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Welcome to Wembley Stadium[/h]November, 9, 2014
By
Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
LONDON -- Welcome to Wembley Stadium, where the
Dallas Cowboys take on the
Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday in this season's third and final game of the NFL’s International Series.
The Cowboys have lost two straight games after their 6-1 start and are no longer atop the NFC East. The Jaguars are 1-8 and have lost 15 of their last 16 games to NFC opponents.
Jacksonville could be the perfect tonic for the Cowboys to get back on the winning track.
Welcome back: Tony Romo will play through two fractures in his back after missing last week’s game against the
Arizona Cardinals, which should be a big boost to an offense that was stagnant.
Romo has played through injuries throughout his career, including a punctured lung and broken rib in 2011. The Cowboys have said there is no risk of further injury, and Romo was able to move well enough in his two practices during the week to convince him he was ready to return.
“You go back through minicamp and training camp and lot of people were wondering if he will be able to come back,” tight end
Jason Witten said. “His mindset is just, he is the ultimate competitor, he really is. His whole perspective in coming back in those games is, ‘I want to win.’ He has shown that throughout his career. Not only just the ultimate competitor, but a great football player. That toughness flows throughout our football team. He is a great example of that.”
Gotta be the shoes: The first time the Cowboys stepped on the Wembley Stadium pitch was for Saturday’s walk-through. While those are generally light affairs the day before the game, the Cowboys spent time making sure they had the right cleats ready for the game.
In previous games at Wembley, the turf has been chewed up and loose.
“I think the biggest thing is the equipment guys have everybody prepared, half-inch cleats, 5/8-inch cleats, three-quarters, whatever guys are wearing, just make sure you have the right stuff on and don’t let equipment be a factor in the game,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said.
The ref: John Parry’s crew will call Sunday’s game.
Here is a breakdown of Parry’ work in last week’s game between the
Philadelphia Eagles and
Houston Texans.