Duel in Dallas - Patriots (5-0) at Cowboys (5-0)
Patriots in a perfect setting to make a statement
They finally meet a quality opponent
By DAVE D’ONOFRIO
Monitor staff
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Standing in front of his stall, Rodney Harrison couldn't help but observe that the horde surrounding him on three sides was a little bigger than normal on Wednesday morning, just before the first practice his Patriots spent preparing for tomorrow's tussle between unbeatens against the Dallas Cowboys.
So he understood why the media had arrived en masse. He just didn't buy into the idea that the week would be any different - but for a few more cameras, reporters and recorders.
"I just look in the locker room and see more of you knuckleheads around," said the safety. "That's what it comes down to: more hype. But our approach is pretty much the same. Business as usual. Same energy, same concentration and focus, and just make sure we go out there and have a good one."
The thinking is in line with what we've come to expect from New England in the Bill Belichick era, and with what Mike Vrabel, among others, said this week. "It's a big game because it's the next one for us," recited the linebacker.
But there really is more meaning to this matchup than any of the five games the Pats have played thus far - and, while each would be nice, it has nothing to do with playoff seeding, remaining perfect, or padding a plenty cushy division lead.
It has to do with proving that one of the five most dominant starts in NFL history is no fluke. Granted, doing so will mean little toward the long-term goal of a fourth Super Bowl title, but along the course of the year there come opportunities for teams to show themselves, their fans and their opponents just how good they are, and Dallas's best-in-the-NFC status makes this one of those very moments.
"It's another regular-season game for us, and there have been a lot of big games around here," said quarterback Tom Brady, who's set to make his 100th career start. "They're a very talented team and we need to play our best game. I think that's what it comes down to. It's a great defense that attacks the quarterback, attacks the football, and they're very good at what they do."
Brady's attempt at downplaying essentially validates the idea that this is a significant test for his team. To this stage, the Pats have posted a league-best 36.4 points per game, and are averaging 428 yards of offense, but it's been against mostly inferior competition.
The last two weeks New England has faced the team that's allowed the most points league-wide (Cincinnati) and the team that's allowed the most yards (Cleveland), and the Ohio entries aren't the only poor units the Pats have pounced on. The average defense they've opposed has yielded almost 27 points each week, while ranking 28th in the NFL in terms of yards allowed.
The Cowboys won't be quite such a pushover. Statistically, their defense is stellar, and last week single-handedly kept Dallas in the game long enough to survive Tony Romo's six turnovers. Oh, and since New England's all-world attack has gotten most of the ink, it's a safe bet a defense led by linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Bradie James will be playing to provide some proof about themselves as well.
"I think both teams will be up for this game," Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips said. "Both of us 5-0, that's motivation right there."
There will also be motivation on the other side of scrimmage, where the offense with the most yards of any team meets the league's second-stingiest defense. Against San Diego and Cincinnati, the Pats have already faced a couple of clubs with supposedly loaded attacks, but against Dallas they'll encounter one that's actually proven their promise.
Tony Romo and Terrell Owens are big reasons for that, with Harrison and others raving about their respect for the tandem at mid-week. But no player appears to have the Patriots' attention as much as Jason Witten, the tight end who leads his team in catches, yards and touchdowns - and also represents another challenging chance to prove itself.
Since last season, talented, pass-receiving tight ends have repeatedly caused problems for the Pats, so if they can at least limit Witten's impact tomorrow, it could give them both confidence and a gameplan for similar situations in the future.
That won't be easy, of course, but neither will any part of the game. There's a reason this amounts to a matchup of unbeatens, and why Dallas appears to be the team to beat in the NFC. The Cowboys are as formidable a foe as New England has seen all season.
"It'll be a great challenge," Vrabel said. "They're a very good football team."
And if the Patriots think the same of themselves, now's their chance to prove it.
They finally meet a quality opponent
By DAVE D’ONOFRIO
Monitor staff
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Standing in front of his stall, Rodney Harrison couldn't help but observe that the horde surrounding him on three sides was a little bigger than normal on Wednesday morning, just before the first practice his Patriots spent preparing for tomorrow's tussle between unbeatens against the Dallas Cowboys.
So he understood why the media had arrived en masse. He just didn't buy into the idea that the week would be any different - but for a few more cameras, reporters and recorders.
"I just look in the locker room and see more of you knuckleheads around," said the safety. "That's what it comes down to: more hype. But our approach is pretty much the same. Business as usual. Same energy, same concentration and focus, and just make sure we go out there and have a good one."
The thinking is in line with what we've come to expect from New England in the Bill Belichick era, and with what Mike Vrabel, among others, said this week. "It's a big game because it's the next one for us," recited the linebacker.
But there really is more meaning to this matchup than any of the five games the Pats have played thus far - and, while each would be nice, it has nothing to do with playoff seeding, remaining perfect, or padding a plenty cushy division lead.
It has to do with proving that one of the five most dominant starts in NFL history is no fluke. Granted, doing so will mean little toward the long-term goal of a fourth Super Bowl title, but along the course of the year there come opportunities for teams to show themselves, their fans and their opponents just how good they are, and Dallas's best-in-the-NFC status makes this one of those very moments.
"It's another regular-season game for us, and there have been a lot of big games around here," said quarterback Tom Brady, who's set to make his 100th career start. "They're a very talented team and we need to play our best game. I think that's what it comes down to. It's a great defense that attacks the quarterback, attacks the football, and they're very good at what they do."
Brady's attempt at downplaying essentially validates the idea that this is a significant test for his team. To this stage, the Pats have posted a league-best 36.4 points per game, and are averaging 428 yards of offense, but it's been against mostly inferior competition.
The last two weeks New England has faced the team that's allowed the most points league-wide (Cincinnati) and the team that's allowed the most yards (Cleveland), and the Ohio entries aren't the only poor units the Pats have pounced on. The average defense they've opposed has yielded almost 27 points each week, while ranking 28th in the NFL in terms of yards allowed.
The Cowboys won't be quite such a pushover. Statistically, their defense is stellar, and last week single-handedly kept Dallas in the game long enough to survive Tony Romo's six turnovers. Oh, and since New England's all-world attack has gotten most of the ink, it's a safe bet a defense led by linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Bradie James will be playing to provide some proof about themselves as well.
"I think both teams will be up for this game," Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips said. "Both of us 5-0, that's motivation right there."
There will also be motivation on the other side of scrimmage, where the offense with the most yards of any team meets the league's second-stingiest defense. Against San Diego and Cincinnati, the Pats have already faced a couple of clubs with supposedly loaded attacks, but against Dallas they'll encounter one that's actually proven their promise.
Tony Romo and Terrell Owens are big reasons for that, with Harrison and others raving about their respect for the tandem at mid-week. But no player appears to have the Patriots' attention as much as Jason Witten, the tight end who leads his team in catches, yards and touchdowns - and also represents another challenging chance to prove itself.
Since last season, talented, pass-receiving tight ends have repeatedly caused problems for the Pats, so if they can at least limit Witten's impact tomorrow, it could give them both confidence and a gameplan for similar situations in the future.
That won't be easy, of course, but neither will any part of the game. There's a reason this amounts to a matchup of unbeatens, and why Dallas appears to be the team to beat in the NFC. The Cowboys are as formidable a foe as New England has seen all season.
"It'll be a great challenge," Vrabel said. "They're a very good football team."
And if the Patriots think the same of themselves, now's their chance to prove it.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:30 AM
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