Cowboys offense sputtering, record is deceiving

Nov. 24, 2009 / By Danny Sheridan

The Dallas Cowboys' season record could be one of the most deceiving in the National Football League.

The Cowboys are 7-3 SU (and 5-5 ATS) but right now, at least on offense, they look more like a 3-7 SU team — at best.

Offensively, Dallas has been up and down all season, averaging 30.3 points during a four-game winning streak, then plummeting all the way down to an average of one TD the past two games.

And now they face the prospect of playing without starting quarterback Tony Romo in their Thanksgiving Day game against the visiting Oakland Raiders (The Cowboys should be very, very thankful it's the Raiders they're facing Thursday).

Romo was limited in practice Monday after he was kneed in the back while tackling DeAngelo Hall after a first-quarter Marion Barber fumble in Sunday's ugly 7-6 win over the Washington Redskins.

Romo said Monday he “expects” to play but with only three days to prepare, the more likely scenario is he will be a game-time decision. If Romo can't go, back up Jon Kitna would see his first action of the season.

But even with that information in hand, Dallas is nearly a two-touchdown (-13.5) favorite in NFL Betting Odds at Sportsbook.com.

Oakland and Dallas haven't met in more than four years, since a 19-13 Raiders' win on Oct. 2, 2009. Oakland is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS over the past four meetings.

The Raiders (3-7 SU, 5-5 ATS) upset the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17 as an 8.5-point underdog last week. The Cowboys did not come close to covering as 10.5-point favorites against the NFC East rival Redskins.

Oakland is 6-19 SU in its past 25 games on the road while Dallas is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home.