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INDIANAPOLIS
DALLAS |
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53.5
| 7
Final
42 |
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| 127 | INDIANAPOLIS | 55.5 | 54.5 | | 128 | DALLAS | -3 | -3.5 |
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| All Games | 10-4 | +4.2 | 9-4 | 9-5 | 30.3 | 15.1 | 420.6 | (6.1) | 2.0 | 22.6 | 10.2 | 350.9 | (5.8) | 1.7 | | Road Games | 4-2 | +1.2 | 4-2 | 5-1 | 33.3 | 17.8 | 441.0 | (6.4) | 1.7 | 29.2 | 15.0 | 393.7 | (6.2) | 1.7 | | Last 3 Games | 3-0 | +3 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 30.3 | 14.0 | 375.7 | (6.2) | 3.0 | 20.3 | 10.3 | 320.7 | (4.9) | 1.7 | | Turf Games | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 40.0 | 16.0 | 443.0 | (6.3) | 0.0 | 24.0 | 3.0 | 438.0 | (6.1) | 1.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 30.3 | 15.1 | 24.1 | 32:19 | 27-110 | (4.1) | 25-42 | 61.3% | 311 | (7.5) | 68-421 | (6.1) | (13.9) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 22.9 | 11.2 | 20.7 | 31:41 | 27-114 | (4.1) | 22-36 | 62.1% | 245 | (6.8) | 63-358 | (5.7) | (15.6) | | Offense Road Games | 33.3 | 17.8 | 24.8 | 30:29 | 22-91 | (4.1) | 28-47 | 59.2% | 350 | (7.4) | 69-441 | (6.4) | (13.2) | | Defense (All Games) | 22.6 | 10.2 | 19.6 | 27:41 | 26-110 | (4.3) | 21-35 | 58.7% | 241 | (6.9) | 61-351 | (5.8) | (15.5) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 23 | 11.5 | 20.3 | 30:32 | 28-114 | (4.1) | 22-34 | 62.5% | 239 | (6.9) | 62-353 | (5.7) | (15.4) | | Defense Road Games | 29.2 | 15.0 | 21.7 | 29:31 | 26-110 | (4.2) | 23-37 | 61.3% | 284 | (7.7) | 63-394 | (6.2) | (13.5) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | -0.3 | 13-6 | 42.0% | 1-0 | 45.5% | 2-63 | (26.6) | 3-19 | (6.5) | 7-55 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 14-5 | 39.0% | 1-0 | 46.2% | 2-55 | (23.6) | 20-2 | (8.9) | 7-56 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 14-6 | 41.7% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 3-63 | (23.6) | 3-19 | (7.1) | 6-42 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.7 | | 13-4 | 33.0% | 1-0 | 21.4% | 1-32 | (21.3) | 2-12 | (5.5) | 6-56 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | | 13-5 | 38.7% | 1-0 | 45.2% | 2-53 | (23.4) | 18-2 | (8.1) | 7-55 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | | 13-5 | 36.8% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 2-38 | (19) | 2-15 | (8) | 6-54 |
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| All Games | 10-4 | +5.4 | 8-6 | 8-5 | 27.2 | 12.9 | 377.4 | (6.1) | 1.6 | 23.4 | 11.3 | 359.9 | (6.1) | 1.8 | | Home Games | 3-4 | -4.4 | 2-5 | 2-4 | 21.4 | 9.7 | 375.6 | (6.2) | 2.1 | 23.4 | 11.7 | 378.7 | (6.3) | 1.3 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +0.8 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 29.7 | 14.0 | 342.7 | (5.5) | 1.3 | 29.3 | 13.3 | 378.0 | (6.2) | 2.3 | | Turf Games | 5-4 | -0.2 | 3-6 | 4-4 | 23.4 | 10.6 | 379.4 | (6.2) | 2.0 | 23.9 | 12.6 | 363.8 | (6.1) | 1.2 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 27.2 | 12.9 | 21.2 | 32:50 | 32-146 | (4.6) | 20-30 | 68.2% | 231 | (7.7) | 62-377 | (6.1) | (13.9) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 23.6 | 11.7 | 20.2 | 31:37 | 27-115 | (4.2) | 22-34 | 62.7% | 241 | (7) | 62-356 | (5.8) | (15.1) | | Offense Home Games | 21.4 | 9.7 | 21.1 | 31:50 | 29-138 | (4.8) | 21-32 | 65.0% | 238 | (7.4) | 61-376 | (6.2) | (17.5) | | Defense (All Games) | 23.4 | 11.3 | 19.9 | 28:10 | 26-110 | (4.3) | 22-34 | 66.4% | 250 | (7.4) | 59-360 | (6.1) | (15.4) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.1 | 11.3 | 20.1 | 30:39 | 27-113 | (4.2) | 22-35 | 62.6% | 235 | (6.8) | 62-348 | (5.6) | (15.7) | | Defense Home Games | 23.4 | 11.7 | 20.1 | 30:11 | 29-142 | (4.8) | 22-31 | 69.7% | 237 | (7.6) | 60-379 | (6.3) | (16.2) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 13-6 | 48.0% | 0-0 | 50.0% | 2-52 | (23.7) | 2-17 | (9.4) | 6-52 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 13-5 | 39.7% | 1-0 | 41.7% | 2-55 | (23.4) | 19-2 | (9) | 7-59 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | -0.9 | 12-6 | 48.8% | 1-0 | 25.0% | 2-61 | (26.8) | 2-18 | (9.8) | 6-48 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.8 | | 13-6 | 44.7% | 1-1 | 58.8% | 3-53 | (20.7) | 2-16 | (10) | 6-50 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | | 13-5 | 39.7% | 1-0 | 44.2% | 2-54 | (23.4) | 18-2 | (8.9) | 7-56 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | | 13-6 | 46.7% | 1-1 | 80.0% | 1-15 | (21.6) | 2-24 | (12) | 6-43 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: INDIANAPOLIS 19.1, DALLAS 18.4 |
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| 10/26/2014 | @ PITTSBURGH | 34-51 | L | -4.5 | L | 48 | O | 10-63 | 26-45-385 | 2 | 32-117 | 40-49-522 | 2 | | 11/3/2014 | @ NY GIANTS | 40-24 | W | -3 | W | 51 | O | 24-98 | 25-46-345 | 0 | 20-89 | 27-52-349 | 1 | | 11/16/2014 | NEW ENGLAND | 20-42 | L | -3 | L | 58 | O | 17-19 | 23-39-303 | 1 | 45-244 | 19-30-257 | 2 | | 11/23/2014 | JACKSONVILLE | 23-3 | W | -13 | W | 49 | U | 35-175 | 21-32-214 | 3 | 23-80 | 15-27-114 | 2 | | 11/30/2014 | WASHINGTON | 49-27 | W | -7.5 | W | 48.5 | O | 21-126 | 19-27-361 | 3 | 21-84 | 31-47-341 | 1 | | 12/7/2014 | @ CLEVELAND | 25-24 | W | -3 | L | 50.5 | U | 20-93 | 24-53-269 | 4 | 31-111 | 14-31-137 | 2 | | 12/14/2014 | HOUSTON | 17-10 | W | -7 | T | 49 | U | 28-110 | 18-34-168 | 2 | 41-137 | 13-25-152 | 2 | | 12/21/2014 | @ DALLAS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12/28/2014 | @ TENNESSEE | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 10/27/2014 | WASHINGTON | 17-20 | L | -9 | L | 49 | U | 25-166 | 21-34-224 | 2 | 31-123 | 25-30-286 | 1 | | 11/2/2014 | ARIZONA | 17-28 | L | -1 | L | 45 | P | 25-92 | 18-33-174 | 2 | 29-102 | 22-34-237 | 1 | | 11/9/2014 | *JACKSONVILLE | 31-17 | W | -7.5 | W | 45 | O | 30-151 | 21-28-248 | 1 | 24-71 | 22-37-262 | 3 | | 11/23/2014 | @ NY GIANTS | 31-28 | W | -4 | L | 48.5 | O | 25-119 | 18-26-266 | 1 | 32-89 | 29-40-328 | 1 | | 11/27/2014 | PHILADELPHIA | 10-33 | L | -3 | L | 56 | U | 25-93 | 18-29-174 | 3 | 45-256 | 20-29-208 | 1 | | 12/4/2014 | @ CHICAGO | 41-28 | W | -3.5 | W | 50 | O | 35-194 | 21-26-203 | 0 | 15-35 | 32-46-341 | 2 | | 12/14/2014 | @ PHILADELPHIA | 38-27 | W | 3 | W | 54.5 | O | 42-115 | 22-31-249 | 1 | 21-75 | 17-28-219 | 4 | | 12/21/2014 | INDIANAPOLIS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12/28/2014 | @ WASHINGTON | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | INDIANAPOLIS: Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's ground-and-pound power running game never got going last year, due in part to an offensive line in flux but mostly due to the atrociousness of Trent Richardson. It's a gap-blocking scheme that suits Richardson's skill set, and the third-year back may just need more time in the offense. The Colts get more run-heavy as they approach the goal line, and they had little success inside the opponent's 10 last year. Richardson will likely have a monster workload, especially from in close. Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard are both coming off major injuries as they battle for the No. 2 job. Bradshaw's receiving skills could give him an edge.
