Looking at the full season schedule, it would seem that there is every possibility that the Cowboys have dropped no more than a game or two by midseason, but then could suffer the dreaded December fade....
They open with the Giants at home. Always a tough opponent but one who is coming off a rash of preseason injuries to players in positions that they were already weak in, including O-Line and Safety. And whose top pass-rusher either won't be back or will be just coming off a back injury.
Arrowhead is always a tough place to play and while many are predicting a KC bounce back, they were 2-14 last season... The Rams are another possible bounce-back team but they are in the Cowboys house where they were smashed before. Chargers have some serious problems and its hard to see Rivers getting his mojo back behind that line. So 4-0 doesn't seem that unreasonable an expectation.
Then it gets tougher. Denver is a SB prediction of many and even if their D sucks, Peyton wins without a Defence. However they are out of the high altitude advantage and are missing their 2 best pass-rushers from last season - and Bailey isn't getting any younger. Redskins had our number last year but the Cowboys are at home and primed for revenge. Philly in Philly is tough but the coaches will have had 6 games to check out his schemes and both the QB and Defense are suspect. The Lions finished last season 0-8 and didn't have the cap space to improve - so chalk up a solid W there. So anything from 4-0 to 2-2 at worst
So with a combination of Home games and weaker opponents sets up the Cowboys for a solid opening half. Anything from 6-2 to 8-0, if the ball bounces for us.
Then comes Minnesota and the Raiders at home, so figure for at least 2 wins. Giants and Saints could be tough away games.
Which all leads up to a potential December swoon. With the Coaching changes the Bears could be a shadow of their 10-6 team last year, but Trestman is a master with QBs, so he could have Cutler playing at a high level and they have the players on D to still be very tough at home. In December. Then GB at home and Redskins away. Which could leave the Cowboys at home, facing a Philly team with potentially nothing to lose and the prospect of spoiling the Cowboys season.
So get ready for the re-hashed stories of the Cowboys December swoon - when as it sits right now that is a completely reasonable prediction based on strength of season as it progresses.
Of course, for all we know, the Chiefs and Rams could be playoff teams and the Bears and Packers might completely implode. Football's a funny game....
Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Game site | TV | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 8 | 7:30 p.m. CDT | New York Giants | AT&T Stadium | NBC | |||
2 | September 15 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | at Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Fox | |||
3 | September 22 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | St. Louis Rams | AT&T Stadium | Fox | |||
4 | September 29 | 3:25 p.m. CDT | at San Diego Chargers | Qualcomm Stadium | Fox | |||
5 | October 6 | 3:25 p.m. CDT | Denver Broncos | AT&T Stadium | CBS | |||
6 | October 13 | 7:30 p.m. CDT | Washington Redskins | AT&T Stadium | NBC | |||
7 | October 20 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | at Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | Fox | |||
8 | October 27 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | at Detroit Lions | Ford Field | Fox | |||
9 | November 3 | 12:00 p.m. CST | Minnesota Vikings | AT&T Stadium | Fox | |||
10 | November 10 | 7:30 p.m. CST | at New Orleans Saints | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | NBC | |||
11 | Bye | |||||||
12 | November 24 | 3:25 p.m. CST * | at New York Giants | MetLife Stadium | Fox * | |||
13 | November 28 | 3:30 p.m. CST | Oakland Raiders | AT&T Stadium | CBS | |||
14 | December 9 | 7:40 p.m. CST | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | ESPN | |||
15 | December 15 | 3:25 p.m. CST * | Green Bay Packers | AT&T Stadium | Fox * | |||
16 | December 22 | 12:00 p.m. CST * | at Washington Redskins | FedEx Field | Fox * | |||
17 | December 29 | 12:00 p.m. CST * | Philadelphia Eagles | AT&T Stadium | Fox * |