The New England Patriots defense kept the visiting Dallas Cowboys out of the endzone on Sunday night, and Tom Brady and the depleted New England offense was able to do just enough to grab a 13-9 win at a windy and rainy Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Brady helped New England (10-1) win their 21st straight game at home while he improved his record to 5-0 all-time against Dallas, but it wasn’t easy sledding. The Patriots had receivers Mohammed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett both out with injuries having to rely heavily on the running backs and healthy receivers in Julian Edelman and unproven wideouts Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry. Dallas (6-5) had their first opportunity to score on their second offensive possession but Brett Mahar missed a 46 yard field goal off the left upright. A blocked punt by New Englands Matthew Slater on Chris Jones late in the first quarter led to the first points of the game. Nate Ebner recovered at the Cowboys 12, and two plays later Brady found Harry on a 10 yard out route in the left front corner of the endzone for his first career touchdown.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott on the next possession was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore on a pass intended for Amari Cooper at the Cowboys 29 early in the second. That would lead to a 44 yard Nick Folk field goal to make it 10-0. Four minutes later Mahar got the visitors on the board with a 46 yard kick. New England looked to be in good position to extend it back to 10 points when Brady completed a 32 yard pass to Meyers, and a 23 yarder to Edelman to the Dallas 23. A 46 yard field goal attempt though by Folk sailed wide right to keep it a seven point game. The Cowboys got another Mahar kick of 27 yards that was set up by a Prescott to Michael Gallup 22 yard reception. With less than a minute to go in the half Brady completed another big pass to Meyers of 23 yards to the Dallas 39, but a 48 yard field goal attempt by Folk on the last play before the break would also miss right.
After a scoreless third quarter, New England pushed the lead back to seven early in the fourth quarter. The key play was a nine yard pass to Meyers on 3rd and 7 that led to a 42 yard field goal from Folk. Dallas immediately responded when Prescott hit Randall Cobb down the sideline for a 59 yard passing play. Cobb fumbled on the play but recovered on his own as he was being chased down by Patriots defenders. The Cowboys got to the New England 11 but again couldn’t push it in as they settled for another Mahar kick of 27 yards to make it 13-9 with 6:08 left. Dallas later got one more chance to pull out the win having to go 92 yards for a touchdown with all three timeouts left and 2:38 showing on the clock. They looked as if they had picked up their second first down of the drive on a pass to Ezekiel Elliott at their own 38 on 3rd and 1, but a tripping call on Cowboys offensive lineman Travis Frederick pushed it back to a 3rd down and 11. After an incompletion to Cobb on the third down play by Prescott, the quarterback found Cooper for a 20 yard diving catch on 4th down. After review however it was revealed the ball hit the ground for an incomplete pass, and the turnover on downs allowed New England to run out the clock and end the game.
Brady ended the game 17-37 passing for 190 yards and one touchdown. Sony Michel had 85 yards on 20 rush attempts. Edelman had eight catches for 93 yards, while Meyers added four for 74 yards. Harry had the one catch which was the biggest of the game for the only touchdown. Jamie Collins had 10 total tackles to lead the defense, while Patrick Chung had seven and Don’ta Hightower had six. Precott was 19-33 for 212 yards and an interception for Dallas in the loss. Elliott had 21 carries for 86 yards, while Cobb caught four passes that also went for 86 yards.
New England travels to Houston next week for an AFC showdown with Deshaun Watson and the 7-4 Texans on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m.
