Dallas Cowboys: 2017 Record Predictions
With last week’s release of the 2017 NFL regular season schedule, Tony Iosso and I each decided to do game-by-game predictions before this Thursday’s draft. Let’s take a look at what Dallas will be up against and how we believe they will fare.
Week 1: Sept. 10th 8:30 PM vs New York Giants
Matt: The Cowboys struggled mightily with New York last season. They were in both games, but just couldn’t get it done against an improved Giants team. I don’t think the Giants sweep the Cowboys again, but in week one, I’ll take New York to win another tight one. LOSS: (0-1)
Tony: Last season, rookie sensations Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were unable to overcome the Giant defense, failing to crack 20 points in either loss. I wouldn’t discount this as a major motivating factor throughout the offseason. Throw in Dez Bryant’s recent back and forth with Janoris Jenkins on Twitter and the Cowboys won’t lack for bulletin board material this summer. Give me the Cowboys in this one to avenge last season. WIN: (1-0)
Week 2: Sept. 17th 4:25 PM @ Denver Broncos
Matt: Despite this being an extremely good defense, the Cowboys match up well with the Broncos. Plus, I can’t see Denver’s offense keeping pace with the high-powered offense of the Cowboys. I like Dallas to pull away late and take this game on the road. WIN: (1-1)
Tony: Traveling to Denver for a game is never an easy task, but making the trip in September is far better than late December. While the Broncos’ defense is still formidable, they struggled to stop the run last year. Coupled with a predicted below average offense and I think Dallas has enough firepower to start the year 2-0. WIN: (2-0)
Week 3: Sept. 25th 8:30 PM @ Arizona Cardinals
Matt: Traditionally, the Cardinals have one of the toughest NFL venues to play at. They fell way short of last season’s expectations, which makes me think they have a bounce back year in 2017. The Cowboys’ defense is questionable on the back end, especially before this year’s draft. LOSS: (1-2)
Tony: Away games in Arizona have not been kind to the Cowboys in recent past. However, this is a new team with new players. I think Arizona could struggle on offense this year even against a Cowboys defense with multiple question marks. Dallas wins and moves on, keeping their hot start alive. WIN: (3-0)
Week 4: Oct. 1st 1:00 PM vs LA Rams
Matt: The Rams match up pretty well up front against the Cowboys. I do think they can slow down Dallas’ rushing attack, but overall, Dallas is the better team. I like the Cowboys to make a statement here with an early-season thrashing of the Rams. WIN: (2-2)
Tony: On paper, this is a win for the Cowboys in my opinion. It will be interesting to see what the Rams look like under a new coaching staff and scheme. Wade Phillips will have the defense near the top half of the league in my mind and the game will be tougher than anticipated. However, the Cowboys find a way to pull it out at home. WIN: (4-0)
Week 5: Oct. 8th 4:25 PM vs Green Bay Packers
Matt: Payback time! Yes, the Cowboys have major needs on the back end and Aaron Rodgers can be lethal (see last season’s playoff matchup), but Dallas has this one circled. I like a shootout with Dak coming out on top at home. WIN: (3-2)
Tony: Ah, our arch nemesis Aaron Rodgers and the Packers come to town in early October. In 2016 the Cowboys went to Green Bay and beat the Packers before ultimately losing to them at home in the playoffs. I think the reverse happens in 2017, which means Dallas takes a loss here before enacting their revenge later. LOSS: (4-1)
Week 6: BYE WEEK
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Week 7: Oct. 22nd 4:05 PM @ San Fransisco 49ers
Matt: This one could be tougher than it looks, but without a legitimate quarterback on the roster, the 49ers have no chance. I expect their defense to give Dallas some problems, but not be a real threat to win the game. WIN: (4-2)
Tony: The 49ers are a team on the rebuild and the Cowboys should hold the edge in almost every major category. But the Cowboys struggled in San Fransisco last season, granted it was Dak and Zeke’s second game. I believe they find things a bit easier this go around, after coming off of a bye week. WIN: (5-1)
