Cowboys' non-divisional schedule seems simple
By Connor Byrne
04/14/2006
When people think of the Dallas Cowboys’ chances next season, they often think of the struggles they may endure because they play in such a difficult division, the NFC East. However, after analyzing the Cowboys' schedule for 2006, it's fair to say that it appears to be simple, at least in terms of non-divisional opponents. It's never smart to believe football games are won on paper, but with their plethora of talent, this Cowboys team shouldn't have much difficulty with some of the creampuff opponents that they'll face next season.
In Week One, Dallas will travel to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars team that went 12-4 last season. However, the Jaguars capitalized on a weak schedule and were gobbled up by good teams last year. They’ve done little to improve themselves and seem average going into next year. Thus, the Cowboys should handle them in the opener to improve to 1-0.
In their second non-divisional game, the Cowboys take on a Tennessee Titans team that is currently rebuilding. Obviously, this should result in a Week Four home victory in Irving, Texas, which would put the Cowboys at 2-0 outside their division.
Week Six pits the Cowboys against the rising Houston Texans in a battle of two in-state rivals. Although the Texans have certainly improved this offseason, they won’t have the horses to beat the Cowboys on October 15th in Irving. Much like the previous two non-divisional matchups for Dallas, this should result in a win. Assuming that forecast comes to fruition, it would make the Cowboys a perfect 3-0 outside of the NFC East.
Two weeks later the Cowboys face a real test on the road against the reigning NFC South Champions, the Carolina Panthers. Both of these teams will be competing for major accomplishments next season, but I would give the Panthers the edge because they’re at home on NBC’s marquee Sunday Night matchup. Should a loss occur for the Cowboys, they’d drop to 3-1 against non-divisional rivals.
In the 10th week of the season, the Cowboys take on the up and coming Arizona Cardinals. Much like the aforesaid Texans, the Cardinals are improving, but won’t quite have what it takes to defeat a Cowboys team that would be 4-1 after this in non-NFC East contests.
Week 11 won’t be so carefree for the Cowboys, as they’ll have to welcome a perennial AFC juggernaut, the Indianapolis Colts, into town. Even though this should make for one of the most interesting matchups of next season, don’t expect the Cowboys to come out on top. It will indeed be down to the wire, but the better team usually wins, and Indy is better. The loss drops Dallas to 4-2 in this projection.
Next, for the third consecutive week, the Cowboys take on a non-divisional opponent. This time it will be one of the NFC’s finest, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a home Thanksgiving Day showdown. Tampa may be very good, but Dallas will use the home crowd and Turkey Day momentum to propel them to a 5-2 mark outside of the NFC East.
On the 10th of December, the Cowboys will welcome the New Orleans Saints into Texas Stadium for a matchup of one team that will be readying for a postseason run, and one that will probably be in the NFC South’s toilet. Although quarterback Drew Brees will have the Saints more competitive than this past season, it just won’t be enough. Because of that, look for the Cowboys to roll up a sixth victory in their non-divisional schedule.
The following game for Dallas appears to be a much larger test, as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in a Saturday evening battle. This game should go down to the bitter end, but look for the playoff-contending Falcons to hand the Cowboys their third non-divisional loss of the season.
In the final week of the regular season, the Cowboys welcome one of the NFC North’s basement-dwellers, the Detroit Lions, into town for a New Year’s Eve contest. To be fair, the Lions have improved this offseason, but not enough to get on the Cowboys’ level. This game will probably have major playoff ramifications for Dallas, so don’t look for their talented group of players to fold. The victory would end the Cowboys non-divisional 2006 schedule at a solid 7-3.
Assuming the Cowboys go at least 7-3 against opponents outside the NFC East, it would greatly increase their chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2003. In their six divisional matchups, the Cowboys would only have to go 3-3 in order to finish at a respectable 10-6, which is usually good enough for at least a Wild Card spot. However, it may not be good enough next season because so many NFC teams appear to be playoff-ready. If Dallas can somehow find the strength in itself to go 4-2 against the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, it would give them an 11-5 mark, which should be enough to make the playoffs.
The NFC East may be like running the gauntlet, but the Cowboys’ other opponents are light as a feather.
