There was once a time whenever the Dallas Cowboys visited the New England Patriots it was destined to be an afternoon of discontent in Foxboro, MA.
Hailed as "America's Team," the Cowboys rattled off seven consecutive victories against New England from 1971 to 1996.
Not anymore, folks.
Although the Patriots are 3-7 lifetime against Dallas, they've beaten them three straight times since 1999. The Patriots have also out-scored Dallas by 40 points in there last three meetings.
The last time the two teams met in Foxboro (2003), former place kicker Adam Vinatieri booted a pair of field goals and former running back Antowain Smith scored the lone touchdown as the Pats blanked Dallas, 12-0. It remains the only meeting between the two clubs in which the other was shutout.
The last time the Patriots played in Dallas, Brady and company manhandled the Cowboys, 48-27 (2007). It's only the second time in the series that one of the teams scored more than 40 points. The first time was in 1971 when the two teams met for the first time. The Cowboys routed New England, 44-21 at Texas Stadium.
When the two teams met the last time in 2007, both were undefeated at 5-0. The Patriots that season went on to a 16-0 regular season, but lost Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants.
Even as good as the Patriots are this season, there are some weaknesses. New England is dead last in pass defense giving up 1,633 yards. Dallas, meanwhile, is No. 1 in stopping the run and linebacker DeMarcus Ware has played well.
Without a doubt, Tom Brady is definitely playing better since throwing four interceptions in a losing effort against Buffalo in Week 3. Brady was picked off against the Jets last week, but threw for 321 yards and a touchdown. New England running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis had a career-best outing as he rushed for 136 yards and 2 scores.
Brady is ranked the second in the league behind New Orleans' Drew Brees. If you compare statistics between Brady and Brees, it makes no sense to me why Brady isn't ranked the No. 1 passer in the NFL. Maybe it's got something to do with those four interceptions he threw against Buffalo. If Brady has a big day against Dallas, maybe he'll be No. 1 come Monday morning on Pro-football-Reference.com.
Clearly, Brady is the better signal caller compared to Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 2-2 in the NFC East and Romo is ranked 23rd. The Cowboys are coming off a did bye week, but that shouldn't be a factor against New England.
Romo is likely to have receiver Miles Austin back in the lineup. Austin hasn't played since he caught 3 touchdown passes against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 due to a hamstring injury.
Dallas running back Felix Jones did bust over 100 yards in a victory over Washington in Week 3 but had just 57 yards against the undefeated Detroit Lions the following week. Jones, the leading rusher on the team, has just one TD this season. Green-Ellis is by far the better back statistically considering he's outscored Jones (5 TDs) and out-rushed him (333 to 241).
On the sidelines, there's no comparison between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Dallas coach Jason Garrett. Obviously, the edge here is with New England. The one advantage Dallas does has is in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, brother of Jets head coach Rex Ryan.
Ryan, who was the defensive coordinator last season for the Cleveland Browns, held the Patriots to just 14 points in Cleveland's decisive victory in 2010. Cleveland was the last team to allow New England to score 14 or less points.
If the Cowboys do beat the Patriots, it will be a turning point for them after their collapse against the Detroit Lions in Week 4.
"They've been a marquee franchise in this league for the last decade," said Garrett. "They have great players and great coaches and they're a team that everyone in this league has studied over the last 10 years. Even though we haven't played them, we have watched them and hopefully we can gain some kind of advantage."
Garrett has high praise for Brady.
"He's just a rare player and one of the all-time greats to play his position," said Garrett. "He's a guy who has been to the mountain top as a starting quarterback of three Super Bowl championship teams, statistically he's done everything you can do in the league and when you're a good as he is the game probably slows down and he certainly demonstrates that one a weekly basis."
Garrett also realizes that this year's Patriots are simply loaded when it comes to talent.
"They're outstanding and it starts with (Brady)," said Garrett. "They have so many weapons. They're very good on the offensive line. They have great tight ends. They have receivers that play really, really well in that scheme. They're play-making type guys. They're getting their running game going. They're very systematic and execute very well. They're awfully good and it will be an excellent challenge for our football team to slow them down."
Slow them down, maybe. Dallas beating New England, not likely.
October 14, 2011
Marilyn:
Great article. GO PATRIOT’S!!
October 15, 2011
Savagecowboyfan:
The Cowboys will beat the Patriots!
F@!* all the patriot fans!!!GO COWBOYS
October 15, 2011
Brett:
Very good article, Patriots are an amazing team, but I don’t agree when they say Cowboys don’t have a chance or say beating the Pats is unlikely. This is the NFL, where no game is a guaranteed win. I mean the Bills beat the Patriots, that was unlikely, right? I believe the Cowboys are on the rise under Garret and Ryan. Romo has great potential, and if he finds that stride the Cowboys will be back on top, regardless of what people say about him being a choke artist. I believe Romo will take the Cowboys to the top. Maybe not this year, but sometime soon definitely. Doesn’t mean I’m counting the Cowboys out this year though, like I said, this is the NFL. Anything could happen. Cowboys:35 - Patriots:24 Go Cowboys!
October 15, 2011
Cowboy Fan:
Good article, but I disagree. Anything can happen in the NFL, I mean the Bills beat the Pats right? Cowboys 35 Pats 24. Go Cowboys!
October 15, 2011
Cowboy Fan 2:
I definitely disagree as well. One because the Pats defense is terrible, Belichick’s supposed strength, so it’ll be a shootout coming down to whomever has the ball last. Secondly, I’m not taking the word from anyone who does not edit what they write. ‘Has does”, “coming off a did bye week”, “demonstrates that one a weekly basis”, I mean come on. If you’re going to post something like this on the internet, and you want to sound credible, you ought to make sure you first don’t sound like a moron or like you never got out of 9th grade English. Unless you are a ninth grader then this is perfectly fine and hopefully you accept my apology. Otherwise I’m guessing your football smarts are on par with your grammar smarts which must be bad news for all the people who buy into this crap.
October 15, 2011
Mazariamonti:
This article is so ridiculous, the basis behind this writer’s predictions are basically this, “I”M RIGHT U R WRONG AND THAT IS THE END OF IT” All of the analysis is based on the Cowboys not beating them the last three times, that has no effect on the outcome of this game, i mean come on, get real.