Zip's Dallas Cowboy Preview

Bill Parcells brings his 7-2 Cowboys to Foxboro for a Sunday Night Match-up which pits him against his former friend and team in the Bill Belichick coached New England Patriots. Two division leading teams meeting at this point in the season always draws well earned attention for the quality of the competition. The rivalry of the coaches is clear and their desire to win for such only intensifies the drama and the competition. Ultimately the battle of two top-notch coaches is only a small part of the scenery. The execution of the players and the nature of their individual matches will dictate this game. Terry "I Hate Everything about New England" also returns as the Cowboys leading receiver and most of New England's Secondary hopes to give him good reason for his potent emotional outlook.

While Dallas has dominated the infrequent battles by holding a 7-1 victory edge, New England was victorious in their last battle in 1999. The pertinent significance for this game is not in the historical series, it's in the coaching match, the team records and the individual matches. The loss could likely put Dallas in a tie for their division lead while New England does have an extra game cushion. When the season winds down games such as these will frequently have prepared a team for post-season victories as well as steps closer to the highly coveted home-field advantage. This is a classic game with all the appropriate ramifications and nearing midnight on Sunday night there will be a team with at least a better record if not the type of confidence which carries a team deep through the second half of the season.

The mystery of the Injury report won't tell us whether Richard Seymour is likely to play. It won't tell us whether big Ted Washington or tough Ted Johnson will return tot he line-up for this marquee match. The Patriots are looking far more healthy after their bye week but they still do not have the good fortune of the Cowboys who barely made a stirring on their initial injury report. Injuries will be a factor but it will be a smaller factor than it has been since the start of the season for New England.

New England Patriots	Dallas Cowboys
QUESTIONABLE: WR Troy Brown (leg) S Je'Rod Cherry (knee) LB Ted Johnson (foot) CB Ty Law (ankle) RB Fred McCrary (leg) DT Richard Seymour (leg) DT Ted Washington (leg) PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (arm)	QUESTIONABLE: LB Markus Steele (ankle)

The Dallas Cowboys are the top defense in the NFL. They allow a league best 234.6 yards per game. Their passing defense is also top in the league which generally is connected since passing yards more frequently comprise the bulk of an offensive attack. Also in terms of yards their rushing defense is third in the league at 85.1 yards per game. In the most important statistic for judging a defense, scoring allowed, the Cowboys are tops again allowing only 15.1 yards per game. They are simply an outstanding defense inspired by the Master Motivator, Bill Parcells, to swarm to the ball. The secondary are excellent at coverage with reserves talented enough to handle the multiple receiver formations of New England. Their safeties are hard hitting with the speed to add to a pass rush when blitzes are called. The linebackers are as a unit faster than any other group in the NFL. Aiding them is a capable defensive line with decent speed on the outside for pass rushing and sideline to sideline pursuit. The Defensive Tackle work on the speed and power tandem of Glover and Blade respectively. Nguyen is the Middle Linebacker who will perform with the speed of Zach Thomas but without the reads made by Thomas. Dexter Coakley is just behind him in tackles as this speed tandem represent the heart of the Dallas defense. In the last two weeks this defensive unit has faced poor offensive lines, immobile quarterbacks and challenged running games. As such they've launched a battery of blitzes which has decimated their opponent. There is further question regarding the actual talent of the offenses they have faced thus far this season but make no mistake, the group has talent and has learned to believe in themselves and their coach on their way to the 7-2 mark.

Offensively the Cowboys came into the season with great receiving talent, a big powerful line but a significant question at Quarterback. Quincy Carter has emerged highly successfully mostly on the benefit of Parcells giving him clear instructions. Carter isn't being asked to do more than play within himself and the simplified system and talented options have paid dividends. Their running game has a bit of turmoil as Adrien Murrell emerged for the lead role last week after primary back Troy Hambrick showed a propensity to fumble more than Parcells is willing to tolerate. Neither is averaging close enough to the 4 yards per carry needed for a dominating running attack. Still, more than half of their plays have been runs to ease some pressure and with their dedication they have earned the 7th best yardage on the ground of any NFL offense. The addition of Perennial Pats Killer Richie Anderson has provided a talented safety valve for Carter in his blitz reads as well as his impressive receiving skills. So when not finding any of his trio of receiving threats such as ex-Pat and current Cowboy Reception leader Terry Glenn, he may be finding Anderson. Speedster Joey Galloway is the other starting wide-out and his well known talent helps make Antonio Bryant yet another speedy threat when in the multiple receiver set. Parcells knows well to use Glenn in the slot and keep him from the jams which have been a problem in his career. Ultimately they throw a vertical game to their receivers or outlet to their fullback when options are handled.

