Seven for Sunday: Cowboys travel to land of the 12th Man

The Dallas Cowboys are the league's hottest team with four straight wins. Yet the 4-1 Cowboys figure to have no chance against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who have won 19 of 20 at CenturyLink Field since 2012.

Still, in a week-to-week league, why can't the Cowboys stun the Seahawks?

No better way for quarterback Tony Romo to exorcise his demons from that botched field-goal snap in that haunting, Wild-Card loss to the Seahawks during the 2006 season. Romo wept at his locker that night after apologizing to teammates for flubbing that seeming-automatic, 19-yard Martin Gramatica field goal in the last minute of a 21-20 loss. A shoe-string tackle tripped Romo up inches short of the first-down at the 1-yard line to preserve a wild win.

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Let's see if Romo can stay committed to workhorse running back DeMarco Murray to open up the passing lanes against Seattle's vaunted 'Legion of Boom' secondary.

Murray and Cowboys offensive line vs. Seahawks front seven

Here are seven compelling Week 6 matchups beginning with that Cowboys' collision with the 3-1 Seahawks:

The skinny: Cornerback Richard Sherman this week called Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane 'an immovable object.'

Fortunately, the Cowboys have players capable of opening running lanes for Murray, the league's irresistible force on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 rushing yards.

Why it matters: This is a defining game for the Cowboys to prove they are for real. No better way to show they're off their 8-8 treadmill of the last few seasons than by taking down the formidable Seahawks and their thunderous, 12th-man home-field advantage. The best way to minimize potential mistakes is by continuing to feed Murray to keep Seahawks power back Marshawn Lynch and dual-threat quarterback Russell Wilson off the field.

This is a terrific test of strength against strength as Seattle's top-ranked rushing defense that is allowing 62.3 yards per game hasn't permitted a rusher to gain more than 38 yards this season.

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer vs. Steelers defense

Who has the edge: Murray. He is a dynamic blend of inside power and outside, home-run speed with five straight 100-yard rushing games. Finally healthy after battling through injuries his first three seasons, Murray is thriving as a new-age Emmitt Smith behind an old-school Cowboys line. Their new Fab Five of tackles Tyron Smith, Doug Free, guards Ronald Leary, Zack Martin and center Travis Frederick spearhead a second-ranked rushing attack averaging 160 yards per game, creating double teams at the point of attack. Romo's surgically-repaired back is healthy. And he's back to throwing the deep ball he couldn't earlier on. Look for an over-committed run defense to create openings for tight end Jason Witten. Murray's one kryptonite, however, is ball security. He has four fumbles in five games. So tackling-machine linebacker Bobby Wagner and friends will be testing Murray's grip strength.

The skinny: Hoyer is one of the league's best quarterbacks nobody outside Northeast Ohio talks about. With six touchdowns and one interception, he is giving first-year Browns coach Mike Pettine a savvy passing complement to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's zone-blocked run scheme. Hoyer nearly beat the Steelers in a last-second, 30-27, season-opening loss at Pittsburgh when he went up-tempo in rallying the Browns back from a 24-point halftime deficit. The up-and-down, 3-2 Steelers have been one of the league's toughest teams to figure.

Why it matters: The 2-2 Browns are actually favored against the 3-2 Steelers for only the third time since 2002, which shows how much respect they've earned under Pettine. This is the chance for the Browns to distinguish themselves as legitimate AFC North contenders. When most everyone thought rock-star rookie Johnny Manziel would be starting by now, Hoyer is 5-3 in eight career starts, finally giving the long-lost Browns hope at the game's most important position. The Cleveland-area native from nearby North Olmsted who spent part of the 2012 season backing up Ben Roethlisberger, hopes to finish what he couldn't last time against his former team.

Giants defense vs. Eagles quarterback Nick Foles

Who has the edge: Hoyer. Roethlisberger is a Browns killer, going 18-1 against Cleveland during his career. But Hoyer has been sacked just five times behind a strong offensive line. And sacks haven't been a Steelers strength. Hoyer is at his best working short to deep off play-action, bootleg throws. Hoyer will attack a defense down three starters - cornerback Ike Taylor and linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier. James Harrison was coaxed out of retirement and at 36, he can be erased by an athletic offensive line. Cleveland's fourth-ranked Browns rushing attack is averaging 4.5 yards led by rookie running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, who have combined for five touchdowns. West ran for 100 of Cleveland's 191 rushing yards in Week 1. And with Ben Tate back from a sprained knee, the Browns boast a three-headed running attack. If cornerback Joe Haden can rebound from a hip injury and contain Roethlisberger's favorite target, Antonio Brown, the Browns have a real chance to improve to 3-2.

The skinny: The 3-2 Giants have won three straight since quarterback Eli Manning found his rhythm in first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's offense. It doesn't hurt that coach Tom Coughlin is 30-7 during the month of October since Manning became his starting quarterback back in 2004. 'I wanted to be known as Mr. October,' Coughlin said. 'Reggie Jackson is a good friend of mine.' The 4-1 Eagles have struggled to get last year's leading rusher LeSean McCoy clicking behind an injury-ravaged offensive line.

Why it matters: Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul threw a verbal moltov cocktail on this NFC East rivalry game when he said this week: 'The Eagles, yeah, they're 4-1. But just watching their games, you see they could have easily been 0-4.' Pierre-Paul goes against Jason Peters, the fiery left tackle who went after Washington Redskins defensive tackle Chris Baker for laying out quarterback Nick Foles following a Week 3 interception. Figure Peters to remind Pierre-Paul of his poor math skills every snap.

