Patriots-Cowboys Predictions: Romo Sucks
BOSTON (CBS) - The CBSBoston Sports team breaks down the Patriots matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, and predict who will come out on top.
Scott Zolak, 98.5 The Sports Hub
My key to this Dallas game is it's not about DeMarcus Ware. If you watched the whiteboard yeah, yeah, yeah it's about defense. Brady will handle all that.
Gresh & Zo Whiteboard: Where is Ware?
I'm convinced Patriots will score 34 points in this game. My key approaching this Dallas team is to keep Tony Romo upright, protected and in the pocket, because he is one of the most overrated, overpaid athletes in the National Football League. He mentioned the words Super Bowl this week. Go out and win a couple playoff games before you can even talk Super Bowl. Then we'll know who's on what side of the fence or not.
I think you know what side of the fence I'm on. I think Romo sucks.
Andy Gresh, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Very simply this is a team with no heart. The Cowboys are a team in key situations where unless they're out to a big lead and they're front runners, they never win. They won't win.
They won a close game against Washington in what turned into a field goal kicking contest, but this is a different breed of cat they're going up against this week. Tony Romo will throw his usual 4th quarter interception and the Patriots will end up getting a win.
A lot of people are saying that this is going to be a tough test. From the talent standpoint yes. From the heart standpoint no.
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV
A lot of people are predicting a Patriots loss this week to the Dallas Cowboys.
But, I begin with an interesting stat: since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, the Patriots are 17-1 at home against NFC opponents, including 17 straight (lone loss came in first game against the NFC to Green Bay).
The Cowboys are coming in off a bye week so they will be rested and ready to go.
Meanwhile, Tony Romo has been much-maligned for his poor decision-making late in games. You can make a strong case that Dallas should be at least 3-1 after Romo handed the Jets a 27-24 win with a let interception in the season opener. However, the Cowboys are still very potent with Romo under center. They also get back WR Miles Austin, who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. He averaged 7 receptions, 117 yards, and 2 TD's in his first two games of the season. Add in TE Jason Witten, who has 27 catches for 241 yards and a TD, and you've got a pretty potent punch. And, don't forget about the speedy Dez Bryant, who is averaging 17 yards per catch and has 3 TD's in 4 games.
Read: Dan Roche's Sports Blog
It will be a tough day for the improving Patriots defense, but a defense that tends to produce turnovers at home.
On the other side...the concern is Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis, who has been hobbled all week with a bad toe. The Pats running game may be led by rookie Stevan Ridley or Danny Woodhead if he can come back from an ankle injury.
Dallas has two things going for it defensively. One is All-Pro linebacker Demarcus Ware, who is tied for 4th in the league with 5 sacks. Those sacks also seem to come at big times. Plus, Rob Ryan is the new defensive coordinator for the Cowboys and his defense shut down Brady and company last season when he was in Cleveland. Give Ryan two weeks to prepare and it could make for a tough day.
Read: Patriots-Cowboys Preview
With that said, I think the Patriots at home will find a way to win.
Prediction: Patriots 31, Dallas 24
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV
I'm starting to think that as long as the Pats play at home in the regular season, they are going to win. If there was ever a game that Tom Brady and the offensive line wanted to prove something, this is it. Rob Ryan's defense took Tom and the O-line apart when he was with Cleveland last year. He's the Cowboys defensive coordinator and they have to feel they have the Tom Brady whisperer on their side. Brady may want to change those thoughts.
The Pats are going to see Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Ware. He may be the best player the Pats have seen this season. Containing him is the key to the game. The Pats stop him and the offense can pretty much do what ever it wants.
Read: Levan Reid's Patriots Blog
Defensively they face another big task at receiver with Dez Bryant and tight end with Jason Witten. But running back Felix Jones may be the key here. If he has a hundred yard day, the Pats will lose this game.
I believe the Patriots will keep rolling though. Too much talent on New England's side and Tony Romo will throw an interception or two.
Pats win.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Walt Perkins
Another Ryan-led defense invades Foxboro on Sunday. Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys and like his twin, Jets head coach Rex, his diabolical schemes have given the Patriots offense trouble in the past.
The Patriots have scored 30 or more points in 13 straight regular season games. That streak started after a 34-14 loss in Cleveland last November. The defensive coordinator of the Browns last year? Rob Ryan.
Read: Another Ryan Respects Brady
He totally confused Tom Brady and the Patriots offense by disguising, almost to perfection, just what he was throwing at New England.
Now, as the DC for the DC, Ryan has better athletes at his disposal. In linebacker DeMarcus Ware he has one of the best in the game. The Patriots offensive line better know where Ware is at all times or else Brady will be wearing Ware all afternoon.
The Patriots have been able to establish a good ground game the past two weeks and they will need to do so on Sunday against the Cowboys. Easier said than done under optimum conditions but BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been battling a toe injury and that will make life difficult for the home team if The Law Firm is hobbled. Rookie running back Stevan Ridley might have an increased work load. He had a good showing two weeks ago against Oakland, rushing for 97 yards on 10 carries. However, he was not as effective against the Jets last week. If the Patriots can establish the running attack it opens up the play-action for Brady.
As for the Patriots defense, it did show improvement against the Jets last week and that improvement will need to continue against Dallas. The Cowboys have a better QB and better receivers than the Jets. This will be a true test for the secondary. A good pass rush would go a long ways to helping the DB's against the Cowboy receivers.
The Cowboys come to town with a 2-2 record so they aren't invincible and can be beaten. But the Patriots, who have already lost three starters on defense (lineman Mike Wright joining Myron Pryor and Jerod Mayo on the sidelines), will need their best game of the season to leave Foxboro with a win.
New England 27, Dallas 20
Tune in to the Patriots-Cowboys game Sunday at 4:15 pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Get your Patriots Sunday started with Patriots Gameday at 11:30am on WBZ-TV and The Sports Hub's pregame coverage, beginning at 1:00 pm. After the game tune in to the Postgame show on 98.5, and to Patriots Fifth Quarter on MY TV38.