Dallas has an outstanding and speedy defense which allows no room to run outside the tackles while being capable of punishing the short passing game is so frequently a mainstay in the Patriot attack. The safeties in their scheme are more free to shut down the deep pass which was the savior in Denver while trusting the linebackers to flood the shorter routes to either punish the receivers or tip away Brady's attempts. Although not renowned for turnovers they are well suited to limit New England's preferred modes of attack.

The Cowboys have more speed depth at receiver than the Patriots have faced up to this point. Although the New England Secondary has given up yards without points, they will be more severely challenged to keep pace with this group and if their schemes get a speedster on a linebacker it could prove costly for New England.

Parcells will not allow his team to abandon a successful running attack. The absence of Seymour did make New England a bit softer against the run last match and Parcells will exploit it as long as it shows. While Seymour is a question at this point, Parcells will be prepared to challenge the Patriots run defense without the mercy granted by Miami and Denver. At 6'1" 230 Troy Hambrick is a powerful force against New England's linebackers. The line in front is enormous and will attempt to wear down the undersized portions of the Patriot defense to break out ball control and Hambrick against the linebackers.

Quincy Carter is kept on simplified systems in large part to support his inexperience. He will now face the most complicated schemes he's seen to date and has matched his touchdown total (9) with interceptions. When called to pass his lower completion percentage and limited experience may result in fewer conversions than the Cowboys need to keep control of the ball and game.

Dallas loves to blitz on defense but Tom Brady has proven to have excellent pocket awareness. He will shift in the pocket and pre-read the blitz to continually make the right decisions. A major part of the defensive strength could be well neutralized by this awareness and reaction from New England.

This is not a neutral location. New England has a particular passion against Terry Glenn and Bill Parcells. With all the significance of this game there will be a riled crowd on hand for the night game and their noise will make things challenging for Carter and his offense. Along with the crowds vocal support the Cowboys face their first battle with cold weather which again will challenge their offense significantly.

Offensively New England has two viable options. The Cowboys are fast but a power running attack which puts a guard on a linebacker does much to neutralize this speed. A physical run attack and power back such as Antowain Smith can gain yards against this group and New England has worked with some success against similar units. In conjunction with this style of attack which puts pressure on the middle of the linebacking corps, New England has a pair of talented tight ends with Graham especially beginning to emerge as a favorite target for Brady. The two attacks play off each other to make the other more successful and could eventually pull the safeties from their deep coverage to support the middle. This is dangerous as Denver learned because Brady can in fact throw the long ball and both Givens and Branch are legitimate deep threats.

Defensively New England must stop the run while confusing Quincy Carter. The Cowboys run a significant amount of the time and with the expected return of Teds (Washington and Johnson) the run defense should improve significantly. Stopping the run puts pressure for Carter to beat him and much as Kannell faltered in Denver, the Patriot scheme of forcing continued small plays for a drive should begin to work in their favor. When passing situations arise it will be New England's turn to get a quick and surprise blitz onto Carter while Zone Coverages roll under their receivers and cause the turnovers which have been a mainstay of New England's seven victories.

Dallas does want to run the ball at the undersized portions of New England but also they wish to mix in early down passes to prevent New England from stacking against this run. Richie Anderson has always been particularly effective against them and he can drift out to soften the middle for the powerful running game which depends on linebacker support. The Patriots know Glenn doesn't like to be hit at the line and Law will probably be asked to do just that with some frequency. Thus moving Glenn in the slot will also be a common practice.

Defensively Dallas needs to stage back on their blitz approach. Attack the right guard and tackle with their stunts because this has been a weakness which has forced pressure without the need for blitzing. This will allow their linebacker speed to shut down the run and flood the short routes successfully. The infrequent blitz will be all the more effective and the change will disrupt some of New England's planning for these blitzes. The Patriot receivers are getting more depleted and the hard hitting philosophy of Woodson and especially Williams will wear down the receivers and limit New England even further. If their line can generate the pressure it will keep the linebackers free to shut down the shorter attacks with the corners and the safeties will prevent deep gains.

This is a good battle but New England does have the greater talent, the better schemes, the more recent rest, the home field and as such simply too many advantages. This doesn't mean the game won't be close, Dallas has too good a defense for a major route unless the Cowboy offense chooses to surrender points. The game will rely on Field Position in which Ken Walter has been more of a liability than a benefit this season. Ultimately the battle of two good defenses then defaults to the skill of their offensive counterparts to successfully win enough battles to take the game. Brady has all the edges needed over Carter and with the extra rest of the bye week his offensive teammates will supply 23 points while the defense for New England beats out Quincy Carter and the Cowboys struggle to reach two touchdowns after an early field goal.