ReutersThough the Cowboys entered the bye week with a bad taste in their mouths, they’re ready to emerge with a pair of healthy first-team wideouts.
Miles Austin (hamstring) and Dez Bryant (thigh) fully participated in practice Wednesday, as the Cowboys prepare for a Week Six trip to New England.
Austin (pictured) was injured during a Week Two overtime win over the 49ers. He hasn’t played since. Bryant suffered his injury in the Week One loss to the Jets. After missing the 49ers game, Bryant played against the Redskins and the Lions.
Also practicing without limitation on Wednesday were safety Barry Church (shoulder), running back Felix Jones (shoulder), safety Danny McCray (ankle), quarterback Tony Romo (ribs), cornerback Orlando Scandrick (ankle), and safety Gerald Sensabaugh (concussion). Kicker David Buehler (right groin) and guard Kyle Kosier (foot) practiced on a limited basis.
Guard Derrick Dockery (knee), running back Tony Fiammetta (hamstring), and defensive end Jason Hatcher (calf) did not practice at all.
This will be a tough game for us. Dallas is good offensively and defensively.
This is a MUST win for my Patriots.
Grandmaster Jones, Botox injection. Probable.
The good news is you’re healthy. The bad news is you’re healthy in New England.
More WR’s healthy – there goes any hope of anything resembling a balanced attack by Jason Garrett…
Boston! You lost Theo Epstein to the Cubs, and now you are going to lose at home to the Pokes?
A bit sad, really…
i hope we have a big game against the pats but i want the W
Miles Austin is still the stud in Dallas. Dez Bryant will be tired by halftime. Maybe Dez should take up playing chess. Less running involved.
Good! Ill be a cowboy fan this weekend. Unlike my jets the cowboys should be able to expose the pats d for what it really is.
But they still have Tony “Pick-6″ Romo.
They both are still soft. Both can’t last 3 games without coming up hurt. Bryant is a wimp, all that talent and no balls…..
Killer Combo.
They can’t beat the Lions who can they beat a high school team.
Call me crazy but I think Dallas has a legit shot this Sunday. Ol’ Robby already beat Belacheat a year ago with less talent. The D’s coming as close to 100% as it’s been all year.
The Pats D has been a weak point so far this year and it will be on Sunday still with the best 1-2-3 receiving package in the league (ausin-dez-whitten).
Also did anybody think that the wonder twins won’t be talking abit after back to back games against one of the most hated teams in the league? If Romo can keep his head screwed on straight it’s going to be a win. BE-WARE DE-WARE!!!
Nice. Now all we need is a head coach that’s actually willing to stick with the run to keep the opposing defense honest.
The Patriots can be scored upon. The trick is outlasting Brady and Co. You have to get in his face and fluster him and he will make mistakes. BUT, this is easier said than done. I’m not optimistic…
@rexismybff,
Still pissed about Sunday? Need some kleenex?
@ny82jy,
How about some kleenex?
New York! The Yankees got swiftly booted out of the playoffs despite having the best record in the AL, and your overrated Jets got dusted by the Patriots to fall to 2-3?
A bit sad, really…
Great, just in time to get our butts whooped I think
I feel we are up and coming (if healthy and Romo settles down), but having the Pats up next after going in to the bye week on a loss is going to be rough.
My prediction: Brady and Co. eat our secondary for lunch. 38 – 24
I’m a Pats fan and I’ll admit, the only team that can stop the Cowboys this weekend is, of course, the Cowboys.
I still like the Pats’ chances.
I predict that Belichick/Brady will tie Shula/Marino for most wins by defeating the Cowboys on Sunday. (Now, watch Romo throw for four touchdowns and no interceptions. LOL)
“This will be a tough game for us. Dallas is good offensively and defensively.
This is a MUST win for my Patriots.:
Hey I’m a Pats fan too but really a must win? They are 4-1 even if they lose (which I don’t think they will) the Patriots would only drop to 4-2.
Now the Eagles are in a must win situation that’s for sure.
Pats are dead last in team defense. These two receivers returning at least gives Romo opportunity to keep pace with Brady & Co.
Patriot O-Lines are always good at protection which forces D-secondaries to perform or be burned a lot.
Having said that, Brady hasn’t faced a Rob Ryan D this season nor has he seen anything close to Demarcus Ware barreling at him.
I smell a Cowboys victory. Kraft will have to eat Velveeta!
If the Boys can get pressure on Brady and/or press coverage welker w a LB w over the top corner/safety help…maybe. We have a good run D, so I don’t think they’ll run it w success like they did last week. Lee needs to lock up Hernandez or Gronkowski…but jesus, they have so many weapons on offense. I’d press coverage everyone w a lot of blitzes and make them hit the long ball to beat me.
