Dallas Cowboys: Why Offense Must Play to Full Potential in December

For years, when you think of the Dallas Cowboys, the first players you think of are their offensive threats. From the days of Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith to recent years of Tony Romo, Miles Austin and now DeMarco Murray.

Austin has been sidelined the majority of 2011 with a hamstring injury but is reported to be close to returning as early as this week along with cornerback Michael Jenkins.

The Dallas defense, for the most part, has kept their team in the game over the course of the season, but the offense at times hasn't been able to fire on all cylinders so to speak.

In 11 contests, the Cowboys have scored more than 24 points just five times. With their No. 1 receiver back in the fold in time for the most crucial time of the year, however, and the establishment of a running game, there's a chance we see shades of the Dallas offense that we saw against the St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills over the course of December.

With two games slated against the New York Giants who are the biggest threat to the NFC East crown for the Cowboys at the moment, that offense will need to put up a fair amount of points to win both important matchups with the G-Men.

Romo has looked all but perfect with the exception of the two interceptions against the Miami Dolphins last Thursday, and if he can continue to play mistake-free football and get the ball in the hands of his offensive playmakers like Jason Witten, Laurent Robinson, Dez Bryant and Austin then points will find their way onto the scoreboard for the Cowboys.

There are many weapons for Dallas to utilize on the offensives side of the football, it's just a question of how they can react to what defenses will try to take away from them and exploiting what is being ignored by the opposition.

Austin and Bryant will certainly draw the most attention, and the linebackers will be sure to key on Murray, which should leave two of Romo's favorite passing options in Witten and Robinson to get the ball to.

It's never as easy as it sounds on paper, but if Romo is able to have time to scan the field and makes the right throws, there's a chance we see an increase in offensive firepower for the 'Boys down the stretch.