The Dallas Cowboys will start this season striving for something that has never been done: attempting to win a home super bowl. Playing in a Super Bowl at home is, in itself, an incredibly unheard of feat. That being said a dynamic offense synced with a superb defense will be the identity of this Dallas Cowboys team against some difficult foes. So we’ll take a look at the schedule and predict how this season will unfold.
Week 1 – @ Washington
The Cowboys open the season in a rivalry game that offers a lot of new faces in new places. Mike Shanahan will lead Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins onto the field. In a battle that will seem lopsided the Cowboys Offense will overpower the Skins D.
Outcome: Dallas 31 – Wash 17
Week 2 – CHICAGO
The Cowboys open in Dallas against a rebuilding Chicago team. Jay Cutler will be under a fire storm and Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are going to torch Chicago’s passing D in a big way. Expect Ware to get multiple sacks against Cutler who looks like a statue in the pocket sometimes.
Outcome: Dallas 24 – Chicago 10
Week 3 – @ Houston
Houston is a sleeper for sure this year. They offer a tough matchup in the passing game. Owen Daniel and Andre Johnson provide Schaub legitimate targets that can get things rolling. The Houston D is also potent enough to considered a threat. However, the lack of a running game makes the passing attack an easier gameplan and the Boys win a close one.
Outcome: Dallas 27 – Houston 24
Week 5 – TENNESSEE
Another week with a lopsided offense. Dallas should be able to focus on CJ2K and Vince Young and dominate the young team. The Titans D allowed the 20th highest points per game last year and I expect the high scoring Cowboys to exploit that.
Outcome: Dallas 35 – Tennessee 16
Week 6 – @ Minnesota
There are two scenarios here, none of them good. Farve returns and dices the Cowboys Secondary. Favre doesn’t return and Jared Allen dices up the Cowboys new left tackle. Take your pick. There is upside, the game is a lot closer if Favre stays home.
Outcome Dallas: 17 – Minnesota 28
Week 7 – N.Y. GIANTS
Cowboys come off a loss in Minnesota by facing bitter rival New York. The Cowboys are lucky in this game as New York can’t get it’s running game established through a tough showing through the Dallas D. The Cowboys are able to use there running game to establish control and win a big statement game.
Outcome: Dallas 27 – New York 21
Week 8 – JACKSONVILLE
An easier game in the schedule, the Cowboys handle the inconsistent David Garrard with ease. This is a field day for a very talented Cowboys team and it’s over before the third quarter sees it’s halfway mark.
Outcome: Dallas 38 – 13
Week 9 – @ Green Bay
Dallas meets a equally talented team in the frozen tundra. Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings offer the Cowboys a chance to see what it feels like to be diced by a tremendous passing offense and Ryan Grant offers a good “Don’t forget me” aspect of the game. This one is a battle however, once that Mason Crosby decides on a frigid day.
Outcome: Dallas 24 – Green Bay 27
Week 10 – @ N.Y. Giants
Cowboys wont get caught again this time and face the first losing streak of the season with 2. Its hard to sweep the Giants and this time they’re a little more prepared.
Outcome: Dallas 21 – New York 28
Week 11 – DETROIT
The hard fighting Detroit Lions come to Dallas to get massacred. Detroit never gives up and Matt Stafford will surely be a force at quarterback in a few years but this time the Boys run them to hard on both sides of the ball and end this one quickly.
Outcome: Dallas 31 – Detroit 17
Week 12 – NEW ORLEANS
Last year the Cowboys walked into the superdome against an undefeated team. They won and the Saints are looking to exact revenge. Unfortunately, the Cowboys Defense puts in one of the strongest showings of the season and force 3 turnovers.
Outcome: Dallas 32 – New Orleans 27
Week 13 – @ Indianapolis
How many people run into Indianapolis and defeat Peyton Manning and the Colts? Answer: Not many. The Cowboys don’t’ get to do what other teams have before and lose to the offensive genius known as Peyton.
Outcome: Dallas 24 – IND 28
Week 14 – PHILADELPHIA
Last year is fresh on the Eagles mind and Kevin Kolb is starting to come into his own. However, Jenkins seems to have DeSean Jackson’s number and the Cowboys shut down a team that lives by the pass. On the other end of the ball Dez Bryant has taken over the # 2 spot by now and will dice up the weak Philly Secondary.
Outcome: Dallas 27 – Philly 17
Week 15 – WASHINGTON
The Cowboys sweep the Redskins who at this time are relying way too heavily on McNabb and are deeply in need of a quality running game.
Outcome: Dallas 21 – Wash 14
Week 16 – @ Arizona
The Cardinals are a mess at QB at this point the cards are thinking about next year and have inserted Anderson in as Leinharts replacement. Things aren’t looking good for the once impressive Arizona Cardinals as they face the upper class of the NFC. Marion Barber and Felix Jones take a lot of pressure off of Romo and the group as they coast to a low scoring, clock controlled game.
Outcome: Dallas 24 – Ari 9
Week 17 – @ Philadelphia
The Cowboys clinched the playoffs last week against Arizona and take this game to rest some starters. Since the NFC East is a few games back of the Boys, the Cowboys take this time to see what their depth looks like and plan ahead for a playoff game as the number 3 seed.
Outcome: Dallas 14 – Philly 24
Overall Season Outcome:
DAL 11-5; 3rd Seed NFC
