Murray, Cowboys turning back the clock
In this era more than ever, the NFL is an aerial circus dominated and driven by quarterbacks. But at the same time, the Dallas Cowboys are turning back the clock with the help of running back DeMarco Murray and a bulldozing offensive line.
Turn back the clock about two months and no one could see this coming — the Cowboys are 6-1, the league’s best record.
After a dismal preseason, Dallas’ regular-season win total of 8 was hammered down by bettors. At the Westgate Las Vegas sports book, the under side of the bet moved from minus-140 on June 2 to a closing price of minus-270 on Sept. 1. The move was similar at William Hill’s books.
“It looked bleak for the Cowboys. No one was betting over,” said Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill sports book director. “Every wiseguy in the world was betting under 8, and they don’t look too good right now.”
Dallas ranks No. 14 in total defense, surprisingly high for a unit expected to be among the worst in the league. But the efficiency of the offense has been the key for the Cowboys. Murray, a Bishop Gorman High product, has seven straight 100-yard rushing games and leads the league with 913 yards on the ground.
“I am just really stunned. I think the Cowboys are the biggest surprise in the league by far,” Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. “I am stunned at how well Dallas’ defense has played.”
Everything is connected as far as the Cowboys are concerned, and Bernie Fratto is drawing a line that stretches to the 1990s, when Jason Garrett was Dallas’ backup quarterback.
As Cowboys coach, Garrett has seemingly influenced owner Jerry Jones to construct this team with the blueprint that produced three Super Bowl wins. Fratto, of ESPN Radio in Las Vegas, is looking back to make sense of this season’s mystery team.
“I have a linear theory about why the Cowboys are doing so well, and I want to start with the premise the NFL is a copycat league,” said Fratto, who covered the Detroit Lions as a radio host from 1998 to 2008. “Garrett was a backup QB for the Cowboys on Super Bowl champion teams in ‘93 and ‘95. Those squads were known for two things: An impeccable offensive line that featured Nate Newton, Mark Stepnoski and Mark Tuinei, and the ‘Big Three’ of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.
“Fast forward two decades. The current Cowboys, at least so far, look eerily like their predecessors of 20 years ago. Their offensive line is the most physical in the NFL, dominating the line of scrimmage every week. As such, they are able to run the ball with great efficiency evidenced by Murray’s historic start.”
Murray, quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant form the new trio leading the Dallas offense. Romo has completed 69.2 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and a 104.7 rating, fourth-best in the league.
“When you’re able to run the ball, passing lanes open up,” Fratto said. “Romo has been solid. Bryant is on pace to catch 100 balls and he has positively impacted his supporting cast. As a result, the Cowboys’ balanced offense is converting third downs at a sensational 57 percent. That means their defense is on the field for fewer snaps, reducing the chance they might be exposed.
“That’s a formula for success that can’t be denied. Time will tell, but for now, the Cowboys are turning heads for all the right reasons. Is the NFL a copycat league? You would have to ask Garrett.”
Bookmakers are pleasantly surprised and set to cash in on the success of the Cowboys, who are on pace for a 10-plus win season that is making several bettors and media prognosticators look clownish.
“I thought the Cowboys would be 3-13,” said Westgate book manager Ed Salmons, “so what do I know?”
— HOME WRECKERS — The Bears are 0-3 straight up and against the spread in Chicago, losing to Buffalo, Green Bay and Miami. After getting dropped 27-14 by the Dolphins on Sunday, wide receiver Brandon Marshall targeted the entire offense and especially quarterback Jay Cutler with criticism. Cutler deserved the ripping.
“We had a lot of public money and parlay money on the Bears in that game,” MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said. “I can’t figure that team out, but you could pretty much say that about the entire league at this point.”
In an unpredictable league, the Bears are predictably bad on their home field. Last season, Chicago went 1-5-2 ATS at home, with its win and cover coming with Josh McCown starting at quarterback against the Cowboys. Cutler has not started and covered a home game since November 2012.
— NOW TRENDING — Bruce Marshall of The Gold Sheet notes a couple of trends to watch in Week 8:
The New York Jets, 3-point home favorites over Buffalo, are 0-4 ATS at home this season. However, the host team has won and covered the past four meetings in the Bills-Jets series.
New Orleans is a 1½-point home favorite over Green Bay, and the line is curiously low. Saints coach Sean Payton is 19-0 straight up and on a 17-1-1 spread run at the Superdome. (Payton was suspended for the 2012 season). The Packers are 9-1 over the total in their past 10 regular-season games. The Packers-Saints total (55½) is the highest on the board this week.
— SHEEPISH IN SEATTLE — The Seahawks, 5-point favorites at Carolina on Sunday, are off a loss at St. Louis that leveled their records to 3-3 straight up and ATS. The books benefited when the defending Super Bowl champs were upset by the Rams.
“It was huge,” Bogdanovich said. “There was so much money for Seattle in that game, it was scary. I think the Seahawks will be a playoff team, but nobody is afraid of them, that’s for sure.”
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
