Hype vs. Truth

The Hype:

Denver has the best defense in the league. They lead the league in all kinds of defensive categories. Maybe the biggest one is that they've allowed only 16 points in three games. The next-best defense in that category has allowed more than TWICE as many: The Jets with 33. The Cowboys have relied too much on the run thus far. Today they've got Marion Barber trying to come back from an injury, Felix Jones out with an injury, and their only fully healthy back is #3 on the depth chart, Tashard Choice. The Cowboys will have to put the ball in Romo's hands more than they'd like, and we all know he's probably the worst quarterback in history when he's forced to play under pressure.

The Truth:

Two of the three teams Denver has played are ranked 31 and 32 in the league in offense (in case you're new, that's second-to-last, and last). The other team? Cincinnati. I'm not saying the Denver defense isn't any good -- they really are. But the "next closest team" that has allowed "more than twice as many points" is the Jets, and they have played Houston, New England, and Tennessee. I don't understand how the best rushing team in the league through three weeks (that would be the Cowboys) can be said to have relied "too much" on the run. For years people have been saying that the reason Dallas can't ever finish seasons strongly is because they don't have a good enough run game. That's just an idiotic statement, in my opinion. Marion Barber's coming back from an injury, true, but have you EVER seen Marion Barber run tentatively? This isn't Mary-Ann Barber, baker from Elm Street. It's Marion freakin' Barber, Bash-Attack. Tashard Choice is a starting back for half the teams in the league. The run game will be fine.

I think the game will be a good one, and a close one. Denver's Elvis Dumerville leads the league in sacks, and he's a very strong, quick player that the Cowboys will probably have a hard time containing. The point of this post is simply to point out that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to the Denver hype... yet.

P.S. I'll be at the game. I'LL BE AT THE GAME!!!!!!!!!