3 Cowboys Who Need to Step up During Big Week 12 Matchup With Patriots

The Dallas Cowboys head to Foxborough to take on the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots this Sunday in a battle between two of the NFL's most popular (and divisive) teams.

This past weekend against the Detroit Lions, Michael Gallup and Dak Prescott went off and helped deliver a win for the Lone Star boys, but this time around, they won't be able to get the job done alone. With that in mind, let's identify three players that Dallas needs to step up the most if they wish to walk away with a victory against the Pats.

1. DeMarcus Lawrence

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is due for a big game in the sack department, and there isn't a better time for it than this Sunday. In order for the Dallas D to stop the Patriots offense, they need to keep Tom Brady from coming alive and authoring an MVP-level performance. That starts with Lawrence becoming a backfield wrecking ball.

2. Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper shows up one week only to a break in the week to follow. As he was quiet last weekend against Detroit prior to leaving with an injury, expect him to show up in a major way this week -- and boy, will Dallas need him to. Facing Stephon Gilmore and the No. 2 pass defense in all of football could prove troubling for Prescott and the passing attack. Gallup is still a young player, so the burden is on Cooper to show exactly why the Cowboys coughed up a first-round pick for his services last season.

3. Ezekiel Elliott

Despite scoring two touchdowns last week against Detroit, Zeke Elliott has put up a paltry 2.55 yards per carry on the season, and if the Cowboys want a slight chance to win this game then he will need to up his production levels significantly. Facing a defense that gives up 4.6 yards per carry ought to give Dallas fans (and Elliott fantasy owners) a boost of confidence.