Sunday afternoon the New England Patriots will be traveling to Arlington, Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Patriots are all rested up coming off the bye, which is completely opposite of the Dallas Cowboys situation in which their two best players in Tony Romo and Dez Bryant are injured for the upcoming game. Without those two it could be very easy to over look this game, just like Jacksonville, however with Bill Belichick begin Bill, he will make sure that does no happen. The Patriots come in a top of a powerful looking AFC East at 3-0, meanwhile the Cowboys come in at a record of 2-2 tied for 1st in an almost non relevant NFC East.
The keys to game for the Patriots would be to pound the ball and to limit risk, as they always do. The Patriots type of play fits perfectly for this game, short passing plays that drive down the field and lead to scores and touchdowns mainly. Along with a solid defense that will produce turnovers against a shaky QB in Brandon Wheeden, and a fumble prone RB core. The only way I can see the Cowboys winning this game would be keep it low scoring and make sure that you score first. The mistake every team makes against the Patriots intentionally, or accidental, they fall behind and play catch up with Tom Brady the whole game and that is not a game in which you can win. If you are the Cowboys you need to take an early lead establish yourself early in the game with a strong first quarter hang in the game within striking distance in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and then show up, make plays in the fourth.
The way I would approach it as the Cowboys, or what the Patriots should try to prevent, would be to contain the Patriots from yards after the catch in particular Julian Edelman, temp Brady into throwing the ball deep and take your chances when he does, play the ball in the air and anticipate the short passes while trying to interrupt the timing patterns. I would deal with Rob Gronkowski by giving him no room or space to go any where, stick a big linebacker on him and just mirror him with safety help over the top. I would also back off of the run and let them run the ball. In fact make them run the ball for first downs and let the D-line stop them with linebackers especially the great Sean Lee, who is a fantastic run stopping linebacker. Take your chances with the run but do not let Brady beat you by airing the ball out because you will not be able to win that type of game.
On offense the Cowboys need to be very careful, the Patriots defense can be very tricky and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is very good at mixing schemes and finding everything to use against opponents. The Cowboys should keep the ball on the ground and when needing to pass limit the decisions and time that Brandon Wheeden needs to make and do. Scott Linehan the Cowboys offensive coordinator has done a very good job ever since taking over play calling duties from head coach Jason Garrett. I anticipate the Cowboys to run quick pass plays with bootlegs off play action and shot gun passes in order to allow Wheeden proper time to make a quick decision. Wheeden most important goal is to be smart and take on no added risk. There is no need to force a throw if it is second and five, so just throw the ball away and take your chance of third down. If the Cowboys have any shot of winning they can not turn the ball over. AT ALL. They are also going to need to find a way to put the ball into the end zone. Which is going to be very difficult.
Overall the Patriots have an easier match up this week. The Dallas Cowboys didn’t have a strong team compared to the Patriots before Romo and Bryant got injured however without them, there is almost no threat to the Patriots this week. They would have to shoot themselves in the foot to lose this game. The Patriots will have to lose this game for themselves because the Cowboys are not going to flat out out play them and win the game. The game by halftime I’m assuming won’t even be a game and the Patriots will be cruising to a 4-0 start.
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