Week 7, The Minnesota Vikings Come To Visit

For the first time this season, the Dallas Cowboys will be playing a game "coming off of a loss". What does that mean? It should mean absolutely nothing, but for a Dallas Cowboys fan, you can't get that lucky. If Dallas quickly takes care of business against the Vikings, the storyline will be how the Cowboys now have a "chip on their shoulder, following the loss to the Patiots". If they lose to the Vikings, it will be because "the loss to the Patriots has sent the Cowboys into a tailspin of self-destruction". Currently, win or lose, it is all about the Patriots game, forget about the team that is going to be lining up on the opposite side of the field...

Well, you better not forget about that team on the other side of the ball, because they are coming to Dallas expecting to win, and feeling like they are a team good enough to win against any team in the league. And why shouldn't they be feeling confident?

Their young quarterback, Tavaris Jackson, is back in the lineup, and coming off of a fairly good game against the rival Chicago Bears. Their rushing offense is averaging 170 yards per game (ranking 1st in the league), and their defense is only allowing 66 yards per game (2nd in the league). When you can run the football, and stop the opponent from running it, you can win games. The only thing that stops this team from winning is an inability to stop the pass. They are dead last in the league in this category, which in turn drags their defense down to a ranking of 25th in the league.

More importantly, there is an X factor now in the Vikings offense by the name of Adrian Peterson. Most predicted Peterson to do well in the NFL, but he has gone beyond doing "well" early in his rookie season and has simply been unstoppable between the 20's, and as of this past weeks game against the Bears, he has found a nose for the endzone. If Dallas is going to take care of business at home this week, stopping Peterson is one of the major keys to the game.

For Dallas To Win This Game:

The Cowboys are coming off of a loss, following was a near loss the week before. A few things need to be addressed to get this team back in a winning rhythm

• Establish the running game
  And I will say once again, establish a feature running back. Splitting carries and splitting series between Julius Jones and Marion Barber is not working well in terms of establishing a clock controlling offensive rhythm. The best way to keep the Adrian Peterson from hurting you is to limit his opportunities.
• Get The Ball To Terrell Owens
  Yeah, Owens is going to drop some balls, he has his entire career. Deal with it. Move him around, put him in the slot, force some mismatches. He will reward you with his talent.
• Tighten things up on special teams
  Keep the Vikings out of good starting field position, and you increase the opportunities for a young quarterback to make mistakes, and the more aggressive the defense can play.

Regardless what happens in this game, it will be decided between the two teams on the field, and has nothing to do with last weeks game.

Final thought, did you know that Dallas was going to the Super Bowl this year? Don't believe me, just ask Patrick Crayton. Here is what he said this week regarding the New England Patriots.
Score Prediction
Cowboys 27, Vikings 13