6 Keys to a Dallas Cowboys Win vs. New England Patriots

The Dallas Cowboys and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan are gearing up to face possibly their toughest opponent this season. The Detroit Lions and New York Jets may disagree, but beating the Pats would be landmark for the Cowboys. They currently sit at 2-2, and their season could easily be derailed with a loss to New England.

So what exactly should the Cowboys do to beat the roving Tom Brady’s?

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has plans to throw the kitchen sink at Brady, according to defensive end Kenyon Coleman.

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“I would say pretty much it’s the kitchen sink, to put it lightly.”

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Coleman was a part of the Cleveland Browns last season when they beat up on Brady and shocked the Pats. The Browns won the game 30-14.

Dallas may look to throw a few of the same looks toward Tom, but the Patriots aren’t known for falling for the same trick twice. Just ask the Jets.

While the offense may drive the bus, it will be the defense to that fuels it.

Here are six keys to a Cowboys victory at New England on Sunday.

Strong Defensive Line Push

The Cowboys aren’t really known for having the strongest defensive line. Jay Ratliff gets credit for his strong play, as he should, but everyone just seems to hang out. Now, that’s no diss or a knock on the current line, but if we take last season into account, the defensive line left a lot to be desired.

This year is a little different, as the line is still anchored by Jay Ratliff, but with the addition of Kenyon Coleman, Jason Hatcher and the re-emergence of Marcus Spears, the Cowboys present a pretty formidable front.

So far, the big guys up front account for three of the Cowboys 13 sacks, which is a pretty good haul in my opinion. It will be vital for Spears, Ratliff and Coleman to put pressure on Brady, as any added pressure will take stress off of Dallas’ secondary.

Big Games from Ware and Spencer

Yeah, it sounds simple because Ware usually shows up and Anthony Spencer saved a game for Dallas this season, but they were both non-existent when Dallas needed a big defensive play against the Lions a couple of weeks ago.

Ware had two tackles and zero sacks, and Spencer tallied three tackles with zero sacks as well. That can’t happen again against Tom Brady.

One of the great things that Brady does so well is getting the ball out of his hands. He has great field vision and is quick to find a receiver underneath or toward the sideline when pressured. Dallas will need to bring the rain to knock Brady off of his game.

Confuse Tom Brady

Another one that’s easier said than done, but it's true. When the Jets beat the Pats in the playoffs last season, Rex Ryan did a great job of confusing Tom by showing zone coverage and varied defensive looks.

Last year, when the Browns played the Pats, Rob Ryan showed an Amoeba defensive look with five players in the box and either one or no downed lineman. It looks confusing so imagine how much trouble a quarterback has trying to figure it out?

We may see a little of that on Sunday in New England, but don’t expect Ryan to employ that strategy again. What will be key for him is to show Brady something he has yet to see or a different version of it.

Run the Football

It's time for Dallas to bring balance to their offense. I’m not necessarily saying that Garrett has to shove the ball down the Patriots' throat 40 times on Sunday, but give Felix a chance to at least develop a rhythm.

Jason Garrett loves to throw the football, and I take no issue with that any longer because that’s who he’s going to be. Garrett believes in it, and the numbers show that he’s right.  

But what Jason must do is manage the Cowboys' opportunities better. Dallas has three of the most talented running backs in the NFL, and Garrett rarely uses them to their full potential.

The Cowboys may not jump out to an early lead on the Pats like they did against the Lions, but if they do, Garrett can’t continue to throw the ball in dangerous situations.

Running the football when a team is up is one of the safest options because it protects the team’s lead and runs time off of the clock. Run…the…ball.

Manage Tony Romo

As I just said in the previous slide and in my Wednesday article, it's time for Garrett to better manage Tony Romo. We get it; Tony’s an aggressive player who wants to lead his team to victory.

He can still do that without tossing the ball in the air 40 or 50 times per game.

The NFL has running backs for a reason, and it's time for Tony to stick the ball in their guts more often. Moreover, it's safer, and with the entire NFL world dropping their two cents in on Romo’s performance, a victory against New England will go a short way in quieting some of his critics.

Focused, Disciplined Secondary and Linebacking Corp

Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins are known for taking chances and playing sloppy. No diss to T-Newman because not many corners in the NFL can guard against the fade route to the Lions Calvin Johnson, but he was beat up on a little against Detroit.

Tom Brady utilizes his tight ends and Wes Welker a lot, and if Sean Lee or the Cowboys secondary loses one iota of focus, Tom Brady will pick them to pieces.

Dallas has to remain disciplined in their defensive assignments if a play breaks down and there looks to be a chance to make a play. One player who leaves his man to go chase down Brady or run after a man he thinks is running free will spell trouble for Dallas.

It will also go a long way in the team’s confidence against such a formidable offensive opponent. You stay classy, Cowboys defense.