The Unbeaten: Dallas Cowboys
Second-year Dallas quarterback Tony Romo is completing 58% of his passes for an average of 286 yards per game.
Three victories do not a season make, but a handful of NFL teams have started the 2007 season undefeated and taken a big step toward the playoffs. The select group includes preseason favorites Indianapolis and New England, mild surprises Dallas and Pittsburgh, and a bigger surprise in Green Bay. Times staff writer David Wharton takes a look at one of this fall's fast starters:
Rising star Tony Romo is making people forget about the botched hold that cost Dallas a playoff victory against Seattle last season. The second-year starter is the hottest quarterback in the NFC, completing 58% of his passes and averaging 286 yards passing per game. He's getting help from a big offensive line opening holes for the fifth-best ground game in the league, averaging 146 yards. Marion Barber gets most of the carries and is tied for the league lead with four rushing touchdowns.
Happy camper Why is Terrell Owens smiling? Maybe because he is out from under the thumb of former Dallas coach Bill Parcells. Or maybe because Romo is getting him the ball so often. Owens is averaging 109.7 yards a game, a healthy 20 yards a catch, and has reached the end zone three times. Whatever the reason, the temperamental receiver has been a model citizen and that's good news for the Cowboys.
Outlook It's a kinder, gentler Dallas locker room now that the easygoing Phillips has replaced Parcells. So far, so good. Though the first two wins against the New York Giants and Miami weren't terribly impressive, Dallas opened some eyes by thumping Chicago, 34-10, on national television last Sunday. Circle Oct. 14 on the calendar -- the Cowboys could be 5-0 heading into a test against New England.
Second-year Dallas quarterback Tony Romo is completing 58% of his passes for an average of 286 yards per game.
Three victories do not a season make, but a handful of NFL teams have started the 2007 season undefeated and taken a big step toward the playoffs. The select group includes preseason favorites Indianapolis and New England, mild surprises Dallas and Pittsburgh, and a bigger surprise in Green Bay. Times staff writer David Wharton takes a look at one of this fall's fast starters:
Rising star Tony Romo is making people forget about the botched hold that cost Dallas a playoff victory against Seattle last season. The second-year starter is the hottest quarterback in the NFC, completing 58% of his passes and averaging 286 yards passing per game. He's getting help from a big offensive line opening holes for the fifth-best ground game in the league, averaging 146 yards. Marion Barber gets most of the carries and is tied for the league lead with four rushing touchdowns.
Happy camper Why is Terrell Owens smiling? Maybe because he is out from under the thumb of former Dallas coach Bill Parcells. Or maybe because Romo is getting him the ball so often. Owens is averaging 109.7 yards a game, a healthy 20 yards a catch, and has reached the end zone three times. Whatever the reason, the temperamental receiver has been a model citizen and that's good news for the Cowboys.
Outlook It's a kinder, gentler Dallas locker room now that the easygoing Phillips has replaced Parcells. So far, so good. Though the first two wins against the New York Giants and Miami weren't terribly impressive, Dallas opened some eyes by thumping Chicago, 34-10, on national television last Sunday. Circle Oct. 14 on the calendar -- the Cowboys could be 5-0 heading into a test against New England.
You just may never know? 
They are looking good and I hope they beat the pats.