@xwalker is 100% right.
All of the Mike Shanahan derivatives are destroying the Cowboys with outside zone running, screens using the same stuff, and other things like boot action. This is why the Cowboys can inexplicably shut down Kamara two years in a row, but get gashed by Marlin Mack, CJ Anderson and Aaron Jones, The Vikings did the same this past week. Shocker, it worked. It's a scheme and talent problem. The scheme, if it were, should be different based on the opponent. 2-gap works well against Sean Payton when the players execute, but it's terrible vs. Shanahan-esque teams.
This is why Belichick is always light years ahead of everyone else. He adjusts every game. He's not perfect. He didn't have much of answer for the Ravens power running game, but that's because BB has built his defense to stop the likes of the Chiefs, (Colts with Luck), Pitt (with Ben), and other 3-WR base teams that play horizontally and vertically simultaneously. BB has built up a secondary capable of smothering a passing game, but is exposed against power running teams that can use the QB to run to get that extra blocker against a front7 that is lacking depth.
Based on the above I expect a) the Pats to screen pass the Cowboys to death via long drives and relentless 3rd down conversions that Dallas will have no answer for, and b) for them to mimic the Saints and Vikings scheme by using only 6 and 7 man boxes to stop Zeke and use their awesome secondary to double Cooper and put Gilmore on Gallup and McCourty1 & McCourty2 on Cobb/Jarwin/Witten. Dallas should run Dak at least 10 times vs. NE, but it will likely be 0.
I didn't watch the Pats-Ravens. Maybe I'll review it later.
I have studied the Pats defense this season and last.
It is interesting how much Belichick changes after winning the Super Bowl.
He was running a base 4-3 last year but went back to more 3-4 this year.
On many snaps it is not really a true 3-4 or 4-3.
I call it a Big LB defense. He has multiple big LBs (250 plus) that do a bit of everything.
He really only has 2 DL that are over 300 pounds, although Shelton is way over.
Regardless of the roster listing, all of the Pats front 7 players listed at 260 or below primarily play LB; although a couple of them sometimes put their hand down like a DE.
On 1st down it's often 3 big DL in a 3-4 alignment which mean 315 pound DL Guy at DE and 345 pound DL Shelton at NT.
On 2nd down it varies depending on down/distance.
2nd down often resembles a 4-3 with regards to positioning of players but the DEs are often big LBs standing up.
3rd downs often have 1 big (300 pounds or more) and the others are all LBs.
Patriots front 7 sorted by percent of snaps played this season:
80.60% ………… 6-3 ………… 255 ………… Jamie Collins Sr.
76.70% ………… 6-3 ………… 250 ………… Kyle Van Noy
58.50% ………… 6-3 ………… 260 ………… Dont'a Hightower
49.60% ………… 6-5 ………… 299 ………… Adam Butler
48.50% ………… 6-4 ………… 315 ………… Lawrence Guy
46.10% ………… 6-2 ………… 345 ………… Danny Shelton
46.10% ………… 6-2 ………… 260 …………
John Simon
34.50% ………… 6-2 ………… 255 ………… Ja'Whaun Bentley
29.80% ………… 6-4 ………… 260 ………… Shilique Calhoun
28.50% ………… 6-3 ………… 250 ………… Chase Winovich
24.00% ………… 6-0 ………… 238 ………… Elandon Roberts
19.60% ………… 6-5 ………… 275 ………… Deatrich Wise Jr.
7.50% ………… 6-3 ………… 299 ………… Byron Cowart