The Dallas Cowboys are 1-2 in the month of December but are still in position to win their division. With a win in Week 16 and a loss by the New York Giants, the Cowboys would wrap up the NFC East. Unfortunately, the Cowboys will have a tough time pulling that off. Not only are they facing a streaking Philadelphia Eagles team. The Cowboys could also be without running back Felix Jones. With an already depleted running game, Dallas is looking one dimensional at the worst possible time.
Jones has missed practice for two straight days as the Cowboys prepare to face the Eagles on Saturday, December 24. Jones is experiencing tightness in his hamstring. Dallas is hopeful that Jones will be able to play against the Eagles, but he is definitely questionable at this point. Jones has already missed action because of injuries in 2011. As a result, he lost his starting job to DeMarco Murray. The rookie sensation was doing well for Dallas but he is out for the year. After getting 11 carries in the three previous games, Jones has had 38 in the last two. It is possible that the increased workload could have aggravated his injuries.
Dallas is desperate for Jones to play. If he can't, the team will have to use veteran Sammy Morris as the primary back. Dallas just signed Morris off the scrap heap after Murray was injured. Clearly, he is not the kind of running back that Dallas can lean on against the Eagles. If Jones does play, he might be limited. No matter how you look it at, this injury looks like it could doom the Cowboys. If Jones is hurt or limited, Dallas becomes a one dimensional team. They will rely entirely on the passing game. While Tony Romo has been playing well, opposing defenses will be able to shift more focus on him. A passing game can't be too successful if it doesn't have a running threat to support it. Dallas could learn that reality if Jones isn't 100 percent by the time they face the Eagles. This will make winning the division and advancing the playoffs pretty difficult.
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