This Week
The New England Patriots host the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
The Patriots (4-1) are 2-0 at The Razor, 0-0 against the NFC East and 0-0 vs. the NFC. The Cowboys (2-2) are 1-1 on the road, 0-1 vs. the AFC East and 0-1 against the AFC.
The Line/Prediction
As of Thursday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports has the Patriots minus 7. The over under is 55.
My Prediction is Patriots 35, Cowboys, 17. Give the points (Patriots) and take the under. I am 3-1-1 against the spread and 4 of 5 on calling the over/under in 2011.
Tickets
The Patriots are reporting the game as a sell out. It is the 186th consecutive sell out dating back to the 1994 season opener. The record includes preseason, regular season and playoff games.
Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.
After market tickets are available through the Official Patriots Ticket Exchange where season ticket holders can sell their unused seats to fans on the season ticket waiting list.
Getting to the Game
If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Foxboro make sure you check out the links.
Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro, MA.
Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.
Tailgating
Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.
And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.
Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
FOX is televising the game regionally and Thom Brennaman will do play by play while Troy Aikman will provide the game analysis. You can look here for your local affiliate.
See if you’re getting the game courtesy of J.P. Kirby at the506.com.
The DirecTV designation is Channel 713.
Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules, flex scheduling and commercial breaks.
Radio
The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play, former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color and new this year Scott Zolak will man the sidelines. It all starts with Gary Tanguay, Andy Gresh and Zolak with the pregame show at 1 p.m. along the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.
If you are outside the broadcast area of the stations on the Patriots Radio Network you can purchase NFL Field Pass, which allows you to listen to any game live. You can also pick which teams broadcasters you want to listen to.
All NFL Games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games under a special additional package. They usually only carry the home team feed.
The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 86, XM Channel 230 and on SiriusXM Internet Channel 872.
The Cowboys Radio network has Brad Sham calling play by play and former Dallas quarterback Babe Laufenberg doing the color via their flagship KRLD-AM/FM. Their call is available on Sirius Channel 137 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 877.
Patriots All Access
Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.
- Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
- Portland ME on WMTW Sunday at 5 a.m.
- Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
- Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
- Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.
You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.
To continue reading the Dallas Cowboys @ New England Patriots preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
Last Week
The Patriots beat the Jets at the Razor 30-21; while the Cowboys had a Week 5 bye.
History
- Dallas leads the all-time series 7-3.
- The Patriots are 2-3 as the home team in the series.
- Dallas hasn’t played in Foxboro since 2003. The other Dallas visits to Foxboro were in 1999, 1987, 1981 and 1975.
- Combined the two franchises have appeared in 14 Super Bowls winning a combined eight times.
- The two teams last met in the 2007 season in Dallas in a game won by the Patriots, 48-27. Prior to that game both teams were 5-0.
Patriots Team Notes
Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
2011 Patriots Schedule/Results
The Patriots overall franchise record is 405-364-9. They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in six appearances. They last appeared in the playoffs in 2010 when they lost at home to the New York Jets in the AFC Divisional Playoff, 28-21. They last appeared in a Super Bowl in 2007 losing to the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. They won the AFC Conference championship that season with playoff wins over Jacksonville and San Diego.
The Patriots are the defending two-time AFC East Champions; they have won the division 8 times since 2000.
The Patriots are dedicating the 2011 season to the memory of Myra Hiatt Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft. Every Patriots player and coach will honor Myra’s memory by wearing a patch with her initials on it in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the local and global community and her influence on the charitable mission of the entire Patriots organization. The patch will be worn on the left chest of every player throughout the season.
The Patriots will wear their white jersey on Sunday.
The last time the Patriots played the Cowboys in Foxboro the field surface was natural grass. It has since been replaced with field turf.
New England is 17-1 vs. the NFC at Gillette Stadium.
Since 2002 the Patriots are 7-1 vs. the NFC East in the regular season. The lone loss was in Washington in 2003.
The Patriots have not lost a regular season game at Gillette Stadium since the 2008 season having won 19 consecutive regular season home games.
Since 2002 when Gillette Stadium opened the Patriots are 69-14 at home.
Since 2003 New England is 31-5 in October with a 17-1 mark at The Razor.
