The New England Patriots take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 4:25 PM. ET
Patriots Vs Cowboys Week 5 Betting Odds
BetOnline.ag has the Patriots favored to win this game by 9 points. The over/under on total points scored is 49.5. Click here to check out our BetOnline review.
My Pick
In week four, the Cowboys lost a heartbreaker to the Saints. The Cowboys do not look like the same team without Romo or Dez Bryant. So far, Brandon Weeden has done an adequate job as the Cowboys’ signal caller, but he’s yet to look like anything more than a backup. Against a Patriots team with more balance and less defensive question marks, Weeden will be in serious trouble.
The Patriots had a bye week in week four. Prior to the bye week the Patriots had been rolling. They’re off to a 3-0 start and have drawn comparisons by many to their 2007 undefeated season. While it’s still too early to take remarks like that seriously, it’s nevertheless apparent that the Patriots, whom often play with a chip on their shoulder, appear out for vengeance.
In week three, the Patriots dismantled the Jaguars 51-17. The Patriots, despite the large lead in the fourth quarter, never took their foot off the gas pedal. Through three games, the margin of victory has not always been this wide, but it appears that the Patriots want to not only beat their opponents, they want to embarrass them.
What separates the Patriots from most teams in the NFL is their patience and intelligence. Week to week stats don’t always tell the whole story when looking at the Patriots performances. Belichick likes to take away specific weapons defensively, and that oftentimes leaves other areas less guarded. In this line of reasoning, Belichick is opting to eliminate a team’s greatest strength, and if another option steps up and takes advantage, the Patriots can live with it. Against a depleted Cowboys offense, expect the Patriots to have patience as they wait for Weeden to make his own mistakes. The Patriots will likely try to keep Weeden in the pocket and force him to complete passes.
Two players to watch on the Cowboys are Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle. Quarterback, Brandon Weeden, has struggled to pass the ball downfield. If the Cowboys are to have any success moving the ball they’ll need to get these two running backs in the mix. In week three, Dunbar had ten catches for 100 yards, but he was not targeted for a single pass in week four. Similarly, Randle is an important cog in the Dallas running machine and his impact must materialize on the field for Dallas to have any shot this week. If Dallas cannot get either of these two going, then they’re going to struggle mightily this week.
A player to watch on the Patriots is running back Deon Lewis. In three weeks, Lewis is arguably the most vital back for New England. His pass catching ability coupled with his elusive speed makes him a dynamic back for the Patriots spread offense. The Patriots power running back, LaGarrette Blount will certainly have a huge role in the Patriots ground attack, but Lewis will feature heavily in the passing game as well.
After a promising start to the season, Dallas finds itself on a bit of a losing streak early in the season. The Patriots are certainly a difficult challenge for the Cowboys, but their schedule won’t get any easier with upcoming matchups with Seattle and division rival New York. The Cowboys will certainly have an edge of desperation when they play the Patriots at home in Dallas, but with Weeden at the helm, the Cowboys offense will continue to struggle.
The Patriots defense is solid but they’re still going to give up yards and points. Expect a high scoring game that the Patriots should easily take on the road.
Play: Over 49.5 @ BetOnline.ag
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