Week 16: Ravens vs Cowboys Preview

Opening Thoughts:

This is the last game at Texas Stadium, and the Cowboys probably don’t care. They’ll be fired up coming out of the locker room, but after kickoff, it’ll just be like any other home game.  Even with that said, Romo will be stepping up because of playoff implications and the crowd should be pumped up.  If the linebackers get some good pressure on Tony, they can be intimidating to him, and his back could get bothersome.  The Ravens just need to make sure they don’t get killed in zone coverage, like they have been all year.  The Cowboys can stretch it vertical, even with Jason Witten at tight end.  Sam Koch is still the best punter in the NFL.

Playoff Implications:

Baltimore clinches with a win and:

• A Patriots loss and Jets loss or tie
• A Patriots loss and a Dolphins loss or tie
• A Dolphins loss, a Jets loss and a Colts loss or tie
• A Dolphins loss, Jets loss and Colts strength of victory tiebreaker over Miami.

These situations are a bit outlandish, though the first two could happen (#2 only if Tyler Thigpen goes all Peyton Manning all on the Dolphins.)

Injury Report: (does not look good)

Out: Marcus Maxwell (WR, BAL); Bobby Carpenter (LB, DAL); Montrae Holland (G, DAL)

Doubtful: Alan Ball (CB, DAL)

Questionable: Ed Reed (S, BAL); Fabian Washington (CB, BAL); Ray Rice (RB, BAL); Samari Rolle (CB, BAL); Marion Barber (RB, DAL)

Probable: Willie Anderson (T, BAL); Jared Gaither (T, BAL); Matt Stover (K, BAL); Sam Koch (P, BAL); Derrick Mason (WR, BAL); Adam Terry (T, BAL); Terrell Suggs (LB, BAL); Tony Romo (QB, DAL); Miles Austin (WR, DAL); Tra Battle (S, DAL); Keith Davis (S, DAL); Ken Hamlin (S, DAL); PACMAN JONES (CB, DAL); Roy Williams (WR, DAL)