-30 home win over Washington. They led the Redskins 27-7 early in the third quarter before Washington quarterback Rex Grossman rallied his team back with three touchdown passes and a pair of two-point conversions to tie the score at 30 with 7:37 remaining.
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