The Dallas Cowboys lost another major offensive player after Lance Dunbar left last week’s game with a knee injury. (Getty)
The Dallas Cowboys are hurting. And it’s not just because of last week’s 26-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints in overtime.
It’s not because the defense gave up two late-game drives to Drew Brees or becauase Brandon Weeden hasn’t won a start in 10 games. No, this is a more literal kind of hurt.
The Cowboys are as banged up as any team in the league right now and there isn’t a reprieve in sight. After losing Tony Romo and Dez Bryant earlier this season, Dallas saw linebacker Sean Lee leave in the first quarter last week after suffering a concussion. Then, on the second to last play of the game, Andrew Gachkar went down with an injury that helped open up the field for the Saints game-winning touchdown. As if that weren’t enough, the squad also likely lost Lance Dunbar for the season after he left the game with a vicious knee injury.
This is a team that is hurting. Badly.
But it’s also a team that doesn’t have much time to wallow, set to square off against the New England Patriots in a week five tilt at home. Oh, it’s also a Patriots team that is fresh off a bye and undefeated and healthy.
Kickoff for the non-divisional tilt is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. Here’s everything you need about the the matchup’s betting information, per OddsShark:
Game Info
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady posted on Facebook that he was scouting the Cowboys game last week – watching it on TV. (Getty)
Line: New England -7
Moneyline: New England -311, Dallas +269
Over/Under: 49
What To Watch For
After serving a four-game suspension to start the season, Rolando McClain is expected to return to the Cowboys active roster this week. (Getty)
The Cowboys are fairly injured across the board. There are holes in the lineup that, quite simply, will not be filled for, a least weeks. But, and this is a pretty big but, there is some help on the way.
Dallas’ defense could get a much-needed boost this week as Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain return to the gridiron after serving league-mandated suspensions over the first four weeks of the season. Both players are expected to join the squad for their first walk-through on Tuesday and their first full-practice on Wednesday ahead of Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the New England Patriots.
Let’s just say Dallas needs these guys, badly.
Depending on how he fares this week, the Cowboys could be without linebacker Sean Lee after he suffered a concussion last week. That makes McClain’s return even bigger as someone who can take control of the defense, calling out plays and racking up tackles. In 12 games last year, McClain posted 108 tackles.
Hardy meanwhile offers a much-needed pass rush for Dallas. The former Panthers standout has 27 sacks in his last 32 games.