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2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Getting to know Purdue

2012-12-31T02:58:28Z

Who They Are: The Boilermakers were 6-6 this year after winning their final three games to sneak into bowl eligibility. That was not enough to save the job of Danny Hope, who was fired after four seasons. Patrick Higgins will serve as interim head coach as Darrell Hazell was recently hired away from Kent State, but will coach the Golden Flashes in their bowl game.

Who They Played: Although Purdue did not beat a bowl-eligible team (Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Marshall, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana were their victories), the Boilermakers very nearly upset both undefeated teams in the country. Purdue lost 20-17 at Notre Dame on a late field goal, while Purdue led Ohio State 22-14 with less than a minute to go in Columbus before falling in overtime, 29-22.

Who To Watch: Defensive tackle Kawann Short is a likely first-round NFL Draft pick and has been a terror to opposing offenses all season long. Cornerback Ricardo Allen has a school-record four interceptions returned for touchdowns in his career. Walk-on Landon Feichter led the Big Ten with four interceptions this season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Running back Akeem Shavers had 126 yards rushing, 99 yards receiving, and three touchdowns against Indiana. Raheem Mostert is one of the leading kickoff returners in college football and led the country in kickoff return average as a freshman in 2011.

You Might Have Heard Of: Robert Marve is playing his final collegiate game on a third torn ACL. Marve re-injured his knee against Notre Dame but started the final four games of the season. Against Indiana he threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns. He also chased down Greg Heban on a 70-yard interception return to prevent a touchdown.

Cowboys vs. Saints: Dallas aims to move closer to playoff berth

2012-12-18T03:30:09Z

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints come to Cowboys Stadium in Week 16, as the Dallas Cowboys have an NFC playoff spot on the line.

The Dallas Cowboys play host to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, as the Cowboys look to move one step closer to a playoff berth.

After winning their first three games in December, the Cowboys find themselves in a three-way tie atop the NFC East. The Cowboys, Washington Redskins and New York Giants are all 8-6, with just two weeks left to play in the season.

New York will head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens, while the Redskins head to Philadelphia to take on the rebuilding Eagles in Week 16.

2012 has been nothing but disappointing for Drew Brees and the Saints. New Orleans stumbled out of the gate without suspended coach Sean Payton, starting the season 0-4. Since then, the Saints have gone 6-4 and snapped a three-game losing streak in Week 15, destroying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 41-0.

Defense has been the issue for the Saints this year. New Orleans' defense is ranked 31st in both rushing yards and passing yards against, giving up 287 yards per game through the air while surrendering 146.3 yards per game on the ground.

The Saints still boast one of the game's top passing offenses. New Orleans is ranked second in the league in passing yards per game, with 298.1. The Cowboys will hope to have Morris Claiborne back, as Claiborne missed Dallas' Week 15 win because of a concussion.

Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT, at Cowboys Stadium, on Sunday, Dec. 23. Televised coverage can be found on FOX.

Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys renew classic rivalry

2012-12-11T14:45:30Z

The Steelers an Cowboys have their eyes set on the playoffs when the storied franchises clash on Sunday.

Two of the NFL's most storied franchises will renew a classic rivalry on Sunday, but it won't be history on the minds of the Steelers when they travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys. This season is all either team is worried about, with both teams' playoff hopes hinging on every game left.

The Dallas Cowboys (7-6) are a game behind the New York Giants for first in the NFC East and a game behind the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears, who both are at 8-5 and occupy the two NFC Wild Card spots. The Cowboys are tied with the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings, who are also each 7-6 and chasing those two Wild Card spots.

Dallas is coming off a come-from-behind, 20-19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals (which incidentally helped keep their Week 15 opponents in Pittsburgh in playoff position). But Dallas could have to try and make the tournament without wide receiver Dez Bryant, who suffered a finger injury against the Bengals and could be placed on injured reserve -- not good news when the team is about the face the league's top-ranked pass defense.

Pittsburgh (7-6) is coming off a disappointing 34-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers, but is still in the sixth and final AFC playoff spot with three weeks remaining. The Steelers lost despite getting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back after three games missed with a rib injury. Pittsburgh currently holds the tie-breaker over the Bengals for the final playoff spot in the AFC.

The Steelers and Cowboys franchises are no strangers, despite playing only once every four years in the regular season. The teams (which combined own 11 Super Bowl titles) have met in three Super Bowls, the last time in Super Bowl XXX in 1996, when Dallas won 27-17 for its fifth world championship. Pittsburgh has since won two world titles while Dallas has yet to return to the Super Bowl.

The Steelers and Cowboys kick off at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday. The game will be televised by CBS.

NFL Injury Report: Cowboys dinged up in win

2012-12-10T14:15:17Z

After an emotionally draining weekend, Sunday the Dallas Cowboys moved above .500 for the first time since Week 3 when they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to improve to 2-1.

Dallas' win came with a bit of a cost, however, as the Cowboys were hit with a few more injuries during their come-from-behind win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14.

Rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne suffered a lacerated lip in the third quarter, on a play that could have been much worse than the final outcome. Claiborne's helmet popped off after suffering an inadvertent helmet-to-helmet hit with his own teammate. Luckily, Claiborne left the fielder under his own power, and only has a lacerated lip to show for the ugly hit.

Once again, linebacker DeMarcus Ware injured his arm during the game, but did return to action, missing only a few plays before returning.

Wide receiver Dez Bryant sprained his finger on Sunday, but remained in the game -- and eventually caught a critical touchdown pass from Tony Romo.

Cowboys vs. Bengals score update: Cincinnati extends lead to 19-10

2012-12-09T20:40:41Z

After a scoreless third quarter, the Dallas Cowboys now trail the Bengals, 19-10. Cincinnati dominated the third quarter, controlling time of possession and keeping Dallas off the field as they added six points to their lead. Josh Brown drilled two field goals for the damage -- one a chip shot from just 25 yards out, and the other a 52-yarder that cleared the crossbar with ease.

While the Bengals may not have found the end zone, it was a rather tumultuous quarter for the Cowboys defense. Rob Ryan was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after losing his mind on an apparent holding penalty that was never called. Morris Claiborne was also taken to the locker room with a facial laceration after he was sandwiched between the Bengals Orson Charles and the Cowboys Danny McCray. Claiborne's head was crushed and his helmet went flying off, but after a call for the stretcher, he walked off the field under his own power and with a towel to his face.

The Dallas offense will have to get something going over the final 15 minutes to get back in it. They will open the quarter with the ball. Tony Romo is just 15 of 29 for 155 yards so far, and the only touchdown came as a result of prime field position from a turnover.

Cowboys vs. Bengals score update: DeMarco Murray scores, but Dallas trails, 13-10 at half

2012-12-09T19:38:55Z

The Dallas Cowboys closed the deficit against the Bengals in the second quarter and went into the locker room trailing, 13-10. Cincinnati scored on their first two possessions of the game, but the Cowboys pulled things even early in the second.

The touchdown was set up by a Cincinnati turnover, as Brandon Carr picked off Andy Dalton and returned it deep inside Bengals territory, setting up the offense at the 27-yard line. On the next play, Tony Romo hit Jason Witten over the middle and just like that, the Cowboys were on the doorstep. An initial touchdown pass from Romo to Miles Austin was overturned on review, but DeMarco Murray punched it in from one yard out on third down to make it 10-10.

The Bengals responded to that touchdown with a sustained seven-minute drive, but the Cowboys defense held them to three. Cincinnati drove it all the way to the 15-yard line until Rob Ryan's unit held up and forced the 33-yard Josh Brown field goal.

Trailing 13-10, the Cowboys will kick to the Bengals to start the second half.

Cowboys vs. Bengals score update: Dallas trails, 10-3, after 1st quarter

2012-12-09T18:42:29Z

After 15 minutes in Cincinnati, the Dallas Cowboys trail the Cincinnati Bengals, 10-3. Both teams opened the game by coming away with points on their opening possessions in a quick start on the Ohio River.

Tony Romo marched the Cowboys 60 yards in 12 plays on their opening drive, but the offense stalled out inside the 20 and Dallas had to settle for a Dan Bailey 37-yard field goal. The drive was a mix of Romo through the air and Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray on the ground, but the Cincy defense rose up in the red zone.

While Dallas came away with just three on their opening possession, the Bengals were sure to break the plane and get in for six. Andrew Hawkins, a journeyman slot receiver who has plenty of shake, came in motion and took a quick shovel pass from Andy Dalton. The speedy Hawkins went around right tackle, found a seam, and snuck in for eight-yard touchdown. The play capped a 70-yard drive that lasted less than two minutes, as the Bengals ripped through Rob Ryan's defense.

Cincinnati added three more on their next possession to push the lead to a touchdown. Romo finished the quarter six of nine for 51 yards, while Murray managed just 23 yards on seven carries.

Cowboys vs. Bengals: Dallas moves above .500

2012-12-04T20:02:30Z

Playing with a heavy heart, an injury-ravaged and battered Cowboys team pulled out an unlikely 20-19 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday.

Despite being only 6-6, the Cowboys are still in the thick of the playoff race in the NFC East, one game behind the 7-5 Giants and tied with the 6-6 Redskins.

On Sunday, they travel across the country to get a taste of life in the AFC, where the 7-5 Bengals are on the outside looking in of the AFC playoff picture right now.

Cincinnati, a relatively balanced team ranked in the Top 13 in rushing, passing, run defense and pass defense, has won their last four games.

They're led by the passing combination of former TCU QB Andy Dalton and WR AJ Green, whose quickly become one of the NFL's elite WR's.

For Dallas, with RB DeMarco Murray back in the fold, the key will be running the ball early, shortening the game and allowing the Cowboys offense to play from ahead.

Dallas has been able to survive slow starts against teams like Philadelphia and Cleveland, but they can't afford to come out flat against Dalton and Green.

A loss on Sunday would bring the Cowboys season to the brink, as their last three games are all against playoff contenders (the Steelers, Saints and Redskins) and they'll likely need at least a 9-7 mark to think about sneaking into the playoffs.