The full NFL schedule was released yesterday. Fans are already browsing the schedule and making their early picks for wins and losses in their favorite team’s schedule. When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, expectations are high, and the Cowboys are expected to compete through the postseason and beyond. Let’s take a closer look at the schedule and assess which games will make or break their postseason hopes.
Fifth week vs San Francisco 49ers
This rematch of last year’s playoffs has the Cowboys, once again, on the road at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers boast a ferocious defense that gives many NFL teams seizures, and Dak Prescott, along with the Cowboys offense, couldn’t solve the 49ers defense in the past two postseason meetings. One of the NFL’s brightest offensive play designers, head coach Kyle Shanahan has managed to craft a dynamic offense without a key quarterback.
Who starts under San Francisco Center is anyone’s guess. Brooke Purdy and Trey Lance can both be called beginners. This game is important because the Cowboys must prove they can outrun the team that has been a thorn in their side, and they will attempt to do so in primetime. Sunday Night Football. If the Cowboys don’t just want to make the playoffs, but exorcise exorcisms, then they have to find a way to win this game. The 49ers are the pinnacle of first defense, and even though it’s a regular season game, it’s sure to have playoff implications and is sure to have strong airs.
Week 12 against the Washington Chiefs
On paper, the first game of the season between both teams may not seem significant outside of it being a tag team match. However, for a team like the Cowboys who have a lot riding this season, this game means a lot. Besides the spectacle of playing in a marquee game on a national holiday (Thanksgiving), the Cowboys need to prove to everyone watching around the country that they’re really getting close to postseason shape.
Thanksgiving is the beginning of the home stretch and when the teams that get hot at the right time of year start to get together. Leaders are still looking for a solid solution in the middle. Sam Howell is probably the starter and he beat the Cowboys at the end of last season. However, the leaders still seem to be a team in transition. With the team’s sale imminent, head coach Ron Rivera enters the season on the proverbial hot seat. The Cowboys have to “command” center stage and the country’s attention by handling business on Thanksgiving.
week 2 vs New York Jets
Week 2 in the crucial schedule. Sure, there’s the machinations of Aaron Rodgers coming to AT&T Stadium for another showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. However, in order for the Cowboys to start quickly and give themselves the best chance of making the playoffs, they must ensure that they win one of their first two games. If there is any added incentive, since 1970 only 9.5% of teams that started the season 0-2 have made the playoffs. Facing an opponent in their inaugural season, the Cowboys could well head into Week 2 facing this proposition.
The New York Jets were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises last year under Robert Saleh, going 6-3 before bouncing to 7-10. The Jets had one of the most promising rosters, but their quarterback was a big albatross. After being traded to Rodgers, the Jets came up against one of the AFC’s elite teams. New York has a strong defense with Quinn Williams up front and Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauces Gardner was the first pro in his senior season. New York is a big gauge early in the season for the Cowboys.
week ten vs New York Giants
Not surprisingly, there is another divisional game on this list, but the Giants are designed to be at best a division title contender and, at worst, a contender for a wild card spot. The Cowboys swept the Giants last season, but they weren’t as easy as many thought entering 2022. They lacked explosive playmaking and found a way to remedy that problem. The Giants drafted Tennessee driver Jalen Hiatt to give their offense a more vertical element. In addition, they traded former Raiders tight end Darren Waller.
NFC may not be as heavy as it was in years past, though Green Bay Packers And Tampa Bay Buccaneers He took a step back, but the Giants (along with Detroit Lions Who are also on the schedule) take a step forward the way they did makes the bottom of NFC match image It is very difficult to guess. In fact, of last year’s seven NFC playoff teams, four are on the Cowboys schedule.
Losing this game to New York would be detrimental to the Cowboys’ chances of a good playoff seed in the conference.
Week 14 against the Eagles
Long before Cowboys fans knew when this game was played, they had this game at the forefront of their minds. They wanted to know when the Cowboys would have a chance to play the hated Philadelphia Eagles. How deep this NFL rivalry runs can’t be overstated. Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles will decide two things. First, we’ll see how much the Cowboys close the gap between themselves and Philadelphia under the pressure of a late-season contest. Second, the winner of this game will likely have the inside track to the NFC East title.
That rivalry took an even more upsetting turn with the Eagles having their second home run to power Since 2017 last season, the Cowboys have to finish ahead of the Eagles in the standings. It won’t be easy since Jalen Hurts has emerged as a MVP candidate after a stellar season and a new contract.
The Eagles have rearranged their roster after some key departures this offseason. They picked up running back D’Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions. They also added arrogant Nolan Smith and defensive tackle Jalen Carter in last month’s draft to round out their defense. Dak Prescott has an 8-3 record against the Eagles. The final series between these two teams comes with four regular season games left on the calendar, but there’s a lot riding on the line when these teams meet in Week 14.
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