Dallas will head northeast to square off against the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Cowboys are 6-4 with a one-game lead in the NFC East, while the Patriots sit at 9-1, leading the Bills in the AFC East. Tom Brady will have to get it done with a banged-up receiving corps, as Julian Edelman and Philip Dorsett have been limited at practice all week.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are reeling a bit the last month, as they’ve only won three of their last seven games. The Cowboys need this win, as the second-place Eagles have a much easier matchup against the Dolphins this week. It’s the same story for the Patriots, as the Bills have a much easier matchup against the Denver Broncos this week. The Patriots are six-point favorites, with an over/under of 46.5.
The Cowboy Rides Away
While Dallas had a bit of a rough patch midseason, its offensive ranks in the NFL remain impressive. The Cowboys rank first in the league in yards, first downs, passing yards, and net passing yards per attempt, among other things. They’re also seventh in rushing yards and yards allowed per game. This is an extremely well-rounded team headed to Gillette Stadium.
The Cowboys’ air attack is led by Amari Cooper, who is averaging 15.8 yards per catch and already has 886 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. With a 2-3 punch of Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb, who have combined for 1173 yards and six scores on the season, Dak Prescott’s passing attack can be a tough one to slow down. Not to mention, the Cowboys have one of the best running backs in the league in Ezekiel Elliott running the ball.
So Good It’s Boring
Every year, it seems we get to listen to Tom Brady or Bill Belichick tell us that this year’s Patriots are underperforming, and every year they say it with an insane record like 9-1. I’m sure every team wishes they underplayed as well as the Patriots do. They are the most well-rounded team in the NFL, their defense ranks first in way too many statistical categories to list, while the offense ranks in the top half of the league as well.
Jamie Collins‘ return to New England has propelled the defense straight to the top this season. Collins leads the team in tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss, and he’s been playing like he’s possessed in 2019. Kyle Van Noy and Adam Butler are second on the team in sacks with 5.5 apiece. Van Noy also ranks third on the team in tackles, while Butler and Dont’a Hightower both have six tackles for losses, tied for second on the team.
Playing the Spread
The Cowboys are 3-2 ATS on the road this season, and this is the first time they’ve been road underdogs. The Pats are 3-1 ATS as the home favorite and are 7-3 overall ATS. With the wide spread, and the Cowboys able to get it done in multiple ways on both sides of the ball, the pick here is the underdog. The Cowboys offense will be able to keep it within the 6.5 and upset the Patriots’ ATS record. Take the points!
