Moving pieces The Cowboys found the preparation easy for last Sunday's opponent. The Colts lined up in the same formation for the majority of the game and attempted to out-execute the Cowboys. The Bucs are different. Coach Jon Gruden likes to use multiple personnel groups and lots of motion. The Cowboys defense will have to be on top of its game plan mentally with all the movement. Having played against Washington, which also tries to use personnel groups and motion to cause confusion, should help the Cowboys.
2
Confusing the rookie Bruce Gradkowski will be the third rookie quarterback the Cowboys will have faced this season. The first two were underwhelming. Tennessee's Vince Young was limited to 155 yards on 14-of-29 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions. Arizona's Matt Leinart completed 20 of 38 passes for 216 yards with two interceptions. Gradkowski has been intercepted just four times in seven starts, but he has been sacked 15 times in those starts. Against Washington, however, he completed 66.7 percent of his passes and was not sacked.
3
Say hello to Joey The Cowboys paid dearly for giving Seattle two first-round picks to acquire Galloway in 2000. His first season was limited to one game because of a severe knee injury. In the next three seasons, he had his moments but never caught more than 61 passes or had more than 908 yards receiving before he was traded to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson in 2004. Galloway turned 35 on Monday, but he remains one of the game's fastest receivers. Last year, he had 1,287 yards and 10 touchdowns. Through 10 games this season, he has 38 catches for 626 yards and five touchdowns.
4
Indy carryover, the good kind Before going to Indianapolis, Tony Dungy spent six years as Tampa Bay's head coach, and along with coordinator Monte Kiffin, developed the Buccaneers' defense into one of the best in the NFL with their Cover-2 look. Having played the same defense Sunday against the Colts, the Cowboys should be ahead of the game in terms of preparation, which is always helpful on a short week. What needs to be better is the execution, which is never easy when Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks is on the other side of the line.
5
Ride the wave Sunday's win over Indianapolis could be the game the Cowboys look back on as the key to the season – provided they win today. The Cowboys rode a three-game winning streak into Thanksgiving last year but were undone by a missed Billy Cundiff field goal and lost in overtime to Denver. They finished 2-4 in their last six games and missed the playoffs. With the NFC's playoff picture muddled, the Cowboys want to begin separating themselves from the pack.
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