IRVING, Texas - After a 28-17 letdown against the Arizona Cardinals, the Dallas Cowboys are looking forward to their match up against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I've never been that far out of the country," defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford said. "I'm excited to, you know, get that game week going."
Third-year offensive guard Ronald Leary and second-year linebacker Kyle Wilber, who both had their passports ready earlier in the off-season, were intrigued by the prospect of playing abroad.
"When I saw the schedule, I thought it would be pretty cool," Leary said.
"It's a new experience; never been there," Wilber added.
"So, hopefully I get to see it."
The club departs Monday evening at 7 p.m. for the United Kingdom on a non-stop flight. Like all previous participants in the International Series, the Cowboys will practice for a week in London as they acclimate to the time zone changes.
Said Crawford: "I know it's going to be kind of adversity for an NFL team to go all the way that far to play a game, but, you know, it will be fun and hopefully we get it done."
The apparent adversity is the time difference. London is four hours ahead of New York City, where the NFL is headquartered. However, teams in the Eastern Time zone, such as Jacksonville, are 1-2 against clubs in the Central Time zone, where Dallas is. By time zone, the Central Time zone teams have earned the best record at 3-1 through the series' ten games.
Assistant strength and conditioning coach Brett Bech knows this will be his old team's second trip, tying New England and Tampa Bay for the most of any club, and that it will be "old hat" for them. Even though the 43-year-old has never been to Europe, there is only one thing on his mind.
"Hopefully, we'll get a victory," said Bech.
"It's what I'm worried about. I'm not worried about the fanfare. I just want a W."
Bech's boss, head coach Jason Garrett, wants to win as much as anyone on the team, but acknowledges the game will be "exciting" and "fun."
"You know, we've been over there in the past for preseason games," Garrett recalled.
The Cowboys have been to London twice, and hold a preseason 0-1-1 record Wembley Stadium. Their last game against the Detroit Lions in 1993 ended in a 13-13 tie. Playing outside the United States altogether in Great Britain, Canada, Japan, and Mexico, the Cowboys are 1-7-1. Their lone win, 21-6 over the Raiders in Mexico City, was the last time they played outside American borders.
"It'll be a little different going over there in the regular season," Garrett continued. "But [the NFL has] been doing it the last couple of years.
"It'll be an exciting thing."
Designated home teams, which is Jacksonville, are 3-7. The NFC also holds a 6-3 advantage over the AFC. Teams with better records than their opponents are 7-1. The numbers are on the Cowboys' side if they are ready to walk away from the 11th game in the International Series with a 7-3 mark.
