The Dallas Cowboys lead the NFC East with a record of 6-4 — but they have only won two games against opponents outside their division: the Miami Dolphins, and the Detroit Lions (using backup Jeff Driskel at quarterback). Overall, the team has won three of four, including a 27-point demolition of Philadelphia, a 19-point win over the Giants, a four-point loss to Minnesota, and an eight-point win over the Lions. They face their toughest test of the season so far this Sunday, as they head to New England to take on the Patriots, who come in with a 9-1 record.
The Patriots suffered their only loss of the season three weeks ago, taking a 17-point beating in Baltimore from the Ravens. Then came their bye week, and then a trip to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, where the Patriots struggled to move the ball, prevailing just 17-10 and needing a touchdown pass on a trick play from Julian Edelman to seal the win. Can the Cowboys finally live up to their billing and beat a contender? Or will the Patriots become the latest team with playoff aspirations to outcoach Dallas? Check out our sports betting preview.
Cowboys vs Patriots 2019 NFL Week 12 Odds & Game Preview
- When: Sunday, November 24, 2019, 4:25 pm ET
- Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- TV: FOX
- Radio: KRLD 105.3 FM The Fan Dallas / 98.5 FM The Sports Hub Boston
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- NFL Odds: New England -6.5
Why should you bet on the Cowboys?
The Dallas Cowboys have been inconsistent this year, but quarterback Dak Prescott has not been the problem. If you go back over his last 16 games, he has thrown for almost 5,000 yards, with terrific ball security. This year he has a 21:9 TD:INT ratio, and 3,221 passing yards. Tailback Ezekiel Elliott has 833 yards through ten games, but he has been limited in the Cowboys’ last two games as teams have dared Prescott to beat them through the air. He did it against the Lions and would have against the Vikings if head coach Jason Garrett had not insisted on running the ball in the red zone after Prescott had used the passing game to get the ball within scoring range.
The Dallas defense has been a strength at times, but it was not against the Lions, permitting 27 points to a team with a backup quarterback. Jeff Driskel is a mobile quarterback, but the Cowboys’ failure to assign him a spy and contain his mobility kept the Lions in the game far longer than they should have been. Safety Jeff Heath and cornerback Anthony Brown are all listed as out for this game, so the Dallas secondary will have its hands full with one of the great quarterbacks of all time lining up against them. If you like Dallas, you see their offensive line giving Prescott time to find receivers down the field and the Cowboys’ defense succeeding in bottling up the New England attack.
Why should you put your money on the Patriots?
The Cowboys and Patriots have met just 12 times, with Dallas winning seven and New England winning five. However, the Patriots have won the last five, as Dallas has not beaten the Patriots since 1996. This could be one of the tougher matchups, as the Patriots are having a hard time moving the ball on offense. Losing Rob Gronkowski in the offseason and then losing Josh Gordon in the season means that Tom Brady has fewer targets down the field, and issues with the offensive line means that Brady is getting hit more — and that the running game is having more problems. Sony Michel led the Patriots in rushing against Philadelphia — gaining just 33 yards.
The New England defense has been stronger than the offense as of late. Against the Eagles, they got after Carson Wentz time and time again, and they limited the Eagles to just 81 yards of rushing offense. They will need to stand tall this week, with wideouts Phillip Dorsett II and Mohamed Sanu all on the questionable list. Luckily, they face a Dallas defense that has developed a reputation for using highly predictable coverage and defensive line schemes.
Final Score Prediction
This will be another test as to whether Dallas is actually ready to contend beyond their division, and I don’t see the signs that Jason Garrett is the coach to lead his team to that next level. The decisions that he made in crunch time against Minnesota and the team’s penchant for slow starts to football games will play into Bill Belichick’s hands, and the Patriots will win, 27-16.
