The Patriots will host the 4-1 Dallas Cowboys today in a game that has the potential to be a shootout.

The reason it might end up being a shootout is the Cowboys offense. The Patriots are not equipped to win shootouts but the offense may have to score between 28 to 35 points if the Patriots are to have any chance of winning this game.

The Dallas offense is one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The Cowboys enter week six averaging 34 points per game. The passing game has been as advertised. Quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown for 1,368 yards and 13 touchdown passes. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Cowboys offense is their running game. Dallas averages 173 yards per game on the ground. They currently sport the league’s second best rushing attack.

It all adds up to the Cowboys scoring a lot of points today. Dallas has never beaten the Bill Belichick coached Patriots but that streak could end today unless the Patriots defense, specifically the secondary plays well.

The Patriots secondary got torched last week by a rookie quarterback and a mediocre skill group. If the Texans can do that to this Patriots secondary, just imagine what Dallas can do.

Bill Belichick will match up J.C Jackson on Amari Cooper but what he does with Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb will determine how the Patriots defense does in this game.

Factor in tight end Dalton Schultz and running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard out of the backfield and the Patriots back seven will be stretched thin.

Getting pressure on Prescott and keeping him in the pocket will be the best way to slow down this offense.The Patriots need to hit Prescott and throw him off his spot. If he is given time to work through his progression, he will pick this struggling secondary apart.

Belichick has been here before and the Patriots certainly have enough talent on defense to stop this Cowboys offense. They will need to play well in all three levels like they did against Tampa.