The Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts enter Sunday's contest at AT&T Stadium with the same record, but face completely different circumstances. At 10-4, Dallas needs to win its next two games or likely miss out on the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Indianapolis, playing in the rancid AFC South, has already clinched the division and a third-straight postseason berth.
Colts vs. Cowboys 2014 picks and predictions: Dallas favored at home
Dallas must beat Indianapolis to control its playoff destiny, but it faces a stiff test with Andrew Luck coming to town.
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The Cowboys could be without running back DeMarco Murray, who is questionable with a breaking a bone in his hand during a 38-27 win over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night. Murray, who leads the NFL with 1,687 rushing yards, would be replaced by the underwhelming duo of Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle. Regardless, the Cowboys need to beat Indianapolis and then Washington in Week 17 to assure themselves of playing football in January.
Indianapolis is rolling behind the superb play of third-year quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck, the top overall pick out of Stanford in 2012, has thrown for a league-best 4,492 yards and 38 touchdowns and should garner MVP consideration. Luck's top target is T.Y. Hilton, who is fourth in the NFL with 1,345 receiving yards.
Over at USA Today, the Colts are only getting love from Lindsay H. Jones out of seven analysts. Of the 13 ESPN experts, only three believe in Indianapolis getting a road win over the desperate Cowboys. Will Brinson is the only one of eight CBS Sports analysts who sided with the Colts, taking Luck over Tony Romo.
Here at SB Nation, Indianapolis fans will be much happier. Of our eight predictions, five are picking the Colts to take care of business and improve to 11-4 on the season.
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