NFL 2008 RSS
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have feasted on relatively weaker opponents at home in their two past games against the Seahawks (34 - 9) and
49ers (35 - 22) after a hard fought victory against the Redskins in Washington (14 -10) in NFL 2008 Week 11.
Romo has led the Cowboys to three consecutive wins in spite of a broken pinkie.
However, this week is a different story as the Cowboys pay a visit to the "Blitzburgh" Steelers and the NFLs best defense.
Despite the pinkie injury, Tony Romo comes off a 331-yard three touchdown Thanksgiving Day game performance in which he led
the Dallas Cowboys to touchdowns in their first three possessions and points in its first four that ended in a 34-9 win over the
Seattle Seahawks.
But this is a Steelers team with QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER who is 14-4 lifetime against the NFC at the helm of
a consistent offense and a defense that blitzes and distracts opponents into total confusion and ultimate submission.
The Steelers rank first in the NFL this season in overall, rushing and passing defense.
And that defensive unit, under 71-year-old coordinator DICK LE BEAU, has yet to allow a 100-yard rushing or
300-yard passing performance this 2008 season and has surrendered 10 or fewer points in four of the Pittsburgh
Steelers past five games.
With all of Romo and Roethlisberger's cannon arms, things could well come down to the blitzers.
Three of the league's top six sackers will be in action – Dallas LB DE MARCUS WARE (NFL-leading 15.0 sacks) and
Steelers LBs JAMES HARRISON (14.0) and LA MARR WOODLEY (11.5) – who already have the most sacks (25.5) of any tandem in
an NFL season in Steelers franchise history.
Dallas Cowboys (8-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have faced each other 29 times with Dallas holding a 15-14 series
advantage. 15 of the 29 series games have been decided by seven points or less, including 10 games by four points or less.
The Cowboys and Steelers last played each other on October 17, 2004 at Texas Stadium on Oct. 17, 2004 in front
of 64,162 fans. The Steelers left Dallas with a 24-20 win. Pittsburgh RB Jerome Bettis scored on a 2 yard TD run with
30 seconds left in the game to give the Steelers their 4th consecutive victory at the time.
NFL 2008 Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers 33 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 10
In NFL 2008 Week 13, The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 9-3 on the season after their 33-10 victory over the New
England Patriots on the road.
The Steelers were led by Ben Roethlisberger who completed 17-of-33 passes for 179 yards with two touchdowns and
one interception. Willie Parker carried the ball 16 times for 87 yards while Hines Ward caught a team-high five
passes for 37 yards with one touchdown.
Despite a field goal during the first quarter for an early lead, the Pittsburgh Steelers
were trailing the Patriots 10-3 in the second quarter. However, Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes for a
19-yard strike before halftime to knot the game up at 10-10.
The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 23 unanswered points in the second half, highlighted by three Jeff Reed field goals,
while the Steelers number 1 ranked defense held the Patriots scoreless in the second to secure the 33 - 10 victory.
The Steelers head into week 14 with a three game winning streak and have won 4 of their last 5 games. The road victory
maintains the Steelers one game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (8-4) in the AFC North.
NFL 2008 Week 13: DALLAS COWBOYS 34 Seattle Seahawks 9
Last week, the Dallas Cowboys improved their Thanksgiving Day record to 26-14-1 as
the Cowboys trounced the Seattle Seahawks 34-9.
The Cowboys ran up a 14 -3 first quarter lead as Martellus Bennett caught a 16-yard pass from Tony Romo
on the first drive of the game. Julius Jones' fumble on the Seahawks ensuing drive was recovered by Anthony
Henry. Dallas capitalized on the turnover when Marion Barber scored on a two-yard run.
Olindo Mare hit a 44-yard field to give Seattle its first points of the game.
