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Bill Nichols' four keys to tonight's Cowboys-Giants game
11:13 PM CDT on Sunday, October 24, 2010
By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com
1 -- STRIKE FIRST -- With a Monday night game, the crowd at Cowboys Stadium will be pumped, among other things, with the division-rival Giants in town. The Cowboys need to score first to spark that emotion. Their fans, impatient after a 1-4 start, will boo if the Giants score first.
MICHAEL AINSWORTH/DMN
When tackle Marc Colombo followed this spike with a chest bump and a tumble following an Oct. 10 touchdown against Tennessee, he drew a costly excessive celebration penalty and began a disturbing trend for the Cowboys.
2 -- TAKE THE BALL -- Forcing turnovers is the sign of an aggressive defense. The Cowboys have struggled at forcing turnovers. Complex data reveals that the Cowboys can even things up by avoiding giveaways.
They have four takeaways and nine giveaways, which equals a minus-5 differential, which equates to a 29th league ranking.
3 -- GET IN POSITION -- The Cowboys have the third-ranked offense based on yardage but rank 16th in scoring. They have to travel farther than their opponents to reach the end zone because of only four forced turnovers by the defense and 62 penalties. The Cowboys outgained Minnesota, 314 yards to 188, but their average starting position was their 21. The Vikings' average start was their 40.
4 -- SETTLE DOWN -- Drawing excessive celebration penalties in two straight games is one of the most ironic stats in Cowboys history. What has warranted such jubilation – a 15-yard touchdown pass? The penalties have given good field position to opponents and led to a Tennessee touchdown. Try heading straight to the bench after a touchdown to give the impression that your job is to score.
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11:13 PM CDT on Sunday, October 24, 2010
By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com
1 -- STRIKE FIRST -- With a Monday night game, the crowd at Cowboys Stadium will be pumped, among other things, with the division-rival Giants in town. The Cowboys need to score first to spark that emotion. Their fans, impatient after a 1-4 start, will boo if the Giants score first.
MICHAEL AINSWORTH/DMN
When tackle Marc Colombo followed this spike with a chest bump and a tumble following an Oct. 10 touchdown against Tennessee, he drew a costly excessive celebration penalty and began a disturbing trend for the Cowboys.
2 -- TAKE THE BALL -- Forcing turnovers is the sign of an aggressive defense. The Cowboys have struggled at forcing turnovers. Complex data reveals that the Cowboys can even things up by avoiding giveaways.
They have four takeaways and nine giveaways, which equals a minus-5 differential, which equates to a 29th league ranking.
3 -- GET IN POSITION -- The Cowboys have the third-ranked offense based on yardage but rank 16th in scoring. They have to travel farther than their opponents to reach the end zone because of only four forced turnovers by the defense and 62 penalties. The Cowboys outgained Minnesota, 314 yards to 188, but their average starting position was their 21. The Vikings' average start was their 40.
4 -- SETTLE DOWN -- Drawing excessive celebration penalties in two straight games is one of the most ironic stats in Cowboys history. What has warranted such jubilation – a 15-yard touchdown pass? The penalties have given good field position to opponents and led to a Tennessee touchdown. Try heading straight to the bench after a touchdown to give the impression that your job is to score.
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