Two wins, two losses, and a date with one of the NFL's hottest teams.
That's where the Brandon Weeden-led Dallas Cowboys stand as they prepare to face the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Sunday.
Here's 10 things to know about this week's opponent:
1. Tom Brady still plays like Tom Brady
Before his Deflategate suspension was overturned, this was going to be the final game he would have missed, denying the NFL fans the highly-anticipated Brady-Romo matchup. Little did everyone know, instead of the then projected Romo-Garoppolo matchup, everyone now gets to see the clash of Brady vs. Weeden instead.
More good news for Cowboys fans, in Brady's first three games of the season, he has thrown for 1,112 yards, nine touchdowns, and no interceptions - earning him AFC Player of the Month for September.
2. Tom Brady was watching the Cowboys Sunday night (Uggs and all)
Brady posted this picture to his Facebook page Sunday night during the Saints/Cowboys game.
3. The Saints-Patriots connection
Last week, the Patriots traded tight end Michael Hoomanawanui to the Saints for defensive lineman Akiem Hicks.
Hicks was a starter on New Orleans' defensive line for the past three seasons, and it remains to be seen if he will be available for New England against the Cowboys.
4. Who is Dion Lewis?
A fifth-round pick of the Philadephia Eagles in 2011, suffered a broken leg as a Cleveland Brown in 2013 and was cut by the team after training camp in 2014, Dion Lewis found a home in New England attempting to replace departing running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.
From 2011-2014, Lewis gained a total of 192 yards and scored two touchdowns.
In the first three games of 2015, he has 325 total yards and has also scored two touchdowns.
He plays just as big a role as a receiver for the Patriots as he does a runner. He has carried the ball 30 times while catching 15 passes out fo the backfield.
5. This will be the Patriots first trip to AT&T Stadium
Actually, it's their first trip to Texas to play the Cowboys since 2007 when Dallas became victim number six on New England's quest to match the undefeated season of the '72 Dolphins.
They went 18-0 before falling to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
6. New England's injuries on the offensive line
Starting center Bryan Stork and starting right guard Ryan Wendell (who could return this week) have yet to play a game this season for New England.
In the meantime, the Patriots have played three rookies along their offensive line.
It hasn't seemed to slow down the offense. They're still scoring almost 40 points per game.
7. LaFell = PUP
New England's biggest deep threat, wide receiver Brandon LaFell, has been on the Patriots PUP list all year, and is not allowed to return until Week 7.
While Rob Gronkowski causes most of the nightmares in defending New England's receivers, the absence of LaFell will hopefully provide some relief for the Cowboys secondary.
8. Bill Belichick isn't overlooking Brandon Weeden or the Cowboys
In an interview with WEEI, Belichick said:
"I thought he did a good job for them last week," Belichick said of Weeden. "It obviously didn'™t quite work out there but they moved the ball, they scored a lot of points. He did a good job of getting the ball to his outlet receivers, used the backs well."
"They had a lot of production. He's an experienced player," Belichick said. "They have a great offensive line. They have good skill players. They have really good backs, a lot of depth in their backfield. I think he's done a good job of utilizing those guys. They're a good football team. I know they've lost a couple key players, but they'll be getting some more guys back next week, and they've got a lot of players to work with.
"It's going to be a big challenge for us. They're very good in the kicking game, tough team defensively, and a lot of explosive players on the offensive side of the ball. It will be tough."
9. Lackluster run defense
Besides holding the Jacksonville Jaguars to just 57 yards rushing in Week 3, the Patriots gave up 134 and 160 rushing yards to Pittsburgh and Buffalo, respectively.
This week could be an opporunity for the Cowboys
running backs by committee to get back on track.
10. Bye, Bye, Bye
Since 2000, New England has gone 11-4 after bye weeks under Bill Belichick.
However, two of those losses have come in the last four years, with the most recent one coming against another NFC opponent - the Carolina Panthers in Week 11 of the 2013 season.
A JV team rollout! ROFL
