In Week 1, the Eagles and Cowboys combined for 1,009 offensive yards and 64 points in their respective games. It's no surprise that they rank first and second overall in total offense.
This week, they play each other. Will the Fantasy fireworks continue?
Based on recent history, don't count on it.
Let's start with Donovan McNabb, who led the NFL in passing yards last week. McNabb's last great outing at Texas Stadium was in 2004, when he threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns (three to then-Eagle Terrell Owens). Since then, he's been slammed in two games at Dallas, averaging 169.5 yards per with one touchdown. Considering the state of his receiving corps, and the depth of talent the Cowboys' secondary boasts, this week's game should be tougher for him and his wideouts than the home opener against a weak Rams defense.
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If you own Brian Westbrook, kick back Monday night and enjoy the show (hopefully).
(US Presswire)
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Reggie Brown and
Hank Baskett each have two touchdowns in their last four overall against the Cowboys with unimpressive yardage for the most part, while tight end
L.J. Smith hasn't scored on Dallas since 2003.
Greg Lewis, who went for over 100 yards last week, has never scored against Dallas, and rookie
DeSean Jackson has yet to experience this rivalry. Yet he might wind up being their best weapon in the game thanks to his role in the offense and speed, which the Cowboys should match up fairly well with.
So that leaves Brian Westbrook, the Eagles' most powerful offensive weapon, as the guy they'll lean on against the Cowboys. Not surprisingly, they've done this before. In his last six games against the Cowboys, Westbrook has scored in three of them and took a Fantasy-crushing knee at the Dallas goal line in the fourth (late last season). He's also totaled at least 115 yards in five of his last six against the Cowboys. We know you're starting Westbrook anyway, but we figured you'd like to know his track record against Dallas is solid.
We know you'll also be starting Marion Barber. However, his track record against the Eagles isn't so solid. In fact, Barber has been reduced to -- gasp! -- mediocre against Philadelphia! Over his career against the rival (five games), Barber has one 100-total-yard game against the Eagles and has never rushed for more than 56 yards in a game against them. And while he has three career rushing scores against the Eagles, none have come in Dallas, where they'll play this week.
It's just as shaky for the rest of the Cowboys. Tony Romo, for instance, has only played three times against the Eagles and has been all over the map. In his first encounter, soon after taking over for Drew Bledsoe in 2006, was a horrid 142-yard, one-TD affair with two interceptions. He reversed that in his first meeting in 2007, in Philadelphia, gunning for 324 yards with three touchdowns and a pick, thanks in part to a 174-yard, one-touchdown day from Terrell Owens. Then in the '07 rematch in Dallas late in the year, Romo tossed three interceptions and no scores (214 yards) in a 10-6 loss that had little impact on the Cowboys' playoff position, but had plenty of impact on Fantasy postseasons.
Romo's skittish ways might continue considering the Eagles' aggressive defense and improved secondary depth. That sure won't help his receivers, either. Patrick Crayton has yet to score a touchdown against the Eagles, Jason Witten just started to post some good numbers against Philly last year (11 catches, 190 yards, one TD in two games), and aside from T.O.'s big performance last year, he's been contained by his former team in three other meetings, not even reaching 50 yards receiving.
Bench Terrell Owens? Yeah, right. But if he comes up empty in this game, you might have to tip your cap to Jim Johnson and the Eagles' staff. After all, they've schemed well for Owens 75 percent of the time.
LJ is A-OK vs. OAK
A week ago, we were nervous about starting Larry Johnson against a Patriots defense that was healthy and raring to go. This week, we're not quite as nervous.
That's because Larry Johnson has owned the Raiders over his entire career. In seven career games, Johnson has 11 total touchdowns, including six in his last four games. And speaking of those last four games, Johnson has topped 100 rush yards and 130 total yards in each.
Matchups just don't get better than this.
But what about his teammates? You should be able to figure it out -- if Johnson's hogging the ball and getting the yards, his teammates aren't doing much. Dwayne Bowe led the Chiefs in receiving yards in both games against Oakland last year but didn't get more than 84 yards. Tony Gonzalez, who has posted his career-best totals against Oakland compared to other opponents, couldn't top 66 yards. In fact, in the club's last six games against the Raiders, the Chiefs have thrown two total touchdowns. Even with gunslinger Damon Huard under center, this is a good week to bench Bowe, and maybe even Gonzalez, who last scored on the Raiders in 2004, two years before Raiders FS Michael Huff entered the NFL and started shutting him down.
Can Jacksonville pin Lynch?
For the second year in a row, the Jaguars were run over by the Titans in the season opener. Last season, they rebounded by halting the Falcons' run game at home. This year, Buffalo comes to town, which is convenient, because Buffalo came to Jacksonville last season.
How did the Bills' run game do? On the ground, they stunk, as the running backs totaled 64 yards rushing. But through the air, the Bills' running backs were good for 92 yards. By the way, this was done without Marshawn Lynch, the Bills' leading rusher last season.
Lynch is healthy this season, but it remains to be seen how he'll do on the road. Last season, he didn't total 100 yards in a game until Week 17 at Philadelphia, and he only scored one road TD (at Miami in Week 10). With the Jaguars' reeling from another season-opening loss against the Titans, they could be focused on stopping Lynch and forcing the Bills to move the ball through the air.
History suggests ...
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