Dallas Cowboys: Who Is Starting Against The New England Patriots — Brandon Weeden Or Matt Cassel?

The Dallas Cowboys started off the 2015 NFL season with a 2-0 record and on top of the NFC East. Now, they’ve lost their starting wide receiver, starting quarterback, and the last two games to drop to 2-2. Brandon Weeden stepped in for Tony Romo after he suffered a broken clavicle, but faith in the back-up is fading and the team did trade for Matt Cassel, but who will start against the New England Patriots in week five?

When it came time for Weeden to take over for Tony Romo and become the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys’ offense, he got a big boost of confidence. Yahoo Sports had reported that immediately, team owner Jerry Jones put his faith in the back-up.

“This quarterback Weeden can drive the ball down field. He’s a thing of beauty on throwing a football. His passing motion and his arm, frankly, you won’t see a more gifted passer, power, accuracy, the entire aspect of it. If he can basically prepare, be the starting quarterback, come in and execute and keep his head right, then I feel good about Weeden.”

The next weekend, the Dallas Cowboys lost 39-28 to the Atlanta Falcons. A week later, the Cowboys lost to the New Orleans Saints in an overtime heartbreaker. Now, the Cowboys are wondering where to turn and what to do next as a visit to New England looms over them.

Also, Jerry Jones doesn’t have nearly as much faith in his backup quarterback-turned-starter, Brandon Weeden. After the loss to the Saints, Jones spoke to the Star-Telegram, and his tune had indeed changed about the QB that could do no wrong.

“I thought he did real good. He did good all night long. He took his initial look and threw it. He does some real good things, though it’s not quite apples and oranges when the guy on the other side of the deal is Brees and you’re dealing with a guy who is as limited as Weeden. We got in it even running out of time, or short-handed, in 2-minute or what have you, then these quarterbacks like Brees make a difference.”

Against the Saints, Weeden finished 16-of-26 for 246 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers aren’t bad at all, but he still hasn’t chalked up a victory as the Cowboys’ starter yet and that is what Jerry Jones wants.

So, does that mean it’s Matt Cassel’s turn?

Cassel has now had time to learn the Cowboys’ system after arriving from the Buffalo Bills in an early season trade. With 71 career starts under his belt and a Pro Bowl quarterback at one point, it was expected that he would eventually take over the starting job for Dallas.

ESPN reported that isn’t happening. Not yet, at least.

Brandon Weeden will get his third consecutive start on Sunday as the Cowboys take on the New England Patriots. If things get out of hand quickly though or if Weeden makes too many mistakes, Cassel could make his Cowboys’ debut against one of his former teams.

The decision to stay with Weeden over Cassel as the Cowboys’ starter isn’t coming from head coach Jason Garrett, but Jerry Jones. On Tuesday, Jones was on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, and made things perfectly clear.

“Nothing that he did in the game would warrant changing quarterbacks.”

That is, of course, until Tony Romo is healthy enough to return, but that is still going to be at least another five or six games. That’s at the very least.

Brandon Weeden has the starter reigns of the Dallas Cowboys for now and he will hold onto them going into Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. A slow start or another loss means that Matt Cassel could find his way onto the field soon or maybe have the Cowboys turn elsewhere. Tim Tebow, anyone?

[Images via Getty Images – Ronald Martinez/Brett Carlsen/Rich Schultz]