Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- Maybe this will be the week the Patriots score more than 20 points.
- Shockingly, New England leads the league in offensive tempo through three weeks as they search for an answer to move the ball consistently.
- Dallas looked like a team on a mission the first two weeks of the season before pulling off a classic “Cowboys letdown,” losing by two scores to an Arizona team whom they were favored by 11 against.
- The Dallas defense is built for flash, big plays, and creating havoc. They struggle against teams who are able to take care of the ball and use their aggressiveness against them.
- The last time these teams met, Ceedee Lamb had a monster game that Bill Belichick will surely not forget.
How new england Will Try To Win ::
The Patriots enter Week 4 coming off their first win of the season over a reeling Jets team after opening the year against arguably the two best teams in the NFL right now – the Eagles and Dolphins. Dallas represents a team that lies somewhere in the middle, as a team who dominated their first two weeks but was exposed in Week 3 by a well-coached and disciplined Arizona team. New England’s roster isn’t going to overwhelm you with their individual talent on paper, but they certainly fit the mold of “well-coached and disciplined” that gave Dallas fits.
In last week’s victory over the Jets, the Patriots had a conservative game plan that featured 40 opportunities for their running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas struggled with the Cardinals running game in Week 3, and a similar approach seems in order for New England this week as they will look to make this game about ball control and field position. The strength of the Dallas defense is their pass rush, so wearing out Micah Parsons and the rest of the Dallas front with the running game while making the focus of the passing game in the short to intermediate area makes a lot of sense. Dallas leads the league in man coverage rate and is now playing without star cornerback Trevon Diggs, which in theory makes them more susceptible on the perimeter, but it is unclear if the Patriots will want to let Mac Jones stand in the pocket with the pass rush bearing down on him. The Cowboys defense dominated up front in the first two weeks before the rushing threat of Josh Dobbs neutralized them in Week 3. Jones is a relatively stationary quarterback who will allow Dallas to pin their ears back a bit, creating a need for quick passes, and should make the Patriots tight ends and running backs a focal point this week, which isn’t really a huge change from their approach last week.
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