Week 5 Patriots vs Cowboys: Best and Worst Plays of the Week

Best Plays of the Week

5. Tom Brady completes a 24 yard pass to Julian Edelman on 2nd and 18 (+2.68 EPA). This reception came right before halftime and helped the Patriots set up a score prior to the break.

4. Dion Lewis runs for 13 yards on 3rd and 1 to the one yard line (+2.69 EPA). Lewis was nearly tackled in the backfield, but kept his balance and nearly found his way into the end zone.

3. Logan Ryan intercepts Brandon Weeden at the New England 22-yard line and returns it 25 yards (+4.17 EPA). Ryan stopped one of the Cowboys only drives of the day and flipped the field.

2. Jamie Collins forces a fumble from Jason Witten, recovered by Jonathan Freeny and returned to the Dallas 36-yard line (+4.31 EPA). The Patriots couldn't convert the great field position into any points, but this 4th quarter fumble ended the game for Dallas.

1. Tom Brady completes a 59-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman on 2nd and 13 (+6.09 EPA). This was one of the Patriots best plays of the season and was a complete backbreaker for Dallas.

The Patriots earned eight of the top ten plays of the week and fifteen of the top twenty. The defense had a banner day with four plays in the top twenty, and even Ryan Allen made an appearance with a field shifting 60-yard punt that resulted in a Matthew Slater tackle for a negative 2-yard return. Rob Gronkowski only made two showings in the top twenty, a fairly slow week for him.

Worst Plays of the Week

5. Dan Bailey kicks a 51-yard field goal in the first quarter (-1.80 EPA). The Cowboys were fortunate that three Patriots penalties on third down helped to extend a drive into a field goal.

4. Brandon Weeden completes a 17-yard pass to Terrance Williams on 2nd and 14 in the 4th quarter (-2.08 EPA). This was the only completion that Weeden made on Malcolm Butler, and the game was pretty much over. It was that type of day.

3. Brandon Weeden completes a 13-yard pass to Devin Street on 3rd and 13, late in the 3rd quarter (-2.29 EPA). Street made the tremendous toe-dragging catch in front of rookie Justin Coleman and deserves major props for this play. The completion salvaged a Cowboys drive that led to their only other score of the game.

2. LeGarrette Blount stopped for no gain on 4th and 1 in the 4th quarter (-2.56 EPA). This was the drive-ending play after Collins' forced fumble highlighted above. The Patriots only managed to drain 90 seconds off the clock, which is certain to give Bill Belichick something to work with over the next week.

1. Brandon Weeden scrambles 8 yards on 4th and 4 in the 4th quarter (-2.84 EPA). This was another garbage time conversion, but it preceded Logan Ryan's interception.

Blount owned the 6th worst play, too, with a one-yard loss on 3rd and 1 at the start of the 2nd quarter. But it was a great day for the Patriots as the Cowboys top plays all came in either garbage time, or on the legs of a huge kick.