Well, Dallas is averaging 441.0 yards of total offense (first in the NFL), compared to a woeful 226.0 for Buffalo (30th). And Dallas allows only 299.5 yards on defense (8th), compared to 430.5 for Buffalo (30th). Tony Romo is playing at an MVP level at QB for the Cowboys; Trent Edwards makes his second career start under center for the Bills. Dallas has outscored its opponents 151-72 (the Cowboys' 151 points are 22 more than the NFL record-holding 1998 Minnesota Vikings had at the same point.); Buffalo has been outscored 93-41.
"We have a good team right now. We're playing well overall, and certainly have some talented players hat have made plays for us,"Coach Wade Phillips said.
Phillips, incidentally, went 29-19 in three seasons as Buffalo's coach.
Romo has led the way on offense, throwing for 1,199 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions; he has thrown for at least 300 yards in three straight games, and Dallas has scored at least 34 points in every game this season; Buffalo, meanwhile, has hit the 30-point mark once in the last 21 games. Romo has found receiver Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten equally, with both having three TD catches.
When Dallas doesn't pass, it has RBs Marion Barber III (6.4 yards per carry, four touchdowns) and Julius Jones (176 yards rushing, one TD) to lean on, and they will face a Buffalo defense that has already allowed three 100-yard rushers in 2007.For the Bills on offense, the rookie Edwards went 22-of-28 for 234 yards passing and a touchdown last week in a win against the Jets, filling in for J.P. Losman, who's out again with a knee injury. (Bills injury report).
"Trent Edwards did a good job of dishing the ball out and finding the open guy,"said receiver Roscoe Parrish. "That's something he needs to continue to do, have faith in getting the ball in guys' hands. We know we're going to have to score some points."
However, over the last three weeks, the Cowboys have eight sacks and eight interceptions. And in the last two weeks, Dallas hasn't allowed an opponent to complete 50 percent of its third down conversions. The Cowboys are an NFL-best +7 in turnover margin.
So you can bet the Bills will try to get running back Marshawn Lynch going early. The former Cal star leads AFC rookies with 80 rushing attempts for 307 yards (4.0 average). He is still seeking his first 100 -yard game, however.
The lowdown: This is the Bills' first Monday night game since 2000, and their first at home since 1994, so they will be plenty jacked up. Plus, you can bet Dallas coach Phillips wants to stick it to Bills owner Ralph Wilson for firing him even though the Bills made two playoff trips during Phillips' three years as coach. (Buffalo hasn't been back to the postseason since. In fact, the Bills are a combined 39-61 (.390) in 100 subsequent games.) In addition, Dallas has an epic matchup next Sunday with New England, so the Cowboys could be looking ahead. Despite all that, the Bills' injury-decimated defense just won't be able to slow Dallas. Maybe if this game was played in the winter, Buffalo would have a chance. But with temperatures near 70 at kickoff ... well, you get the picture.
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