Before I get started, let me clearly point out that the better team won.  There were a few critical mistakes made by Dallas that might have given them the opportunity to win this game with the word ‘might' being the key.  As I said in my analysis, the Cowboys would have to play a perfect game to have a chance and they clearly did not.  The Patriots deserve all the credit for winning this game.

I don't think anyone had any notion that the Cowboys defense would be able to stop Tom Brady and the Patriots offense.  The key to winning this gamefor Dallas was to outscore the Patriots.  Dallas needed to put up touchdowns on every opportunity they had.  With Dallas was down by one touchdown late in the third quarter and into the start of the fourth quarter, Tony Romo passes for 23 yards to Terrell Owens but the play is called back on an illegal shift on Owens.  Later in the same drive, they went for it on fourth and one, calling a running play to Marion Barber.  Barber picked up seven yards but the play was called back on a holding call.  In looking at the film, Barber was well past the line of scrimmage and had the first down before the hold took place.  It was yet another stupid penalty, one of many the Cowboys committed on Sunday.  Dallas punted and four plays later, Donte Stallworth broke a 69 yard touchdown.

On the next possession, down by 14 points, the Cowboys got a great return from Tyson Thompson, bringing the ball to the New England 23.  Dallas moved the ball to the five yard line but stalled and went for a field goal.  A field goal?  Are you joking?  Down by two touchdowns with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, having a defense that is unable to stop the Patriots, Dallas kicks it for three.  Mind numbing.

You don't need a calculator to figure out that kicking a field goal under those circumstances was about the dumbest thing the Cowboys could have done.  Dallas went from being down by 14 points to being down by 11 points.  The defense still needed to stop the Patriots twice, score another field goal, another touchdown and a two-point conversion.  If they had made the touchdown, Dallas is down by seven with 10 minutes to play.  If Dallas does not convert, they still need to stop the Patriots twice but New England is pinned deep.  In looking at the numbers, the Cowboys have much better odds scoring two touchdowns than they have of scoring one touchdown, a field goal and a two point conversion.  And that's only if they don't get the touchdown at fourth and goal.

It boils down to one simple mathematical formula: (probability of making it on 4^th and 5) + (probability of stopping the Patriots once) vs (probability of stopping the Patriots twice) + (probability of scoring another touchdown) + (probability of making a two-point conversion).  Low and behold, the Patriots march down the field and put up three points of their own, putting Dallas in the exact same situation they were in before, down by two touchdowns but now with only four minutes left instead of 10 and wouldn't you know it, Romo throws the ball right to Junior Seau to end the faint glimmer of hope Dallas had.

The bottom line is this; Dallas got to a 5-0 record by attacking the opposition.  Even in the disastrous Buffalo game, they continued to attack and take chances.  Much of the media wondered if Tony Romo would be gun-shy after giving up five interceptions and a fumble.  Romo bounced back fine but Jason Garrett and the Cowboys coaching staff are the ones who thought too much about the Bills game last Monday and second guessed themselves into a loss on Sunday. All I can say is that I can't wait for November 4^th when the Patriots head to Indianapolis to face the undefeated Colts.

Owens vs Moss?  I give the game to Moss.  Sure, Terrell Owens got a few more yards but the Cowboys rolling coverage onto Moss freed up Welker to have a monster of a day and near single-handedly defeat Dallas.  This to me is much like Deion Sanders who didn't have that many passed defended stats because no one threw the ball to his side of the field.  Just putting Sanders in the game took away half the field.

Barber vs Jones?  If you look purely at the stats, Jones has a slight edge, 51 yards to 47 yards for Barber but what the stats don't show you is the intensity that Barber brings to the game that affects his team.  Barber runs like it's the defenders he's out to hit.  He punishes even bigger players, wears defenses down and injects some much needed energy into his teammates.  Jones is a solid back, capable of starting for a lot of other teams but Barber brings intensity and emotion and Dallas needs emotion if they are to hang with the likes of New England who clearly has more talent on the field.

Belichick vs Phillips / Garrett?  Do I even need to break this down?  No coach in the league does more to adjust to the opposition than Belichick.  He knew where the Cowboys weaknesses were and where their strengths were and adjusted his game plan accordingly.  The Cowboy coaching staff seemed confused and honestly, in awe of the Patriots before the game had even started.  You don't win in the NFL by putting the other team on a pedestal before the game has even started.