NFL - Vikings v Cowboys

17 January 2010

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

I know that I have picked the Cowboys to win the Conference but this game will be huge for either side and could really go either way.

I have had doubts over the Vikings for a while now and yet again Favre has begun a season looking great but finishing it looking like an old man, The Vikings enter this contest today having lost 3 of their final 4 matches, Favre is again looking tired although the 2 week break could have hi going well and Peterson has seemed to of lost his running game altogether, the Vikings have shown an ability to fight back though especially at home dismantling both the Jets and Bengals at home in their last 2 home matches, the Vikings are unbeaten at home this season and seem to grow an extra leg when playing there, but this will be a real match for them with a lot of pressure on themselves after the season they have had and to be blunt I have my doubts about them coming through this match with flying colours and I expect this match to be a real war on both sides of the ball for either side.

The Cowboys beat the Eagles last week and that was a real test of their character, being able to beat a team 3 times in a season was always going to be a hurdle especially after what they did to them the week before, the belief is there with this Cowboys outfit right now and at home or on the road they have proved a real handful, their 3 headed rushing attack is healthy and back to how it was playing earlier in the season and to be honest they look really good and confident heading into these games. The Cowboys defence has been unbelievable over the last few weeks and to limit a Eagles side the way they have 2 games in a row shows it, they are confident that they can compete and dominate right now which is always a good sign, Throw in Romo who is playing at the best I have watched him over the last 2 seasons and their rushing attack as I have already mentioned and the Cowboys are excelling on all sides of the ball, They appear ready for the Challenges to come their way at the right time of the season.

The Vikings are 5-3 in their last 8 against the Cowboys and are also 6-2 ATS in those most recent meetings, 4 of those most recent 8 games have been played in Vikings land with the Vikings winning the last 3 played there although the Cowboys did win in 95 23-17. The Vikings in those last 4 home matches against the Cowboys are 4-0 ATS.

The Vikings rank 1st in the league at home scoring with an average home score of 32ppg, their best scoring quarters are the first and 4th which tells us that they play from the front and finish strongly, Dallas is ranked 16th in road scoring with 21ppg, with their best scoring quarters also coming in the 1st and 4th Quarters, The Vikings defence at home is ranked 7th allowing 15ppg with the first and third quarters being their strongest, However they rank 23rd in 4th Quarter defence which could be an issue in this match today, The Cowboys meanwhile rank 2nd in the league in road defence allowing on seasons averages 17ppg with the 4th Quarter also being their worst for defence, Rushing wise and the Vikings average 133 rushing yards per game with an average gain of 4 per rushing play, the Cowboys rank 23rd gains only 93 rushing yards per game at less than 4yds per play, The Vikings also rank 1st in home rushing and 1st in yards allowed per play while the Cowboys rank 6th in road rushing yards allowed at 95 and 10th in yards allowed per rush at 4 per carry, Passing wise and the Vikings rank 10th in attempts, 5th in completions, 3rd in completion percentage, 4th in passing yards per game, 8th in yards per carry and first in not giving away Interceptions which with Favre running the ship is a surprise, The Vikings pass defence ranks 14th in the league allowing on seasons averages 209ypg, 25th in pass completions allowing a 64% of passes to be completed and allowing 9 yards per each completed passing play, The Cowboys Road passing wise rank 3rd in attempts, 2nd in completions, 9th in pass completion, 2nd in road passing yards 2nd in yards per pass and first in not giving up interceptions, The Cowboys defence against the pass ranks 16th allowing 223 passing yards per game, 12th in yards gained per play and 13th in stopping completions, Sack wise and the Vikings on average allow 2 sacks per game while on defence they gain 3 per game to rank them first while the Cowboys gain 3 sacks per road game and allow 3 per game also, Penalties and both sides rank badly with either side giving away 50 penalty yards per game, all other areas of this match are pretty equal.I should also make a note here that the Cowboys have not allowed over 73 rushing yards per game in their last 5 matches.

The Cowboys are rolling here but this match will be far from easy, the Vikings have been the dominant force at home this season and will be ready for the challenge that awaits them, the Cowboys rush defence has been superb over the last month and this is where I think a point of difference can be made, If the Cowboys can maintain that effort against this Vikings side then the game will be won on the arm of the Vikings QB and for me that has me thinking the Cowboys will get home, As great as Favre is his achilles heal so to speak has always been interceptions and this Cowboys defence is playing so well right now that is they stop the running game for the Vikings and get the Vikings to throw that they’ll complete some but they will also miss some and so I’m looking for the Cowboys to show up, for this game to be close and for it to be decided not by an offensive play but a defensive one….Good Luck.