1 Their offensive line is struggling » Ex-Redskins offensive lineman Derrick Dockery might start at left guard. The Redskins not only thought he didn’t fit in their scheme, they weren’t sure whether he could still play. The tackles are solid with Doug Free on the left side and rookie Tyron Smith on the right. Free is playing well, and Smith has looked terrific at times. But the interior is new and not producing. Rookie Bill Nagy struggled with the Jets’ physical play in the opener.
2 They’re banged up » It’s not just quarterback Tony Romo and his ribs/lungs. It’s running back Felix Jones (dislocated shoulder) and receivers Miles Austin (hamstring) and Dez Bryant (quadriceps). It’s also center Phil Costa (knee) and cornerback Orlando Scandrick (ankle). This will make it difficult for Dallas to sustain any sort of offensive momentum. But the one bit of good news is that cornerback Terence Newman, out for seven weeks with a groin injury, might return. Newman, though, struggled last season.
3 They want to throw the ball » The Cowboys throw the ball 65 percent of the time, partly because Jason Garrett likes to pass but also because they average 2.3 yards a carry. Dallas’ offense is not struggling; it has 41 first downs in two games and 51 points. But with so many injuries in the passing game, it could be tough to sustain a one-dimensional attack. Dallas has allowed five sacks in two games, but Romo has a 108.8 passer rating.
4 The defense has been inconsistent » As long as DeMarcus Ware plays for the Cowboys, they will be able to pressure. And with new coordinator Rob Ryan, they will remain aggressive. They will show multiple looks — with players sometimes wandering before the snap — making it sometimes hard to tell who’s coming from where. They have 10 sacks in two games. But the secondary has been brutal. Dallas has allowed Mark Sanchez and Alex Smith, neither of whom is a Pro Bowl quarterback, to throw for a combined 514 yards. So far, opposing quarterbacks have a 92.4 passer rating vs. Dallas.
– John Keim
