Oakland pours it on late, beats Dallas 17-9

By JAIME ARON   AP Sports Writer

Just in case they didn't already know, the Dallas Cowboys got a reminder of the importance of getting touchdowns whenever they're close.

The Cowboys were within 16 yards of the end zone on four drives against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night, yet managed only three field goals. It came back to bite them when the Raiders got two touchdowns and a field goal in the final 4:58 for a 17-9 victory.

Dallas (1-1) had snaps from Oakland's 16, 13, 9 and 10 without getting into the end zone. One of those drives was stopped on downs, and the others were settled by David Buehler making kicks of 42, 27 and 28 yards.

Oakland went ahead 10-9 with 2:24 left when first-string kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 28-yard field goal. Swayze Waters had badly missed a 34-yarder at the start of the fourth quarter.

Raiders safety Jerome Boyd stretched the lead when he intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown with 33 seconds left.

Oakland's new starting quarterback Jason Campbell never came close to scoring on his four drives. Then again, he was facing a defense that came out with regular-season intensity.

Linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking treated Campbell as if he was still with the rival Redskins. His first two drives went three-and-out. When his final series got rolling, the top nickel unit came back for a fourth-and-1 and Campbell's pass sailed way over his target, tight end Zach Miller.

Campbell finished 7 of 13 for 49 yards. He converted only one third down out of six. He was sacked only once and didn't have a turnover. He indoctrinated himself as a Raiders QB by throwing deep twice, once down each sideline; the first was broken up by a rookie free agent, the other was caught out of bounds.

Kyle Boller came in and was 12 of 21 for 148 yards.

Part of Dallas' offensive woes trace to the line, which gave up four sacks in 20 snaps.

Romo was sacked three times on the opening drive, twice after getting to the 16. Jon Kitna got a series with the starting blockers and wound up getting sacked, too, nearly for a safety.

Romo finished 4 of 7 for 52 yards. Kitna was 8 of 11 for 96 yards.

At least Dallas didn't lose another tight end. Already thin at that position, the Cowboys threw to star Jason Witten only once; he caught it, for 18 yards.

Dallas also can feel better about Buehler, the linebacker-sized kicker who specialized in kickoffs as a rookie last season. By making all three of his tries, he's 6 of 7 this preseason. All four of his kickoffs turned into touchbacks, too.

Cowboys vs. Raiders: What We Learned From Last Night

By Jonathan Bales

Offense

• I need to break down the film, but the Cowboys didn’t seem to run “Double Tight Strong” much tonight. That is probably due to the lack of tight end depth. They did line up in the formation on the first play of the game, however, once again running a strong side dive.
• Tony Romo actually struggled a little bit tonight. He definitely held onto the ball too long on a few occasions, which he admitted in a fourth-quarter interview. That probably stems from knowing he has limited opportunities in the second preseason game and wanting to make some plays. There’s no reason to worry.
• Deon Anderson blocked well again tonight and even caught two passes. The latter won’t happen much, but the former has become a regularity.
• Doug Free wasn’t nearly as dominant as he was against Cincy. He allowed a sack of Jon Kitna and a few pressures. I will watch him more closely on film and report back to you tomorrow.
• Kevin Ogletree is having a poor preseason. He dropped at least one pass tonight (two others he could have possibly caught in traffic), and he isn’t performing particularly well on special teams. I don’t know if he thinks his roster spot is guaranteed, but it isn’t.
• Stephen McGee is really having trouble throwing underneath routes. He is late on check downs and simply doesn’t appear to have great touch even when he is on time.

Defense

• Bradie James was all over the field. He looked particularly impressive in pass coverage, which is good news for a Dallas defense that currently sees a struggling second-year player (Jason Williams) and a rookie (Sean Lee) fighting for nickel duties.
• Orlando Scandrick has really impressed me thus far this preseason. He was all over Jordan Shipley last week and played well again tonight. He seems to be more willing to throw his body around to make tackles too, which is important since he struggled a bit in run support last season (he missed 12.3 percent of tackles).
• Bryan McCann continues to impress me. He has great speed and playmaking ability at cornerback and he nearly broke a punt return for a touchdown tonight. He showed some poor technique at times tonight, but he’s probably the most naturally talented of the three cornerbacks vying for that fourth spot at the position.
• Leon Williams had an up and down night. He is tremendous in tight areas, utilizing his strength to be dominant (at times) against the run. He struggled in space, however, missing a few tackles in the open field and dropping a potentially game-winning interception.
• I like what I saw from both Junior Siavii and Josh Brent tonight. Siavii showed some toughness and held up well against the run. Brent is like the energizer bunny. He made what was perhaps the play of the night when he chased down Raiders running back Michael Bennett to make a tackle about 20 yards downfield. I doubt the Cowboys can sneak him on the practice squad at this point.
• Jason Hatcher looked really good tonight. He could eventually unseat Marcus Spears as the starting defensive end opposite Igor Olshansky.
• Keith Brooking looked solid in coverage, staying step-for-step with Raiders tight end Zach Miller. He shows you don’t have to possess the natural athleticism of a player like Jason Williams to be a Pro Bowl-type player.
• Speaking of Jason Williams, he played much better tonight. Ironically, he is excelling against the run, not the pass. He did look more comfortable in coverage tonight, though, and his improvement will at least make it somewhat difficult for Sean Lee to secure the nickel linebacker spot.
• I can’t say enough about how much Victor Butler has improved his run defense. He is becoming an all-around player, and he has outplayed Brandon Williams in my opinion. He gives the Cowboys some confidence should Anthony Spencer ever go down.
• Jamar Wall struggled again at cornerback, but not as much as on Sunday night. He made a nice drive on a slant route late in the game, breaking up the pass for what should have been an interception. He has trouble covering out-breaking routes and deep balls, however.

Special Teams

• David Buehler really looked sensational. He made all three of his field goal attempts, but more importantly, he struck every ball very well. That wasn’t the case against the Bengals on Sunday night. He was also incredible on kickoffs, as expected. It is nice to see his extra duties aren’t hindering his power on kickoffs.
• Mat McBriar must be one of the most under-appreciate players in the league. He punted a ball nearly 70 yards while standing inches from the back of the end zone. His ability to not only punt powerfully, but also directionally, is so important to Dallas.

Super Bowl Odds for All 32 NFL Teams

First off, I should note that there is a 37.5% chance that a team will make the playoffs, based on a 12/32 ratio. Talent, experience, and coachability are factors to consider, as well as what the team has done over the last year to base predictability on making the playoffs and winning a Superbowl. All in all, 20 teams stay home for the playoffs, 12 teams move on at the end of the regular season, with two of the 12 going to the big show. The following are the thoughts of Evan Adrian, afterwhich are my thoughts. Enjoy!

32. Rams

Steven Jackson is a great player, but no running back could carry this train-wreck of a team to the playoffs. Odds to win it all: 100 to 1

31. Bucs

Get your Heat tickets before they sell out, Buc fans. Odds to win it all: 90 to 1

30. Bills

Training camp is right around the corner, and we still don’t know who the Bills’ starting quarterback or running back is. Odds to win it all: 85 to 1

29. Brownies

But in the uber-competitive AFC North, it won’t even be close to enough to sniff a playoff berth. Odds to win it all: 80 to 1

28. Lions

I LOVE the Lions’ 2010 draft class, especially Ndamukong Suh, who will undoubtedly be a better pro than first overall pick Sam Bradford. Overall, this teams stinks, though. Odds to win it all: 75 to 1

27. Chiefs

This is a team that could sniff .500 in 2010, but a playoff birth seems to be out of the question. Odds to win it all: 60 to 1

26. Raiders

Oakland finally seems to be getting personnel moves right, thanks to Al Davis reportedly relinquishing some control. The Raiders have a talented backfield, a stud tight end in Zach Miller, an underrated offensive line, and a punishing defense. Odds to win it all: 50 to 1

