After suffering a stunning last-minute loss to a team that went 7 and 9 last season, the Patriots knew they had to get their sh*t back in order. Facing the Cowboys (who made it to the Wildcard round last year) in Irving would provide a good challenge. And the Patriots rose to the occasion, shifting protection to limit the danger of Demarcus Ware on defense, and Brady found a good rhythm with the Pats' receivers, with WR Julian Edelman and TE Rob Gronkowski both running excellent routes and having stellar performances.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Just inside the redzone, Brady called Shotgun - Gun Trips Open - PA WR In, but saw that the gaps between defenders pre-snap suggested that they were playing in zone, unlikely to heavily blitz, and after hot routing RB Jake Carver to help pass protect just in case, Brady noticed the explosiveness that outside WR Julian Edelman had off of the snap which indicated he was likely to get open on his eventual cut to the inside (and that Brady wouldn't have to settle for the shallow underneath route to WR Brandon Tate), and that's exactly what happened; after a look off of the safety to WR Wes Welker's out route, it was easy to find Edelman cutting in deep for six:
http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/41662023

1 2 3 4 OT T
Patriots
7 7 10 7 0 31
Cowboys
7 0 0 0 0 7 Final

• Scoring Summary

First Quarter

(DAL) F.Jones, 5 Yd run(D.Buehler kick), 3:38

(NE) J.Edelman 18 Yd pass from T.Brady(S.Gostkowski kick), 1:25

Second Quarter

(NE) R.Gronkowski 8 Yd pass from T.Brady(S.Gostkowski kick), 1:57

Third Quarter

(NE) T.Price 75 Yd pass from T.Brady(S.Gostkowski kick), 5:40

(NE) S.Gostkowski, 41 Yd FG, 0:46

Fourth Quarter

(NE) J.Edelman 12 Yd pass from T.Brady(S.Gostkowski kick), 3:58