Expect to see more of Stephen McGee than Tony Romo at QB for the ’Boys.
The Dallas Cowboys will play their second preseason game in five days when they host the Oakland Raiders at Cowboys Stadium on Thursday night. Dallas hopes to be playing there on Feb. 6 as it’s the site of Super Bowl XLV.
Bookmaker.com has Dallas as three-point favorites (minus 125 juice), with a total of 34-points.
Dallas was a three-point underdog to Cincinnati last Sunday at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Running back Emmitt Smith did the franchise proud with his induction and the team followed suit with a 16-7 win and ‘cover.’
Quarterback Tony Romo played just the first series. He went 5-of-10 for 59 yards and drove Dallas down to the two-yard line before settling for a field goal. Backup Jon Kitna saw some action, but second-year signal caller Stephen McGee got the most time.
The 6-foot-3 Texas A&M product completed 12-of-22 passes for 116 yards. McGee will likely be the backup in 2011 if he continues to progress. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will give him plenty of time against the Raiders.
The Dallas’ defense held Cincinnati to 179 total yards and caused four turnovers. One was an interception return for a touchdown off Jordan Palmer in the fourth quarter. Dallas didn’t let up a point until less than two minutes left in the game.
The Cowboys’ offense was second in the NFL in total yards last year (399.4), but 14th in points (22.6 PPG). The offense needs to be far more efficient. The defense will easily be a top-10 unit in both points and yards allowed.
Dallas is the 335 NFL betting favorite to win the NFC, just ahead of New Orleans (plus 365) and Green Bay (plus 425).
Oakland starts a new era on Thursday after cutting No. 1 overall pick (and bust) JaMarcus Russell. Veteran Jason Campbell is now the starter and he still has some upside despite going 4-12 as the Redskins’ starter last year. There’s also a new offensive coordinator in Hue Jackson.
Owner Al Davis recently compared Campbell to Jim Plunkett, who resurrected his career with the Raiders in the 1980s by winning two Super Bowls. Campbell could have a decent year, but the fact the 81-year-old Davis can make that comparison says a lot about the franchises’ leadership.
Bruce Gradkowski should be Oakland’s backup quarterback, with Kyle Boller, Charlie Frye and the newly signed Colt Brennan vying for the No. 3 job. Gradkowski and Frye are questionable for Thursday, so Brennan should see time even though he’s still learning the playbook.
Coach Tom Cable is on the hot seat with a 9-19 record with Oakland (5-11 last year). There’s talent at running back with Michael Bush and Darren McFadden, although the receivers are below average. McFadden (hamstring) is out for this game.
The defense ranked 26th in total yards last year, but there’s plenty of star power with defensive lineman Richard Seymour, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and rookie middle linebacker Rolando McClain. Seymour (back) is questionable against Dallas, but expect at least moderate improvement on ‘D’ this year.
San Diego is the heavy favorite to win the AFC West (minus 700). Oakland, Denver and Kansas City are all around plus 800.
Dallas tight end John Phillips (ACL) is lost for the year. Martellus Bennett will now get the backup job behind Jason Witten. Bennett has been dealing with an ankle injury and is questionable for this game. Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is out as is defensive end Marcus Spears.
Dallas lost at the Raiders 31-10 in the preseason last year, but beat them 24-7 at home in the regular season. The Cowboys were 1-1 straight-up and ATS at home last preseason. Oakland was 0-2 SU (1-1 ATS) away.
Weather is expected to be hot in the middle 90s. There’s no national broadcast for the 6:00 p.m. (PT) start. ESPN is showing Carolina (plus four) at Baltimore.