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Who has the edge: Giants defense. Foles hasn't been the same 27-touchdown, two-interception boy wonder of last season. He's already thrown five interceptions with three lost fumbles as his leaky line continues to put Foles under duress. Manning has rung up 30 or more points in three straight wins. If the Giants jump out early, their pass rush can tee off on Foles, provided they stop McCoy on the way to the quarterback. Coach Chip Kelly has challenged Foles to throw deep more often. But it is clear the Eagles miss the vertical-tilt speed of DeSean Jackson.

Patriots tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Tim Wright vs. Bills linebackers and safeties

The skinny: Gronkowski is coming off his longest, most explosive performance since returning from last season's knee surgery. He caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in Sunday night's 43-17 throttling of the Cincinnati Bengals. Wright, a former Rutgers wide receiver who arrived in a trade with Tampa Bay two weeks before the season, also caught one of Tom Brady's two touchdown passes against Cincinnati.

Why it matters: With first place in the AFC East at stake between a pair of 3-2 teams, expect Brady and the Patriots to show they are all the way back from their early-season funk. Brady owns the Bills, having gone 22-2 against them. The Bills are riding high following the unanimous approval of new owners Terry and Kim Pegula at the fall league meeting Wednesday. They're also coming off a 17-14 win against the Detroit Lions led by veteran quarterback Kyle Orton in his starting debut for the benched EJ Manuel.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith vs. Broncos defense

Who has the edge: Gronkowski and Wright. Brady finally has the twin tight-end matchup migraines he's lacked since last summer's release of Aaron Hernandez. Linebacker Nigel Bradham and safeties Da'Norris Searcy and Aaron Williams will take turns trying to contain Gronkowski and Wright from running free down the seam. For Brady to have the time to target his tight ends, rookie center Bryan Stork will have to neutralize game-wrecking defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who has five sacks this season. The Bills own the league's second-ranked rushing defense, allowing an average of 71 yards per game. So Brady's best option is to attack the middle of the field with his talented tight ends.

The skinny: Smith's confidence has to be shaken after getting benched for Michael Vick the second half of last week's beat down by the San Diego Chargers. The 3-1 Broncos are rolling as their defense continues getting better each week.

Why it matters: If Smith flops again after missing a team meeting and completing just 4 of 12 passes for 27 yards with an interception last week, coach Rex Ryan needs to see what Vick can do given a full week of practice. Because the Jets are 1-4 and Ryan is coaching for his job. Peyton Manning's up-tempo, pass-heavy offense is averaging 29 points per game. The 3-1 Broncos look to keep pace with the 4-1 Chargers and 3-1 Bengals in the race for AFC home-field advantage.

RANKING BEST GAMES TO WATCH IN WEEK 6 Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins vs. Cardinals exotic blitzes

Who has the edge: Broncos defense. Smith is a mistake waiting to happen. He has thrown six interceptions and has regressed in his pocket awareness, melting down under blitz pressure. Broncos linebacker Von Miller is humming again following knee surgery last January with a sack in each of his last three games. Paired opposite DeMarcus Ware, who also has three sacks, Miller and Ware allow the Broncos to be more multiple in disguising their looks. That will further stress out Smith, who has managed just four touchdowns in the last 14 quarters. Former Broncos receiver Eric Decker is expected to return after sitting out last week due to a hamstring injury. Cornerback Aqib Talib will negate Decker, forcing Smith to look elsewhere.

The skinny: Remember all the buzz about Cousins being the better fit for Jay Gruden's offense than Robert Griffin III? Cousins is 0-3 this season and 1-6 during his career as a starter. The Cardinals are having their own issues at quarterback. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is encouraged that the pinched nerve in his throwing shoulder has calmed down to the point where Palmer can play for the first time since leading a Week 1 win against San Diego.

Why it matters: At 1-4, the Redskins face being irrelevant by Halloween. The Cardinals remain tied for first place in the NFC West with Seattle at 3-1. But they're trying to survive until Palmer returns and hoping not to have to throw rookie Logan Thomas to the wolves after he went 1-for-8 with a touchdown in last week's 41-20 rout by the Peyton Manning-led Broncos.

Bengals running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill vs. Panthers run defense.

Who has the edge: Cousins. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles loves to blitz defensive backs off the edges and shoot linebackers on delayed blitzes up the middle. Cousins didn't throw an interception in Monday night's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, hitting two touchdowns, including a 60-yarder to speed receiver DeSean Jackson. That growing rapport with Jackson could be the difference against a Cardinals defense that has been slowed by injuries to defensive linemen Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell. Cousins and Jackson will have big-play opportunities against the second-worst ranked pass defense allowing 302.5 yards per game. Look for Cousins to finally get Pierre Garcon -- 26 catches, 1 touchdown - more involved.

The skinny: Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton will be without his go-to guy, receiver A.J. Green, whose right foot was sheathed in a walking boot Friday after re-aggravating a toe injury. And Cincinnati was already reeling from the injury losses of receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert.

Why it matters: The Bengals raised doubts anew about their worthiness as an upper-echelon team with their embarrassing, 26-point Sunday night loss to the Patriots. Like the Patriots did in that 43-17 win, the Bengals must bounce back in a big way against a 3-2 Panthers squad that has lost two of its last three. This is Cincinnati-native Luke Kuechly's homecoming game for the 3-2 Panthers.

Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett.

Who has the edge: Bernard and Hill. With Green out, the Bengals run game needs to step up. The Panthers are surrendering a league-worst 5.4 yards per carry after boasting the league's second-ranked scoring defense in 2013. The Bengals weren't able to run against New England, gaining just 79 yards on 18 carries after averaging 121.7 yards and 34 carries during their three-game winning streak. Though Bernard and Hill have combined for five rushing scores, offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is demanding more from the speedy Bernard than his 3.6 yards-per-carry average. No better defense to get cranking against than a Carolina unit that surrendered 264 rushing yards in a Week 3 trampling by Steelers backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount.

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