2019 Pre-Game Thread: America's Team vs. Captain America

E5 Yaz

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Imagine the millions who will be hate-watching this game
 

TFisNEXT

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This is the matchup of the #1 offense vs #1 defense based on DVOA. This is also true to the more archaic/conventional yards per game stat.

Patriots are also #1 overall in DVOA vs the Cowboys who are #4. Both teams are elite on one side of the ball and middle of the pack on the other though the Patriots offense is ranked a little better than the Cowboys defense. Cowboys struggle a bit on special teams which is somewhere BB could exploit them.
 

InstaFace

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In the all-time franchise wins list, the Cowboys are the next-up with 518 wins to the Patriots' 509. Most teams ahead of them both date to the 1920s. Among all franchises, the Cowboys have the highest winning % (.574), followed by GBP at .567 and then the Bears and Patriots at .565. 20 more (regular-season) wins in a row for the Patriots would put them ahead on winning percent.

(also, at 37-20 lifetime playoff record, the Patriots have - by some distance - the best franchise playoff record in the NFL. Second are the Ravens at 15-9 / .625 since 1996, and then the Packers at 34-22 / .607)
 

pokey_reese

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The Cowboys have been interesting in that the metrics like them a lot, but they have basically beaten the bad teams and lost to the good teams on their schedule, with only one or two exceptions:

Losses - Saints (8-2), Packers (8-2), Vikings (8-3), Jets (3-7)
Wins - Giants 2x (2-8), Redskins (1-9), Dolphins (2-8), Eagles (5-5), Lions (3-6-1)

So outside of the Jets game, pretty much all of their games outcomes 'make sense' and all four of their losses have been by 10 points or fewer. They are clearly a very good team, but we will see if they have enough to get over the hump against a good team on the road in November. Good test for the Pats defense, as well, after they failed their first attempt against Baltimore.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I just watched Bill's press conference while eating my lunch.

It doesn't sound like we have a chance in hell.
 

Marciano490

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In the all-time franchise wins list, the Cowboys are the next-up with 518 wins to the Patriots' 509. Most teams ahead of them both date to the 1920s. Among all franchises, the Cowboys have the highest winning % (.574), followed by GBP at .567 and then the Bears and Patriots at .565. 20 more (regular-season) wins in a row for the Patriots would put them ahead on winning percent.

(also, at 37-20 lifetime playoff record, the Patriots have - by some distance - the best franchise playoff record in the NFL. Second are the Ravens at 15-9 / .625 since 1996, and then the Packers at 34-22 / .607)
Are those Packers numbers since 1996, or have we now played as many playoff games as them?
 

BusRaker

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The real story this week is about former Cowboys kicker Nick Folk facing his old team. Will this game mean anything extra for Folk, released from the Boy's in 2009 after selecting him in the 2006 draft? Will the sight of Jerry Jones inspire the kicker, or will it result elicit error from his emotional response from the meeting? What is his relationship with former teammate Jason Witten? I'm sure this will be the talking point for the pre-game hype for the networks.
 

DourDoerr

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The real story this week is about former Cowboys kicker Nick Folk facing his old team. Will this game mean anything extra for Folk, released from the Boy's in 2009 after selecting him in the 2006 draft? Will the sight of Jerry Jones inspire the kicker, or will it result elicit error from his emotional response from the meeting? What is his relationship with former teammate Jason Witten? I'm sure this will be the talking point for the pre-game hype for the networks.
I'll be really excited for this if they call the segment "Folk Music." Please let someone know.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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The real story this week is about former Cowboys kicker Nick Folk facing his old team. Will this game mean anything extra for Folk, released from the Boy's in 2009 after selecting him in the 2006 draft? Will the sight of Jerry Jones inspire the kicker, or will it result elicit error from his emotional response from the meeting? What is his relationship with former teammate Jason Witten? I'm sure this will be the talking point for the pre-game hype for the networks.
If sarcastic, brilliant.
 

Bosoxen

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Boy do I have good news for you guys about trying to get your offense going.
This is a match-up nightmare for the Cowboys. They've been able to dig out of the holes they've dug for themselves early in games against subpar teams but a well-coached team like the Patriots will crush them for it. They'll try to make a game of it in the 4th quarter but it'll be too little, too late as usual. Pats will cover the 6.5.

I'd say easily but for some reason I'm envisioning another failed onside kick, down 7 with 30 seconds left in the game. Just to add to the nut punch that is this season.
If sarcastic, brilliant.
It most definitely is sarcasm (and brilliance). They've faced Folk several times since his release.
 

