The Dallas Cowboys won this game without playing many regulars showing that they have decent depth.  QB Richard Bartel had a solid game completing 28 of 41 passes for 233 yards.  WR Sam Hurd led the Cowboys in rushing in this game with 35 yards on 1 carry.  He also caught 2 passes for 7 yards against the Vikings.  Rookie RB Tashard Choice also had a decent game rushing for 21 yards on 6 carries (3.5 ypc) with a 11-yard TD run.  QB Bartel spread the ball around very well in the passing game as the Cowboys used 14 different receivers in this game.  The Cowboys finished up with 97 yards rushing on 26 carries (3.7 ypc) in this game and they also completed 28 of 41 passes for 210 yards.  The Cowboys were ballhogs in this game as they had possession of the football for a stunning 35:54.

Linebacker Tyson Smith led the way for the Cowboys on defense in this game with 5 tackles and a interception.  LB Bobby Carpenter and CB Alan Ball each pitched in on Thursday Night with 5 tackles apiece in this game.  The Vikings finished up with 100 yards rushing on 23 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 33 passes for 145 yards.  The Cowboys finished up the preseason with a 2-2 record and they appear ready to rock starting next week in Cleveland.

The Cowboys have lost starting left guard Kyle Kosier for the next six weeks due to a sprained right foot.  Joe Berger will take over for Kosier until he’s ready to return but expect the Cowboys’ offensive line to dropoff somewhat until Kosier is ready to return to action.

The Dallas Cowboys looked solid on offense last Friday Night in Dallas.  Tony Romo was very effective completing 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  He also scrambled once for 13 yards.  Brad Johnson finished up the game completing 9 of 13 passes for 107 yards.  Marion Barber was tough as usual with 75 yards rushing on 13 carries (5.8 ypc) with a 1-yard TD run.  Terrell Owens led the way in the passing game for the Cowboys in this game with 4 catches for 43 yards (10.8 avg).  Patrick Crayton also had a solid game with 3 catches for 39 yards (13.0 avg) with a 6-yard TD reception.  The Cowboys finished up with 111 yards rushing on 27 carries (4.1 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 32 passes for 273 yards on Friday.

Linebacker Bobby Carpenter led a so-so effort by the Cowboys’ defense against the Texans with 8 tackles.  The Texans finished up with 114 yards rushing on 28 carries (4.1 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 35 passes for 195 yards.

The Cowboys didn’t look too good in Denver on Saturday Night.  Tony Romo made a brief appearance in which he completed 6 of 9 passes for 33 yards.  Veteran Brad Johnson did look really sharp against the Broncos as he completed 9 of 12 passes for 114 yards including a 5-yard TD strike to WR Miles Austin.  Richard Bartel finished up the game proving that he’s not quite ready for prime time yet.  Bartel completed 7 of 14 passes for 107 yards with 1 interception.  He also carried the football 2 times for 10 yards (5.0 ypc).  RB Keon Lattimore led the Cowboys in rushing with 25 yards on only 3 carries (8.3 ypc).  Marion Barber was his usual solid self rushing for 22 yards on 5 carries (4.4 ypc).  Rookie Felix Jones pitched in with 17 yards rushing on 3 carries (5.7 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 27 yards.  TE Rodney Hannah was the leading receiver for the Cowboys in this game with 52 yards receiving on 4 catches (13.0 avg).  WR Miles Austin pitched in with 2 catches for 42 yards (21.0 avg) with a TD grab before leaving the game with an injury.  The Cowboys finished up with 70 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.5 ypc) in this game.  They also completed 22 of 35 passes for 254 yards as they only had possession of the football for 26:53 of this game.

CB Adam Jones, LB Bradie James, FS Ken Hamlin and LB Tyson Smith each had 6 tackles apiece to led the Cowboys’ defense.  The Broncos finished up with 101 yards rushing on 32 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 34 passes for 253 yards in this game.  The Cowboys are thrilled that this was just a preseason game because the defense looked awful.

The Cowboys have lost WR Miles Austin for the next 4-6 weeks with a sprained right MCL.  This is a shame as Austin was likely to be the #3 WR when the season began for real in September.  He has played in both preseason games for the Cowboys so far and he caught 7 passes for 106 yards (15.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Sam Hurd to replace Austin as the #3 WR at least for the start of the season.

Wade Phillips has always been a decent head coach in the regular season but he never wins in the playoffs and that’s a fact.  Phillips led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record during the regular season but then they got popped in their first playoff game 21-17 at home to the Giants.  Jerry Jones won’t tolerate losing at hom in the playoffs very long before he changes gears as his goal is always to win the Super Bowl.  Phillips has now been a head coach in the NFL for 8 years in which he has compiled a 61-42 record (59.2%) during the regular season.  He also though has a 0-4 record in the post season as he routinely gets outcoached in the playoffs.  There is no excuse for the Cowboys to not win a playoff game or two this season.

