Patriots, Cowboys: Pregame Hype Too Much

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

I think there is far too much hype on this battle of 5-0 teams as the Dallas Cowboys prepare to host the New England Patriots in the NFL’s Week 6 highlight game. I understand it’s only the fifth time in NFL history that unbeaten teams with at least five wins have played against each other, but this is not a dream matchup as I see it. I think Dallas is a good football team. But, I think New England is an elite team. I’m not typically one for bold predictions on games, but I expect the Patriots to take the Cowboys out behind the proverbial woodshed in this one.

I watched with much skepticism as Dallas stumbled to a one-point win last week against Buffalo. The Cowboys weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Do you really think Pats head coach Bill Belichick didn’t pick up some helpful hints from watching the tape of that debacle? I think New England will do everything the Bills did well and then some. They’ll shut down Terrell Owens. They’ll stop the run. And they’ll keep TE Jason Witten from roaming free in the middle of the field. Dallas’ YPG average (inflated against inferior teams like Miami and St. Louis) will drop drastically. On the flip side, New England’s WRs will run wild against a banged-up Dallas secondary. Even at full-strength I think the Cowboys get carved-up by Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth.

The pregame comments (or lack thereof in T.O.’s case) from both teams have really told the story. New England is treating this like the next game on their schedule. Dallas is treating it like much more. The Pats should methodically roll over Dallas in a game that won’t live up to the hype.