Cowboys hope to put pressure on Packers’ line

By CHAREAN WILLIAMS and CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

IRVING — DeMarcus Ware didn’t have a sack in the first four games. He has five in the four games since.

The Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker, who led the league with 20 sacks last season, is tied for 14th this year. Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen and Denver outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil are tied for the league lead with 10.5 each.

"[Getting sacks] always comes with pressure," Ware said Thursday. "The more pressure you’re able to get, [the more] you’re able to get your [sack] numbers up. It’s all about how much a team wants to pass the ball.

"It’s a long season. We’ll see."

For the third consecutive week, the Cowboys are facing a team with unrest at offensive tackle. The Seattle Seahawks were playing their fifth option, Damion McIntosh, at left tackle against the Cowboys on Nov. 1. Last week, Philadelphia left tackle Jason Peters — who had given up 15.5 sacks in his past 20 games — was rolled from behind during the first quarter, though he did return.

Now the Cowboys face the Green Bay Packers, whose left tackle, Chad Clifton, returned from a sprained ankle last week. But right tackle Mark Tauscher (knee) might not play, and rookie T.J. Lang might have to start.

The Packers have given up an NFL-high 37 sacks.

"You’ve got to be ready for it," Ware said. "It’s not going to be a walkover. Any team that you play, it doesn’t matter at all. Peters got hurt in the Philly game. They had the guard playing the tackle [for a while]. He wasn’t the best tackle, but he still got the job done. They stuck a tight end — they stuck two tight ends — over there. They’re going to find ways to get their scheme right."

Bad call?

Mike Pereira, the league’s vice president of officiating, said on his weekly NFL Network show that referee Walt Coleman might have erred in his replay review of the Eagles’ failed fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak.

Pereira said video establishes a point at which the ball could have been placed and then re-measured.

"I think I’d move it [from where it was marked]," Pereira told NFL Network host Rich Eisen. "... It might have made a difference."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Donovan McNabb did not pick up the first down.

"I was watching it," Phillips said. "[The official] took the ball from [McNabb’s] hands, and he put it right there."

Phillips said only 29 percent of spot challenges are overturned for a first down.

Witten’s numbers down

Tight end Jason Witten is leading the Cowboys in receptions with 44. Thirteen of those have been on third down, which is tied for 11th in the NFL.

But Witten acknowledges some frustration with his production this season. He has only one touchdown, and his yards-per-catch average of 8.9 is a career low.

"You always want to be a guy who can stretch the field," Witten said. "You don’t ever want to sell yourself short on that. But at the same time, we’re winning games. I don’t think it’s anything in particular, like we’re not trying to get those plays. I don’t think it’s like that. That’s just kind of the way it’s falling in place. But we’ve had a lot of guys step up and make some big plays."

Eating Green Bay cheese

All week Cowboys players have been reciting the warnings of former coach Bill Parcells about not eating the cheese and getting too full of themselves. They are riding a four-game winning streak and are in first place in the NFC East.

With the Cowboys favored in their next three games against the Packers (4-4), the Washington Redskins (2-6) and the Oakland Raiders (2-6), they don’t want to fall into the trap.

"This is one of the weeks we want to eat the cheese, because we are playing the Packers," Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton said. "We want to eat the cheese this week. Then after that, we don’t want to eat more cheese."

Briefly

Starters Andre Gurode (ankle) and Ken Hamlin (groin) returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday. Wade Phillips said he expects both to participate fully today, and both should play Sunday. "[Injuries are] part of the game, so you find a way to play," Gurode said.

The Cowboys on Thursday worked out tackle Paul McQuistan, the twin brother of Cowboys backup offensive tackle Pat. Paul McQuistan was cut by the Raiders earlier this week.

Charean Williams and Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760

Looking for comments?