New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys: Full Dallas Game Preview

The Dallas Cowboys find themselves at the quarter-pole of the 2015 season at an even 2-2. The injuries that have mounted as the weeks pass have led to a growing number of question marks, and there appear to be few answers.

After falling to the New Orleans Saints 26-20 in Week 4, marking their second consecutive loss with Brandon Weeden starting at quarterback, things don’t get any easier in Week 5 with the undefeated New England Patriots and the NFL’s top-ranked offense coming to town.  

The Cowboys have responded well to great challenges in recent years, and their ability to do so this week will have a great deal of influence on the rest of their 2015 season. 

News and Notes

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Bill Belichick and the Patriots Coaches Speak About Preparing for the Cowboys

Every week in the NFL, in addition to their regular press conferences and media availability, select coaches and players from each team conduct conference calls with their opponent’s local media members. Unlike the Cowboys, the Patriots provide transcripts of each of these media interactions to the public.

Bill Belichick is known for his standoffish interactions with the press, but when he does decide to give a substantial answer, he exhibits his thoughtfulness as a coach and his unbelievable knowledge of the game. 

Blogging The Boys has a collection of quotes from Belichick and his staff on various subjects regarding the Cowboys. In one answer, Belichick goes into some detail on the Cowboys’ defense.

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They have a lot of variety in what they do, in terms of the front. They don't run a million different coverages, but they run them well. They're sound. They make you beat them. They don't give you a lot of easy plays. You have to go out there and you have to block 'em, you've got to get open, you've got to protect. You have to have enough to beat the scheme. They play hard and they know what they're doing. That's what it's always been.

—Bill Belichick Patriots.com

 

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Here Comes the Cavalry

Though the Cowboys defense has struggled at times, especially in the last two weeks, it is easy to see, looking at who is playing, that the group has been, because of injuries or suspensions, undermanned. The solution to this problem is something that isn’t normally available at this point in the season—top-end talent.

With their four-game suspensions having come to a close, defensive end Greg Hardy and linebacker Rolando McClain represent Pro Bowl-level talents at key positions who can make a difference. They each practiced for the first time Wednesday, and their teammates on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball are excited to have them back.

With Randy Gregory still recovering from his high ankle sprain, this isn’t the last infusion of talent we can expect for the Cowboys defense.

Latest Injury News

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Player	Position	Injury	Wed. Practice
Dez Bryant	WR	Foot	Did Not Practice
Randy Gregory	DE	Ankle	Did Not Practice
Brice Butler	WR	Hamstring	Did Not Practice
James Hanna	TE	Ankle	Did Not Practice
Sean Lee	LB	Concussion	Did Not Practice
Andrew Gachkar	LB	Foot	Full Participant
Ryan Russell	DE	Groin	Full Participant

(All injury information courtesy of DallasCowboys.com)

The biggest question mark for this week in this report is Sean Lee. The NFL’s concussion protocol provides a series of thresholds that a player who has suffered a concussion must reach without recurring symptoms in order to be cleared to play.

At this point, in an interview with 105.3 The Fan (via CowboysHQ.com's Mark Lane), team owner Jerry Jones has expressed optimism that Lee can clear the protocol in time to play against the Patriots, but that will remain up to the results of his testing through the week.

X-Factors and Matchups to Watch

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Byron Jones vs. Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski is the most physically imposing tight end in the NFL. At 6’6” and 265 pounds he has the size of a defensive end, with the athletic ability of some NFL wide receivers. He presents a mismatch nightmare for opponents, because of the size and athletic ability he brings to the table.

He lines up in a traditional tight end alignment, as well as out wide similar to a wide receiver, in the slot, and even occasionally in the backfield. Because of the tempo the Patriots play with on offense, the multiple alignments, and his ability to make plays, Gronkowski presents a challenge like no other NFL player does.

On the other hand, the Cowboys drafted Byron Jones in the first round because he was a big (6'0", 199 lbs) and athletic corner who could also play safety at a high level. The majority of his role thus far in 2015 has been covering the opponent’s best tight end in passing situations, meaning that he will likely draw the assignment of marking Gronkowski in several key situations in the game on Sunday.

Although Gronkowski will have the size advantage on Jones, Jones possesses the traits few defenders have when covering the Patriots weapon.

First off, he has corner-level coverage and ball skills, meaning that when the Patriots line Gronkowski up wide to the sideline and throw the ball down the field, especially in the red zone as they like to do, Jones won’t be out of place like most linebackers and safeties who draw the Gronk short stick. He has taken as many reps in one-on-one coverage in space as he has on the inside with the help available there and has shown the ability to make plays on the ball when it is in the air.

In addition to his abilities outside, he has taken well to his assignments of covering tight ends, effectively shutting down Philadelphia’s Zack Ertz, and making a big play to get his hand on the ball leading to a J.J. Wilcox interception in the fourth quarter of Week 2.

Tom Brady vs. Sean Lee and Rolando McClain

Much of the Patriots success on offense comes from their ability to play at an almost breakneck tempo without sacrificing the ability to get into unique formations and schemes designed to create and take advantage of mismatches. The Patriots force their opponents to get their calls made and get lined up under pressure, with enough variables from play-to-play that they are likely to miss something.

The best way to counter that tempo is through effective and efficient recognition and communication from the linebacker spot to the rest of the defenders. Sean Lee and Rolando McClain's ability to get their teammates lined up every snap and prevent the Patriots from exhibiting big-busted play will be key for the Cowboys on Sunday.

Cowboys X-Factor of the Week: Greg Hardy

Hardy has played in exactly one regular-season game since December 2013, so there could be rust to be knocked off. But if Hardy is able to come out and play the way he is capable of playing, he could change the Patriot’s offensive plan.

Because of his ability to rush from the inside as a defensive tackle on pure passing downs, he’ll have the chance to get to Brady early and often from the inside, which makes it more difficult for the veteran to maneuver around the pocket to make throws.

The way to beat the Patriots is to hit Tom Brady early and often, never allowing him to get comfortable in the pocket. In fact, according to Jordan Ross of CowboysHQ.com, the Patriots are 1-3 on the road when Brady gets hit two or more times.

Prediction

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The Cowboys will play better than many have expected, the offense will make a play or two and the defense will compete like crazy. One of the newly available defenders will make some sort of splash play, but ultimately, the Patriots will wind up being too much for them to deal with while still somewhat shorthanded.

Prediction: Cowboys 20, Patriots 31