Hamilton and Andrew Luck are still finding their way in this offense, as they face a lot of third-and-longs early in games and often end up doing most throwing in comeback efforts. They'll move Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and tight end Dwayne Allen around in formations to create mismatches, especially with Allen spending time in the backfield and flexed out. Coming off an up-and-down year as the primary TE, Coby Fleener will likely go back to stretching the seam now that Allen is healthy. Hakeem Nicks will stretch the field on the perimeter while Donte Moncrief serves as his understudy. Fleener was targeted most often when they threw in the red zone last season, but it could be Allen that receives those targets in 2014. Nicks could be in for a big red-zone role this season.
The Colts made great strides last year, and could again finish among the top-10 scoring defenses due to having the NFL's easiest schedule. It also helps to have outside linebacker Robert Mathis who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks. New DL Arthur Jones and LB D'Qwell Jackson will help, but losing safety Antoine Bethea hurts. | | DALLAS: Offensive line coach Bill Callahan is expected to relinquish play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan in order to focus on improving the Cowboys' anemic rushing attack. They end up abandoning the run early in many games, as the zone-blocking scheme that Callahan implemented has yet to take hold. DeMarco Murray will take a headlining role again in this backfield, especially in the red zone, and he'll keep that role until his next injury. Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar will fight for scraps.
Linehan ran a pass-happy offense in Detroit, similar to what the Cowboys have run. He's an Air Coryell disciple with a system that uses a lot of top-down reads, looking to take advantage of the deep ball. Dez Bryant is the obvious No. 1 receiver in this offense, and Linehan will likely move him around more than Dallas has done in the past. Tight end Jason Witten provides another chess piece type of weapon to wreak some havoc. Terrance Williams steps in as the No. 2 and will be used primarily as a deep threat. The Cowboys will use two tight ends as often as they go three-wide, meaning third wideout Cole Beasley and second TE Gavin Escobar will essentially split playing time. Dallas was one of the league's most pass-heavy red zone teams last year, a trend that's likely to continue this season. Bryant is the top target near the goal line, with Witten a close second.
Dallas DL coach Rod Marinelli will take over defensive coordinator duties in 2014, hoping to generate more turnovers like he did with the Bears (44 TO in 2012). But the Cowboys still give up tons of yards and will have much fewer sacks after losing both DE DeMarcus Ware (117 career sacks) and DT Jason Hatcher (11 sacks in 2013). |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (INDIANAPOLIS-DALLAS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Colts-Cowboys Preview* =======================
DeMarco Murray's broken left hand could be the most scrutinized body part in the NFL this week.
