Opponent: Dallas Cowboys

2009 record: 2-2 with victories over Tampa Bay and Carolina, and loses to the New York Giants and Denver.

Last year’s record: 9-7, third place in NFC East

Record for the last five seasons: 46-36 including two trips to the playoffs in those five years where they have a 0-2 record. The Cowboys have not won a game in the playoffs since after the 1996 season.

Last appearance in the playoffs: 2007 NFC Divisional Playoffs, lost to the New York Giants 21-17 at Texas Stadium.

Head coach: Wade Phillips in his third season leading the Cowboys. Phillips record is 24-13. Dallas is the fifth franchise where Phillips has served as a head coach, joining New Orleans, Denver, Buffalo and Atlanta. The Saints and Falcons were interim positions. Overall, he’s got a 72-55 record as head coach.

Coordinators: Jason Garrett, offense; Phillips, defense; Joe DeCamillis, special teams.

Roster overview: Of the Cowboys 22 starters, 13 were drafted and six came from unrestricted free agency. There are no Dallas first-round choices in the starting offense, but there are five in the opening defensive group: DE Marcus Spears, OLBs Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware, CBs Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins. There are seven rookies on the 53-man roster and 17 players who are younger than 25 years old. There are 11 players 30 and older, but only three players who are in their 10th season or more. There are 15 players who are in the second season or less. Last year, six Cowboys were named to the Pro Bowl: OT Flozell Adams, G Leonard Davis, C Andre Gurode, TE Jason Witten, NT Jay Ratliff and OLB DeMarcus Ware.

Quarterback: Tony Romo (above) is in his seventh NFL season, his fourth as starter for the Cowboys. There are times when he looks sensational, and there are times when he struggles to keep the Dallas offense productive. This year, he’s carrying a passer rating of 79.4 thanks in large part to his four interceptions. His career passer rating coming into this season was 94.7, so he’s not throwing the ball at the same level he has in the past. Romo is not much of a runner, but he can get away from pressure; opposing defenses have sacked him eight times.

Offensive threats: If the Cowboys can get their running game going they have a hat trick of running backs to get the job done, led by Marion Barber, with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice ready to become involved at any moment. Barber has 47 touches, Jones 22 touches and Choice 48 carries and catches. After four games, the Cowboys have the league’s No. 3 running game. TE Jason Witten is the receiver that Romo looks for, and he leads the team with 23 catches. WRs Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton get a lot of attention and both can break the big play; Williams has a 66-yard TD and Crayton and 80-yard score this season already.

Defensive stars: Dallas has a number of players who can make things happen on the defensive side of the ball, although so far this season they’ve been very quiet. OLB DeMarcus Ware had 20 sacks last year, or double the number of the entire Chiefs defense. So far this year, he hasn’t sacked the passer. DE Marcus Spears is very good against the run and NT Jay Ratliff is hard to handle on the inside. He’s got a sack and eight pressures of the quarterback with his pressure up the middle. CB Terence Newman is in his seventh season and he has 21 career interceptions.

Special teamers: K Nick Folk has missed this year only from 40 yards. He’s solid. P Mat McBriar had a gross average of 47.2 yards and a net average of 41.1 yards, among the best in the league. This year the Cowboys drafted a kickoff specialist in David Buehler who has eight touchbacks already this season. Punt returner Patrick Crayton is average 10 yards per return, while Felix Jones handles kickoff returns at 23.7 yards on average.

Top ‘09 draft picks: The Cowboys did not have first and second-round selections; third-round pick LB Jason Williams has not played in a game yet; third-round choice OT Robert Brewster is on the PUP list; fourth-round selection QB Stephen McGee is the team’s third QB and hasn’t played; fourth-round LB Victor Butler has played in all four games, with one tackle and two sacks on defense and six tackles in the kicking game; fourth-round LB Brandon Williams is on the injured-reserve list.

Familiar faces: NT Junior Siavii has salvaged his career this season, making the Cowboys roster at the start of the season. The former second-round pick of the Chiefs (’04) was a complete bust in Kansas City, as he had many problems making the transition from college life to being an NFL players. Siavii was emotionally unprepared to handle the life of an NFL player, both on and off the field. In four games, he has six total tackles. Also on the Dallas roster is LB Steve Octavien; he went to training camp with the Chiefs in ‘08 but was released in the pre-season. Octavien has five tackles in the kicking game. Also working in the Cowboys personnel department is Mitch LaPoint, who spent seven years working with the Chiefs (1998-2004).

INJURY REPORT: DID NOT PRACTICE – C Andre Gurode (knee), FS Michael Hamlin (wrist), LB Curtis Johnson (hamstring), RB Felix Jones (knee), SS Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), WR Roy Williams (ribs). FULL PRACTICE – OT Flozell Adams (shoulder), RB Marion Barber (thigh), LB Jason Williams (ankle).