PROFILES » y important. Keeping on benchmarking yourself is mo

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dak Prescott will likely have Tony Romo watching from the sideline in uniform for the first time as the backup to Dallas surprising rookie quarterback.Baltimores Joe Flacco will be an interested observer as well Sunday when the Ravens visit the Cowboys, eight years after he had a similar rookie rise from third-stringer to starter and playoff qualifier.Prescott doesnt have the Cowboys (8-1) in the postseason yet. But they can break the franchise season record with a ninth straight win, a streak that has vaulted Dallas to the best record in the NFL.Because of that success, Romo wont be the Dallas starter for the first time in 10 years now that the franchise leader in passing yards and touchdowns has recovered from a preseason back injury that gave Prescott the opportunity he seized. The 23-year-old said it wont be any different.Not for me, said Prescott, who was No. 3 in training camp before backup Kellen Moore broke an ankle in practice. I go in there and I worry about my game plan, just as I said -- whatever I can do to give this team a chance to win. Im sure Tony is going to be right there helping me, as hes done all year long.When the cameras arent on all three quarterbacks, theyll be on another Dallas rookie, running back Ezekiel Elliott. The NFL rushing leader with 1,005 yards is facing the leagues best rushing -- and overall -- defense. In October, Elliott faced the top rushing defense at the time in Green Bay and had a career-high 157 yards.The AFC North-leading Ravens (5-4) allow 71 yards per game. Elliott hasnt had that few since the opener, when he had 51 in Dallas only loss, 20-19 to the New York Giants. The Cowboys average a league-best 161 yards rushing per game.I think we are a lot more disciplined than teams they have played, Ravens defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan said. I am just putting it out there. I think we are more disciplined up front. It is going to be a different kind of challenge for them.Things to consider in the third straight game against an AFC North opponent for the Cowboys, who havent faced three straight opponents from the same division since 2007 against all three NFC East rivals:UNFAMILIAR SIGHT: Although he has missed 36 games with various injuries, Romo has never been the backup since Dallas coach Jason Garrett joined the staff as offensive coordinator in 2007. That prompted a reporter to ask Garrett what he expects of Romo in an unfamiliar role. Prepare to play, Garrett said. Thats job No. 1. And obviously be a positive influence on our football team, which he will be.SMITH 1K: Baltimore receiver Steve Smith needs three catches to become the 14th player with at least 1,000 career receptions. The 16-year veteran was reminded this week of an offseason comment that he might drive straight home to Charlotte immediately after making his 1,000th catch. Not from Dallas. That is a long drive, he said. I would have to rent a car and all that stuff.BRINGING THE LUMBER: The overshadowed Dallas defense faltered late in a 35-30 win over Pittsburgh after steady improvement most of the season. But one thing stood out to the Ravens: Cowboys safety J.J. Wilcox and a number of punishing hits he delivered, especially to running backs. Just seeing all that, it is going to be a tough, physical game, and I think that we are built for it, Smith said.OFFENSIVE MOMENTUM: The Ravens are hoping to build on their 22-point second half in a 28-7 win over Cleveland. Baltimore is 25th in offense (Dallas is third), and Flacco has thrown as many interceptions as touchdown passes (9). You have to find a way to make that stuff continue to work and continue to get better at the stuff that made us go off there a little bit in the second half, Flacco said.RESPECT THE KICKERS: Dan Bailey of Dallas and Baltimores Justin Tucker rank 1-2 in NFL history for field goal accuracy. Tucker has made all 22 kicks this season, and Bailey is 17 for 19.Not that Smith cares. I would rather go to a circus, a carnival, a fair or even a medieval festival and watch cotton candy be made before I watch Justin Tucker and the other guy practice kicking, Smith joked.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler Youth Air VaporMax 2018 .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Grey 2018 Air VaporMax Shoes . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. http://www.cheapairvapormaxstore.com/ . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Cheap Air VaporMax 2018 . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Black Air VaporMax Shoes . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. R Ashwin, whose 5 for 62 helped India dismiss West Indies for 196 on the opening day of the second Test at Sabina Park, said he was pretty surprised by Jason Holders decision to bat first. Speaking to the media after India had moved to 126 for 1 in their reply at stumps, Ashwin said the pitch was a bit sticky early on, and that it might have suited West Indies strengths more to bowl first.I was pretty surprised that they won the toss and batted first today, Ashwin said. Like Virat mentioned at the toss, there was a bit in it, it was a bit sticky. Maybe I wouldve batted as well. But with their strengths, I thought it was a bit surprising.Despite India ending the day on top, Ashwin cautioned that there was a long way still to go in the match. I was really taken aback by the counterattack that [Jermaine] Blackwood did, he said. It sort of put the game in the balance. And we had to break [through] twice and brought the game back. Its clearly a game where the experienced side is seizing the more opportune moments. I would put it that way. With a little bit of experience and nailing the right moments, the game could get closer.This game has a lot of uncertainties. We just saw one when Sri Lanka pulled it off against Australia [in the Pallekele Test]. And they did the same against us in Galle [in 2015], so we cant be lacklustre with that, we will have to keep doing our process properly.Ashwin said his variations of pace had been key to picking up five wickets on a damp first-day pitch.A little bit of bounce and speed variation, that was important, I thought. Most of the dismissals were brought about by difference in speeds rather than much of spin, actually. It was initially damp and there was some turn, but after that it flattened out a bit and started going straight. This ball, once it gets older, it becomes easier to bat.dddddddddddd Theres a lot more time. I think it was more about bounce and speed variation that created the problem.Playing only his 34th Test match, Ashwin has already picked up his 18th five-wicket haul. At this moment, his rate of taking five-fors is even better than that of Muttiah Muralitharan, who picked up 67 in 133 Tests.Everybody wants to start playing cricket one day to achieve what nobody else could achieve, Ashwin said. I am happy to be there, at some stage of my career where I am better than everybody else who has played the game. It feels nice, but the only thing that is constant is trying to improve from wherever you are. I think change is very very important. Keeping on benchmarking yourself is more important. This is good, but tomorrow is a different day and you have to keep improving.Coming in for the injured M Vijay, KL Rahul got India off to a near-perfect start to their reply, and ended the day batting on 75. Ashwin wasnt surprised by his performance, and said he had nicknamed him batting machine for the amount of batting he does in training.We all know that hes a quality cricketer, Ashwin said. Hes made a lot of runs in first-class cricket. He has pretty much arrived at this level.Beforehand, when he made hundreds for us, it has been crucial knocks. He made one in Sri Lanka which is very very memorable. As a matter of fact, the way he played in the IPL, its just an extension. Everybody wants Rahul to do well, which is a big tick for him.Ive nicknamed him batting machine. He keeps batting all the time and its not a surprise that hes made runs and Im very happy for him. ' ' '