The Sports Xchange

ARLINGTON, Texas — New England quarterback Tom Brady was shaken a bit in the first half Sunday afternoon, but not enough to knock the Patriots off their early-season ride.

Brady threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Patriots remained undefeated with a 30-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys 30-6 on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.

The Patriots (4-0) weren’t the same offensive juggernaut as in their first three games, but New England did more than enough coming off a bye week to wear down the undermanned Cowboys.

Brady and the Patriots came in averaging nearly 40 points in their first three wins. They won this one with defense, giving up a season-low point total.

Brady worked around five sacks — all in the first half — to complete 20 of 27 passes for 275 yards with no interceptions. The veteran has 11 touchdown passes this season and has yet to throw a pick.

“There were a lot of adjustments today,” Brady said. “I don’t think we practiced a lot of what they were doing, but I think our defense played great. They were just awesome.

“There were just a lot of clutch plays by our defense and special teams. Offense, we made a few plays, but we can play better than that.”

New England wide receiver Julian Edelman caught four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard game of the season. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught four balls for 67 yards. Running back LeGarrette Blount had 74 yards rushing.

Hitting the ground repeatedly in the first half didn’t change Brady’s approach. It was the first time he was sacked at least five times since 2001.

What we learned about the Cowboys:

1. The defense flashed some glimmers of hope despite giving up 30 points. The pass rush, nonexistent for much of the season, showed up with five sacks of Tom Brady. In their first starts, defensive end Greg Hardy made two sacks and linebacker Rolando McClain had one.

2. There just aren’t enough weapons on the outside for quarterback Brandon Weeden with wide receiver Dez Bryant out. The receiving combination of Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Devin Street and Lucky Whitehead combined for eight receptions and 80 yards. “I could only speak for what I did today, obviously,” Beasley said. “I don’t know what the other guys did. They know how they played. I just have to focus on my job, and that’s to get open and catch the ball, and I didn’t do that enough today.”

3. Weeden may be at the end of his rope. With an off week coming before the Cowboys go on the road to face the New York Giants, it may be time to turn to backup Matt Cassel. The offense needs a spark, and someone who will at least take shots downfield. Cassel is no Tony Romo, but he may offer more than Weeden.

Etc.

–LB Rolando McClain returned from a four-game suspension for a substance-abuse violation to make eight tackles, including a sack. He also had two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.

–DE Greg Hardy returned from a four-game suspension for domestic abuse, and he recorded two sacks and five tackles, and he forced a fumble by Patriots QB Tom Brady.

–QB Brandon Weeden made his third start in place of Tony Romo and fell to 0-3. Weeden completed 26 of 29 pass for 188 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. With a bye week coming before the Cowboys travel to play the New York Giants, there is a chance Dallas could replace Weeden with Matt Cassel.