The Dallas Cowboys regular season starts in just 13 days, and boy does their schedule pose a tough task early in the year.
Nearly every national media outlet has the Dallas Cowboys missing the playoffs, and some of them even have them finishing behind the Washington Commanders. A team that has a brand new head coach and rookie quarterback.
I am not surprised by this one bit. Do the Cowboys struggle in the postseason, they sure do. Yet they dominate the regular season, especially the NFC East.
soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/hHFpa0kWdY
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 23, 2024
Tough Test Early
The first six out of ten games for the Dallas Cowboys are against teams that made the playoffs a year ago.
This team can put a lot to rest if they can come out a few games above .500. Nobody thinks that they will. I don’t think they will either if CeeDee Lamb is not in the building week one.
The Cowboys start the season on the road against the Cleveland Browns, the team that had the no. 1 overall defense a season ago. They then are at home when they host the Saints and the Baltimore Ravens.
Dallas will then get a bit of a cool down when they take on the Giants and the Steelers. They should win both of those games. If Dallas can split with the Browns and the Ravens, there is ZERO reason this team should not start 4 and 1.
SMOOTH LIKE BUTTER 😮💨
📺: #DALvsLV on CBS 11
📲: Stream on NFL+ ➡️ https://t.co/LvklCbZgQM pic.twitter.com/zsoxoNPtNn— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 18, 2024
They follow that by hosting the Lions. Then head on the road to take on the team that they just can’t beat, the 49ers.
As above, if they can handle business at home against the Lions, they could start the year 5-and-2. The only two losses coming via the Ravens/Browns and the 49ers.
Jerry Loves Contract Years
Not only is Jerry Jones letting Dak Prescott play on the final year of his deal, Mike McCarthy is also coaching for his job.
After the Cowboys lost their last preseason game against the Chargers on Saturday, Jones was asked about players and coaches doing their job with the backs against the wall.
“Absolutely, I do. I really do [believe you get people’s best with their backs against the wall],” Jones said after Dallas’ preseason finale against the Chargers on Saturday.
“There’s no question in my mind that angst, pressure, competing will bring out the best in this game from coaches and players,” Jones said. “This game has to have some extra [fire] over the guys that you’re in front of [on the field]. That’s why I’m kind of amazed at someone talking about the job they’re doing without a contract. Blows my mind.”
Jerry ended that with “blows my mind.” Well, Jerry they are asking you this stuff because you are the worst owner in football when it comes to getting contracts done with anyone.
You wait on Dez Bryant, you waited on Zeke, and now you are waiting on your two best offensive players. CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
I understand big mike, but you just saw Trey Lance throw FIVE interceptions in a preseason game. You think he can take the job if you don’t pay Dak next year? Give me a break.
Tough Break
If you haven’t seen the news yet, the Cowboys lost DaRon Bland for at least 6-8 weeks.
If DaRon Bland falls in the 6-8 week recovery period then the Cowboys are looking at a potential return perhaps as soon as Oct. 5 vs. Pittsburgh. They play the Lions Oct. 13 and have their bye week Oct. 20.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 24, 2024
Over the weekend, it was reported, Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday of last week during training camp in Oxnard. Subsequent imaging revealed a stress fracture in his foot. He will undergo surgery to repair the injury.
The Cowboys will be tested early, but after all the talk this offseason about how they will finish third in the division, they can make a lot of folks be quiet early in the season.