It’s a question that is already starting to come up as fans look beyond the lowly Buffalo Bills towards what might be a meeting between two 5-0 teams, and what could be a preview of the Super Bowl.

Let’s just hope the Cowboys aren’t asking themselves the same question because that’s a good way to go into the Patriots game with a 4-1 record. There are no easy teams in the NFL. As they say, on any given Sunday any team can beat any other team. Heck, the lowly Houston Texans were able to beat the Indianapolis Colts last year, and the Colts went on to win the Super Bowl while the Texans didn’t even have a winning season.

But, while the Cowboys had better be focusing on the Bills, there is no reason why us fans can’t take a peek down the schedule at the Patriots.

Can the Cowboys beat New England?

Well, of course. As I said above, on any given Sunday any team can beat any other team. But how do they match up?

The Cowboys have the top-rated offense including most points and most yards. New England has the top-rated defense. They are also second behind the Cowboys in offense, while Dallas ranks eighth in the league in defense. And neither team has faced much competition considering Dallas’s opponents have a combined record of 3-13 while the Patriots opponents are coming in at a whopping 4-12.

So, when you break it all down, the most you can say right now is that each team has been able to defeat four sub-par teams. Both teams have dominant offenses and very strong defense. And, if you are thinking that Dallas has an edge by getting Newman and Ellis back, remember that the Patriots are getting Rodney Harrison back after having served a four game suspension.

So, both teams are likely to be better by the time they face each other.

Terence Newman is the unsung cornerback of the NFL. He is definitely one of the best playing the game, but his name often doesn’t get mentioned, perhaps because he doesn’t have the interception to go along with his great coverage skills. But any talk of Randy Moss having lost his legs has disappeared over the last four weeks. Newman will have his hands full, and Roy Williams may be asked to do what he doesn’t do best, which is cover a fast receiver over the top.

And if Anthony Henry’s high ankle sprain isn’t healed, Jacques Reeves will also have his hands full covering Donte’ Stallworth who has been mostly forgotten thus far but has the talent to burn any team that pays too much attention to Moss.

While both defenses are good, it will be offense that decides this game. Both teams are able to put up points, so it becomes who can put up more points. Romo has shown that he can slice and dice with the best of defenses, but he will need to be on his A game going against the Patriots. His gambling style could easily backfire against a defense known for taking every advantage.

Overall, I would say the teams are very even, but New England has a slight advantage. They’ve been under the same system for years, and it has proven to be a winning system. They are mechanical in their precision, and play smart football. That will give them a slight advantage, but they will also be playing away from home where the crowd might become a factor.

In the end, I think game will go to the team that shows up to play and the team that simply wants it more.