Cowboys vs. Patriots: NFL Week 6 betting odds, preview, and pick
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)
October 13th, 2021
An intriguing interconference matchup awaits NFL fans and bettors on Sunday afternoon as the Dallas Cowboys visit the New England Patriots.
The latest updates on the Cowboys, plus find out what’s going in New England this week.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 12, 2021
The Cowboys are looking for their fifth straight win and fourth by double-digits in this one, while the Patriots would like to avoid their third straight nail-biter after having each of their last two games decided by three points or less (1-1 record). Let’s dive into the matchup to determine our best bet!
Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at New England Patriots (2-3), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Cowboys can’t stop scoring
Dallas is currently the second-highest scoring team in the NFL, averaging 34 points per game. Only the Buffalo Bills (34.4) can boast a better scoring offense through five weeks.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is in fine form, completing 73.9% of his passes for 8.3 yards per attempt with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He’s done a great job of spreading the ball around, as wide-out Amari Cooper leads the team in receiving touchdowns (four), wide-out CeeDee Lamb leads in receiving yards (348), and tight end Dalton Schultz leads in receptions (26).
Here's the Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb 49-yard TD passpic.twitter.com/OynvFb8WlL
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) October 10, 2021
Dallas is also getting incredible contributions on the ground from a resurgent Ezekiel Elliott (452 yards, third among all running backs) and Tony Pollard (325 yards). Only the Cleveland Browns are averaging more rushing yards per game than “America’s Team” through five weeks (187.6 to 172.8).
Mac Jones must be careful with the football
The Patriots are a modest 26th by points per game in 2021 (19.2), and rookie signal caller Mac Jones had had a lot to do with that. He’s clearly going through some growing pains based on his 5-5 touchdown-interception ratio through five weeks.
Mac Jones threw his 3rd INT of the game. He entered the #Saints game with 0 INTs.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 26, 2021
Saints win 28-13.pic.twitter.com/5p2ZdihgMt
Unfortunately for Jones, the Cowboys lead the NFL in passes picked off with 10. That’s thanks mainly to cornerback Trevon Diggs, who has at least one interception in all five games he’s played in this year (six total).
Cowboys vs. Patriots injury report
| Dallas Cowboys | New England Patriots |
|---|
Ezekiel Elliott: Questionable (ribs) | Damien Harris: Questionable (ribs) |
Tyron Smith: Questionable (neck) | Shaq Mason: Questionable (abdomen) |
Randy Gregory: Questionable (knee) | Isaiah Wynn: Questionable (COVID list) |
Trevon Diggs: Questionable (ankle) | Michael Onwenu: Questionable (COVID list) |
Cowboys and Patriots betting trends
- The Cowboys are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall
- The Patriots are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games as a home underdog
- The Patriots are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight-up win
- The Over is 12-5 in the Cowboys’ last 17 games played in October
- The Under is 8-1 in the Patriots’ last nine home games.
The verdict
The Patriots simply don’t have the firepower to keep up with the Cowboys in this one. Lay the points with Dallas on the road.
Score prediction: Cowboys 30, Patriots 17
NFL pick: Cowboys -4.5
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