MINNEAPOLIS -- The fuel for this dazzling season for the Dallas Cowboys can be found up front, with an offensive line thats helped make this team a handful to try to stop.Theyre really, really good. Theyre the best line Ive seen in a long time in the NFL: physical, athletic, big, said the usually understated Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who could be forgiven if he sounded envious of the group on the other side.Just as the front five have made a significant impact on the success of the Cowboys (10-1), the ever-important position has played a major hand in the recent slide by the Vikings (6-5).With center Joe Berger ruled out of the game on Thursday night because of a concussion, the Vikings will use their seventh different starting lineup combination in 12 games this season; Nick Easton makes his first NFL start. That doesnt include others whove subbed in for injured teammates on the fly.Once again weve got to rework the line, left guard Alex Boone said, and figure out what we can do best.The Vikings have struggled for the last three seasons to establish a reliable, stable starting five. Injuries, particularly this year with three starting tackles on injured reserve, have ravaged the position. But theyve only invested two picks in the first three rounds of the last 10 drafts in an offensive lineman, with right tackle Phil Loadholt (No. 54 overall) in 2009 and left tackle Matt Kalil (No. 4 overall) in 2012.Loadholt retired before training camp because of injuries. Kalil had season-ending hip surgery after playing in the first two games this season.The Cowboys, by stark contrast, have three first-round draft picks in their starting lineup: left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin. Theres no mystery why the rookie tandem of running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott have been able to thrive so swiftly or why the Cowboys have won 10 straight games.Theres a selfless nature to them that I think is really good, and its one of the best offensive lines Ive ever been around, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. They really set the tone for our football team.Here are some key angles to know about the game:ZIMMER UNCERTAIN: Zimmer had emergency eye surgery Wednesday night, about a month after he had an initial procedure to repair a torn retina. His status for the game was uncertain, and general manager Rick Spielman was working on a contingency plan with the coaches in case Zimmer isnt able to recover in time.Zimmer coached with the Cowboys for 13 years and still keeps a home in suburban Dallas.BACK AND FORTH WITH BRYANT: After backing away from harsh comments about Washington cornerback Josh Norman following the 31-26 Thanksgiving Day win, Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant struck a similar tone with a few more days to think about it. After the two nearly ended up in a postgame fight following several testy exchanges, Bryant yelled toward reporters on his way into the locker room that the Redskins should ask for their money back.Norman signed a five-year contract worth as much as $75 million after Carolina surprisingly rescinded the franchise tag and made him a free agent. Bryant kept pushing the criticism on Twitter before backing off.I wish Id never done it, Bryant said. I have nothing against that guy. Im pretty sure hes got nothing against me.KEEPING HIM QUIET: Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes will likely be tasked with following Bryant and unlikely to be drawn into any trash talking.Rhodes had one of his best performances against the New York Giants while helping limit loquacious wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to three catches for a career-low 23 yards at the peak of his early-season frustration.Xavier stays focused on what it is hes got to get done, Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards said.DEFENSIVE SHUFFLE: Cowboys safety Barry Church will be back after missing four games with a broken right forearm, but his replacement, J.J. Wilcox, is likely out with a thigh injury. The Cowboys havent created a turnover since the injury to Church, their interceptions leader with two.Just another veteran player back there to recognize things and just experience, said Church, who will play with a small cast. And well see what I can do.GROUNDED GAME: The Cowboys are the only team in the league that hasnt allowed a player to rush for 100 yards this year, a streak that doesnt look to be in danger this week.The Vikings have only topped 100 yards once as a team, on Oct. 3 against the Giants when Jerick McKinnon gained 84 yards on the ground for Minnesotas individual season high.---For more NFL coverage:
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http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. (STATS) -- Morehead State posted its first winning season in eight years in 2015, but that campaign began with a blowout loss at James Madison. The Eagles return to the scene of that defeat Saturday night when they take on the 12th-ranked Dukes, one of two matchups for Pioneer Football League teams against STATS FCS Top 25 squads in Week 1.The Eagles went 7-4 last season, their most wins since matching that record in 2007, and finished third in the 11-team PFL. Theyre picked to finish fourth in 2016 despite being led by senior quarterback Austin Gahafer, the reigning PFL Offensive Player of the Year and active FCS leader with 8,514 passing yards.Gahafer, on the STATS FCS National Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Watch List, set career highs with 291 completions, 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. His worst game -- and Morehead States -- came at James Madison in the opener.Gahafer had season lows of 18 completions and 173 yards in a 56-7 loss Sept. 5, one of two games in 2015 in which he didnt throw a touchdown pass. The Eagles were held to season lows in points and total yards (252), while James Madison established a then-school record with 713 yards.Still, first-year Dukes coach Mike Houston knows his team is in for a challenge.Weve got to do a good job of putting pressure on (Gahafer), making him uncomfortable in the pocket, Houston said. Weve got to do a good job of making him move around in the pocket. And weve got to do a great job in the secondary of being disciplined in our coverages and not give up the big play.Fourth-year Morehead State coach Rob Tenyer is hoping his team puts on a better performance in this years opening game with the Dukes, who finished in a three-way tie for first place in CAA Football last season before being eliminated in the second round of the FCS playoffs.I told our team that we want to eat Thanksgiving dinner here in Morehead because that will mean we are getting ready for the FCS playoffs, Tenyer said.dddddddddddd ... We have the makings to be a very successful team this year because of our depth. We do need to clean up some areas, and I feel like both sides of the ball need to play with a little more urgency and well be OK.Valparaiso, which visits the defending back-to-back Missouri Valley Football Conference champion in No. 10 Illinois State on Saturday night, isnt in the FCS playoff conversation.The Crusaders lost their last six games in 2015 to finish 1-9, are 9-68 overall since 2009 and have dropped 51 of their last 57 PFL contests. The Redbirds, meanwhile, reached the FCS championship game in 2014 and lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs last season.Our players relish that opportunity to play against a Division I scholarship program, Valparaiso coach Dave Cecchini said Tuesday. The better the team, the bigger the challenge, the more excited they are to prove that they belong on that field. So theyve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulders.Valparaiso and Illinois State are playing for the first time since 1948. The Crusaders won the first two matchups in 1933 and 34 before the Redbirds took the last meeting.James Madison has won three in a row against Morehead State to improve to 6-2 in the all-time series, including a 5-0 mark at home.Were in year four, Tenyer said. Our goal ultimately is to take the next step and I think we made some tremendous progress in our first three years.A win over a James Madison program thats won 16 of its last 18 regular-season games would certainly be a step in the right direction. ' ' '
