Did Cowboys set defensive blueprint for how to beat Patriots?

So many long answers here. The answer to the question is YES!!!

To all the NFL HC's out there, please follow the Cowboys' exact blueprint!

JMC00 said:

Cover good and pressure the QB is a blueprint? Thought that was just a standard thing you go into the game hoping to do.

But I guess giving up 30 points is a blueprint if your team can score 30+

So idiotic.

They got 5 sacks in the 1st half and that pass rush and coverage had zero effect in the 2nd half. Brady was 9 of 10 for 160 yards and 2 TD in that 2nd half and for the game was 20 of 27 for 275 yards.

But let's dissect those 5 sacks

1 sack on the opening drive
1 sack was on a drive the Pats got a FG
2 sacks came on another drive
1 sack came on the drive at the end of HT which the next play Brady found Edelman for 24 yards and set up a FG.

So basically for all the Cowboys "great" pressure and coverage it only effected 2 drives the whole game. Two other drives stalled because of runs not picking up the 1st down.



It's hilarious when you see the mediots come out and say after a game where the Pats put up 30 points and call it a blueprint.

Idiots. A blueprint in the sense they are talking about would be something that worked. All this did was instead of the Pats scoring 40+. They scored 30.

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This is what happens when ESPN goes out of their comfort zone, they need to just focus on Tebow and Lebron articles

Let's assume the traits that slow down our offense are the following: 1) multiple good coverage linebackers/safeties to hold our multiple intermediate options in check, 2) a good pass rush, and 3) an athletic freak fast, big, and strong enough to slow down Gronk. Looking at the rest of the schedule, I identify the following teams that could pose problems:

NYJ - I don't know much about their cover LBs or safeties, but their pass rush and defensive back play could make something work. There's enough talent to scheme Gronk away if they really wanted. I'm predicting this as one of 2 losses, FWIW.

DEN - We already know about their pass rush, and they seem to have been getting great production from their safeties. Not so sure anyone is athletic enough to handle Gronk, however.

PHI - Surprise! I think they might just match up well with our offense. Kiko Alonso and Connor Barwin can take care of the middle and the pocket respectively. Even Byron Maxwell (despite his predictable failure to meet expectations) might be able to rough up Gronk and get away with it...or BB will try to get him on Edelman and all bets are off.

SalemPats said:

This is what happens when ESPN goes out of their comfort zone, they need to just focus on Tebow and Lebron articles

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I just went on ESPN and the lead story is about Lebron. Thank god they are going back to their roots

"Eureka!!! I created the blueprint on how to beat the Patriots!!!! Please check my math..."

They designed a blueprint to keep the Pats from dropping a 50 burger on you and instead only scoring 30. All you need is...

1) Greg Hardy-caliber defensive lineman to get to Brady insanely fast
2) Sean Lee-caliber linebacker to man the middle with just himself and one other dude
3) Byron Jones-caliber defensive back with freak athleticism to actually somewhat cover Gronkowski
4) A referee crew who will throw a flag on every single play that even kinda sorta maybe looks like a "pick" play
5) Home field advantage

Acquire all of these things and you, too, can maybe hold the Patriots to less than 5 touchdowns!

Dallas doing something that NE didn't expect on defense had something to do with the first half performance for sure, but why does everyone ignore that NE was also coming off a bye and in the past it usually takes about a quarter or so for them to knock the rust off?

GaryfromTO said:

what? do they mean until the Patriots adjusted?

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In the first half, Brady was sacked 5 times and put up this line: 10-16 (62.5%), 110 yds, 0 td, 0 int

In the second half, Brady was sacked 0 times and put up this line: 10-11 (90.9%), 165 yds, 2 td, 0 int

GaryfromTO said:

final was 30-6 for New England so I guess in BSPN's alleged minds, the Dallas game plan worked.

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Well, holding NE to just 30 points has to be considered a pretty good job, doesn't it?

Every time the Pats' offense struggles, ESPN runs a story that someone has set the blueprint to stop the Pats' offense. This is BS.

This is a simple case of a rare case of the Pats being unprepared for the opposing team. I compare this game to the 2011 Steelers game. In that game, **** LeBeau did something he never does and came in with a game specific game plan rather than just run his normal defense which he did every week. LeBeau ALWAYS ran their same defense no matter who they played. So the Pats were not prepared for a different gameplan out of LeBeau.

Rod Marinelli is the same way. He runs the same defense week after week. There is rarely if ever a new wrinkle in his gameplan. But on Sunday, he threw out his normal game plan and did something completely different which he never does. Also, I don't think they were prepared for Greg Hardy to be so dominant after missing over a year of football.

But the Pats eventually adjusted to the Cowboys' defensive gameplan.

Cover well and pressure the QB.

Yeah, our defense is pretty revolutionary.

blueberryicedcoffee said:

Cover well and pressure the QB.

Yeah, our defense is pretty revolutionary.

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Are you still banned from the Cowboys forum? You get to hang with fans of the best team in the League....not a bad exile, eh?

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Are you still banned from the Cowboys forum? You get to hang with fans of the best team in the League....not a bad exile, eh?

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Nah. But right now there's nothing to talk about besides Matt Cassel and an ongoing argument about Muse, Beyonce and Bruno Mars.

Hey, did you know Brandon Weeden sucks? We talk about that a lot too.

Yes, and it took the Pats a little under 2 quarters to assimilate it and become impervious to it. The blueprint is now obsolete.

Yes! That's it! The way to beat the Patriots is to not score any touchdowns!

Ahh the most brilliant of blueprints - getting consistent pressure with 4 guys or less. Why didn't I think of that

WinstonSmith said:

Yes, and it took the Pats a little under 2 quarters to assimilate it and become impervious to it. The blueprint is now obsolete.

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You have to admit though, the Cowboys' offense didn't do much to help them out. Too many 3-and-outs kept them on the field too long, and the Pats eventually wore them out. Hardy especially ran out of steam in the second half

Apparently only letting the Patriots offense hang 30 points on you is the new "We shut them down!"

Halifax_Pats_Fan said:

I actually was going to start a new thread on this this morning...

The 3 downed lineman and 6 defensive backs seemed to be frusterating NE's offense at the start. They adjust series to series like they always do, but NE needs that running game and will need it in January.

The run game is and will be critical to this teams success in January/February....

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Agreed. The past has shown there are teams with the ability to get that pressure by winning in the trenches, while having an effective enough offense to make us pay - which Dallas didn't have. In those situations we absolutely need at least the threat of the run game that can take what they give us.

Ever notice there are never articles on ESPN, SI, or any other site about how to slow down/stop Aaron Rodgers or anyone else having a big year, but as soon as the Patriots show any sign of struggle, there are like six articles the next week with analysts jumping up and down claiming they have the blueprint?

I guess forcing Rodgers into three turnovers means nothing but having Brady light you up for a passer rating around 135 is the blueprint on how to stop him.

If it is the blueprint, Bill should volunteer to make copies of it and send it on to the other 31 teams.