FanPost

What If Sports: Cowboys 2014 Simulation Part 1

I recently stumbled upon "What If Sports", a virtual simulator of sports that plays out games between teams. I decided to run every Cowboys game to see how the season would shake out if a What If Sports season were played...Here are the results:

*To be taken with a few grains of salt...The simulator lets you account for some things, such as weather, stadium, home and away teams, offensive skill position lineup, however it does not let you set the defensive lineup. Also, it features the teams from 2013, meaning Dallas still has Ware, a healthy Sean Lee, Anthony Spencer, and Jason Hatcher. I accounted for this by using lesser players to fill in for backup running back and third WR (Devin Street is not on the roster either). I also hope not having Zach Martin and an unknown Travis Frederick balance it out

Week 1: vs Niners

The battle against San Francisco gives Dallas fans something to look forward to, although the prospect doesn't seem very bright. Dallas will have a weakened defense facing one of the top run games in the league. The only thing going for Dallas is the possible absences of Aldon Smith and Navarro Bowman from that Niners defense. It looks bad for Dallas...Not according to What If Sports. The Niners strike first with an 8 yard Frank Gore TD on the first possession of the season, and a Dan Bailey field goal makes it 7-3 after the first quarter. The Niners then get a field goal to start the second, before Dallas goes on a tear. Romo leads the offense to the goal line before sneaking in a TD on a run to tie the game. Later, Murray takes a 14 yard handoff outside to the house, and after great defense, Dallas gets the ball back to attempt to score before haltime. They wrap up the quarter by a 52 yard TD to Witten and take a 24-10 lead into halftime. Both teams play good defense in the third, so there's no scoring. To start the 4th, Kendall Hunter catches a screen from Kap to score and bring it within 24-17. Romo then finds Bryant from 8 yards out for a TD and a 31-17 lead. After good defense again, Dallas puts it away with a Dan Bailey field goal, leading 34-17 with 2 minutes to go. Anquan Boldin does score a TD after that to bring it within 10 at 34-24, but it is too late and Dallas upsets in week 1.

Romo: 17/24, 305 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT

Bryant: 5 rec, 39 yds, 1 TD

Witten: 3 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD

Murray: 18 rush, 162 yds (62 long) 1 TD

Week 2: @ Titans

In typical Cowboys fashion, Dallas disappoints in a surprise loss to the Titans in week 2 after an impressive win against the Niners one week ago. The Cowboys start the scoring when Dunbar takes a carry for a score. Shonn Greene then ties it at 7 to end the quarter. The Cowboys draw first blood in the second as well, scoring off an 8 yard TD to Bryant and taking a 14-7 lead. The Titans get a field goal from Brett Kern before Murray scores on a 9 yard run to give Dallas Dallas a 21-10 lead. With things going south for Tennessee, the Titans get a field goal before the half to trail 21-13. In the third, the Titans get closer after a Bishop Sankey TD makes it 21-20. Dallas gets another field goal to lead 24-20 heading into the fourth. The Titans finally take the lead halfway through the 4th with a Jake Locker rushing TD. Dallas ties it at 27 with another field goal leaving 2 minutes on the clock. Locker leads his team on a game winning field goal drive to upset Dallas, 30-27.

Romo: 21/28, 237 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

Bryant: 5 rec, 62 yds, 1 TD

Witten: 3 rec, 40 yds

Murray: 14 rush, 49 yds, 1 TD

Week 3: @ Rams

Dallas at 1-1 heads to St. Louis to take on a pesky Rams team with insane Defensive Line talent. Dallas is disappointed after a loss to the Titans and look to right the ship and this game could really be a tone setter for the season. Dallas starts of well, forcing a punt then scoring a TD from Murray on the first offensive series for the Cowboys. The Defense doesn't allow the Rams anything while the offense hums, getting a Dan Bailey field goal and a 77 yard TD from Williams in the second to lead 17-3 at halftime. Dallas starts the third with another Murray TD to make it 24-3 and it looks like the Cowboys just love to dominate the Rams. The Rams finally score with a Tavon Austin TD to make it 24-10 heading into the final quarter. Romo puts on the finishing touches with a short TD to Cole Beasley an the score is 31-10. Romo then tosses his first pick of the season in garbage time but Dallas holds on to a 31-10 victory.

Romo: 19/29, 301 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT

Bryant: 6 rec, 75 yds

Witten: 3 rec, 40 yds

Murray: 17 rush, 96 yds, 2 TD

Week 4: vs Saints (SNF)

The Cowboys will return to Arlington to take on the Saints on Sunday Night. Drew Brees will be waiting to light up the Cowboys again, however this time Darren Sproles won't be present. The Saints start the scoring as Pierre Thomas catches a pass from Brees for a score. The Saints force a punt after which Thomas caps off the drive with a 5 yard TD and the Saints lead 14-0 at the end of 1. The Cowboys make it a ballgame in the second, scoring 2 field goals and a Murray TD while allowing just a field goal to trail 17-13 at halftime. The Cowboys take the lead in the third with a TD to Witten and things are looking up when Brees throws a pick to give Dallas the ball, already leading 20-17. However, a Romo pick late in the third gives the Saints an easy TD and the Cowboys trail 24-20 heading into the final period. The Saints score a Jimmy Graham TD in the fourth and with a 31-20 lead, look to put the Cowboys away. Dallas can't get anything going and in garbage time Romo throws a pick and Dallas falls to 2-2.

Romo: 21/37, 238 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT

Bryant: 5 rec, 57 yds

Witten: 4 rec, 55 yds, TD

Murray: 16 rush, 111 yds, 1 TD

First Quarter Review

At the end of the first 4 games of the season, the Cowboys are the same disappointing Cowboys of the last 3 years. They are still stuck at .500, and what's truly frustrating is they they have shown they can be good but just are too maddeningly inconsistent, evidenced by a great win over the 49ers, followed by an embarrassing faceplant in Tennessee to a great defensive showcase in St. Louis, capped by a 4th quarter collapse against New Orleans. With the Texans, Seahawks, Giants, and Redskins coming up, the Cowboys will be faced with some enticing rivalry games. Do they have what it takes to be a true competitor?

Romo: 78/118, 1081 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT

Bryant: 21 rec, 233 yds, 2 TD

Witten: 13 rec, 230 yds, 2 TD

Murray: 65 rush, 418 yds, 5 TD

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