Cowboys at Patriots
THE STORY: By the time Sunday rolls around, Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys will have had two weeks to let their latest mind-boggling loss marinate. The odds of the Cowboys bouncing back from a crushing defeat to Detroit against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, however, are stacked against them. Romo’s roller-coaster season resumes Sunday as he leads the Cowboys against Tom Brady and the Patriots, who will try to extend their franchise record to 20 straight regular-season home wins. Brady has won 30 straight regular-season home games, which is the longest streak in NFL history. He threw five touchdowns in a 48-27 road win over Dallas in 2007 – the Patriots’ third straight win in the series.
TV: FOX 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Patriots -7, O/U 55
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (4-1): New England has scored at least 30 points in 13 straight games – one shy of tying the league record. The Patriots lead the league in total yards (495.2 ypg), but they haven’t been as reliant on Brady over the last two games. New England has averaged 167.5 rushing yards in that span. BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-21 win over the New York Jets. Brady, who leads the league in passing yards (1,874) and touchdowns (14), failed to throw at least two scoring passes for the first time in 14 games. WR Wes Welker has 740 yards receiving – the most in NFL history over the first five games. Despite allowing a season-low 255 yards to New York without star LB Jerod Mayo (sprained knee), the Patriots are still dead last in the NFL in defense (433.0 ypg).
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (2-2): Dallas’ first four games have had more drama than daytime TV. Romo (1,273 yards, 7 TDs, 5 INTs) is under the gun again after his three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, contributed to the Cowboys blowing a 24-point third-quarter lead against Detroit – the worst collapse in team history. The good news for the Cowboys is they are the healthiest they’ve been all season. Romo’s fractured rib should be fully healed while WR Miles Austin (hamstring) returns from a two-game absence and nickel CB Orlando Scandrick is back from a high ankle sprain. The bye also helped WR Dez Bryant (thigh) and RB Felix Jones (separated shoulder).
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Brady threw his first career red zone interception at Gillette Stadium last week.
2. Dallas’ defense is ranked fourth in the NFL (291.8 ypg) and first against the run (61.8 ypg).
3. New England hasn’t lost a regular-season home game since a 38-13 defeat to Miami on September 21, 2008 – which came with Brady (torn ACL, MCL) on the sidelines.