What's Up?
Under interim head coach Jim Haslett, the Rams picked up their first win of the season Sunday, beating the Redskins, 19-17, in a dramatic finish. After allowing Portis to score the go-ahead touchdown with less than four minutes left to play, St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger drove his team the length the field, setting up a 49-yard field-goal attempt for Josh Brown, who buried it as time expired. The road victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Rams, dating back to last season.
Chalk Talk
If the Cowboys plan on winning with Romo out of the lineup, they will need to rely heavily on the run. With rookie Felix Jones expected to miss this weekend's game, however, the load will fall squarely on the shoulders of the offensive line and Marion Barber. The Pro Bowl running back hasn't found much room to run in the past three weeks, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry on 48 touches. That could change this weekend against a Rams defense which has given up 169 rushing yards per game this season. The Rams starting defensive line - Leonard Little, Adam Carriker, La'Roi Glover and Chris Long - weighs an average of just 283 pounds. Their opponents in the trenches this weekend, the Cowboys massive offensive line, average 41 pounds more than the Rams defensive front, weighing in at 324 pounds.
Connections
Rams defensive tackle La'Roi Glover recorded 21.5 sacks en route to four Pro Bowl appearances with the Cowboys from 2002-2005 . . . Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck served in the same capacity for the Los Angeles Rams from 1983-91 . . . Cowboys assistant director of pro scouting Judd Garrett served as the tight ends coach for the Rams from 2006-07 before coming to the Cowboys this year . . . Sam Garza, Cowboys southwest area scout, was an eighth-round draft choice in 1987 as a quarterback and spent the season with the St. Louis Cardinals . . . Rams third quarterback Brock Berlin had a brief stint with the Cowboys during the 2007 off-season.
Miscellaneous
A Cowboys victory would give them a 15-14 series advantage against the Rams . . . The Cowboys have only beaten the Rams once in St. Louis, winning 13-10 in 2002. . . A packed house has become old hat by now for the Cowboys, who have played 296 of their last 298 games in front of a sellout crowd The Cowboys are the second most-penalized team in the league with 49.
