Dallas at Bills Draws 'Pro-Cowboys' Referees For Week 15 Matchup
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys just beat the Philadelphia Eagles 33-13 in a game where the officiating crew was the story entering the contest. Philadelphia had been a perfect 7-0 when John Hussey's crew was assigned to one of its games.
That includes last season's 26-17 win over the Cowboys on "Monday Night Football'' and its 31-7 victory over the 49ers in the NFC title game. But Dallas wasn't fazed by Hussey and his crew on Sunday night.
Dak Prescott, Craig Wrolstad, and Josh Allen (L-R)
Hussey's crew called the Eagles for 10 penalties and 95 yards, while the Cowboys were flagged seven times for 60 yards. Now, as the Cowboys prepare to head to Buffalo, the officiating crew is once again a story.
But it's a different narrative for Dallas this time around.
The Cowboys and Bills have drawn the Craig Wrolstad officiating crew for Sunday's matchup in Buffalo, and that could benefit Dallas. The Cowboys are 9-0 when Wrolstad is assigned. That includes 6-0 at home and 3-0 on the road.
Another Wrolstad stat that helps Dallas: the Cowboys offense is the No. 1 beneficiary of automatic first-down penalties.
Think these details don't matter and should be ignored? Then you're not thinking like a head coach; the smart ones have a keen awareness of ref tendencies ... so why shouldn't fans been privy to the same awareness?
Dallas enters the game with a precarious tie-breaking lead over the Eagles for the NFC West. That could change quickly. While the Cowboys are matching up with the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday, Philadelphia will be prepping for a contest with the Seahawks on Monday Night Football.
Both the Bills and Seahawks are playing for their respective playoff lives and could serve as dangerous opponents for the leaders in the NFC West.
The officiating crew should never be a story in the NFL, but here we are. The best move for the Cowboys? Continue to win. ... and render the refs unimportant.
