In most folks' estimation, a huge key for the Cowboys at New England on Sunday will be to avoid getting themselves in a shootout with the Patriots' high-powered offense.
That'll be the goal, but it doesn't mean it'll be easy. New England has now scored at least 30 points in 13 consecutive regular season games, which ties for the second-longest such streak in NFL history.
On Sunday, the Patriots have a chance to tie to record of 14 straight 30-point outings, set by the Greatest Show on Turf, the St. Louis Rams of 1999-2000.
The Pats' chase for the record is somewhat hollow, arguably, because they failed to reach 30 points in the biggest game during this stretch, the AFC Divisional Playoff loss to the New York Jets last year, in which they only put up 21. That loss was to a Rex Ryan defense, one reason for hope for the Cowboys, because his schemes are similar to those of Rob Ryan, the Cowboys' defensive coordinator.
In fact, it was Rob Ryan who last shut down Tom Brady and Co., in Week 9 of the 2010 season, his Cleveland Browns holding the Pats to only 14 points.
Can he do it again?
