Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (Ch. 33, NFL Network)

06:40 PM CST on Friday, December 24, 2010

By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
bnichols@dallasnews.com

TV: NFL Network, Ch. 33

Radio: KRLD-FM (105.3), KMVK-FM (107.5, Spanish)

Line: Cowboys by 6 ½

A win would mean …

The Cowboys would improve to 3-2 in games on Christmas Day. That would be a nice present for Jason Garrett, who would improve to 5-2 as interim coach with one game remaining.

A loss would mean …

Dallas would fall to 2-3, including three straight losses, on Christmas. The Cowboys may as well give Garrett a lump of coal. A loss to Arizona would weigh heavily on him entering the finale at Philadelphia, with a 4-3 record.

Lineup twist

Scandrick specializes in sneaky blitzes

Cowboys safety Orlando Scandrick has done a good job disguising his blitzes.

As the nickel cornerback, he draws coverage on a slot receiver. For the safety blitz to work, he must convince the quarterback that he is not going blitz and then get a good jump from that spot.

“He has a good feel for disguising it and then making a play when he does get the opportunity,” coach Jason Garrett said.

Scandrick has a sack in each of the last two games. With 2 ½ for the season, he ranks third among NFL cornerbacks in sacks. Safety Bill Bates set the Cowboys’ record for sacks by a defensive back with five in 1984.

Key matchup

Cowboys punter Mat McBriar vs Cardinals punter Ben Graham

Two of the best punters in the NFL just happen to be Australians. And it just so happens they are on the same field today.

Dallas’ return to the desert evokes painful memories for McBriar. That’s where he broke his streak and his foot.

In the last meeting between the teams, the Cardinals won in overtime, 30-24, on the first blocked punt of McBriar’s career. Special teams Pro Bowler Sean Morey rushed past Cowboys tight end Tony Curtis and crashed into McBriar before he got the punt off.

“I didn’t expect a rush at all,” McBriar recalled this week. “I was really just focusing on getting some good field position because we were backed up pretty good. Tony was trying to get out in coverage; he was just not thinking block at that time and I can’t really blame him.”

Graham, a lefty, finished first in Pro Bowl fan voting Monday.

Signed as a free agent in 2008, he set an NFL high and season club record for most punts downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line last year with 42. On 80 punts this season, he is tied for ninth with 25 punts downed inside the 20. McBriar, who has 52 punts, ranks 19th.

Graham is averaging 36 net yards, down four from last season, and eight of his kicks have resulted in touchbacks. McBriar has a net average of 41.9 with six touchbacks. EDGE: McBriar

Get it to Witten

1

Tight end Jason Witten is coming off a 10-catch, 140-yard performance that pushed him to 605 career receptions. He poses a difficult matchup for the Cardinals, who have struggled covering tight ends. Then again, Witten poses a tough matchup for anybody. Since Jon Kitna took over, Witten has caught 59 of 70 balls targeted to him.

Rattle Skelton’s bones

2

Rookie quarterback John Skelton has made two starts, so his potential for error is at a career high. His decisions can be influenced directly by the pressure from rushing linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, and safety blitzes from Orlando Scandrick and Gerald Sensabaugh. Arizona’s offensive line is very vulnerable.

Double-cover Fitzgerald

3

Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald accounted for more than half of the Cardinals’ total yardage in last week’s loss to Carolina, with nine catches for 125 yards. So it stands to reason that if you put two guys on him, then you’ll have nine left to account for the other half Arizona’s offense.

Protect the ball

4

Fumbling is especially costly against Arizona. The Cardinals have scored on four fumble returns and one interception. They also have scored three touchdowns by recovering their own fumbles. The Cowboys have lost only three fumbles in the last six games.

Team logo indicates edge

When the Cowboys run

The Cowboys look dominant against weak rushing defenses and weak against dominant ones. With Marion Barber sidelined by a calf injury, Felix Jones has established himself as Dallas’ top back, and Tashard Choice has impressed with increased activity.

When the Cowboys pass

Jon Kitna is putting up starter’s numbers in Jason Garrett’s quarterback-friendly scheme. He’s keeping it simple and avoiding turnovers with throws underneath. In Kitna’s eight starts, tight end Jason Witten has three 10-catch games. Dallas ranks second fewest in drops.

When the Cardinals run

Arizona barely registers a blip on the rushing radar. The Cardinals, having rushed for 53 yards or less six times, average 16 fewer yards than the Cowboys allow. Without a passing threat, Dallas’ run defense will be better than its NFL ranking (14th).

When the Cardinals pass

Quarterback John Skelton played like the rookie he is in his first two starts. He locked onto receivers and was prone to bad decisions. However, he faces a defense that seems capable of surrendering 200 yards to Red Skelton. Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald is the youngest player in NFL history to catch 600 passes.

Special teams

Arizona kicker Jay Feely ranks third in field goal percentage, making 22 of 24. Against Denver, Feely tied a career high with five field goals, including a 55-yarder, and scored on a 5-yard run off a fake. The Cardinals lead the league with three blocked field goal tries. Dallas kicker David Buehler has made 22 of his 29 field goal attempts.

Intangibles

Tough call here, considering the epic intangibility of this game. Both teams can reduce the number of wins by which they will miss the playoffs. The Cowboys, though, have risen above the lack of challenges facing them. They are 4-2 since getting Wade Phillips fired and riding the momentum of making Jason Garrett the most successful interim head coach in team history.

SPORTSDAY PICKS

Tim Cowlishaw: Cardinals, 24-21

In Jason Garrett’s 8 games, expect one unlikely bump in the road against a team that scored 43 in its last home game.

Gerry Fraley: Cowboys, 38-13

Cowboys proclaim themselves champions of the NFC West.

Rick Gosselin: Cowboys, 27-20

Jon Kitna is better than the three Arizona QBs combined.

David Moore: Cowboys, 30-13

You think this game means nothing? Tell that to Jason Garrett.

Bill Nichols: Cowboys, 31-21

No way John Skelton plays like Rex Grossman, is there?

Rainer Sabin: Cowboys, 35-20

Afterward, the Cardinals make the obligatory call to Kurt Warner to see if he will come out of retirement.

Kevin Sherrington: Cowboys, 24-21

Jerry’s merry little Christmas for Cowboys fans, one notch up from a lump of coal.

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Cowboys, 31-27

Dallas plays the NFL’s most entertaining games these days, which is good and bad.

• • •

SPORTSDAYDFW NOW ON MOBILE

Get the latest sports news and information from The Dallas Morning News on your phone. Just type SportsDayDFW.com in your mobile browser. It works with almost any phone.

Whether you’re at the stadium, a local sports bar or just on your couch, stay connected with your teams.

— Get latest scores, schedules and stats

— Chat with our writers during games

— Read instant analysis on our blogs

It’s quick and easy: Punch in SportsDayDFW.com in your mobile browser.

What do you guys think about this.

There is the quick update of the day.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

Originally posted here:
Nine-time Pro Bowl G Faneca strikes one-year, $2.5M deal with Cards