WR Austin, FB Fiammetta return, could spur Cowboys
Share This Story
IRVING, Texas (AP)
At its best, the Dallas Cowboys' offense can do whatever the defense dares them to do.
Want to pack the secondary and take away Tony Romo's favorite receivers? Then DeMarco Murray will ram through a thinned front line.
Want to slow Murray and pack that front line? Then Romo will take aim at a weakened secondary.
Every team tries doing the same thing, of course, but the Cowboys feel they are among the few teams that have the talent to pull it off. And those chances seem to be improving just in time for their Sunday night game against the New York Giants, which also is a showdown for first place in the NFC East.
Star receiver Miles Austin and battering-ram fullback Tony Fiammetta returned to practice Wednesday and are expected to play Sunday. Austin has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, and Fiammetta the last three with an undisclosed illness.
''We're encouraged to see them back out there playing football,'' coach Jason Garrett said.
The Cowboys went 2-1 in the three games those guys missed. But the two wins came on game-ending field goals, and the loss was in overtime after missing a potential game-winning field goal.
Maybe having Austin and Fiammetta back will revive the offense enough to avoid another tense finish.
''We feel like we have a rejuvenated offense,'' said Laurent Robinson, who has emerged as the team's top-scoring receiver in Austin's absence. ''We're excited about this week and the challenge ahead of us.''
Austin, a 1,000-yard receiver each of the last two seasons, was slowed earlier this season by an injury to his left hamstring. He missed two games, played two, then hurt his right hamstring on Nov. 6.
The passing attack has been propped up by Robinson, Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten. Things should only get better for everyone with Austin out there, too.
''Miles is a Pro Bowl receiver and a very versatile guy,'' Garrett said. ''He can make plays down the field, he can make plays on shorter catches - break catches and beat you that way. He's also a very good blocker at the receiver position. So I think whenever you have a guy like that out there, teams know about him and will decide to do something to him or not. Guys like that give you an opportunity to open up other parts of your offense.''
How important is Fiammetta?
Look at the numbers. Murray's numbers.
In the four games that he ran behind holes opened by Fiammetta, Murray averaged 150 yards. In the last three games, all without Fiammetta, Murray had a total of 198 yards, an average of 66 per game.
''He's done a nice job for us in the time he was in the lineup,'' Garrett said. ''We're excited about the possibility of getting him back.''
The Cowboys (7-5) could have been playing to wrap up the division title had they not blown their last game.
Now they're facing these stakes: Win and take a two-game lead with three to play, or lose and fall into a tie for first, with the tiebreaker favoring the Giants (6-6).
Either way, the teams meet again in two weeks.
New York comes in on a four-game losing streak, but having narrowly lost to the unbeaten Packers in its last game. Plus, the Giants could be on an emotional uptick akin to the Cowboys' lift from the return of Austin and Fiammetta, with New York buoyed by the return of running back Ahmad Bradshaw and the reopened division race.
''It's going to make for good television, I'm sure,'' Romo said.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Bonds faces future, can't forget past
Barry Bonds is publicly referring to himself as a convicted felon these days, and he'... -
Report: Duncan won't leave Spurs
Two-time league MVP Tim Duncan said he has little interest in testing out the free-ag... -
Mickelson in group out to buy Padres
Phil Mickelson has joined a group of investors who want to buy his hometown Major Lea... -
Manager: Boxer Williams paralyzed
Paul Williams paralyzed in crash but aims to return to ring, trainer says. -
Angels ace Weaver leaves with injury
Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver has left his start against the Yankees in the fir...
NFL Videos
Schrager: Settle down everyone
Posted: May 23, 2012
Peter Schrager talks about Peyton Manning's first practice and Tim Tebow's contr...
Peter Schrager talks about Peyton Manning's first practice and Tim Tebow's contr...
Jackson looks back
Posted: May 22, 2012
Laura Okmin sits down with Rams RB Steven Jackson about life on and off the fiel...
Laura Okmin sits down with Rams RB Steven Jackson about life on and off the fiel...
Glazer: LT unaware ring for sale
Posted: May 18, 2012
Jay Glazer says Lawrence Taylor was unaware his Super Bowl XXV ring was put up f...
Jay Glazer says Lawrence Taylor was unaware his Super Bowl XXV ring was put up f...
NFL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New Orleans Saints Ladies Team Established V-Neck T-Shirt - Gold | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/792884/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_792000/ff_792884_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New Orleans Saints Ladies Team Established V-Neck T-Shirt - Gold |
| Nike New York Jets Legend Authentic Football Font Performance T-Shirt - Green | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/799723/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_799000/ff_799723_xl.jpg&w=100 | 29.95 | Nike New York Jets Legend Authentic Football Font Performance T-Shirt - Green |
| Nike Arizona Cardinals Just Do It T-Shirt - Red | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Arizona_Cardinals/browse/featuredproduct/800436/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800436_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Arizona Cardinals Just Do It T-Shirt - Red |
| Nike Denver Broncos Blockbuster T-Shirt - Navy Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/801105/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801105_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Denver Broncos Blockbuster T-Shirt - Navy Blue |
| New Era New England Patriots 2012 NFL Draft Fitted Hat - Navy Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/803136/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_803000/ff_803136_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era New England Patriots 2012 NFL Draft Fitted Hat - Navy Blue |
| Nike Justin Tuck New York Giants #91 Replica Name & Number T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/819243/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_819000/ff_819243_xl.jpg&w=100 | 31.95 | Nike Justin Tuck New York Giants #91 Replica Name & Number T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Nike Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Royal Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Indianapolis_Colts/browse/featuredproduct/851313/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851313_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Royal Blue |
| Nike Robert Griffin Washington Redskins 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Burgundy | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Washington_Redskins/browse/featuredproduct/851315/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851315_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Robert Griffin Washington Redskins 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Burgundy |
| Nike Trent Richardson Cleveland Browns 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Brown | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Cleveland_Browns/browse/featuredproduct/851598/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851598_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Trent Richardson Cleveland Browns 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Brown |
| Nike Morris Claiborne Dallas Cowboys 2012 NFL Draft Game Jersey - Navy Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Cowboys/browse/featuredproduct/852589/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_852000/ff_852589_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Morris Claiborne Dallas Cowboys 2012 NFL Draft Game Jersey - Navy Blue |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.