The Cowboys wanted to get a good look at some younger players against the Chargers and that’s why they got beat.  Tony Romo’s appearance was very brief Saturday Night as he completed 3 of 3 passes for 33 yards.  Brad Johnson followed Romo and he completed 8 of 15 passes for 89 yards with a interception.  Richard Bartel finished up the game completing 7 of 15 passes for 64 yards.  Rookie RB Tashard Choice was the leading rusher for the Cowboys in this game with 40 yards rushing on 7 carries (5.7 ypc) including a 19-yard TD scamper.  Felix Jones also had a solid game with 32 yards rushing on 6 carries (5.3 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 29 yards (14.5 avg).  Marion Barber battered the Chargers for 24 yards on 4 carries (6.0 ypc).  Fullback Deon Anderson only carried the ball 1 time but it was good for a 2-yard TD.  Miles Austin led Cowboys’ receivers with 5 catches for 64 yards (12.8 avg).  TE Tony Curtis pitched in with 3 catches for 23 yards (7.7 avg).  The Cowboys finished up with 111 yards rushing on 22 carries (5.0 ypc).  They also completed 18 of 33 passes for 174 yards.

Linebacker Bobby Carpenter led the Cowboys’ defense with 9 tackles on Saturday Night.  The Chargers finished up with 116 yards rushing on 36 carries (3.2 ypc).  They also completed 12 of 17 passes for only 97 yards.  The Cowboys didn’t play bad on defense as the Chargers were often benefitting from short fields on offense.

23-year old Nick Folk is looking for an encore season in 2008 after a very strong rookie season.  Folk played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he connected on 26 of 31 field goals (83.9%).  Folk also nailed all 53 of his extra point attempts last season.  The sky is the limit for Folk who has a strong enough leg to help the Cowboys score a lot of points without having to get in the end zone.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

The Cowboys love throwing the football to the TE.  26-year old Jason Witten is one of the best TEs in the NFL.  He’s a big target (6’5″, 265 pounds) and he has great hands.  Witten doesn’t go down without a fight either often putting a shoulder down.  Witten played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 96 passes for 1,145 yards (11.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Look for Witten to put up outstanding numbers again in 2008 for the Cowboys.  Witten has now played in 79 games in his NFL career and he has caught 348 passes for 3,983 yards (11.4 avg) with 21 TD grabs. 

Tony Curtis appears to be the #2 TE heading into training camp but he will have to fight off rookie Martellus Bennett for the job and that won’t be an easy chore.  Curtis is a good run blocker and he was very effective in catching balls near the goal line.  Curtis played in 16 games last season for the Cowboys and he caught 3 passes for 18 yards (6.0 ypc) and every pass he caught was a TD.

Rookie Martellus Bennett has a very nice upside as he is a very solid receiver.  Bennett played in 12 games (6 starts) at Texas A&M last season and he caught 46 passes for 538 yards (11.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Bennett is a big target at 6’7″, 253 pounds so you can be sure Tony Romo will be looking for him when the pocket starts to break down.  Bennett finished his career at Texas A&M playing in 36 games (24 starts) in which he caught 102 passes for 1,197 yards (11.7 avg) with 9 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton are set as the starting receivers for the Cowboys but they really need someone to step up behind them.  Sam Hurd, Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback will battle for catches behind T.O. and Crayton.  Terrell Owens is a physical freak at the age of 34 as he doesn’t appear to be losing a step.  He’s a big guy at 6’3″, 224 pounds but he still can get down the field and beat you deep.  Owens played in 15 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 81 passes for 1,355 yards (16.7 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards last year.  Owens is Tony Romo’s go-to man so he should have another huge season as long as he can stay healthy.  Owens has now played in 173 games in his NFL career and he has caught 882 passes for 13,070 yards (14.8 avg) with 129 TD grabs.  Owens has also carried the ball 26 times for 164 yards (6.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Sure, T.O. is a drama queen but he’s still a darn good football player and he will put up huge numbers in 2008 as long as he can stay healthy.

29-year old Patrick Crayton really stepped up in place of the injured Terry Glenn.  He was so good in fact that he took over as the starting receiver opposite T.O. for good.  Crayton is a playmaker despite operating in T.O. and Jason Witten’s large shadows in Big D.  Crayton played in 15 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 50 passes for 697 yards (13.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Look for Crayton to put up even bigger numbers in 2008 as he often benefits from single coverage.  Crayton has now played in 50 games in his NFL career and he has caught 120 passes for 1,716 yards (14.3 avg) with 14 TD grabs.

23-year old Sam Hurd has the edge for the #3 job heading into training camp.  It will be up to him to take the job and hold off the other receivers competing for it.  Hurd played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 19 passes for 314 yards (16.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Hurd could possibly double those numbers in 2008 as long as he wins the #3 WR job.  Hurd has now played in 31 games in his NFL career and he has caught 24 passes for 389 yards (16.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.

6’3″, 216 pound Miles Austin has been earning his money as a kick returner his first two years in Dallas but he has an opportunity to be much more than that this year.  Austin played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 5 passes for 76 yards (15.2 avg).  Austin is a big, strong player so I wouldn’t be surprised if he earned a nice role with the Cowboys this season.  He has now played in 25 games in his NFL career and he has caught 5 passes for 76 yards (15.2 avg).

The Cowboys have been raving about converted QB Isaiah Stanback saying that he’s really improved in the off season.  We shall see as he didn’t do much as a rookie last season.  He played in 2 games and he didn’t catch any passes.  His lone contribution to the Cowboys last season was that he returned 3 kickoffs for 78 yards (26.0 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-