The Patriots have scored 30 or more points in 13 consecutive regular season games. The NFL record is 14 games set by the St. Louis Rams in the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
The Patriots defense has allowed opponents to convert 44.3% of the time on 3rd down, while the offense has a 3rd down conversion rate of 51.8%.
The New England defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 8 times in 5 games.
The Patriots are 2nd in the NFL in points per game with 33. While they allow 23.8 points per game good for 14th in the NFL.
Opponents are outscoring the Patriots 51-45 in the 4th quarter.
CB Devin McCourty leads the team in tackles with 35.
DE Mark Anderson leads the team in sacks with 3.5, he also leads the team with 5 quarterback hits.
New England is now plus 3 in turnover differential, tied for 6th best in the NFL. The offense has given up 6 INT and 0 fumbles, while the defense has 7 INT and 2 fumble recoveries.
Several Patriots players helped United Health Care and volunteers build a new playground at Dexter Training Ground in Providence, RI this week.
The Gillette Stadium fans were pretty loud last Sunday.
Patriots Staff Notes
This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Jets.
Bill Belichick is 3-1 vs. the Cowboys in his career. He is 2-0 as the head coach in New England.
Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 166-95 in 16 NFL seasons. He is 129-52 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 15-6 in the playoffs, 14-5 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 181-101.
Belichick’s 181 wins are good for 10th all-time. Bill Parcells is 9th with 183 wins.
He was named NFL Coach of the Year for the 3rd time in 2010.
Belichick was on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “Movin’ the Chains” and he talked about the switch to the 4-3 defense.
Patriots Possible Starters
Offense:
- LT: Light
- LG: Mankins
- C: Connolly
- RG: Waters
- RT: Vollmer
- QB: Brady
- RB: Green-Ellis
- TE: R. Gronkowski
- TE: Hernandez
- WR: Welker
- WR: Branch
Defense:
- DE: Ellis
- DT: Wilfork
- DT: Warren
- DE: Carter
- OLB: Guyton
- ILB: Spikes
- OLB: Ninkovich
- LCB: McCourty
- RCB: Arrington
- S: Chung
- S: Ihedigbo
Patriots Players Notes
This is Tom Brady’s 12th NFL season he is 2-0 vs. Dallas. In the last meeting in 2007 at Dallas, Brady threw for 388 yards on 31 of 46 passing and 5 TD’s.
Overall Brady is 115-33 as a starting QB and is 14-5 in the playoffs for an overall record of 129-38. Brady is a 6 time Pro Bowl QB; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.
In 2010 Brady won his second NFL MVP and he was the first unanimous winner in league history.
Brady has won 30 consecutive regular season games at home, a NFL record. His last regular season home loss was November 12, 2006 to the New York Jets.
Brady is 64-10 at home in the regular season in his career.
Brady has thrown 14 TD’s and 6 INT’s while being sacked 8 times in four games.
Brady has 275 TD passes in his career he is now tied for 8th all-time with former teammate Vinnie Testaverde. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas is 7th with 290.
With a win on Sunday Brady and Belichick will tie Dan Marino and Don Shula as the winningest quarterback-coach combination in the Super Bowl era with 116 wins.
WR Wes Welker now has catches in 87 consecutive games including playoffs, 70 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis has 18 rushing TD’s in the last two seasons that’s the most in the NFL.
CB Kyle Arrington has a team leading 3 INT’s in 2011. DT Vince Wilfork is second with 2 INT’s in the last 3 games. S Sergio Brown and S Patrick Chung have the other INT’s.
DE Andre Carter played for Washington for 5 years and got a lot of experience playing Dallas.
RB Kevin Faulk is preparing to come off of the PUP list.
Patriots re-signed recently released OL Thomas Welch to the practice squad on Wednesday.
Patriots announced that DL Mike Wright has been placed on season-ending injured reserve with a concussion. It is the 2nd year in a row that Wright has had his season end due to concussion. It could be a career threatening injury.
New England re-signed CB Phillip Adams to take the roster spot opened up by Wright.
