Dallas Cowboys vs New England Patriots Predictions, Odds, Picks

• The Cowboys have won four games in a row now thanks in big part to QB Dak Prescott
• New England’s 5th ranked defense does better against the pass (5th) than the run (14th)
• The Patriots have won their last four matchups against NFC East opponents.

Cowboys vs Patriots Odds

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The Dallas Cowboys have won four games in a row now thanks in big part to quarterback Dak Prescott’s excellent play – he had 22 completions on 32 targets for over 300 yards and three touchdowns with a pick in their Week 5 win over the Giants – so now they must face a New England Patriots team that is beginning to gel behind their rookie QB Mac Jones.

Because the New England Patriots’ 5th ranked defense does better against the pass (5th) than against the run (14th), it could be a tough Sunday for them against these run-heavy Cowboys, although the Pats’ rookie quarterback Mac Jones is quickly acclimating to the pro level as he and his receivers Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers (below) are beginning to click.

These two cross-conference rivals have played each other 13 prior times, with the New England Patriots winning 6 of those games and the Dallas Cowboys winning 7 of the games.

Dallas Cowboys vs New England Patriots Predictions

Can the Cowboys’ Offense Out-Game Plan Bill Belichick’s Defense?

One thing these Bill Belichick-coached New England Patriots teams are known for is their powerful defenses typically able to shut down their opponents both on the ground and through the air while causing opposing quarterbacks to panic due to a crushing pass rush.

This 2021 version of the Patriots is doing just that, now ranked fifth in the league after allowing opponents to gain just 317 total yards of offense per game, but they tend to struggle a bit more against the run (ranked 14th), so expect this to be the main point of Dallas’ attack.

The Cowboys enjoy a two-pronged run game starring Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard (below), who will most likely see lots of early carries in this one in order to better set up QB Dak Prescott’s play-action fakes which should become devastating in the second half.

Can New England’s Rookie QB Mac Jones Withstand Dallas’ Pass Rush?

In five games so far, the Patriots’ rookie quarterback Mac Jones has been sacked 11 times, so he has had plenty of practice evading enemy pass rushes, although he will have his hands full against the Cowboys’ collection of quarterback hunters.

Jones is quickly getting used to the incredible speed of the professional game and he remains accurate despite his new environment so far completing over 71 percent of his passes for 1,243 yards and 5 touchdowns.

A major downside to Jones right now is his newbie tendency to throw interceptions, so far with 5 (although three of those came all at once in Week 3), but it won’t take too long for the rook to figure out (the way Tom Brady also did under Belichick) that the faster he gets rid of the ball the less likely he will be to give it away or get sacked.

Cowboys Key Player: (RBs) Zeke Elliott & Tony Pollard

A huge benefit to having a running back duo like Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard is that the two of them keep each other rested throughout the game so that the fourth quarter is horrible on whoever they play.

Getting most of the Cowboys’ carries is Elliott who is averaging 5.4 yards each time he runs with the ball – which he’s done for 452 yards and five touchdowns so far – plus he can catch the ball, too, with 9 receptions for 55 yards and another touchdown, doubling his value to the team.

The plan all along for Tony Pollard, according to team owner Jerry Jones, has been to use the young back to give Elliott lots of time to catch his breath, but Pollard has become a major contributor himself this season so far with 63 touches for 418 total yards and a touchdown.

Patriots Key Player: (WR) Jakobi Meyers

New England receiver Jakobi Meyers is in his third NFL season, all with the Patriots, and slowly he is becoming more and more of a key contributor, giving rookie QB Mac Jones some terrific open looks along the way.

This season Meyers has caught 31 passes for over 300 yards but he has yet to find the end zone in his career, something that must change if he is to remain the team’s number two receiver.

Right now the Patriots passing attack is ranked in the bottom third of the league so a huge game for Meyers could help the team improve in that category, so far his best day in Week 3 when he caught nine balls for 94 yards averaging over ten yards per catch.

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