TFisNEXT

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This is a match-up nightmare for the Cowboys. They've been able to dig out of the holes they've dug for themselves early in games against subpar teams but a well-coached team like the Patriots will crush them for it. They'll try to make a game of it in the 4th quarter but it'll be too little, too late as usual. Pats will cover the 6.5.

I'd say easily but for some reason I'm envisioning another failed onside kick, down 7 with 30 seconds left in the game. Just to add to the nut punch that is this season.

It most definitely is sarcasm (and brilliance). They've faced Folk several times since his release.
To me, this actually stinks of a game where the Cowboys get a lead and then Garrett plays not to lose and they blow it in the 4th quarter.

They are kind of due for one of those "leading 17-7 at halftime and then go into a shell" type game. The slow starts recently have prevented that, but eventually they are going to come out hot.
 

Bosoxen

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To me, this actually stinks of a game where the Cowboys get a lead and then Garrett plays not to lose and they blow it in the 4th quarter.

They are kind of due for one of those "leading 17-7 at halftime and then go into a shell" type game. The slow starts recently have prevented that, but eventually they are going to come out hot.
I've got the Buffalo game pegged for that particular nut punch. The short week will mean they won't overthink the game plan, which has all the makings of Garrett letting Moore play it a bit more loose to start, only to pucker up in the second half and spit the bit.
 

TFisNEXT

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The Cowboys have been interesting in that the metrics like them a lot, but they have basically beaten the bad teams and lost to the good teams on their schedule, with only one or two exceptions:

Losses - Saints (8-2), Packers (8-2), Vikings (8-3), Jets (3-7)
Wins - Giants 2x (2-8), Redskins (1-9), Dolphins (2-8), Eagles (5-5), Lions (3-6-1)

So outside of the Jets game, pretty much all of their games outcomes 'make sense' and all four of their losses have been by 10 points or fewer. They are clearly a very good team, but we will see if they have enough to get over the hump against a good team on the road in November. Good test for the Pats defense, as well, after they failed their first attempt against Baltimore.
The metrics like the Cowboys a lot because they statistically destroy their opponents...even in some of the games they have lost, they dominated the stat sheet. It also helps that their wins are mostly blowouts and their losses are close, which gives them the 2nd best point differential in the NFC and 4th best in the NFL.

But any Cowboys fan here will tell you that there is zero trust in the coaching staff's ability to turn that talent into consistent wins against tough opponents. Every single loss had questionable in-game coaching decisions as well as some obvious pregame coaching ineptness (like somehow coming out looking completely clueless against Sam Darnold in his first game back).
 

pokey_reese

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The metrics like the Cowboys a lot because they statistically destroy their opponents...even in some of the games they have lost, they dominated the stat sheet. It also helps that their wins are mostly blowouts and their losses are close, which gives them the 2nd best point differential in the NFC and 4th best in the NFL.

But any Cowboys fan here will tell you that there is zero trust in the coaching staff's ability to turn that talent into consistent wins against tough opponents. Every single loss had questionable in-game coaching decisions as well as some obvious pregame coaching ineptness (like somehow coming out looking completely clueless against Sam Darnold in his first game back).
To be fair, shouldn't a team that has great point differential and puts up tons of great stats that normally correlate to winning, and has mostly lost nail biters to the three best teams in their conference, be expected to eventually get over the hump? If it's just a matter of better clock management or making a field goal that was missed, I'm not worried about them any less. I would rather face a mediocre team on the stat sheet that just keeps finding ways to win close games, because I assume that they are lucky rather than good.
 

RedOctober3829

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I think the way to go for the Pats defensively is to go back to their blitzing ways. Make Dak make mistakes while blanketing Cooper with a double team. Jones should be able to handle Cobb and Jackson or JMac on Gallup. It is doubtful that La'El Collins will play and Zach Martin is banged up so I don't think their vaunted OL is 100%. Tyron Smith is a shell of himself at this point. Therefore, I think Shelton and Guy can have success in trying to stop Zeke.

It will be very nice to have Wynn in there trying to block Demarcus Lawrence that is for damn sure.
 

