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That might be the biggest question heading into the battle of the unbeatens. CB Anthony Henry probably won't play. CB Terence Newman is still working his way back into shape. And here comes the Patriots' passing game, the NFL's most efficient.
Wade Phillips has said that Henry, because of his size, would be the best matchup against Randy Moss. But Phillips' philosophy is that it's better to double a dominant receiver than try to match up with him.
That's what the Browns did last week, when they held Moss to season lows of three catches and 46 yards. But New England TE Ben Watson (six catches, 107 yards, two TD) and WR Donte' Stallworth (four catches, 65 yards, TD) had their best games of the season.
Newman, who has been taking pregame pain-killing injections in his right foot, is up for whatever challenge comes his way.
"I don't think I'm too bad of a corner," Newman said when asked about his approach against Moss. "I'm pretty confident. I'm just going to say, ‘Hey, let's go.'"
Phillips is pretty confident, too. The Cowboys are middle of the pack in pass defense (204.8 yards per game). Phillips, however, pointed to two stats he thinks are better gauges of how well a team defends the pass. The Cowboys rank as the sixth stingiest in both categories: yards per attempt (6.3) and completion percentage (58.4).
Of course, the Cowboys haven't faced a passing attack close to as potent as the Patriots'.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 3:54 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (18)
Wade Phillips has said that Henry, because of his size, would be the best matchup against Randy Moss. But Phillips' philosophy is that it's better to double a dominant receiver than try to match up with him.
That's what the Browns did last week, when they held Moss to season lows of three catches and 46 yards. But New England TE Ben Watson (six catches, 107 yards, two TD) and WR Donte' Stallworth (four catches, 65 yards, TD) had their best games of the season.
Newman, who has been taking pregame pain-killing injections in his right foot, is up for whatever challenge comes his way.
"I don't think I'm too bad of a corner," Newman said when asked about his approach against Moss. "I'm pretty confident. I'm just going to say, ‘Hey, let's go.'"
Phillips is pretty confident, too. The Cowboys are middle of the pack in pass defense (204.8 yards per game). Phillips, however, pointed to two stats he thinks are better gauges of how well a team defends the pass. The Cowboys rank as the sixth stingiest in both categories: yards per attempt (6.3) and completion percentage (58.4).
Of course, the Cowboys haven't faced a passing attack close to as potent as the Patriots'.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 3:54 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (18)