25. Broncos

Denver got rid of Brandon Marshall this off-season, who was hands down their best play-maker. Rookie Demaryius Thomas will try to pick up the slack, but he won’t come close to Marshall’s numbers. Odds to win it all: 45 to 1

24. Seahawks

I don’t know how much Matt Hasselbeck really has left. And with Seattle’s acquisition of Chargers’ QB Charlie Whitehurst, I don’t think Seattle’s front office has much of an idea, either. Odds to win it all: 40 to 1

23. Cards

Losing Kurt Warner hurts. A lot. Arizona’s QB depth chart now looks like this: 1. Matt Leinart 2. Derek Anderson 3. John Skelton 4. Max Hall. Let the QB controversy begin! Beating out the 49ers for a playoff spot would be reason to celebrate. Odds to win it all: 38 to 1

22. Da Bears

I’m not saying that the Bears will be the greatest show on turf 2.0, but they will certainly be better with Mike Martz calling the shots. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and company seem to fit the prototypical small receiver build that Martz does well with. If Matt Forte can return to 2008 form, Chicago’s offense could take flight. Odds to win it all: 36 to 1

21. Jags

If Garrard can play game-manager relatively well in 2010, the Jaguars have a legitimate shot at the playoffs (as long as Jones-Drew stays healthy). Super Bowl aspirations,though, are on hold for the time being. Odds to win it all: 35 to 1

20. 'Skins

Mike Shanahan has taken over as Washington’s head coach, and he seems to have taken the 2006 Pro-Bowl roster with him (Willie Parker, Donovan McNabb, Larry Johnson, and incumbent Clinton Portis). Can Washington compete in the East Beast Division? Odds to win it all: 32 to 1

19. Dolphins

Is Henne good enough to lead Miami to the postseason? He very well might be. Can he carry them to a Super Bowl? Certainly not. Odds to win it all: 30 to 1

18. 49ers

I like this team, but I don't love them. Winning the NFC West really amounts to nothing once the playoffs start. The 49ers are a young, growing team, but expect some serious growing pains once the playoffs start. Odds to win it all: 30 to 1

17. Mighty-Mighty Boss Cats (Panthers)

Carolina is handing the reigns over to Matt Moore this year after cutting Jake Delhomme in the offseason. If Moore can manage the game well and limit his turnovers, Carolina’s run game and defense could carry them to the playoffs. But a Super Bowl? No. Odds to win it all: 28 to 1

16. Eagles

Their defense and improved run-game could take them to the playoffs, plus they have that DeSean Jackson guy, who seems to make the occasional big play. I sort-of like the Eagles, but I don’t trust them farther than I can throw them. Odds to win it all: 28 to 1

15. Texans

Schaub played an entire season for the first time in 2009, and he was simply amazing. He racked up 29 touchdowns, 4,770 yards, and a QB rating of 98.6 (healthy temperature and QB rating). Houston’s offense was prolific last season, and I expect more of the same in 2010. If the Texans’ defense can keep up, the Houston Texans could get to the playoffs for the first time ever. Anything beyond a playoff berth would be a miracle. Odds to win it all: 26 to 1

14. Bengals

The Bengals seem to be in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason. This is a team with too many questions, so here’s my answer: steer clear of Cincinnati. Odds to win it all: 25 to 1

13. Falcons

10 wins would be tremendous for this team, and it’s easily within reach. A deep playoff run, however, seems to be out of reach. Odds to win it all: 22 to 1

12. Giants

Eli Manning is better than you think he is, and so are New York’s receivers. Don’t sleep on the Giants, but don’t bet on them either. Odds to win it all: 20 to 1

11. Titans

Young was great as a starter last season, taking over for Kerry Collins and leading the Titans to an 8-2 record down the stretch. With a full season as a starter on the horizon,the sky is the limit for Young. Odds to win it all: 18 to 1

