(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)

DAVE SIMONE, GAINESVILLE, GA: All the talk seems to focus on the Cowboys offense against the Steelers defense. What about the Cowboys defense vs. the Steelers offense? The last time I checked, DeMarcus Ware was leading the league in sacks and Ben Roethlisberger continues to get sacked more than most. Everybody thinks this game will hinge on whether our offense can beat their defense, but I'm willing to bet that if you flip that around, you may be closer to the way things turn out.

Mickey: Well to me, it's somewhat of a given that the Cowboys defense will deal with an average offense. I don't think the Steelers scare anyone with their offense, so the Cowboys defense should be able to perform well. But to me, the great unknown in this game is how well the Cowboys offense will deal with a defense playing awfully well, and then, how well the Steelers defense deals with an offense that normally is pretty potent when Tony Romo is at quarterback. I mean, the Cowboys defense could play great, holding Pittsburgh to 17 points. But the question becomes, can the Cowboys score 20?

Rob: The defense's performancecritical this week, because you can't expect the offense to score 30 points on Pittsburgh in potentially nasty weather. Ware's availability is huge; he's such a factor with his pass rush as well as his ability to stop the run. But the Cowboys' trump card in this game is Tony Romo and the offense's big-play threats. If the Cowboys can hammer away and hit a big play or two, take care of the ball and consistently get off the field defensively, this game can be theirs.

Josh: You're right, this matchup has been seemingly ignored this week, everyone instead focusing on that top-ranked Steelers defense. I'm with you on the Cowboys pass rush being able to get to Roethlisberger because I think he has a bad habit of holding onto the ball too long. This just looks like one of those grind-it-out kind of games, so the first, most important goal has to be stopping the run, whether it's Willie Parker or Mewelde Moore. Also the Cowboys offense and special teams need to maintain good field position for the defense to be successful.

JAY GARNER, SCHERTZ, TX: Okay, so Wade Phillips says "at times" Orlando Scandrick will line up on Hines Ward in the slot. Now, Ward is one of the finest and most cunning receivers in the game. While the rookie has demonstrated he is quite capable of matching up with some of the league's better receivers, I'm not sure this is a matchup that we'll be the beneficiaries of.

Mickey: So if that doesn't work, then the Cowboys always have the ability to move Terence Newman in the slot on Ward and play Pacman Jones at left corner. Or what they could have up their sleeve against multi-receiver sets is moving Anthony Henry inside over the tight end and inserting Pacman at right corner, with Scandrick in the other slot and Newman remaining put. Remember, Wade Phillips isn't going to tell you, thus the Steelers, exactly what he's got planned for the game.

Rob: That'll be a great challenge for Scandrick, but I'd imagine he'd have some coverage help in those situations. The Cowboys like how he's played in the slot, which allows Terence Newman to stay outside in substitution packages. Scandrick is tough and has good ball skills.

Josh: I agree. I think Orlando Scandrick's been excellent this season, but I can't help but believe a wily vet like Hines Ward needs to be shadowed by Terence Newman or Anthony Henry. Those guys have enough NFL experience to anticipate some of Ward's tricks. Scandrick, while he hasn't had a real letdown yet, is still a rookie playing only his 13th NFL games. Ward has such an advantage over him in that respect.

Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS