Cowboys score twice on defense in 38-3 blowout as Patriots suffer worst loss under Belichick

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In a resounding 38-3 victory, the Dallas Cowboys demonstrated their prowess, capitalizing on two defensive touchdowns, while the New England Patriots endured their most significant loss during Bill Belichick’s 24-season tenure. DaRon Bland, who secured two interceptions during the game, notably returned one for a touchdown, while Leighton Vander Esch seized a fumble and converted it into a scoring opportunity.

Mac Jones, the Patriots’ quarterback, bore responsibility for all three turnovers and was subsequently replaced in the second half, marking a disheartening moment for the team under Belichick’s leadership. This defeat eclipsed their previous worst loss, a 31-0 setback against Buffalo in 2003.

Despite the setback, Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, must delay his pursuit of a historic 300th career regular-season victory. The Cowboys, with a 3-1 record, continued their impressive streak with a 10th consecutive home victory, marking the longest such streak since 1991-92, predating the opening of AT&T Stadium.

DaRon Bland’s pick-6 against the Patriots marked his second of the season, following his performance in the season-opening rout of the New York Giants. In that game, the Cowboys exhibited their defensive prowess by also returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown.

The Patriots, who entered the second quarter trailing by just seven points, encountered a turning point when Mac Jones was sacked by Dante Fowler, leading to an 11-yard scoop-and-score by Leighton Vander Esch.

Towards the end of the first half, Jones’s pass attempt to Kendrick Bourne was intercepted by Bland, who ran an untouched 54 yards for a commanding 28-3 lead. This deficit was unprecedented for the Patriots under Belichick.

DaRon Bland continued to shine in the second half, securing his second interception, which set up Brandon Aubrey’s third field goal of the game.

Jones’s performance was marred by these turnovers, and he was eventually replaced by Bailey Zappe. His passing statistics for the game were 12 of 21 for 150 yards with a passer rating of 39.9.

Ezekiel Elliott, the former star running back for the Cowboys, did not start for the Patriots but received a warm welcome from the Dallas crowd, acknowledging the video tribute in his honor. Although he made a modest impact with 16 yards on six carries, the Patriots found themselves trailing by two touchdowns before he could contribute significantly.

The Cowboys’ quarterback, Dak Prescott, delivered his first touchdown pass to a receiver this season, connecting with CeeDee Lamb for a 20-yard score, establishing a 10-3 lead in the first quarter. Prescott finished the game with 261 yards, completing 28 of 34 passes without an interception, further solidifying Dallas’s reputation as the NFL leader in turnover margin.

This victory marked the Cowboys’ third consecutive blowout win, boasting an average margin of victory of 32 points. Notably, it followed a surprising loss to Arizona, during which they never held the lead.

It’s worth noting that this victory is the second consecutive one for the Cowboys over the Patriots, both of which came against Mac Jones as the opposing quarterback. The Cowboys now hold an impressive 9-1 record against the Patriots when facing quarterbacks other than Tom Brady, who held a perfect 5-0 record against Dallas.

In a moment of trickery, following Vander Esch’s touchdown, the Cowboys executed a fake extra point, with holder Bryan Anger throwing a 15-yard pass to defensive end Chauncey Golston for a successful 2-point conversion.

In terms of injuries, the Patriots incurred losses with rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez and pass rusher Matthew Judon sustaining injuries. Gonzalez hurt his shoulder during a tackle on the sideline, while Judon injured his elbow. On the Cowboys’ side, running back Rico Dowdle suffered a hip injury and did not return to the game.

Looking ahead, the Patriots will face New Orleans at home in their next game, while the Cowboys will travel to San Francisco in a matchup against a team they’ve met in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, with the 49ers emerging victorious on both occasions.

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