The Cowboys scored on its next two drives in the second quarter as Romo threw
his second touchdown of the game this time a seven-yard pass to Jason Witten. Nick Folk added a 41-yard field
goal to give the Cowboys a 24-3 advantage. The Seahawks were able to move the ball close enough to add a 38-yard
Mare field goal to trim the Cowboys lead to 24 - 6 to close out the first half.
Mare hit his third field goal of the game (25 yard FG) on the opening drive of the third quarter to make the score
24-9, but those points were the last points scored by Seattle in the game. The Cowboys added 10 more points in the
second half as Romo hit Terrell Owens for a 19-yard scoring toss in the third quarter and Folk connected on his second
field goal - a 42-yarder - in the fourth quarter to provide the final 34 - 9 outcome.
This was the Cowboys third consecutive win as they have won 4 of their last 5 to improve their record to 8 and 4.
The victory over the Seahawks combined with the Redskins loss to the Giants last Sunday give the Cowboys sole possession
of second place in the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys (8-4)
The Cowboys aim for their 4th win in row Team has scored 34+ points & gained 400+ yards in each of their past 2 games. QB TONY ROMO is 6-1 (.857) in career vs. AFC opponents. Romo aims for his 4th game in a row vs. AFC with a 100.0+
passer rating. The Cowboys are 18-3 (.857) when Romo starts & has 100.0+ rating When RB MARION BARBER has 11+ carries, Cowboys are 26-4 (.867). Has 37 TDs (31 rush, 6 rec.) in past 43.
Has 9 rush TDs in past 9 vs. AFC WR TERRELL OWENS aims for 5th in row vs. AFC with TD. Has 20 TDs in past 22 vs. AFC. In past 2 games, Owens has
12 catches for 311 yards (155.5 per game) & 2 TDs. TE JASON WITTEN had 8th career 100-yard game last week with 9 catches
for 115 yards & 1 TD. Rookie TE MARTELLUS BENNETT aims for 4th in row with TD LB DE MARCUS WARE has 29.0 sacks
in past 26. Has 1.0+ sack in 22 of past 26. Tied career-high with 3.0 sacks last week. LB GREG ELLIS has 17.5 sacks in
past 25. Had sack in last meeting. LB BRADIE JAMES had 2.0 sacks last week & has 5.0 sacks in past 6. CB TERENCE NEWMAN
has INT in 2 of past 3
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
Head coach MIKE TOMLIN aims for his 2nd consecutive season with at least 10 wins The Steelers are 8-1 (.889) against AFC in 2008 In 1 career start against Cowboys, QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 21 of 25 passes (84.0 pct.) for 193 yards with 2
TDs vs. 0 INTs & 125.5 passer rating. Including playoffs, team is 29-2 (.935), when Roethlisberger has 100+ passer rating Since 2006, RB WILLIE PARKER has averaged 106.2 rush yards per game at home (2,019) with 12 games of 100 or more rush
yards. RB GARY RUSSELL aims for 3rd consecutive game with rush TD In past 3 at home, WR HINES WARD is averaging
91 rec. yards per game (273 total). Ward totaled 9 catches for 76 yards (8.4 avg.) in last meeting against Dal -
The Steelers defense leads NFL with 42 sacks this season LB JAMES HARRISON (14) & LB LA MARR WOODLEY (11.5)
have totaled 25.5 sacks in 2008. Harrison (14) needs 2 sacks to surpass MIKE MERRIWEATHER (15 in 1984) for most sacks in
Steelers franchise history S TROY POLAMALU aims for 4th consecutive game with INT.
PREDICTION: Pittsburgh Steelers 20 Dallas Cowboys 16
The Cowboys have had extra time to prepare for the Steelers by playing on Thanksgiving Day last week while the Steelers
travelled to New England and faced a much better opponent in the Patriots last week. That all said give credit to the
Cowboys for having won while Romo was on the sidelines with his injury as many had written the Cowboys off for the NFL
2008 season.