Green-Ellis (toe) and Wilfork (personal) were not spotted at Thursday’s practice. LB Jerod Mayo (MCL) and Josh Barrett (hamstring/thumb) also were not spotted. Most of the other injured players were limited in practice.
Barrett and Mayo both missed last week’s game against the Jets. Mayo is expected to be out several more weeks while the timetable for the return of Barrett is unknown.
The Patriots have four New England natives on the roster they are: TE Aaron Hernandez (Bristol CT); OL Donald Thomas (New Haven CT); S James Ihedigbo (Northampton MA) and DE Ron Brace (Worcester MA – PUP). They have 8 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are: WR Deion Branch (Louisville); S James Ihedigbo (UMass); C Dan Koppen (Boston College – IR); CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers); NT Vince Wilfork (Miami), OL Donald Thomas (UConn); DE Mike Wright (Cincinnati – IR) and DE Ron Brace (Boston College – PUP).
The Patriots have 7 retired numbers: 20 – Gino Cappelletti, 40 – Mike Haynes, 73 – John Hannah, 78 – Bruce Armstrong, 79 – Jim Lee Hunt and 89 – Bob Dee.
Cowboys Team Notes
Here is the Cowboys roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
The Cowboys all-time record is 440-324-6 and they are 33-25 in the playoffs with their last playoff appearance coming in 2009. They beat Philadelphia in the Wild Card game, 34-14 and then lost to Minnesota in the NFL Divisional match up, 34-3. The Cowboys last appeared in a Super Bowl following the 1995 season and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 to win Super Bowl XXX. Overall they have won five Super Bowls (VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) in eight appearances.
When the Cowboys last visited Gillette Stadium, Quincy Carter was the quarterback and Bill Parcells was the head coach.
The Cowboys will be wearing their navy jersey on Sunday due to New England being the home team and choosing to wear white. It is the first time that Dallas has worn the navy jersey on the road since December 27, 2009 at Washington.
Dallas has lost the three meetings to New England.
The Cowboys mascot is named “Rowdy”.
The Dallas defense has allowed opponents to convert 38.2% of the time on 3rd down, while the offense has a 3rd down conversion rate of 34.6%.
The Cowboys defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 13 times in 4 games.
The Cowboys are 12th in the NFL in points per game with 24.8. While they allow 25.3 points per game good for 23rd in the NFL.
Dallas is minus 4 in turnover differential, tied for 25th best in the NFL. The offense has given up 7 INT and 3 fumbles, while the defense has 4 INT and 2 fumble recoveries.
The Cowboys gained ground in the division without even stepping on the field last week.
Cowboys Staff Notes
Hear what Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett had to say to the New England media about the match up.
Jason Garrett is 7-5 in his first full season as a head coach after replacing Wade Phillips halfway through last season.
Garrett has never coached against New England.
Rob Ryan, the twin brother of NY Jets head coach Rex Ryan, is the Cowboys defensive coordinator.
Jerry Jones is one of the few owners who also handle the general manager duties.
Cowboys Players Notes
Tony Romo is 41-24 as a starting QB and is 1-3 in the playoffs for an overall record of 42-27. He signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois in 2004.
Romo is 0-1 vs. New England in his career.
He has thrown 7 TD passes and 5 INT’s while being sacked 7 times in 4 games.
Romo is ready for anything from the Patriots.
The key for Dallas is to eliminate 4th quarter turnovers.
WR Miles Austin and WR Dez Bryant are getting healthy for the Cowboys.
Does DeMarcus Ware compare to Lawrence Taylor?
Cowboys don’t want to sleep on the Patriots run game.
There’s no Darrelle Revis on Dallas so who covers Wes Welker?
Looks like CB Orlando Scandrick will be the man on Welker.
Dallas defense is going to bring the kitchen sink for Brady.
Dallas captains for 2011 are Romo, TE Jason Witten, P Matt McBriar, LB Bradie James and Ware.
The Cowboys have 3 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are LB Alex Albright (Boston College); CB Mike Jenkins (South Florida) and FB Tony Fiammetta (Syracuse).
The Cowboys do not officially retire any numbers.
Next Week
The Patriots have a bye in Week 7. They return to action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday, October 30th at 4:15 p.m.
Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem
