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False starts

One area that figures to be a point of emphasis as the Patriots prepare to face the Cowboys in Dallas is remaining disciplined on the line of scrimmage.

In a noisy environment, the Patriots will probably turn to their silent snap count. But that can lead to challenges in keeping everyone on the same page.

How have the Patriots fared with false start penalties this season?

Of the 21 accepted penalties called against the Patriots, five have been false starts.

Three of them have come at home -- Billy Yates vs. the Chargers; Benjamin Watson vs. the Chargers; Randy Moss vs. the Browns.

The two that came on the road were both against the Bengals, on the same drive, as Watson and Logan Mankins were flagged in the first quarter.

The Patriots have been penalized for false starts more than any other infraction this season.

On a related note, the team also has one offensive delay of game penalty for letting the play clock run down. That came at home, against the Chargers.