By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Take a first-time starting quarterback, mix in a few injuries to key players that force rookies and other inexperienced players into the lineup, and you have the Bengals.

Their maddening inconsistency is the result of a rebuilding process veiled by many wildly optimistic fans who thought the team would automatically add two wins to an 8-8 record.

The Bengals, personified by quarterback Carson Palmer, can look like solid pros one week and semi-pros the next.

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells excels at finding and exploiting his opposition's weaknesses. Dallas will want to run the ball 40 times again today - as it did last week - and control the clock for 35-plus minutes.

The Bengals' biggest plus is the game is at home, where they are 2-1 and have a 48-46 scoring advantage.

QUARTERBACKS

Vinny Testaverde, who will turn 41 Saturday, is having an impressive season that will be more impressive if the Cowboys can continue to run the ball well.

ISOLATION BOOTH

Bengals LG Eric Steinbach vs. Cowboys DT La'Roi Glover Eric Steinbach had one of his worst games as a pro last week at Tennessee. Titans tackle Albert Haynesworth pushed Steinbach around and hit Carson Palmer on both of his turnovers. Haynesworth used his strength to beat Steinbach, and today Steinbach will face another tackle who gets into the offensive backfield, in Dallas' La'Roi Glover. Glover, in his ninth season, has three sacks, six quarterback pressures and four tackles for loss. Glover, named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2003, can disrupt both the pass and rush games if Steinbach fails to neutralize him at the scrimmage line. The Cowboys held the Lions to 39 rushing yards last week and have 16 sacks in seven games. Steinbach had surgery on his left elbow two days before training camp opened. It was a second offseason procedure to remove loose particles. Steinbach said his arm does not hurt, but he had questions after the Tennessee game whether he had regained enough strength to push defensive linemen. The problem, Steinbach said, was his elbow or his pad level. Dallas' defense has slumped statistically from last year and now ranks 24th against the run (125.0). The Bengals, who have rushed for 58 and 57 yards in two of the past three games, could have some openings to run the ball today. But the offensive line, particularly the interior of right guard Bobbie Williams, center Rich Braham and Steinbach, will have to play significantly better than it did against the Titans.

Both Testaverde (233) and Palmer (247) have thrown more passes through seven games than their defense-oriented head coaches would like. The difference is Testaverde enjoys the consistency that comes with age. He has a 97.0 passer rating or better for three consecutive weeks. But Palmer continues to make the mistakes that only experience can teach. He has at least one interception in each game.

Edge: Cowboys

RUNNING BACKS

With Tennessee, Eddie George rushed for more than 100 yards against the Bengals six times in 13 games. In fact, George ran for 106 yards the last time he faced the Bengals, in 2002. His season-best 99 yards last week moved him into 16th place on the all-time rushing list (10,358 yards) in his ninth season.

On the other side, Rudi Johnson runs hot and cold, mainly because of the mood-swing performances of his offensive line. Advantage George, because the Dallas line is playing better at this time than the Bengals'.

Edge: Cowboys

RECEIVERS

The Bengals are getting some plays from T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a fundamentally sound receiver who can't run away from anyone. They miss Peter Warrick - now out for the season - especially on third down. The individual statistical battle between cousins Chad and Keyshawn Johnson will be entertaining, but the real difference in the pass games today will be Dallas tight end Jason Witten.

Witten had a career-high nine receptions at Detroit and has 17 for 196 yards and two touchdowns in the past two weeks. The Bengals get little production from their tight ends in the pass game.

Edge: Cowboys

OFFENSIVE LINES

Bengals tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones have been playing on bad knees all season. Anderson's knee flared up this past week, and the loss of one of the league's most unappreciated tackles would be devastating to the Bengals.

Tackle Flozell Adams and guard Larry Allen, the left side of the Dallas line, are 2003 Pro Bowl players. Look for the Cowboys to run George behind them all afternoon.

Edge: Cowboys

DEFENSIVE LINES

The Cowboys were first in total defense and third against the run in 2003 but have fallen to 22nd and 24th through seven games this season. Despite the problems, Dallas still boasts some big-play defenders. Watch out for right end Greg Ellis, who has six sacks.

The Bengals need a better effort from their line, which was part of a defensive unit that was demolished for 163 rushing yards at Tennessee.

Edge: Cowboys

LINEBACKERS

There's plenty of blame to go around on defense for the Bengals. The linebackers aren't consistently getting into their gaps against the run and are missing tackles. Undersized Dallas linebacker Dat Nguyen leads the team with 59 tackles.

Edge: Cowboys

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The best player on the field today might be Dallas free safety Roy Williams, who has 54 tackles and hits like a linebacker. Bengals fans will get to see the player the team might have picked in 2003 if it had not had to select a quarterback No. 1 overall. Dallas cornerback Terence Newman has five passes defensed but has struggled at times. Newman will have his hands full today with Chad Johnson.

Bengals free safety Kim Herring was downgraded Friday to questionable, and his loss weakens the defense.

Edge: Cowboys

SPECIAL TEAMS

Dallas is second in the NFL covering kickoffs, and the Bengals are fifth. Neither of the return teams scares opponents. Kicker Shayne Graham gives the Bengals the advantage in most matchups.

Edge: Bengals

COACHES

Look down the road and Marvin Lewis someday might have a resume to rival that of Parcells'. But Parcells' experience as a game coach could be the difference today.

Edge: Cowboys

CURNUTTE'S PREDICTION: Cowboys 27, Bengals 23

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