Cowboys vs. Patriots NFL injury report, spread: Odds against Trevon Diggs with another interception; Damien Harris in question for Pats

Had the 2021 NFL season been the usual 16 regular-season games, the Dallas Cowboys would not have visited the New England Patriots, but it was the added 17th game for both as they meet Sunday in Foxboro. The Pats opened as 1-point underdogs but are now up to +3.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. SportsLine also offers NFL odds on whether stellar second-year Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs can pick off yet another pass. Diggs is dealing with an ankle injury but expected to play. 

Last season, the Cowboys started 0-8 against the spread, the longest ATS losing streak to start any season in NFL history. Now? Dallas is the lone unbeaten ATS team in the league and is 5-0 ATS for the first time since the 1970 merger. It should be noted that Dallas is one of two teams (Falcons the other) yet to have beaten Bill Belichick since he took over as coach of the Patriots.

What else does Diggs have to do to become the NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorite at Caesars Sportsbook? He's currently a +800 third-favorite behind Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (+350) and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (+650), a three-time winner of the award.

Diggs leads the NFL by a mile with six interceptions (no one else has more than three) and is the third player in the Super Bowl era to record at least one interception in each of his team's first five games of a season, joining the Minnesota's Brian Russell (first six games in 2003) and Washington's Lemar Parrish (first five games in 1979). Russell finished with nine and Parrish nine. The NFL single-season record is 14 by the Rams' Dick "Night Train" Lane in 1952. Diggs' six picks already are the most in a season by a Cowboys player since 2007

Via SportsLine oddsmakers Diggs is given an Over/Under season total of 10.5 and is +250 for a pick this week with no at -350. Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones has thrown five interceptions and at least one in the past three games.

New England is 0-3 straight up at home for the first time since 1993, which was Drew Bledsoe's rookie season. The Pats are 15-4 ATS all-time and 12-7 SU as home dogs under Belichick, although obviously many of those came with Tom Brady under center. Since Brady left, the Patriots are 3-1 ATS as home dogs.

The key injury for New England is to running back Damien Harris. He didn't practice Wednesday and the media around the team speculated he wouldn't play Sunday, but then Harris got a limited session in Thursday. Today will obviously be key. Harris has 63 carries for 230 yards and two scores. No other Patriot has more than 12 carries or 38 yards rushing.

Cowboys-Patriots has seen the biggest total increase (48 to 50.5) of any Week 6 game at Caesars Sportsbook.

"That one is a head-scratcher for me," said Craig Mucklow, Vice President of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook. "I would have expected to see some Under money by now. You're going to have the public drive up the total, especially with it being two public teams like the Cowboys and Patriots. I'm surprised I haven't seen anything Under yet, but I'm expecting the sharps to be on the Patriots and the Under come game time."

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Trevon Diggs season interception total

• Over 10.5 -110
• Under 10.5 -110

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will Trevon Diggs have an interception Sunday vs. Patriots?

• No -350
• Yes +250

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