New England Patriots @ Dallas Cowboys
Final Score: Dallas 38, Patriots 3
Writer: Michael James (@MikeoftheFF on Twitter)
Since the turn of the century, the Patriots have held a 5-1 head-to-head advantage against the Cowboys coming into today. Heading into the game Dallas was without Tyron Smith on the offensive line. New England was without Jonathan Jones in the secondary and Cole Strange on the offensive line. The story of the first half was miscues from the Patriots and the Dallas D/ST capitalizing on them with two defensive touchdowns. New England lost CB Christian Gonzalez to injury for the remainder of the day. History was made as Dallas was the first team to fake an extra point and convert for two points since the ball was placed back to the 15-yard line for extra point attempts in 2015. At the risk of triggering people from Atlanta, both teams conclude the half with the Patriots down 28-3. This time things only got worse for New England in the second half as they would register another turnover, three punts, and a missed field goal. In addition, the Patriots D/ST would lose even more key players with both Jabrill Peppers and Matthew Judon leaving the game with injuries. Both teams would begin rotating out starters midway through the third quarter and the clock ran out with the Cowboys giving Belichick statistically his biggest loss since he took over coaching the Patriots.
Three Up
- Dallas D/ST – 3 points allowed, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble, two sacks, two touchdowns. Headlined by DaRon Bland and his 4 Tackles, 3 Passes Defended, 2 Interceptions, and a Touchdown
- Jake Ferguson – Once again led the team in targets with 7 for 77 yards on the day. Has led or tied for the lead on the team in targets in 3 out of the 4 games this season
- Brandon Aubrey – When a potent offense struggles in the red zone, the kicker benefits and Aubrey continued to roll with his streak of multiple field goals in every game
Three Down
- Mac Jones – Three turnovers and finished his day with a QBR of 14.8. Belichick went to the bullpen to pull him in the third quarter.
- Rhamondre Stevenson – 2.1 YPC average on 14 carries
- Patriots Offense – This one is a bit on the nose for “three down”, but it is a nod to New England’s 5 total “three downs and punt” possessions for today
DEFENSE 😤@dantefowler strip. @VanderEsch38 score.
📺: FOX & NFL+ ➡️ https://t.co/yLMhJNTZjs pic.twitter.com/Lb2Gb5ahp0
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 1, 2023
Patriots
Quarterback
Mac Jones: 12/21, 150 Yards 2 INT | 3 Carries, 7 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)
Notes
- I was impressed with his pocket presence to feel when the pressure was about to be on top of him (it was early and often too) and scramble out to keep drives alive and prevent sacks. Only sacked once despite the high pressure all day
- One scramble, was able to escape the pocket and find his receiver for a 42-yard catch and run to turn a potential sack into a huge chunk play
- 2 for 2 on the deep ball
- Bailed out another scramble and avoided the sack to hit his receiver on the other side of the field throwing across his body to convert a first down with a 16-yard pass. Olsen on the broadcast warns he was lucky as that’s a very dangerous thing to do…
Missed Opportunities
- -And wouldn’t you know it, he does it again but this time the pass is easily jumped and the interception is run back for a pick-6
- Attempted the Philly Special rugby pile drive to convert a 4th and 1 but was stuffed and turned the ball over on downs
- The offensive line had four penalties work against their momentum including a drive killer that made it third and 15 and the next pass completed for 14 yards which would have been good for the first down, if only
- Almost had an additional two interceptions thrown but were dropped by the defender on the play
- His receivers are getting open and the opportunities are there, but he isn’t afforded the time. Very common theme of throwing with a hand in his face or running for his life
- Jones is informed by Belichick with 6 minutes left in the third quarter that he is done for the day
Bailey Zappe: 4/9, 57 Yards
Notes
- Wasn’t afraid to go deep, and tried to get the offense back into it. All three deep ball attempts by him were solid throws putting the ball in the window it needed to be in
- Made a laser throw with a hand in his face right over the middle into a tight coverage area for 20 yards to get them to midfield
- Great looking 22-yard dime to his receiver on the sideline to get them into field goal range
- Spread it around, no ‘clear favorite’ target
DaRon Bland pick-six! 2nd defensive TD of the half for the @DallasCowboys 🤠
📺: #NEvsDAL on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/W6WY0IXjZJ
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
Running Back
Between Dallas bringing a very strong run defense today and falling behind the score as the game went on, there just wasn’t much to be gained on the ground today for New England.
