If the Cowboys are going to beat the Bengals on Sunday, they're going to have to do something that very few NFC teams have been able to do over the past five years: beat Andy Dalton.

Since Dalton's rookie year in 2011, the quarterback has gone 14-4-1 against NFC teams, which is the best mark of any AFC quarterback in that timespan. That being said, Dalton's probably not going to be the deciding factor in this game.

The X-factor is going to be how well the Cowboys banged-up offensive line can handle the Bengals' front-seven. Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict played well in his first game back from suspension last week, and he's only going to get better as he gets closer to being in top football shape.

Of course, just because the Cowboys' line is banged up doesn't mean Cincinnati will take them lightly. Bengals defensive back Adam 'Pacman' Jones gave the Cowboys' offensive line the ultimate compliment earlier this week: He says his daughter could run through the holes that the Dallas line creates.

"If you go back and look at some of the film, some of the holes are so wide open that my little girl could run through there," Jones said, via ESPN.com.

This is going to be one of those irresistible force vs. immovable object type games: The Cowboys offensive line has helped pave the way for eight Dallas rushing touchdowns this year, a total that led four weeks of play.

On the other hand, the Bengals are one of only two team in the NFL that has yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season (the Lions are the other).

Anyway, not helping thing for the Cowboys is the fact that their injury report looks like a MASH unit right now. The team has a total of nine players listed as "questionable" this week, a group that includes wide receiver Dez Bryant, starting tackle Tyron Smith, cornerback Orlando Scandrick and kicker Dan Bailey.

If Smith were to miss the game, his absence would probably hurt the most, considering the kind of firepower the Bengals will be bringing on defense.

How to Watch

What: Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys

When: Sunday, Oct. 9, 4:25 p.m. ET

Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington Texas

TV: CBS (Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the call with Tracy Wolfson on the sideline)

Online: Sunday Ticket or NFL GamePass (game won't be available on GamePass until midnight)

Odds: The Bengals are a 2-point favorite (via Bovada)

Injury report

Cowboys

Dan Bailey, K -- Questionable

Dez Bryant, WR -- Questionable

Jack Crawford, DE -- Questionable

Lance Dunbar, RB -- Questionable

Andrew Gachkar, OLB -- Questionable

Chaz Green, OT -- Questionable

David Irving, DT -- Out

Mark Nzeocha, OLB -- Questionable

Tony Romo, QB -- Out

Orlando Scandrick, CB -- Questionable

Tyron Smith, T -- Questionable

Bengals

Clint Boling, OG -- Questionable

Rex Burkhead, RB -- Questionable

Tyler Eifert, TE -- Out

Jake Fisher, OT -- Questionable

James Wright, WR -- Doubtful

Prisco's pick

The Bengals will have had 10 days off before this game. That helps. The Cowboys are 3-1 and Dak Prescott isn't turning the ball over. But I think this is a game where the Bengals choke off the run and make him beat them. He won't. Bengals take it.

Pick: Bengals 23, Cowboys 17