ARLINGTON, Texas — Two preseason NFC playoff contenders are set to play, both with four losses before the halfway point of the season.
Dallas is just a little more desperate than Seattle.
The Cowboys (2-4) are on their second backup quarterback trying to get a win without Tony Romo, and running out of time to get the two they probably need to have a realistic shot at defending their NFC East title when he’s eligible to return from a broken left collarbone.
Now Dallas is on its second starting running back since letting NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray go to Philadelphia in free agency.
“We’re fighting to get a win,” Dallas cornerback Brandon Carr said. “They’re in the same boat as us. We’re both urgent in the same mindset of every single day throughout this week, just chip away one day at a time, leading up to Sunday.”
At least the Seahawks (3-4) have more wins than losses since an 0-2 start by the defending NFC champions. And while Dallas has lost four straight without Romo and All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant to drop to last place in the NFC East, Seattle is coming off a dominant win over San Francisco to avoid the same spot in the NFC West.
“We’re not thinking desperate and I’m sure they’re not either,” Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson said. “I know we’ve had some tough losses, and I know they have had tough losses, too.”
At least the Cowboys have a chance to get Bryant back for the first time since breaking his right foot in the opener. He practiced this week for the first time since the injury, and the team was optimistic he would play.
The return of Bryant could be a boost for Matt Cassel in his second start filling in for Romo. Cassel replaced Brandon Weeden, who lost all three starts in Romo’s place.
Darren McFadden will make his first start at running back for Dallas after rushing for 152 yards in last week’s 27-20 loss to the Giants. Joseph Randle was the starter for six games, but injured his back early against New York. He was away from the team during the week dealing with unspecified personal issues.
The Cowboys also spent all week dealing with questions about polarizing defensive end Greg Hardy’s shoving match with special teams coach Rich Bisaccia right after former Dallas return man Dwayne Harris had a winning 100-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter for the Giants.
“When things like that come up in the course of a season, you’ve got to be able to stay together, more so even when you’ve lost four in a row,” tight end Jason Witten said. “We’ve shown that in the last couple of years that it’s a close group, mentally tough, and work together.”
Things to consider with the Cowboys trying to end the longest losing streak in five years under coach Jason Garrett:
UNDER PRESSURE: Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett is coming off the best game of his career when he had 3 1/2 sacks against the 49ers and he’s tied for the NFL lead with 6 1/2 for the season. But Dallas’ talented offensive line is coming off what Garrett said was its best game.
“It’s one of those games where you get challenged as a defensive line to see where you’re at as a team,” said Bennett, the brother of former Dallas and current Chicago tight end Martellus Bennett said.
TURNABOUT: The Dallas defense had one of its best games of the season in last year’s 30-23 win at Seattle, allowing just nine first downs and 206 yards. The Cowboys even had a takeaway — an interception of Wilson. They haven’t forced one during the current losing streak, and all of their NFL-low three takeaways came in a Week 2 win at Philadelphia. “I have never had a dry spell this long,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “But we are going to keep positive. Keep working at it.”
FOLLOW ME: Richard Sherman is starting to make a habit of following the top receiver on the other team. And that could be Bryant, who had never missed more than four straight games before the current five-game absence. “It’s a fun challenge when I’m asked to do it,” Sherman said.
QB CHASE: Wilson has been sacked a league-high 31 times, and Hardy has the longest current sacks streak at six games. But Garrett says the Cowboys have to be careful chasing Wilson. “You certainly want to make sacks,” the coach said. “But while you’re trying to do that, you’ve got to make sure you contain him because he makes so many plays with his feet.”
FAMILIAR FOES: Both backups to McFadden started the season in Seattle. Christine Michael was acquired in a trade the first week of the season, and Rod Smith was claimed on waivers two weeks ago. Smith, an undrafted rookie, is likely to be active for the first time with Dallas.
