The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots are both coming off of wins but neither win was resounding. The Cowboys struggled more than they needed to with the Jeff Driskel-led Detroit Lions while the Patriots eked out a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in a game where their offense looked stale.

The Patriots are laying a big number here but that’s mostly because the Cowboys have struggled whenever they’ve stepped up in competition this season. Can they change the narrative and get a big win on the road?

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Cowboys are 0-3 both straight up and against the spread (ATS) against teams with a winning record this season. They’re also 5-11 ATs in that role over the last three seasons. They also don’t fare well in this series. While the teams haven’t met a lot recently, the Patriots are 5-1 in the last six get-togethers.

The Patriots thrive against NFC teams as they are 10-3 ATS and SU in their last 13 non-conference games. They’re also 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 against teams with a winning record and are 7-1 ATS in their last eight as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys did get the win last week – their third in their last four games – but it was again a shaky effort. Just like they did against the New York Giants a few weeks ago, they were sloppy early, fell behind and had to dig themselves out of a hole. They better sort out their slow start issues because they’re going to get blown out if they are slapdash on Sunday.

The good news for the Cowboys is that New England’s offence has looked bad over their last few games. Something might be up with Tom Brady, who had seven touchdown passes and no interceptions in the team’s first three games but has just seven touchdowns and five interceptions in the team’s last seven games.

A big problem for the Pats is that they aren’t running the ball very well this season. Many people have forgotten about their offensive line injuries early on but they’ve been a big factor. The Patriots are 24^th in rushing offence and 30^th in yards per carry.

If Dallas can play smart and drag the Patriots into a low-scoring, grind-it-out type of affair, they just might have a shot here.

New England Patriots

The Patriots should win this game simply because they’ll have a huge edge on the sidelines. Jason Garrett’s Cowboys are often unprepared for these types of showdowns, making silly mistakes and boneheaded plays. Case and point was two weeks ago when the Minnesota Vikings went into Dallas and were up 14-0 by the end of the first quarter. Bill Belichick is miles ahead of Garrett and that’s significant here.

The Patriots did struggle on offence last week and against Baltimore, but those are decent defences. They were also on the road in both of those games. They’re back at home where Brady has been much better. He has a 103.9 passer rating in New England compared 81.9 on the road.

And don’t forget that the Patriots defense should control this game. This should be the best defence that Dallas has faced and the Cowboys are banged up. They just lost corner Anthony Brown for the season and while Amari Cooper, La’El Collins and DeMarcus Lawrence should all play, all will be less than 100 percent. That should make the Patriots job all the more easier.

Who Will Win Cowboys vs. Patriots?

Weather

temp	38
condition	heavy-rain
wind	Northwest 16mph

Injuries

Dallas

Demarcus Lawrence (DE)

day-to-day Ribs - 29 / 12 / 19

Byron Jones (CB)

Ques Sun Ankle - 27 / 12 / 19

Chris Covington (LB)

Ques Sun Illness - 26 / 12 / 19

Antwaun Woods (DT)

Out Sun Hip - 26 / 12 / 19

C.J. Goodwin (CB)

Ques Sun Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19

Jeff Heath (S)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

Chris Jones (P)

Ques Sun Abdominal - 25 / 12 / 19

Demarcus Lawrence (DE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

Sean Lee (LB)

Prob Sun Pectoral - 25 / 12 / 19

Dak Prescott (QB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

New England

Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB)

Prob Sat Knee - 31 / 12 / 19

Marcus Cannon (OL)

Prob Sat Ankle - 31 / 12 / 19

Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)

Prob Sat Shoulder - 31 / 12 / 19

Julian Edelman (WR)

Prob Sat Knee - 31 / 12 / 19

Jonathan Jones (DB)

Prob Sat Groin - 31 / 12 / 19

Terrence Brooks (DB)

Prob Sat Groin - 28 / 12 / 19

Sony Michel (RB)

Prob Sun Illness - 28 / 12 / 19

Shilique Calhoun (LB)

Ques Sun Illness - 26 / 12 / 19

Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB)

Prob Sun Knee - 25 / 12 / 19

Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Demarcus Lawrence (DE)	day-to-day	Ribs - 29 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lawrence left Sunday's game with injured ribs, and it is unclear if he will return.
Byron Jones (CB)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 27 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jones is tending to a sprained ankle, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Redskins on Sunday.
Chris Covington (LB)	Ques Sun	Illness - 26 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Covington is dealing with an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Redskins on Sunday.
Antwaun Woods (DT)	Out Sun	Hip - 26 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Woods is dealing with injuries to his hip and ankle, and he will not be able to take the field against the Redskins on Sunday.
C.J. Goodwin (CB)	Ques Sun	Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Goodwin is limited by a thumb injury, and his status for Sunday's clash against the Redskins is in question.
Jeff Heath (S)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Heath has a shoulder injury, leaving his availability undetermined for Sunday's matchup with the Redskins.
Chris Jones (P)	Ques Sun	Abdominal - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jones is dealing with an abdominal injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Redskins on Sunday.
Demarcus Lawrence (DE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lawrence has a shoulder injury, and his availability is unknown for Sunday's battle against the Redskins.
Sean Lee (LB)	Prob Sun	Pectoral - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lee is managing pectoral and thigh injuries, but he is projected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Redskins.
Dak Prescott (QB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Prescott is dealing with a right shoulder injury, but it is not expected to impede his status for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

New England

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB)	Prob Sat	Knee - 31 / 12 / 19	0-1	1-0	+ -
Bentley is nursing a knee injury, but it is projected that he will play against the Titans in the AFC wild-card round.
Marcus Cannon (OL)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 31 / 12 / 19	0-1	1-0	+ -
Cannon is battling an ankle injury, but he is likely to suit up for the AFC wild-card round versus the Titans.
Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)	Prob Sat	Shoulder - 31 / 12 / 19	0-1	1-0	+ -
Collins Sr. is bothered by a shoulder injury, but it expected that he will take on the Titans in the AFC wild-card round.
Julian Edelman (WR)	Prob Sat	Knee - 31 / 12 / 19	0-1	1-0	+ -
Edelman was confined to a limited role in practice due to knee and shoulder injuries. It will not interfere with his status for the AFC wild-card round against the Titans.
Jonathan Jones (DB)	Prob Sat	Groin - 31 / 12 / 19	0-1	1-0	+ -
Jones is hampered by a groin injury is expected to participate in the AFC wild-card round versus the Titans.
Terrence Brooks (DB)	Prob Sat	Groin - 28 / 12 / 19	0-1	2-0	+ -
Brooks has a groin injury, but it is likely that he will face the Titans in the AFC wild-card round.
Sony Michel (RB)	Prob Sun	Illness - 28 / 12 / 19	0-1	2-0	+ -
Michel is dealing with an illness, but is expected to be in the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Dolphins.
Shilique Calhoun (LB)	Ques Sun	Illness - 26 / 12 / 19	0-1	2-0	+ -
Calhoun is battling an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will be healthy enough to face the Dolphins on Sunday.
Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	2-0	+ -
Bentley has a knee injury, but he is expected to be available to face the Dolphins on Sunday.
Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	2-0	+ -
Collins Sr. has a shoulder injury,but he is likely available to face the Dolphins on Sunday.