Chargers and Cowboys Battle in NFL Preseason Clash on Sunday

Are you ready for some Sunday Night Football?

Two of the most popular teams in the NFL take to the field on Sunday, August 21st in a big time NFL Preseason battle.  The San Diego Chargers are the favorites to win the AFC West this season while the Dallas Cowboys are one of the favorites to take home the top prize in the ultra-tough NFC East.

Behind the arm of the talented Philip Rivers, the San Diego offense should light up the scoreboard this fall.  Top wide receiver Vincent Jackson complements the terrific timing between Rivers and future hall-of-fame tight end Antonio Gates.  The Chargers bring two solid running backs to the field in Michael Tolbert and second-year man Ryan Mathews.  On defense, former Indianapolis Colts’ standout, safety Bob Sanders, joins a solid corp led by cornerback Antoine Cason.  San Diego’s front-seven is considered one of the best in the NFL.

For the Dallas Cowboys, this upcoming season could be a return to the former franchise’s glory.  With new head coach Jason Garrett officially taking the reigns, quarterback Tony Romo, returning full strength from an injury last season, should be exceptional.  Romo studied under Garrett, who served as Dallas’s offensive coordinator for a number of seasons, and figures to spread the ball around to two top wide receivers in Miles Austin and Dez Bryant and one of the best tight-ends in the NFL in Jason Witten.  Running back Felix Jones will be counted on to carry the load in Cowboy land.  The defense is made up of a very strong front-seven, but the defenses true fortunes lie in the hands of CB Michael Jenkins.  If Jenkins hasn’t improved from last season, Dallas could get burned in 2011.

San Diego Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Where:  Cowboys Stadium, Dallas, TX
When:  Aug. 21 at 8:00 pm EST
TV:  NBC
Betting Lines:  Dallas -1 ½, Total 37

Analysis:  The Cowboys’ 24 to 23 victory over the Denver Broncos in their first preseason game of the year was nice.  Romo threw only 5 passes but he completed 3 of them.  The issue for Big D was on the defensive side of things where Dallas gave up 357 yards including triple-digit passing ratings to both Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn.  The ‘Boys’ defense also gave up an alarming 114 yards on the ground including a 7 yard average to Jeremiah Johnson and a ridiculous 5.8 average to Broncos’ starting RB Knowshon Moreno.   

The Chargers lost 17 to 24 in their first preseason game to Seattle, but QB Phillip Rivers was awesome going 5 for 6 with a TD for a 158.3 QB rating.  Back-ups Scott Tolzien from Wisconsin and Billy Volek were both okay.  Rivers could throw for two or three touchdowns against that Dallas D, which has a ways to go before being ready for the season, in limited action on Sunday night.  That should give football betting fans plenty of reasons to back San Diego at +1 ½ in this game.