04/14/2006
When people think of the Dallas Cowboys’ chances next season, they often think of the struggles they may endure because they play in such a difficult division, the NFC East. However, after analyzing the Cowboys' schedule for 2006, it's fair to say that it appears to be simple, at least in terms of non-divisional opponents. It's never smart to believe football games are won on paper, but with their plethora of talent, this Cowboys team shouldn't have much difficulty with some of the creampuff opponents that they'll face next season.
In Week One, Dallas will travel to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars team that went 12-4 last season. However, the Jaguars capitalized on a weak schedule and were gobbled up by good teams last year. They’ve done little to improve themselves and seem average going into next year. Thus, the Cowboys should handle them in the opener to improve to 1-0.
In their second non-divisional game, the Cowboys take on a Tennessee Titans team that is currently rebuilding. Obviously, this should result in a Week Four home victory in Irving, Texas, which would put the Cowboys at 2-0 outside their division.
Week Six pits the Cowboys against the rising Houston Texans in a battle of two in-state rivals. Although the Texans have certainly improved this offseason, they won’t have the horses to beat the Cowboys on October 15th in Irving. Much like the previous two non-divisional matchups for Dallas, this should result in a win. Assuming that forecast comes to fruition, it would make the Cowboys a perfect 3-0 outside of the NFC East.
Two weeks later the Cowboys face a real test on the road against the reigning NFC South Champions, the Carolina Panthers. Both of these teams will be competing for major accomplishments next season, but I would give the Panthers the edge because they’re at home on NBC’s marquee Sunday Night matchup. Should a loss occur for the Cowboys, they’d drop to 3-1 against non-divisional rivals.
In the 10th week of the season, the Cowboys take on the up and coming Arizona Cardinals. Much like the aforesaid Texans, the Cardinals are improving, but won’t quite have what it takes to defeat a Cowboys team that would be 4-1 after this in non-NFC East contests.
Week 11 won’t be so carefree for the Cowboys, as they’ll have to welcome a perennial AFC juggernaut, the Indianapolis Colts, into town. Even though this should make for one of the most interesting matchups of next season, don’t expect the Cowboys to come out on top. It will indeed be down to the wire, but the better team usually wins, and Indy is better. The loss drops Dallas to 4-2 in this projection.
Next, for the third consecutive week, the Cowboys take on a non-divisional opponent. This time it will be one of the NFC’s finest, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a home Thanksgiving Day showdown. Tampa may be very good, but Dallas will use the home crowd and Turkey Day momentum to propel them to a 5-2 mark outside of the NFC East.
On the 10th of December, the Cowboys will welcome the New Orleans Saints into Texas Stadium for a matchup of one team that will be readying for a postseason run, and one that will probably be in the NFC South’s toilet. Although quarterback Drew Brees will have the Saints more competitive than this past season, it just won’t be enough. Because of that, look for the Cowboys to roll up a sixth victory in their non-divisional schedule.
The following game for Dallas appears to be a much larger test, as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in a Saturday evening battle. This game should go down to the bitter end, but look for the playoff-contending Falcons to hand the Cowboys their third non-divisional loss of the season.
In the final week of the regular season, the Cowboys welcome one of the NFC North’s basement-dwellers, the Detroit Lions, into town for a New Year’s Eve contest. To be fair, the Lions have improved this offseason, but not enough to get on the Cowboys’ level. This game will probably have major playoff ramifications for Dallas, so don’t look for their talented group of players to fold. The victory would end the Cowboys non-divisional 2006 schedule at a solid 7-3.
Assuming the Cowboys go at least 7-3 against opponents outside the NFC East, it would greatly increase their chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2003. In their six divisional matchups, the Cowboys would only have to go 3-3 in order to finish at a respectable 10-6, which is usually good enough for at least a Wild Card spot. However, it may not be good enough next season because so many NFC teams appear to be playoff-ready. If Dallas can somehow find the strength in itself to go 4-2 against the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, it would give them an 11-5 mark, which should be enough to make the playoffs.
The NFC East may be like running the gauntlet, but the Cowboys’ other opponents are light as a feather.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:28 PM
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