However, home field advantage and December cold weather Pittsburgh-style gives the Steelers their 10th victory of the
season. The Cowboys will need to rely on their running game as Romo will be relatively infective throwing against
the Steelers.
Cowboys - Steelers Super Bowl Matchups
The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have faced each other in three Super Bowls - X, XIII and XXX - with Pittsburgh
winning two of those championships. No other teams have faced each other more times in Super Bowl games than the Dallas
Cowboys and and Pittsburgh Steelers.
RELATED NFL 2008 Week 14
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NFL 2008 Week 14: Playoff Races & Playoff Scenarios
Eagles Visit NFC East Division Leading Rival Giants in Midst of Burress Saga
Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook are back, but the Giants continue to roll. Off their Thanksgiving performances in
the Eagles win 48-20 over the Cardinals, Eagles QB DONOVAN MC NABB (four TD passes) and RB BRIAN WESTBROOK (110 yards
rushing, two TDs rushing, two receiving) look like they are ready to help the Philadelphia Eagles make a Wild Card run.
However, the Giants will be one tough test as the Giants have not lost an NFC East Division game since
last December and are 6-0 this year at Giants Stadium, their longest home winning streak since seven in a row in 1990.
Redskins Short Trip North to Face Ravens in Beltway Bowl IV
The "Battle of the Beltway" between the Redskins and Ravens pits two strong running, tough defense
teams in the midst of the NFL playoff scramble against one another. The Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens
meet for only the 4th time and first time ever in Baltimore.
Bucs & Panthers to Break NFC South Deadlock on MNF
Finally a Monday Night Football game with serious meaning and some serious implications as these two division rivals
square off tied for first in the NFC South.
The Panthers aren't excited to be facing Bucs QB JEFF GARCIA. Garcia, a tough & resourceful NFL veteran, has beaten
the Carolina the last five times he has faced them. Of course, Panthers QB JAKE DELHOMME has been his effective self
this year, particularly at home. Delhomme has led Carolina to an undefeated 6-0 home record with the Panthers outscoring
their opponents 166-78.
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NFL 2008 WEEK 14 SCHEDULE
(All times local)
Thursday, December 4
Oakland at San Diego, 5:00 PM (NFLN)
Sunday, December 7
Miami at Buffalo (Toronto), 4:05 PM
Kansas City at Denver, 2:05 PM
N.Y. Jets at San Francisco, 1:05 PM
Jacksonville at Chicago, 12:00 PM
New England at Seattle, 1:05 PM
Minnesota at Detroit, 1:00 PM
St. Louis at Arizona, 2:15 PM
Houston at Green Bay, 12:00 PM
Dallas at Pittsburgh, 4:15 PM
Cincinnati at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Atlanta at New Orleans, 12:00 PM
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Tennessee, 12:00 PM
Washington at Baltimore, 8:15 PM (NBC)
Monday, December 8
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 8:30 PM (ESPN)
NFL 2008 WEEK 13 RESULTS – NOVEMBER 27, 30- DECEMBER 1
(Home team in CAPS)
Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 27, 2008)
Tennessee Titans 47 DETROIT LIONS 10
DALLAS COWBOYS 34 Seattle Seahawks 9
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 48 Arizona Cardinals 20
Sunday, November 30
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 23 New Orleans Saints 20
N.Y. Giants 23 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 7
Atlanta Falcons 22 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 16
Pittsburgh Steelers 33 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 10
Denver Broncos 34 N.Y. JETS 17
San Francisco 49ers 10 BUFFALO BILLS 3
Kansas City Chiefs 20 OAKLAND RAIDERS 13
Baltimore Ravens 34 CINCINNATI BENGALS 3
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 34 Chicago Bears 14
Indianapolis Colts 10 CLEVELAND BROWNS 6
Carolina Panthers 35 GREEN BAY PACKERS 31
Miami Dolphins 16 SAINT LOUIS RAMS 12
Monday, December 1
HOUSTON TEXANS 30 Jacksonville Jaguars 17
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