Dinged-up Dallas looking to clinch

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray ran individual drills during the team’s practices this week after having surgery on his broken left hand, but his status for today’s game against Indianapolis is still up in the air.
Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray ran individual drills during the team’s practices this week after having surgery on his broken left hand, but his status for today’s game against Indianapolis is still up in the air.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Two questions are at the heart of Andrew Luck's first game against the Dallas Cowboys in the Indianapolis Colts quarterback's visit to his home state.

Will NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray play with the Cowboys needing to win at least one, if not both, of their final two games to end a four-year playoff drought?

And what exactly are Luck and the Colts playing for today with their postseason spot secure, but not a great chance to improve their seeding?

First things first. Murray, who has 1,687 yards rushing, needs 87 to break NFL all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith's franchise season record of 1,773.

The fourth-year running back went through some individual drills in the first day of practice Wednesday after breaking the bone above the ring finger in his left hand in last week's 38-27 victory at Philadelphia, which gave Dallas sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Murray had protective padding on the injured hand during Wednesday's practice.

"Really, what we want to do is just see how he responded to that work that he did today and then see how he is as the week progresses, and hopefully he can be functional for the ballgame," Cowboys Coach Jason Garrett said. "If he can't be, we won't allow him to play, and if he can, we'll give him a chance."

Dallas receiver Dez Bryant had a career-high three touchdowns against Philadelphia to take over the NFL lead in scoring receptions at 13. He needs 235 yards in the final two games to beat his career high of 1,382 receiving yards in 2012.

"He's a nightmare," Colts Ccoach Chuck Pagano said. "He's a combination of size, athleticism and speed. But his competitive nature and his drive and his passion for the game and for his team and for winning is second to none."

The Cowboys could be without both starters on the right side of their offensive line in tackle Doug Free and rookie guard Zack Martin, who grew up in Indianapolis. Both are battling ankle injuries, and Free also has an issue with his left foot after missing three games earlier this season with a broken right foot.

As big as the victory against the Eagles was, it won't mean much if the Cowboys (10-4) lose either to the Colts or Washington in next week's finale and Philadelphia beats the New York Giants and Redskins, also-rans in the division. In that scenario, Dallas is thrown into a wild-card mix with generally unfavorable tiebreakers.

"We try not to think of it in those terms," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said. "We just think of it as one game at a time, playing for everything each week. And we've done it two weeks in a row, we've got a third one to go do, and after that one, we'll start over again."

The Cowboys are 7-0 on the road and could go 8-0 for the first time in franchise history with a victory at last-place Washington in next week's regular-season finale. On the flip side, they're at risk of a losing record at home if they can't beat the Colts.

"I'm just really not sure what the difference is at home and away," Cowboys center Travis Frederick said. "I would love to know so that we could fix it. But I don't."

Perhaps the biggest decision for the Colts with their postseason spot secure is whether to play T.Y. Hilton, who is fourth in the NFL with 1,345 receiving yards. He's nursing a hamstring injury and didn't practice Wednesday.

"I want to be at 100 percent giving it my all, but nobody's 100 percent during this time of year," Hilton said. "So if I'm 60, 70, I'm out there."

The Colts (10-4) wrapped up the AFC South with last week's 17-10 victory over Houston and need help trying to catch either New England or Denver for a first-round bye in the playoffs. But Indianapolis isn't taking kindly to the word "tuneup."

"We're not taking our foot off the pedal by any means," said Luck, who plays in his hometown of Houston every year. "There's a lot on this game. I know we're fired up for it."

A story came out this week describing how Luck sometimes compliments opposing players after getting sacked. Dallas defensive end Jeremy Mincey said he experienced it as an AFC South rival in Jacksonville.

"He kind of got to me by saying, 'That was excellent,' " said Mincey, who had two sacks last weekend against the Eagles. "I'm like, 'Dude, don't talk to me. Please.' But I respect him so much."

Sports on 12/21/2014

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