The Dallas Cowboys are looking for their fifth win in a row but in order for that to happen, they need these three players to step up
Looking for win No. 5 in a row, the Dallas Cowboys head to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. It’s been a long time since the Cowboys beat New England, and when it last happened, Troy Aikman was victorious over Drew Bledsoe.
A lot has changed since then, mainly with the Pats winning six Super Bowls as well as knocking off Dallas the last six times they faced off. However, these teams are now in different stages as the Pats are rebuilding and the Cowboys are on the verge of contending.
That doesn’t mean they should take this team lightly because they’re still a well-coached franchise with some talented players. This is why the following three players need to be at their best to secure the win.
Dallas Cowboys: 3 players that need to step up to beat the Patriots
3. Terence Steele, Right Tackle
Right tackle Terence Steele is going to be needed for at least one more game this season after La’el Collins’ attempt to get his suspension overturned in court was unsuccessful. Steele has played well in the absence of Collins but he faces yet another monstrous test this weekend.
For the majority of this game, Steele will likely find himself across from pass-rusher Matt Judon who already has 6.5 sacks on the season. Judon, a free agent addition from Baltimore in the offseason, typically plays across from the right tackle, and his speed and power could prove to be an issue for Steele.
While Judon will make his mark, the second-year right tackle just has to keep him from wrecking the game plan. As long as he does that, this offense will have a shot at finding success.
Dallas Cowboys players that must step up to beat the Patriots
2. Dak Prescott, Quarterback
This might feel like a cop-out because it’s hard for any team to succeed without their quarterback playing well. However, this time it’s especially important for the Cowboys while playing against New England.
First, there’s simply the fact that this is a hard stadium to play in. Even without Tom Brady under center, this is a fan base that expects to see their team win. They’re conditioned for it. That carries over to the players who feed off the energy.
Second, the Pats have a pretty strong pass defense. According to Pro Football Reference, they’re fifth-best in the NFL in terms of yardage surrendered. On top of that, they’re averaging one interception per game as they enter Week 6 with five on the young season. That might not sound like a lot at first glance, especially with Trevon Diggs having six on his own, but on the road and against a tough team, even one turnover could be a killer.
Lastly, this team goes as Dak goes. Even against Carolina when he had just 184 yards passing, he was still deadly with four touchdowns and no picks. When he plays clean like that, this team is hard to beat. And while he ended up going off against the Giants, he had two turnovers early. Such a start against New England isn’t likely to end in a 24-point blowout for Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys: 3 players that must step up to beat the Patriots
1. Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back
We already explained how the New England Patriots have a stout pass defense but their run defense isn’t as impressive. It’s not bad, but at No. 15 ranked, they come in as a middle-of-the-road run defense. That means Dallas is going to lean heavily on their running game and while Tony Pollard has been the more explosive back, Ezekiel Elliott is the one who can grind out the clock and beat a defense down.
After a rough outing in Week 1 against the best-run defense in football, Elliott has really taken off. He’s shed the label of being “washed up” as he has had at least 95 yards in each of the past three games including more than 100 in each of the past two (143 against Carolina and 110 against the Giants).
Overall, Elliott already has 452 yards and is averaging 5.3 yards per attempt — which is the best of his career. That’s a scary thought, especially when you realize he can run to the sidelines and give the ball to Tony Pollard who has 325 yards while averaging 6.4 per rush.
That ability to spell Zeke has paid off in a huge way and the Cowboys are going to need him once again this weekend.