This is the biggest game I have heard about in recent history. The Dallas Cowboys host the New England Patriots this Sunday with a start time of 3:15 Central Time. Both teams walk into Texas Stadium undefeated at 5-0. The Cowboys, well, let's be honest. They haven't had any "real" challenging opponents and yet squeaked out a win on Monday night against Buffalo.
Evaluate the Schedule for:
New England:
Time for stat comparison. New England leads the NFL with Points per Game at 36.4 PPG. The Cowboys are second with 35.2 PPG. The Cowboys led the NFL in Yards per Game (429.6) and New England is second with 427.8 YPG.
The Cowboys rank 3rd in 1st Downs in a game, New England is first. The Cowboys are better at converting 3rd and 4th down (48.5% on third and 80% on fourth). New England seems average on third down with a 43.1% and sits in the middle pack of the NFL and have converted 50% of their 4th down tries.
In my humble opinion, time of possession is the one stat that indicates whether you are dominating or not. New England ranks third in the NFL with an average of 34 minutes and 37 seconds a game. The Cowboys are closer to the middle of the pack (8th) with a time of 31 minutes and 43 seconds.
As always, the team who ends up with the most points will win the game. In this game, it will be a battle of the defense (isn't that a stock line or something?). Both of these teams are going to score some points. New England has dominated their opponents (all with losing records, mind you) and held them to an average of 13 points a game. The Cowboys, on the other hand, give up an average of 19.2 points a game. The Steelers, with the help of a shutout, lead the way with 9.4 points a game. The Patriots are second in defensive yardage, holding onto 251.4 yards. They've picked off 8 passes and brought one back for a touch. They have also forced five fumbles. The Patriots have sacked the QB fourteen times. The Cowboys defense has sacked the QB twelve times, given on average 285.4 yards a game, lead the NFL in interceptions with 10 and have forced 3 fumbles. Both the Patriots and the Cowboys have deflected 25 passes.
New England's special teams isn't so hot, at least on the kick off side of things. The Cowboys hold the edge here with a 26.3 yard kick off to the Patriots 22.7 kick off. The Cowboys have given up a TD, whereas New England has not. I really shouldn't have to look at punting to know who has the better punter. That's the Cowboys, hands down. But to prove my point, I'll give out some stats anyway. Cowboys average 47.6 yards a punt (ranked 5th). The Patriots are the worst in the NFL at 36.3 yards a punt (ranked 32nd). To their defense, I guess, the Patriots have the least amount of experience, with the fewest punts at 11 (Cowboys have booted 17 punts). On returns, the 'boys aren't so hot. They average 20 yards a return. New England is one of the best, with 30.5 yards a return (actually 2nd in the NFL).
All I can say is that while most I talk to say that the Cowboys "have a chance", statistically, the Cowboys have a much better chance that what most think around here. The Cowboys has beaten a better opponent than the Patriots, and maybe that is why the defensive stats are higher than the Patriots. On the flipside, the Patriots have dominated everyone they have played. This will be a great game. The Patriots are going to score their points. The main concern and the most important thing to watch is Romo vs. the Patriots defense. If Romo can establish himself early, then this will be the game people will talk about for years to come.
Forecast: Cowboys pull an upset and a comeback with a 38-35 victory. Look for Brady to be picked off in the second half and pressure brought on by Ware.
Evaluate the Schedule for:
New England:
- @ NY Jets W38-14
- San Diego W38-14
- Buffalo W38-7
- @ Cincinnati W34-13
- Cleveland W34-17
- NY Giants W45-35
- @ Miami W37-20
- @ Chicago W34-10
- St. Louis W35-7
- @ Buffalo W25-24
Time for stat comparison. New England leads the NFL with Points per Game at 36.4 PPG. The Cowboys are second with 35.2 PPG. The Cowboys led the NFL in Yards per Game (429.6) and New England is second with 427.8 YPG.
The Cowboys rank 3rd in 1st Downs in a game, New England is first. The Cowboys are better at converting 3rd and 4th down (48.5% on third and 80% on fourth). New England seems average on third down with a 43.1% and sits in the middle pack of the NFL and have converted 50% of their 4th down tries.
In my humble opinion, time of possession is the one stat that indicates whether you are dominating or not. New England ranks third in the NFL with an average of 34 minutes and 37 seconds a game. The Cowboys are closer to the middle of the pack (8th) with a time of 31 minutes and 43 seconds.
As always, the team who ends up with the most points will win the game. In this game, it will be a battle of the defense (isn't that a stock line or something?). Both of these teams are going to score some points. New England has dominated their opponents (all with losing records, mind you) and held them to an average of 13 points a game. The Cowboys, on the other hand, give up an average of 19.2 points a game. The Steelers, with the help of a shutout, lead the way with 9.4 points a game. The Patriots are second in defensive yardage, holding onto 251.4 yards. They've picked off 8 passes and brought one back for a touch. They have also forced five fumbles. The Patriots have sacked the QB fourteen times. The Cowboys defense has sacked the QB twelve times, given on average 285.4 yards a game, lead the NFL in interceptions with 10 and have forced 3 fumbles. Both the Patriots and the Cowboys have deflected 25 passes.
New England's special teams isn't so hot, at least on the kick off side of things. The Cowboys hold the edge here with a 26.3 yard kick off to the Patriots 22.7 kick off. The Cowboys have given up a TD, whereas New England has not. I really shouldn't have to look at punting to know who has the better punter. That's the Cowboys, hands down. But to prove my point, I'll give out some stats anyway. Cowboys average 47.6 yards a punt (ranked 5th). The Patriots are the worst in the NFL at 36.3 yards a punt (ranked 32nd). To their defense, I guess, the Patriots have the least amount of experience, with the fewest punts at 11 (Cowboys have booted 17 punts). On returns, the 'boys aren't so hot. They average 20 yards a return. New England is one of the best, with 30.5 yards a return (actually 2nd in the NFL).
All I can say is that while most I talk to say that the Cowboys "have a chance", statistically, the Cowboys have a much better chance that what most think around here. The Cowboys has beaten a better opponent than the Patriots, and maybe that is why the defensive stats are higher than the Patriots. On the flipside, the Patriots have dominated everyone they have played. This will be a great game. The Patriots are going to score their points. The main concern and the most important thing to watch is Romo vs. the Patriots defense. If Romo can establish himself early, then this will be the game people will talk about for years to come.
Forecast: Cowboys pull an upset and a comeback with a 38-35 victory. Look for Brady to be picked off in the second half and pressure brought on by Ware.
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