Cowboys at Patriots: What a win or a loss means this Sunday

Dallas Cowboys lose

This is where it becomes a little more tricky. Because of how good the Patriots have been, you can never be upset if you lose to them. It then becomes a matter of how you lose, and by how much of a deficit.

I have been very vocal about how I’m disappointed with the Cowboys run defense this year. If they go into Foxborough and have the 24th ranked rushing team ground and pound them, this loss becomes bad.

Coach Jason Garrett and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli having a team that has not run well all season and exposing something that has been exposed all season is a no-no. The coaching must not allow the Pats rushing attack to beat them.

If Dallas loses to the Pats by 14+ points I would not be too impressed and then 20+ I would be disappointed. If they lose by 10 points or less, then at least they keep it a close game. There are only two teams that lost to the Pats by seven or fewer points with the next fewest being by 16 points.

Putting Dallas into that category would put another loss in the “L” column, but at least have some positives to take from the game. They can at least go into next week against the Buffalo Bills knowing that they had a close game with New England.

If the Cowboys can put up 30+ points against the Patriots and become the second team this season to do that, this would be a good game, even if it’s lost. It would be bad for the Cowboys defense for giving up that many points, but good for the offense not being stopped.

If Dallas fails to turn over the ball, it is a big positive. This is because the Patriots are averaging two forced turnovers per game.  Protecting the football is very important, but absolutely key in this game.