Last meeting
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw three touchdown passes and Patrick Crayton had seven receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns as the host Cowboys pounded St. Louis, 35-7, in Week 4 last year.
Streaks
The Cowboys have won three of the last four meetings since 2002, but the all-time series is tied 14-14 (including several epic playoff games).
Last week
The Cowboys rallied from a 10-point deficit in the closing minutes but lost to the host Cardinals in overtime, 30-24. ... Josh Brown kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired to give St. Louis its first win of the season, 19-17, over the Redskins.
Keep your eye on ...
That 40-something QB: The Cowboys will turn to quarterback Brad Johnson in the wake of Tony Romo's broken finger. Johnson, 40, has a Super Bowl ring to his credit but has not thrown a meaningful pass since he started 14 games for the Vikings in 2006. Johnson is 4-0 in his career against St. Louis and has an added weapon in newly acquired receiver Roy Williams.
Dallas' rookie corners: The Cowboys are thin at cornerback following the suspension of Adam Jones. Terence Newman is also out with a sports hernia. Dallas will be starting first-round draft pick Mike Jenkins, and fifth-rounder Orlando Scandrick will see plenty of action as the team's nickel back. The Cowboys will need pressure from their front seven to ease this transition.
Avery's emergence: Veteran Torry Holt has struggled this season and is on pace to post the lowest totals of his remarkable career. Avery, the Rams' second-round pick, has started to take a more prominent role with the team. He had four receptions for 74 yards last week, including a nifty one-handed 43-yard grab to put St. Louis in position to win.
Did you know?
Dallas' Jason Witten has 352 receptions for 4,133 yards since 2004, the highest totals for an NFC tight end. ... St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger is 23-14 as a starter at home. ... Safety O.J. Atogwe has eight interceptions in his past 13 games. He had a 75-yard fumble return for a touchdown last week against the Redskins.