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers crack my top ten despite trading away their best receiver and being forced to play 4-6 games without their starting quarterback. If Pittsburgh can manage to win at least half of their games without Big Ben, they’ll be in good shape to make the playoffs. Willie Parker is gone, meaning 2010 is Rashard Mendenhall’s time to shine. And I think he’s more than capable of carrying the load. If Pittsburgh’s receivers can make up for Santonio’s absence, I can see the Steelers making a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy. Good coaching and good defense will get you a long way in the playoffs, and Pittsburgh has both. Odds to win it all: 15 to 1

9. New York Jets

I love me some Rex Ryan. He’s exactly what a New York NFL coach should be. He’s transformed the Jets from New York’s other football team into the headliner. The Jets had the loudest offseason in the NFL, picking up LaDainian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes, and Jason Taylor, to name a few. Quarterback Mark Sanchez now has a year of experience under his belt, not to mention 2 playoff victories. I like what they’re building in New York, but I don’t see it all coming together as well as last season. Odds to win it all: 12 to 1

8. San Diego Chargers

Hey look, it’s the Chargers! The team everyone thinks has a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl every year, but seems to come up short. Well guess what? I’m not buying San Diego in 2010. When your team is only in the news for the wrong reasons, things aren’t exactly great. The Chargers ditched the best player in the history of their franchise (LaDainian Tomlinson) and replaced him with a rookie (Ryan Mathews). Their best offensive lineman (Marcus McNeill) is holding out for more money. Their best receiver (Vincent Jackson) is too, plus he’s suspended for three games. Ouch. I will give them this, though: their head coach (Norv Turner) is underrated, Philip Rivers might be a top-5 QB, and their defense is better-than-good. So they’ve got to be a top-ten team on this list. If I were a betting man, though, I wouldn’t touch the Chargers with a ten-foot pole. Odds to win it all: 11 to 1

7. Green Bay Packers

After a heartbreaking end to their 2009 campaign, Green Bay should be hungry, mad, and ready to get at it in 2010. Aaron Rodgers has been better than good since Brett Favre left, retired, signed with the Jets, left, retired, and signed with the Vikings. Rodgers' receivers are solid, he has an emerging tight end in Jermichael Finley, and I think Ryan Grant is due for a huge season in 2010. Green Bay’s defense really is underrated. Their linebacking corps is full of playmakers, and their secondary was good in 2009, with the obvious exception of their wild-card meltdown. A spot in the playoffs should be a given, and a Super Bowl victory is not out of this team’s reach by any means. Odds to win it all: 21 to 2

6. Minnesota Vikings

First things first: Brett Favre is going to play in 2010. Ok? Settled? Good. Second, he’s not going to be as good as he was last year. I don’t think anyone can reasonably expect him to be. But their run game shouldbe better. Adrian Peterson wasn’t as good as you think he was last year. Sure, he scored 18 touchdowns and ran for nearly 1,400 yards, but his YPC was a career-low 4.4, and he lost a career-high 6 fumbles. I’m not saying he’s not great, I’m just saying there’s room to improve. With their talented group o fpass catchers (Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, Bernard Berrian) and their punishing defense, a playoff berth for this squad is a given, but a Super Bowl is probably just out of reach (again). Odds to win it all: 10 to 1

5. Dallas Cowboys

First off, I’m not a Cowboys fan. I know they’re America’steam, and I live in America, but that still doesn’t make me a fan. However, I am buying the Cowboys as NFC East champions, and the odds-on favorite to win homefield in the NFC. Tony Romo seems to keep getting better and better, Miles Austin has emerged as a legit number one receiver, and Jason Witten is arguably the best pass-catching tight end in the NFL today. Not to mention that loaded backfield of Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice. Their defense is solid too, and they do a tremendous job getting in the backfield and making plays. Oh, and if that Dez Bryant guy turns out to be decent, we may see Dallas playing for Super Bowl XLV in their own stadium in February. Odds to win it all: 10 to 1

