Cowboys (6-5) at Patriots (6-5)
8:20 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Patriots by 1½
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's bits

	Troy Aikman got a new weapon when Dallas dealt for Joey Galloway.

Why to watch:
This is definitely the NFL's Jekyll-and-Hyde matchup of the week. The Cowboys have been highly inconsistent, looking tremendous at home and lousy in their games away from Texas Stadium. The Patriots looked like one of the league's best teams during the first half of the season, but they haven't been able to do anything right during their current three-game losing streak.

Needless to say, that inconsistency has put both teams' playoff hopes in peril. Dallas, which comes off an impressive 20-0 rout of the Dolphins on Thanksgiving Day, trails Washington by one game in the NFC East and currently holds the final wild-card spot.

The Patriots, who have lost to three different AFC East opponents the last three weeks, are on the outside of the AFC playoff picture and probably need to win at least four of their final five to reach the postseason.

Who to watch:
Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith has topped the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games and needs just 22 yards to reach the 1,000-yard plateau for the ninth consecutive season. For the record, Barry Sanders holds the NFL mark with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Cowboys QB Troy Aikman, who threw for 232 yards and one TD in his return to the lineup on Thanksgiving Day, will need to have good protection -- especially since All-Pro G Larry Allen is still out with a knee injury. Cowboys WR Raghib Ismail will be matched up with Patriots CB Ty Law, so Aikman might have difficulty finding an open man. Cowboys WRs Ernie Mills, now the No. 2 receiver, hasn't done much and is still looking for his first TD catch of the season.

Cowboys TE David LaFleur is tied with Ismail for the team lead with five TD catches. The Patriots LBs cannot lose sight of the big tight end. Second-year DE Greg Ellis leads the Cowboys with eight sacks.

Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe has really struggled during this three-game skid, throwing nine interceptions and just four TD passes. Bledsoe has been getting blitzed more, and his timing has been off with his receivers, especially Terry Glenn, who is getting bumped more off the line. Cowboys CB Deion Sanders won't get physical with Glenn, but their matchup should be a good one.

	INJURY REPORT
	Cowboys: OUT: G Larry Allen (knee); WR Michael Irvin (neck). DOUBTFULCB Kevin Mathis (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: WR Alvin Harper (quadricep); RB Ryan Neufeld (ankle); CB Kevin Smith (hamstring); CB Mark Stepnoski (calf). PROBABLE: S Chris Akins (groin); RB Emmitt Smith (hand). Patriots: QUESTIONABLE: TE Ben Coates (foot); LB Vernon Crawford (knee).

It appears that Patriots MLB Ted Johnson will return to the lineup after missing the entire season with a torn biceps. Patriots SS Lawyer Milloy will play near the line of scrimmage in an attempt to shut down Smith and the Dallas' ground game. The Pats must tackle better this week, especially rookie LB Andy Katzenmoyer, who gave up a touchdown on a missed tackle in last week's loss at Buffalo.

With Glenn locked up with Sanders, the play of Patriots WR Shawn Jefferson on the other side could be critical to New England's passing game. The same goes for Troy Brown and Tony Simmons when the Pats go to three- and four-receiver sets.

Cowboys' numbers to know:
Dallas is 7-0 in the all-time series with New England, including 3-0 in Foxboro. The Cowboys won the last meeting with a 12-6 victory in Dallas in 1996. ... The Cowboys have outscored the opposition a combined 71-6 in the first quarter this season.

Patriots' numbers to know:
New England has scored just one rushing touchdown in its last four games. That's not good news against a Dallas defense that has allowed only three rushing TDs this season. ... Bledsoe needs just 133 yards to reach 25,000 career passing yards.

What it means:
The Cowboys are 1-5 on the road this season, including five consecutive losses. At some point, Dallas is going to have to win a road game if the 'Boys are going to reach the playoffs, and a win in Foxboro would be a nice confidence boost. It would also keep Dallas, which trails Washington by one game in the NFC East, in the hunt for the division title.

The Patriots need to break out of this slump now or their season likely will be lost, and coach Pete Carroll can probably start packing his bags.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Cowboys' game plan:
Offensively, Dallas' plan is the same every game. The Cowboys will run Smith about 30 times, control the line of scrimmage, and use the play-action pass with Aikman, who will throw about 25 times. Everything begins with Smith, who keeps pounding out yards despite a hand injury. The best asset the Cowboys have is a great offensive line.

Facing a team like New England, one that is questioning itself and is susceptible, the Cowboys will try to pound them into submission. They won't play finesse football with the Patriots, opening up an opportunity for Bledsoe to come out of his slump and get hot. The Cowboys must break the Patriots' will. Defensively, they need to hit Bledsoe and keep hitting him because the Patriots' fortunes rise and fall on the strength of Bledsoe's right arm.

Patriots' game plan:
I'm not convinced the Patriots can't run. They just lack a commitment to it. The running game is all about attitude. Even if there are eight players in the box, the Pats need to run anyway. Then, the play-action passing can work. Teams can't sit back and throw 40 times each week to win consistently, no matter how good the quarterback is. Maybe two series in a row the Patriots should run.

Then, with a linebacker like Dexter Coakley moving up to protect the run, the Patriots can run play-action. A slight hesitation by the Cowboy linebackers will allow Bledsoe to get the ball over the top to his receivers.

The Patriots defense will let Smith get his 25 carries, but they will try to hold him to about 60 yards. They have to be physical at the line of scrimmage and put Milloy in the box. Aikman can beat the Patriots, but I would make the Cowboys stay away from their strengths throwing the ball. They need to put cornerback Law on Ismail and make the other Cowboy receivers beat them deep. The Cowboys will have to throw the ball down the field to beat them.

The Pats should blitz Aikman but play soft coverage behind it, perhaps seven or eight yards off the ball. If the Cowboys are going to win, the Patriots must make sure Smith isn't the reason.

Pivotal player:
Bledsoe. Maybe he shouldn't always audible to a pass play. Maybe it's time to audible to a run in order to let the line know that the running game is important. If Bledsoe doesn't play well, the Patriots won't win. They have a lot better chance if he throws the ball 30 times instead of 40.