Pokes near full strength, lessons have been learned from the silver cat game. Lead see-saws going into 4th, the boys will teeter but pull it out in the end, big time point cover!
ny82jy says:
“Oct 12, 2011 9:29 PM
Good! Ill be a cowboy fan this weekend. Unlike my jets the cowboys should be able to expose the pats d for what it really is.”
I’m pretty sure the Jet’s are the only team to not expose how bad the Pat’s D is. Not a big secret.
@unbiased8383
A LB cover Welker, C’MON MAN!!! Sure, if you want Welker to have 300 yds and 4 TDs. If he’s in the slot he’ll get Scandrick, outside he’ll draw Newman or Jenkins. Another problem team have is when they run 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB. They will put Hernandez in motion or have him detached and if you are in base 3-4 see if a safety or LB is covering him. Or find out you are in zone. They find a mismatch somewhere then go no huddle.
@tiffpats4eva
Im not crying about anything. That game was last week. Just saying that the Dallas offense is really good imo and they are gonna shred the sorry pats d. thats all. Brady better put up a ton of points.
I think the Cowboys are gonna win & I think Dez is gonna blow up!!! I’m not even a Cowboy fan.
If Everyone came back healthy, it would not matter. The QB needs to keep from making INT’s. I think that If Romo The Great had not dated Jessica and/or Carrie, he would be in a much better position. Yeah Right! Romo’s problem is in the invisible clutch category.
But they still have Tony “Pick-6″ Romo.
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True, and the Patriots have the absolute worst defense in the NFL. They are an undisciplined lot, too. Among the worst in defensive penalties and most penalty yards. Giving up almost 7 yards per offensive play and 44% on 3rd down. Ouch. They have by far given up the most 20+ yard pass plays (32). Should be a good game.
Romo will come up big. All of you little-wiener-ed haters please fess up after the Pats loss. They have the one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, and Rob Ryan powned them with guys Scott Fujita and Lem Barney. I can hardly wait for Chris (I let everyone see my little stub on the interweb) Cooley, in D.C. Hopefully the “dream team” will give the redskins a flash back to the “worst NFL beat down ever!” from last year. DC sucks!
Please oh please Tom Brady rip that defense to shreds!!!!
Dallas defense has been beat up all season. The starting corners are finally healthy and Scandrick will also play next Sunday. The team had a minimal training camp under a BRAND NEW defensive scheme with a new coordinator; they’ve been a top 5 defense all year and they seem to be getting better each week. Coming off the bye week they should be ready. Offensively there are major turnover, red zone, short yardage, and discipline problems. The biggest issue is that nobody on the team has been able to practice due to the inordane amount of injuries this season. If they get healthy they seem to be the second most complete team behind the Defending champion Packers.
It’ll come down to how well Brady & Romo are protected….and if Romo can keep his poise if/when the game is close.
The Cowboys only have 1 linebacker who can run & cover (S.Lee)…Brooking and B.James are absolute stiffs in coverage. Hernandez, Gronkowski and Welker will have a lot of space if pressure doesn’t reach Brady.
@geniusfan,
If you don’t think that this is a must win for the Patriots, you haven’t been paying attention to our defense and our offense.
This is our biggest challenge this season. If we can’t beat the Cowboys, there are dire implications for this team, specifically the defense.
Plus we are at home. Dallas doesn’t need this game. Look at their division.
“It is what it is. “
howley1,
Why does everyone focus on yardage? In terms of giving up points, the Patriots are something like 14th. Average, not awful. Points matter. Yardage doesn’t mean squat, particularly when you play with a lead for all but about 5 minutes of a season so far. A third of their yards allowed happened in the 4th quarter when ahead by 10+ points.
shempnet says:
Oct 13, 2011 12:41 AM
Romo will come up big. All of you little-wiener-ed haters please fess up after the Pats loss. They have the one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, and Rob Ryan powned them with guys Scott Fujita and Lem Barney. I can hardly wait for Chris (I let everyone see my little stub on the interweb) Cooley, in D.C. Hopefully the “dream team” will give the redskins a flash back to the “worst NFL beat down ever!” from last year. DC sucks!
You do know shempnet it appears you have a real fascination with male packages. Whats up with all that cowgirl?
Romo gets picked again and chokes again. Dallas will be crying in their beer. Again. Go Pats. Go Skins.
Why does everyone focus on yardage?
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Because that’s how the NFL ranks offenses and defenses.
i didnt mean cover the entire route. just press him to throw them off their timing then drop into the flats or drift to the middle and spy and maybe look for a pick.