4. Baltimore Ravens

Ah yes, the Baltimore Ravens. Seems like they’re the chic pick to take home the Lombardi Trophy in 2010. And why not? Baltimore’s backfield could be the best in the NFL, with Ray Rice leading a three-headed charge that also includes Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain. Plus, Joe Flacco has another year under his belt and a new stud receiver in Anquan Boldin (if he can stay healthy). And don’t get me started on their defense. The Ravens added Sergio Kindle and Terrence Cody in the 2010 Draft, two first-round caliber players that should thrive in Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme. I like the Ravens a lot,and wouldn’t be too surprised to see Ray Lewis hoisting that Lomardi Trophy for the second time. Odds to win it all: 19 to 2

3. New England Patriots

Don’t let last year’s putrid playoff performance fool you. Despite what you may read, the Patriots are not declining. Bill Belichick is still the coach he’s always been. Tom Brady isn’t a step slower. Yes, Randy Moss is a year older, but this is a contract year. And we all know what that means. New England’s defense may be young, but they’re good, and they’re fast. We know how good this team can be. I think they’ll be that good in 2010, and maybe even better. Brady has a real good shot at a fourth ring. Odds to win it all: 19 to 2

2. New Orleans Saints

Sorry Saints fans, but I can’t put your team first. I just can’t. History tells us that in today’s NFL, a repeat is nearly impossible.Truth of the matter is I love this team. Drew Brees is an elite QB who can succeed with any group of receivers. That’s not a shot at New Orleans’ receiving corps, but does one guy emerge from that group as something truly special? Didn’t think so. New Orleans does have a strong 1-2 punch at running back though, with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. And New Orleans’coaching staff might be the best in the NFL. I would love to see them prove me wrong, but I don’t see the Saints repeating this year. A Super Bowl berth, though, doesn’t seem too far fetched. Odds to win it all: 8 to 1

1. Indianapolis Colts

Quick, who’s the NFL’s best quarterback? If you said anyone other than Peyton Manning, you’re kidding yourself. QBs handle the football more than anyone else on the field, so I’ll put my money on the team with the best one. I put my money on Peyton last year and it didn’t exactly work out,but I’ve still got faith. Nobody works harder than Peyton. Nobody leads better than Peyton. But most importantly, nobody cares more than Peyton. The rest of the offense is pretty loaded, too. Peyton has two solid veteran pass-catchers in Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, as well as a couple of talented up-and-comers in Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. Peyton's backfield (Joseph Addai and Donald Brown) is better than you think. So is the defense. But it all starts with Peyton, and come Super Bowl XLV, I think it will end with him, too. Odds to win it all: 7 to 1

OK, so my thoughts. I think in the top ten, I almost agree. Jets are ranked too high, as are the Patriots. In my opinion, the boat is sailing on the Patriots. They may have another playoff appearance, but I think playoff wins are going... going... I would have put them fifth TOPS. Important, I do agree with the top two. I like the Colts and the Saints in the top two spots, however, I honestly think the two can be interchangable. I would have put the 'Boys at third, bumped up the Vikes to fourth... and I do expect Farve to play and I do expect him to do exceptionally well, as we expect Farve to always perform to the Farve level. The only knock I have against Farve is that he tends to not just play football, but play with people's minds on whether he will or won't play. Man up and give an answer straight out.

10 Decisions ESPN Should Show Next

By Lance Pauker

Last Thursday at 9 p.m. EST, the atmosphere suddenly and inexplicably exploded. It was later found that this cataclysmic event was caused by a little-known special held on ESPN about some guy named LeBron James. Apparently he's a big deal or something. Jim Gray was there, so it must have been pretty important.

The event had even higher ratings than Jim Rome Is Burning, something previously thought impossible by that German Octopus dude, who is apparently a more reliable prophet than Dan Gilbert. Because the LeBron reality show was a bigger hit than "Dream Job," ESPN's previous crack at reality TV, it has been rumored that the sports media giant is looking for new "decisions" to air.

These rumors can by no means be confirmed, but someone from somewhere tweeted something that seemed important, so I figured I may include it. Without further ado, here are the 10 decisions that ESPN should show next.