The Patriots' offensive line showed cracks as Tom Brady was sacked five times Sunday, but as expected, the team still clobbered the decimated Dallas Cowboys.
New England, heavily favorited in a game where Dallas was missing quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant, won by a 30-6 margin.
Those sacks, all of which came in the first half, did not deter Brady from going 20-27 with 275 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and did not throw a pick.
Running back Dion Lewis continued to show his versatility Sunday - he was Brady's top target, making eight catches on 11 pass attempts, compiling 59 passing yards, 34 rushing yards and a touchcdown.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman, however, made the most of his five targets, getting 120 yards on four catches. He moved well laterally on a 59-yard touchdown, most of his distance coming while dodging defenders after the catch.
The game also saw Brady make his first regular season rushing touchdown since 2012 and kicker Stephen Gostkowski making a career-high 57-yard field goal.
Brandon Weeden, who was under center in place of Romo, went 26-39 and managed 188 yards, but, like the rest of his offense, failed to register a touchdown. He also threw an interception and was sacked three times, twice by defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard, who signed with the Patriots in the offseason.
New England Patriots
Two of Brady's sacks, meanwhile, came from New England's public enemy of the month. Last week, defensive end Greg Hardy made suggestive comments about Brady's wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
Sunday was Hardy's first game after a four-game suspension for choking, pushing and throwing his ex-girlfriend onto a futon covered with guns.
"I hope she comes to the game," Hardy said of Bundchen. "I hope her sister comes to the game, all her friends come to the game. One of my favorite games of the year, guys."
Hardy was convicted of assault, but the charges were dropped when the victim could not be found to testify.
It's worth noting that Brady's Deflategate suspension, which was overturned in federal court, was for the same number of games as Hardy's.
