Yeah, you heard me. The Dallas Cowboys are facing their biggest test as a team this weekend when they host the Saint Louis Rams. Yes, those Rams. The ones without Steven Jackson. The ones with Marc Bulger and his two broken ribs. The team that is 0-3.  Those Rams.

This may seem like the dumbest thing I've ever written and if you have been a regular reader, you know I have written some dumb things before.  How could the Rams even pose a threat to Dallas?

Well, what is concerning is Dallas just came off a huge win, and not a close one either.  A dominating display against the NFC Champion Chicago Bears.  A game where Dallas literally looked straight at one of, if not the best defense in the NFL and they punched them right in the jaw without blinking on the Bears' home turf.  It was a huge statement game.

After three weeks into the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys sit atop the NFC and are clearly the front runner to represent in the Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers not withstanding.  Dallas arguably may be the second or third best team in the league.  Hell, we find out October 14^th if they are THE best team when the Patriots come to Dallas.  So it would be easy for Dallas to look past the Rams.  Saint Louis is struggling big time.  They've lost their best player in Steven Jackson.  Marc Bulger is having a hard time throwing the ball without wincing in pain. Their defense is in shambles and a team once called "the Greatest Show on Turf" is a no-show this year.  And if you have Bulger, Steven Jackson, Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt on your fantasy team, you are probably scratching your head right now.  Well, at least take comfort that you did not draft LT or Larry Johnson.  Thise guys are pissed!

The Rams defense is 21^st in points allowed and 28^th against the run, fantastic news for people who drafted Marion Barber. The offense is 25^th in points scored and 29^th in yardage.  And that was with Stephen Jackson. As if I even need to mention it, Dallas is 1^st by a long shot in points scored and 2^nd in offensive yardage, just a smidge behind New England.  AccuScore shows this as the most lopsided game of the season thus far with over an 85% chance of victory for Dallas. Even AccuScore users are piling on the poor Rams, voting in favor of a Dallas win at 96%.  This is exactly when teams surprise you.  If the Rams lose, so what? Everyone knew they were going to.  There is almost zero pressure in that situation.  No where to go but up.

You also have to remember, for the Rams, this is their statement game.  A game to turn their season around.  0-3 and facing a seemingly unstoppable force in Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. You had better believe they'll be as up as they can be for this contest.

Any team can get psyched for the big game but the truly great teams psyched for all games, especially ones they should win handily.  They bring 110% every game.  This is why this game to me is a huge test of how good the Cowboys really are.  If they are Super Bowl material, they'll knock the Ram's lights out early and not let up.  Otherwise, they'll do what they have to do to win and not much more. Or they'll strike early and let the Rams sneak back into the game in the fourth quarter.

Do I think the Rams have a chance to win this game? No.  Not a chance in hell but if the Rams do make a game of it, I think it will say volumes about the Cowboys.  And while I'm never in favor of running up the score against another team, Dallas can and should own this game from kickoff till the last click of the clock, regardless of their margin of victory.  If they can do that on Sunday, this team will still be playing in February.