Rhamondre Stevenson: 14 Carries, 30 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards
Notes
- Got the majority of the 70/30 carry split and the touches were evenly spread between the two halves
- Two red zone carries
Missed Opportunities
- His only double-digit run of 12 yards bursting through the middle hole got negated by holding
- 2.1 YPC
Ezekiel Elliott: 6 Carries, 16 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
Notes
- Started strong with 9 of his 16 total rushing yards coming on his first carry
- Going into this game I was curious how the red zone split would play out but the team only got to the red zone once on the entire day
Wide Receiver/Tight End
New England had EIGHT receivers and backs with 3+ targets
Hunter Henry: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 51 Yards
Notes
- Converted two third downs into first downs with his receptions
- The first play for the team was a 14-yard reception to Henry
- Was interfered with on his deep reception but still caught it anyway
Demario Douglas: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 45 Yards
Notes
- For another week in a row Dallas’s secondary miscues left a receiver wide open, this week it was Douglas who hauled in a bomb for 42 yards
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 5 Targets, 1 Reception, 14 Yards
Notes
- Had a potential highlight reel deep ball catch but failed to get both feet in bounds
- Was the intended target on the second interception
Mike Gesicki: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
Notes
- His one catch was snagged in traffic able to hold on
- Had a deep ball target from Zappe
Missed Opportunities
- The only red zone pass attempt target out of reach
Kendrick Bourne: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 36 Yards
Notes
- Had an impressive fingertip catch
- Caught the first cross-body throw by Jones for 16 yards
- Was the target on the first interception (the second cross-body throw attempt by Jones)
DeVante Parker: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 33 Yards
Notes
- Impressive back shoulder jump catch on the sidelines for 20 yards
Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 28/34, 261 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Notes
- Efficient ball spread with 5 receivers getting 4+ targets
- Got two key offensive linemen back (but lost a third) however you could tell they were not 100% and thus Prescott continued to face pressure including getting sacked 3 times
- Much better decision management compared to last week
- 2 for 4 on the deep ball
Missed Opportunities
- Red zone woes continue. 1 for 4 on the day which puts them at a grimacing 4 for 15 over the last 3 games.
- Had a potential interception dropped by the defender
- Patriots came out blitzing in the second half to great effect slowing down the offense.
- Ate a sack from unblocked Jahlani Tavai turning a 3rd and 2 to a 4th and 11 in the red zone
- Sacked on 4th and 3 just outside the red zone on a different drive to turn the ball over
Cooper Rush: 2/2, 20 Yards | 3 Carries, -2 Yards
Notes
- You cannot stop The Rush, you can merely hope to contain him.
- This was a garbage time rotation for Dak, with no injury concerns.
Running Back
Tony Pollard: 11 Carries, 47 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 13 Yards
You know that awkward moment when you and someone directly in front of you are walking at each other and you both sidestep to the same side and then immediately overcorrect by dodging to the other side leading to the weird exchange that involves some form of ‘ope’ and ‘dance’ with some uncomfortable laughing where you have to recognize the person in front of you? That’s pretty much what Prescott and Pollard did on a weird handoff at the 1-yard line which allowed the Patriots to get to him in the backfield for a four-yard loss. Unlucky.
Notes
- The only double-digit run was a 16-yard burst through the middle
Missed Opportunities
- Denied his only red zone carry attempt by Dak
- Was rotated out of the game midway in the third quarter resulting in low opportunities for the game
Rico Dowdle: 3 Carries, 9 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Left before halftime with a hip injury and would not return
Deuce Vaughn: 8 Carries, 9 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards
Notes
- The feature back after the Pollard benching and Dowdle injury. The fan-favorite rookie folk hero was met with a chorus of DEUUUUCE
Missed Opportunities
- Zack Martin was rotated out around the same time and the run protection seemed to decline
- Was met behind the line of scrimmage on a good portion of his handoffs
- Had a red zone carry in the I-formation but still couldn’t get it through
Hunter Luepke: 2 Carries, 4 Yards, TD
Notes
- The full-back touchdown, you love to see it.
- I’ve been informed that your fantasy team does NOT, in fact, “love to see it”
- 1 for 2 on red zone carries in garbage time
- Can’t help but wonder how many of these carries at the end of the game would have been Pollard’s had the score been closer
Wide Receiver/Tight End
CeeDee Lamb: 1 Carry, 12 Yards | 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 36 Yards, TD
Notes
- Touchdown enhanced the otherwise quiet day at the office
- The next play after losing Patriots’ starting CB Gonzalez, Dak attacked his replacement, hitting Lamb with a 20-yard go route in the end-zone.
- Impressive one-handed catch while spinning 360 to shake the tackler at the same time
- 1 for 2 on deep ball targets
Missed Opportunities
- The target on a corner end-zone fade that he almost brought in with one hand but was not to be
- Dak had completed a pass to 6 other different targets before Lamb’s first catch
Jake Ferguson: 7 Targets, 7 Receptions, 77 Yards
Notes
- Two targets inside the red zone
- Big hype play catching a pass over the middle of the middle of the field and taking a huge hit right as he caught it
- 5 of his receptions went for first downs including converting a third down
Missed Opportunities
- Flagged for false start
Michael Gallup: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 60 Yards
Notes
- Now back-to-back games with 6+ targets
- Left wide open on a Prescott scramble good for a 29-yard catch and run
- Targeted to counter the blitz-heavy attack to get a 19-yard catch on the sideline
Jalen Tolbert: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 53 Yards
Notes
- His biggest play of the game was actually a special teams tackle on a punt return pinning the receiver back to the Patriots’ own 10-yard line
Brandin Cooks: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 27 Yards
KaVontae Turpin: 1 Carry, 46 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Notes
- Utilized a jet sweep to pick up a huge chunk play down the sideline
Missed Opportunities
- Fumbled said carry at the end of the run on a tackle from behind, recovered by Dallas
Dak and CeeDee for 6️⃣, like they've done so many times before 🎯
📺: #NEvsDAL on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/OzHihEcYvq
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023