It's unclear if the league's leading rusher will play Sunday as the Dallas Cowboys look to take another step toward the postseason when they host the playoff-bound Indianapolis Colts.
Murray underwent surgery Monday for the injury and was on the field at Wednesday's practice in limited fashion. He has 1,687 yards and needs 87 to break all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith's single-season franchise record.
If Murray is healthy, the Cowboys (10-4) would have to like his chances of breaking the mark, though the three games in which he was held below 87 came in the last six. As it stands, they will be happy if can suit up Sunday.
"As we go, we'll just see how functional he is - how he can hold the ball, hold it under duress, catch the ball, block, do all the things necessary to be ready to play," coach Jason Garrett said. "We'll try to ease him into drills and practice as the week goes on and just see where he is."
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on his radio show Monday that it was "probably a tough expectation" that Murray would play.
The Cowboys grabbed sole possession of first place in the NFC East with last Sunday's 38-27 win at Philadelphia. They have a one-game lead over the Eagles, though they can't take anything for granted.
If Dallas loses one of its final two games, Philadelphia will capture the division by winning its last two. In that scenario, the Cowboys may even miss the playoffs despite an 11-win season.
Dallas also practiced Wednesday without right tackle Doug Free and right guard Zack Martin, who have ankle injuries. Neither is expected to miss this contest, though any limitations for either would hurt an offensive line that has helped the Cowboys average 146.6 rushing yards to rank third in the NFL.
"(They're) the best offensive line that we will have faced to date, got three No. 1 picks on that line, the left tackle (Tyron Smith) is as good as they get in the league," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said.
Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle will likely split carries if Murray can't play.
"It's not as different as you might think and even if it is different, it doesn't change our jobs very much," center Travis Frederick said.
The stakes are not nearly as high for Indianapolis (10-4), which clinched the AFC South by beating second-place Houston 17-10 last Sunday for its fourth straight win.
The Colts trail New England and Denver by one game and would need to win their final two and have one of those teams lose its last two in order to gain a bye.
With that in mind, there is plenty of talk about Indianapolis resting injured players or veterans such as wide receiver Reggie Wayne.
"We've talked about a lot of guys," Pagano said. "He's one of the guys that you could consider but we'll look at him, we'll look at guys that are on the injury list that are dealing with nagging injuries and if it's best for them and best for the team then we'll do obviously what's right in all those cases."
The coach is hopeful that T.Y. Hilton will be available despite a hamstring injury. Hilton is fourth in the NFL with a career-high 1,345 yards and has seven touchdown catches from Andrew Luck.
"I'm still dealing with some stuff but I'll know more by the end of the week," Hilton said.
Luck leads the NFL with 4,492 yards and 38 TDs entering his first matchup with the Cowboys. The Colts have taken advantage of his strong arm to rank first in the league with 2,445 air yards, the total distance that the ball is thrown beyond the line of scrimmage to the point of reception, as well as 1,052 on balls thrown at least 21 yards in the air.
"He's a very mature guy and he's very talented but he has all the right intangibles and he's done an outstanding job up to this point in his career," Garrett said.
The Colts have thrown more passes than any team (582), and their gaudy numbers have come despite ranking last in catchable balls dropped at 8.9 percent.
Luck may be envious that he doesn't have Dez Bryant at his disposal. Bryant leads the NFL with 13 TD receptions after he caught a career-best three from Tony Romo last Sunday.
Romo is second in the league with a 110.4 passer rating with 28 TDs to eight interceptions, though he has a ratio of 10 to seven while going 3-3 at home.
The Cowboys, 3-4 at home overall, are seeking to avoid their first four-game slide there since losing their first four in 2010 - the season in which Garrett took over after a 1-7 start.
Dallas is 9-5 in this series, going 5-2 at home.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/20/2024 6:37:22 AM EST. |
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