Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said after the Cowboys' 17-10 loss to New York that he thinks the first NFC East team to 11 wins will win the division. If that's the case, then the Cowboys (7-5) can't afford to lose any more games this season, starting with Sunday's match-up against Kansas City (8-4) at Texas Stadium (3:15 p.m. CST). The Cowboys are 4-2 at home this season.
What's Up?
The Cowboys are backing ever so closer against the wall following Sunday's 17-10 loss to the New York Giants, who handed the Cowboys their first two-game losing streak of the year. The Cowboys (7-5), having fallen out of first place in the NFC East, must eek out a victory over the Chiefs on Sunday to prevent falling behind even further in the playoff picture.
Kansas City comes to Texas Stadium riding a three-game winning streak that includes impressive victories at home over New England, 26-16, and Denver, 31-27. If there is a silver lining to the Chiefs' performance of late, it is that they are a pedestrian 3-3 on the road. Kansas City holds a 27-16 (.628) record against NFC opponents since 1995, the league's third-best mark over that span.
Statistical View
- Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has done his best to make Kansas City fans forget about Priest Holmes, who is out for the season because of head and neck trauma. Johnson has rushed for 1,108 yards - third-most in the AFC - and 11 touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry in 12 games and five starts.
- Star returner Dante Hall still is thriving at what he does best. Parcells on Monday called the six-year veteran a "dramatic difference maker" for his ability to impact games. This season, Hall has averaged 24.1 yards on kick returns - including one 96-yard score - and 6.2 yards on punt returns. Hall also has recorded 331 receiving yards and tied a career high with three touchdown receptions.
- Just one season after Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez set career highs in yards and catches, the six-time Pro Bowler is in jeopardy of recording some of his lowest career totals in yards and touchdowns. Gonzalez, currently stuck at 59 receptions for 643 yards and two scores, has yet to hit the century mark in a game this season. Gonzalez has finished with six or more touchdowns in every season since 1999.
- Free safety Greg Wesley is fifth in the league with six interceptions. Wesley, who has recorded four or more interceptions every year since 2002, is two games removed from a three-interception performance against New England.
Chalk Talk
The Chiefs' offense is rolling again, especially now that Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf has returned to the lineup. Kansas City is averaging 34 points over its last three games, including a 45-point outburst in a blowout victory against Houston. Few running games have been more potent than the Chiefs' this season, as Kansas City ranks fourth with an average of 140.6 yards per game. The Cowboys' run defense did well against one of the teams ranked ahead of the Chiefs' run game, limiting Seattle to just 72 yards. But they struggled against top-ranked Denver, surrendering 144 yards on the ground.
Kansas City's defense has been opportunistic at times this season, already hauling in 12 interceptions as a team. But the Chiefs' defense ranks 27th in yards allowed per game (333.7) and struggles against opposing teams' passing attacks. Kansas City is 30th in pass defense, allowing 241.9 yards per game and 20 passing touchdowns.
Connections
- Cowboys linebacker Scott Fujita - Spent three seasons with the Chiefs after the team invested a fifth-round pick in the outside linebacker in 2002. Led Kansas City in tackles the past two seasons with consecutive 100-plus tackle seasons.
- Cowboys free safety Willie Pile - Entered the league as a seventh-round pick of Kansas City in 2003. After spending his rookie season on the Chiefs' practice squad, Pile played in 16 games on special teams and eight games on defense last season.
- Cowboys linebacker Quinton Caver - Spent three seasons with Kansas City after entering the league as a second-round pick of Philadelphia in 2001. Recorded 43 tackles and two passes defensed in his three years with the Chiefs.
- Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson - Signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1994, Richardson spent part of the 1994 season on the team's practice squad.
Miscellaneous
Larry Johnson has surpassed the 100-yard mark six times this season, including in each of the last five games. Johnson's season high came against Houston, when the third-year back carried for 211 yards and two scores . . . Quarterback Trent Green is on the verge of surpassing the 3,000-yard mark (2,947 yards), but has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 13-to-9 this season . . . Wide receiver Eddie Kennison seems poised to break the 1,000-yard mark for only the second time in his 10-year career. Kennison, who gained 1,086 yards last year, currently has 819 yards this season . . . Rookie outside linebacker and first-round pick Derrick Johnson is having a solid rookie campaign statistically. Johnson has 73 tackles, two sacks and five passes defensed.
