The New England Patriots (9-1) host the Dallas Cowboys (6-4) on Sunday in what could be the most-watched regular season game of the season, considering these two fan bases. Here are three keys for a Patriots victory in this nationally-televised game.

1. Take away Ezekiel Elliott

Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has struggled somewhat in 2019 as the offense has begun to lean more on quarterback Dak Prescott.

But that doesn’t mean the Cowboys aren’t in line to pivot against the Patriots.

The good news for New England is despite a superb offensive line and phenomenal talent in Elliott, Dallas is more of a traditional running game, as opposed to Baltimore’s transcendent attack.

The Patriots should be able to limit Elliott with their run-stuffing defensive tackles (Lawrence Guy, Danny Shelton) and self-proclaimed ‘boogeymen’ linebacking core that specializes in attacking the line of scrimmage via gaps in New England’s two and three-man defensive line fronts.

2. Win ‘boundary’ matchups on defense

Already mentioned above, the Patriots will need to key on Elliott, but they’ll have to do so without stacking the box.

Dak Prescott — 3,221 passing yards, 21 touchdowns — has been phenomenal this season. He’s a later addition to an NFL MVP race that starts with Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson and also includes Deshaun Watson.

Prescott has been one of the league’s most effective throwing along the boundary, outside the numbers.

With targets such as Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup on the outside, the Patriots will need to corral Prescott by also shutting down his top targets.

Expect Cooper to be shadowed by Stephon Gilmore in the game’s marquee player matchup. Gallup should draw either Jason McCourty or J.C. Jackson, while Jonathan Jones will man up Randall Cobb in the slot.

New England’s secondary is perhaps the NFL’s best, but they’ll need to prove that once more this week.

3. Limit ‘inside’ pressure on Brady

With DeMarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn as effective edge rushers, the Cowboys may use former Patriot Michael Bennett as in inside rusher in passing situations.

Patriots right guard Shaq Mason allowed Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham to blow by him on Brady’s key fumble in Super Bowl LII, and last week Mason occasionally struggled once more when Graham was lined up against him on the inside.

Putting Bennett — three sacks in three games with Dallas — on a recently-struggling Mason at various points would be a wise move. Mason will have to buckle up and win those matchups more often than not, or it will be another rough day for Brady and the Patriots offense through the air.