Bosoxen

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To be fair, shouldn't a team that has great point differential and puts up tons of great stats that normally correlate to winning, and has mostly lost nail biters to the three best teams in their conference, be expected to eventually get over the hump? If it's just a matter of better clock management or making a field goal that was missed, I'm not worried about them any less. I would rather face a mediocre team on the stat sheet that just keeps finding ways to win close games, because I assume that they are lucky rather than good.
That's the thing though. Most of the issues stem from inferior coaching. That's not going to magically fix itself because the cake has long since been baked with Garrett. What little success they've managed against top tier teams in the past 10 years has generally been despite, not because of, Garrett.
Only once (missed 2015 with an injury) ... was perfect and won the game with 27 seconds left with a 50 yarder. The curse of Folk lives and will rear its angry head Sunday!

https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=2011091113
I stand corrected. I knew they'd played his team more than once but I guess it never registered that he wasn't playing.

As to the bolded, beware what you wish for. He was always maddeningly inconsistent while with the Cowboys and that curse can cut both ways.
 

j44thor

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I wonder if we see Bill put Gilmore on Gallup 1-1 then bracket Cooper when he is out there. Cooper is still banged up and only played 50% of snaps last week so seems like a waste to put Gilmore on him. Gallup has been the 1b since returning from injury and is the more explosive player right now.
 

TFisNEXT

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I wonder if we see Bill put Gilmore on Gallup 1-1 then bracket Cooper when he is out there. Cooper is still banged up and only played 50% of snaps last week so seems like a waste to put Gilmore on him. Gallup has been the 1b since returning from injury and is the more explosive player right now.
Cooper has been banged up all year...he was a full participant the last two practices though, so he's probably going to play a lot more snaps this week.
 

BaseballJones

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Pats' offense last three games:

20 points, 318 yards
20 points, 342 yards
17 points, 298 yards

Avg: 19.0 points, 319.3 yards

Not ideal. Those numbers over the course of the season would have the Pats ranked 26th in points and 27th in yards.

Dallas, meanwhile, the last three games: 32.0 points, 460.3 yards
 

E5 Yaz

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Pats' offense last three games:

20 points, 318 yards
20 points, 342 yards
17 points, 298 yards

Avg: 19.0 points, 319.3 yards

Not ideal. Those numbers over the course of the season would have the Pats ranked 26th in points and 27th in yards.

Dallas, meanwhile, the last three games: 32.0 points, 460.3 yards
Pats opponents last three games: Browns, Ravens, Eagles ... all average to above average defenses
Cowboys opponents: Giants, Vikings, Lions ... one solid defense and two terrible defenses
 

BlackJack

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Scoring defense of Patriots last 3 opponents: 18th, 6th, 19th
Scoring defense of Cowboys last 3 opponents: 30th, 5th, 27th

And to be fair, Dallas had a fumble return for a TD against NYG. That'd bring down the average for their offense to a little under 30/game over their last 3.
 

tims4wins

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And to pile on, weather was an issue in both Philly and against Cleveland.

That said, the offense needs to be better. Hopefully Wynn makes a difference.
 

TFisNEXT

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No Cannon at practice and Sanu has a heavily taped ankle. Not ideal.
For Cowboys, La'el Collins returned to practice today, but Joe Thomas is still out with an illness...normally not notable, but Thomas is Vander Esch's backup, so Dallas would be stretched pretty thin at LB if he can't play.
 

BaseballJones

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Pats opponents last three games: Browns, Ravens, Eagles ... all average to above average defenses
Cowboys opponents: Giants, Vikings, Lions ... one solid defense and two terrible defenses
For sure. But the difference between the two offenses' performances aren't explainable simply by that. One is operating at a high level and one is not, and that's simply not disputable.
 

E5 Yaz

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For sure. But the difference between the two offenses' performances aren't explainable simply by that. One is operating at a high level and one is not, and that's simply not disputable.
The only way those comparisons would matter would be if the Patriots and Cowboys were both performing Hamlet
 

BaseballJones

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The only way those comparisons would matter would be if the Patriots and Cowboys were both performing Hamlet
Are you under the impression that the two offenses are playing similar-caliber football the past three weeks?
 

E5 Yaz

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Are you under the impression that the two offenses are playing similar-caliber football the past three weeks?
I'm saying that you cannot judge how they are performing by their offensive stats alone. It's not as simple as saying here are the numbers, this tells the story.
 

BaseballJones

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I'm saying that you cannot judge how they are performing by their offensive stats alone. It's not as simple as saying here are the numbers, this tells the story.
That's fine. Numbers tell enough of the story to give you a sense of how they're performing, respectively. I don't really need to do a deep dive on this one. I can, but we all know that the Pats' offense is struggling, and Dallas' is playing well.