IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys defense is suddenly getting run over.
Rob Ryan’s group was the league’s top rushing defense only two weeks ago. Then LeSean McCoy of Philadelphia ran for a career-high 185 yards against them, and Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch followed with his first 100-yard game in nearly three years.
“When you’re doing well and you don’t give up 100 yards, then you do, you have to pay attention to that,” linebacker Bradie James said. “We have to definitely concentrate on that and try to fix it.”
After allowing only 418 rushing yards the first six games, the Cowboys have allowed 401 the past two - both coming when Dallas lost leading tackler Sean Lee, who dislocated his left wrist at Philadelphia and then missed the Seattle game.
Maybe they just had a couple of bad games.
“Things that are fixable,” linebacker Anthony Spencer said after watching film. “That’s probably the positive thing about it is because the things we are messing up on can be corrected.”
Dallas has gone from allowing only 70 yards rushing per game to 100, now 10th in the NFL.
* Dallas placed kicker David Buehler on injured reserve Thursday because of a right groin injury, ending his season. The move came a day after Buehler re-aggravated the injury in practice. The kickoff specialist had been back for only two games after missing the previous four.
After Buehler was limited in training camp by the injury, rookie Dan Bailey took over kicking field goals. Bailey has made 20 of 21 attempts, including his past 19 for a Cowboys rookie record.
Pass-happy Saints now loaded in backfield
METAIRIE, La. — When rookie running back Mark Ingram went down with a heel injury, the Saints had Chris Ivory ready to step in.
Now, after missing the past two weeks, Ingram is back, giving New Orleans coach Sean Payton a tough decision to make - keep four running backs active Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons or make one inactive.
Payton says a four-running back rotation is tough to maintain, but he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of it happening.
Around the league
* CARDINALS: Kevin Kolb failed to practice again on Thursday, seemingly decreasing the likelihood the Arizona quarterback will be able to start Sunday at Philadelphia. He insisted, though, that there has been “dramatic improvement” in his right turf toe injury.
* JETS: New York wide receiver Plaxico Burress, kick returner Joe McKnight and safety Brodney Pool did not practice for the second straight day. Burress (sore back) should be fine to play Sunday night against New England Patriots. McKnight (toe) and Pool (sprained knee) are “wait and see,” according to coach Rex Ryan.
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