The bye week wasn't just beneficial health-wise for the Cowboys' offense. It also gave Tony Romo an extra week to study the nuances of Tennessee's defense.
The Titans' 16 sacks lead the league, and they recorded six against the Broncos last Sunday -- the highest franchise total since Sept. 7, 2008.
"They're different with their scheme a little bit," Romo said. "They play some unique coverages and different things that we have to prepare for. They've got a little Buddy Ryan principle in some of the stuff their system does. They want to hit the quarterback.
"They're pretty good up front. These guys are active. They stunt, they move a lot."
The Titans are dealing with multiple injuries on their defensive line, including a season-ending one to first-rounder Derrick Morgan. But Dave Ball, a young player for Wade Phillips in San Diego, ranks fourth in the league with 4.5 sacks.
The Cowboys are saying all the right things this week, emphasizing that they're still in a hole at 1-2 after givng a complete pre-bye performance against Houston.
"We feel like we have to play our best to win," Wade Phillips said Thursday.
True. And they'll get the Titans' best on Sunday. Bank on that.
In a lot of ways, Tennessee is in the same position as the Cowboys. They've lost two games they felt they shouldn't. And, it doesn't get any easier for them.
Starting Sunday at Cowboys Stadium, Jeff Fisher's team is playing five of its next seven on the road: at Dallas, Jacksonville, San Diego, Miami and Houston.
Both teams need to string some wins together, not just the Cowboys. And that means strong execution will be vital.
The Cowboys have decided to part ways with fullback Deon Anderson, a virtual starter for three seasons who was cut on Friday.
The team made room for tight end Scott Chandler, who not only moves up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, but is expected to be active for Sunday's game in Houston.
As for Anderson, who became expendable with the emergence of rookie Chris Gronskowski, it ends a four- year stint in which he started 19 games.
Anderson is currently injured after having knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The Cowboys will put the fullback on the waived/injured list and eventually come up with an injury settlement.
Anderson's legal issues were not a factor in the Cowboy's decision. The fullback had a weapons charge in February incident in Dallas. The case is still pending from the NFL and it appears Anderson will likely face a fine from the league if he signs on with another team.
In three seasons, Anderson was primarily a blocking fullback, who had just two career carries (three yards) and nine career catches for 67 yards and one score.
Gronskowski is obviously more of an offensive threat, with three catches last week against the Bears, including his first career touchdown. The rookie from Arizona also had a carry for eight yards against the Redskins in the season opener.
Although the position of practice open to the media is not always the same once they get started, it did appear the Cowboys will practice Thursday at Valley Ranch with the majority of the roster in full participation.
On Wednesday, the Cowboys had players such as Jason Witten (head injury), CB Mike Jenkins (bruised knee) and WR Dez Bryant (ribs) in uniform for the start of practice, only to find out they are limited.
That could be the case for Thursday, but all three of them seemed rather active in their motions before practice.
Regardless what they did in practice, the Cowboys are fully anticipating Jenkins, Witten, and Bryant to play this week in Houston.
Through two games, Miles Austin's 288 receiving yards lead the NFL.
The Cowboys' Pro Bowl wideout is also entering elite franchise company.
Still a starter for less than a full NFL season, Austin already ranks second in team history with four career games of double-digit catches. He had 10 each against the Redskins and Bears.
No. 1? Michael Irvin with seven.
Other notables? Jason Witten has three, Emmitt Smith has two, and Terrell Owens has one.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is turnover prone, and based on his history, the Cowboys' defense could have a chance at its first takeaway(s) of the season.
Cutler has committed at least one turnover in 43 of 54 career games, counting last Sunday's interception against Detroit. Let that sink in.
He turned it over at least once in 12 of 16 games last year, and finished with 27 (a league-high 26 interceptions, one fumble).
Granted, he is in a new offense. Mike Martz's system historically allows more pressure on its quarterbacks because plays are slower to develop, but Cutler did get some max protection in Week One.
