The Patriots are considered by most to be the best team in the NFL right now. Normally, you want to face your best opponent with both fists in front of you and ready to take on anything.

But, it seems as if Dallas will be facing the league’s second best offense and fourth best passing offense with one hand tied behind their back, and their other hand wrapped in bandages.

Randy Moss has been one of the top receivers in the league since he entered it in 1998. It would have been a nice matchup to see Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Donte’ Stallworth go against the Cowboys starting secondary, but that won’t happen this Sunday. Instead, the Cowboys will have a not-yet-100% Terence Newman and, in all likelihood, Jacques Reeves making just his seventh start in the NFL. Reeves, who had one start as a rookie, had been filling in for Newman, and last week filled in for Anthony Henry.

Coach Wade Phillips rates Henry’s chances to play Sunday at “closer to doubtful.” Not only does Henry’s absence mean Reeves will get his sixth start of the season, but he’ll also probably be playing in Newman’s regular spot at left cornerback. Even though Newman made his first start last week, the coaching staff decided to keep Reeves in the left cornerback spot to keep the less-experienced corner from having to make the adjustment of playing on the right side.

Phillips admits it is possible that Newman will shadow Moss during the game, but stated that he normally does not shadow an opposing wide receiver. This means we could be seeing the dynamic Moss lining up against 5′11 Reeves throughout the game. Certainly, Reeves will have some help over the top, but it isn’t exactly the Newman-Moss matchup we hoped to see at the beginning of the season.

The banged up secondary presents quite a dilemma. Given time, Tom Brady will pick apart a defense even without weapons like Moss and Stallworth. He’s proven that over the past few years. The best way to counter him would be to keep in his face all night, but that leaves Moss and Stallworth facing more man coverage. That might not have been as big of a problem with Newman and Henry, but it isn’t exactly ideal with banged-up Newman and Reeves.

Still, it isn’t as if the Cowboys can just drop back into coverage and give Brady the time. It is a given that giving him time is a recipe for disaster. So, Dallas will need to mix it up, pick good times to come with the blitz, and try to confuse Brady by dropping back in full coverage from time to time.

It is not ideal, but it is what we have to work with this week.