ARLINGTON, Texas -- Welcome to AT&T Stadium where the Dallas Cowboys can win the NFC East and clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2009 with a win against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Cowboys need a win not only to make the playoffs but also to avoid a second losing record at home since moving to Arlington in 2009. They finished 2-6 at home in 2010 on their way to a 6-10 finish.
The Cowboys are expected to have the NFL’s leading rusher in DeMarco Murray despite a broken left hand, but how effective will he be? The Cowboys have used the running game to get to this point in the season and can’t allow a hampered Murray to change their formula for success.
Do what they do: While Murray is expected to play today there will be questions about just how much he plays because of his surgically-repaired left hand.
Murray has 63 carries in the last two games. His backups, Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar have 60 carries combined on the season.
But the Cowboys have built their success this season on the running game. It has made Tony Romo better. It has made the defense a lot better. And it has to continue whether Murray gets his full workload or not.
The Cowboys don’t want to put more on Romo, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten or the rest of the passing game.
“I think everyone’s job is to go out and do their job regardless of circumstance,” Romo said. “That’s weather, home, away -- whether I was playing or not. I think that’s the approach everyone has to take. I suspect that DeMarco is going to get himself in position to try and play. We’ll see what happens but we just got to go out and do our jobs.”
Don’t get started: Colts quarterback Andrew Luck leads the NFL with 38 touchdown passes and 4,492 yards. He has more than capable targets in T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne, Coby Fleener, Donte Moncrief and Hakeem Nicks, although Hilton is questionable with a hamstring injury.
While the Cowboys have to be ready for Luck to beat them with his arm, they also need to be prepared for his legs. Even at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Luck has an ability to escape trouble. He has 268 yards rushing on 63 carries.
His counterpart today, Romo, has 22 carries for 33 yards.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said the Cowboys demonstrated “a little bit of a professional pass rush last week,” against the Philadelphia Eagles with four sacks and that has to continue this week. But Luck’s ability to move can make that more difficult.
“He’s a good athlete,” Marinelli said. “This guy is a terrifying athlete, man. Boy, he can run now, especially he’ll hit up and inside and he takes off. He can break both ways. And he’s strong. Really strong and fast. And very decisive when he goes. It’s not like he sees it and goes.”
The ref: Bill Leavy will be the referee for today’s game against the Colts. It is the second Cowboys game his crew has called this season. They worked the win at the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6. Here is a breakdown of what Leavy’s crew did last week in the Green Bay Packers-Buffalo Bills game.