Week 8: Oct. 29th 4:25 PM @ Washington Redskins
Matt: The Redskins played Dallas tough last season. With this game being in Washington, I think Kirk Cousins and co. handle the Cowboys in their first matchup of the season. Give me the Redskins here. LOSS: (4-3)
Tony: Cowboys vs Redskins is traditionally a close game, regardless of team records. I expect this contest to be no different. The edge goes to the home team here as Dallas falls to 5-2. LOSS: (5-2)
Week 9: Nov. 5th 4:25 PM vs Kansas City Chiefs
Matt: The Chiefs are extremely tough, and probably one of the most underrated teams in the NFL. Despite Dallas playing at home, I think the Chiefs match up well and their secondary could give Dak Prescott fits. LOSS: (4-4)
Tony: Andy Reid’s teams are always a threat and this Chiefs team is no different. However, I think they still lack the offensive firepower to take advantage of any holes in the Dallas defense. I will take the Cowboys in a close one, moving to 6-2 on the year. WIN: (6-2)
Week 10: Nov. 12th 4:25 PM @ Atlanta Falcons
Matt: Do the Falcons become victims of the curse of the Super Bowl loser? I don’t think so, but I also don’t think they can stop the Cowboys’ run game. I like Dallas to win a shootout against Matty Ice and the Falcons. WIN: (5-4)
Tony: The Cowboys will take their first trip to the defending NFC champion’s new stadium here, and should be in for quite the test. Matt Ryan and company appear set to pick up where they left off last season and knock off Dallas. LOSS: (6-3)
Week 11: Nov. 19th 8:30 PM vs Philadelphia Eagles
Matt: The Eagles are tough to read coming into 2017. They have a talented, young passer in Carson Wentz, and an improving defense. Last season, they started hot and fell apart. I think Dallas is the better team and they take care of business. WIN: (6-4)
Tony: After a tough road defeat to the Falcons, the Cowboys bounce back at home on Sunday Night Football against division rival Philadelphia. I expect the Eagles to be improved in 2017, making the division a true four-team race. However, Dallas gets the victory in this one. WIN: (7-3)
Week 12: Nov. 23rd 4:30 PM vs LA Chargers
Matt: This one looks like an easy win, and despite the Chargers hitting on a few draft picks last season, they still aren’t close to contention. Rivers will be tough on the Cowboys’ secondary, but I like Dallas here. WIN: (7-4)
Tony: The annual Thanksgiving Day game sees the newly relocated Chargers come to town. Phillip Rivers is always capable of a huge game and has a multitude of weapons on offense this season. Coming off of a night game the previous week, the sluggish Cowboys get outscored by Rivers and fall on turkey day. LOSS: (7-4)
Week 13: Nov. 30th 8:25 PM vs Washington Redskins
Matt: While I picked Dallas to lose in their first meeting with the Redskins, that won’t be the case in this game. Washington will be in the middle of their usual late-season collapse. Dallas feeds off of their home crowd and knocks out the Redskins here. WIN: (8-4)
Tony: This is the third straight nationally televised game for the Cowboys, and I expect them to rebound with a victory. After a Thanksgiving day disappointment, Jason Garrett has the team fired up for the stretch run. WIN: (8-4)
Week 14: Dec. 10th 4:25 PM @ New York Giants
Matt: I think for the second straight week, the Cowboys get revenge for early-season losses against divisional foes. The Giants are tough at home, but I see Dak Prescott getting his first career win over the Giants in Week 14. WIN: (9-4)
Tony: The Cowboys have a brutal December schedule, but if they want to advance in the playoffs these are the types of games they have to win. The goal gets off to a rough start though as I see them losing this one at MetLife Stadium. LOSS: (8-5)
Week 15: Dec. 17th 8:30 PM @ Oakland Raiders
Matt: The Raiders have become one of the best teams in football since acquiring Derek Carr and Khalil Mack a few seasons ago. This will be a hell of a matchup and potential Super Bowl preview. I like Oakland here, though. LOSS: (9-5)
Tony: The Raiders are widely considered as one of the teams capable of knocking off the Patriots and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. If the Dallas secondary is still a major weakness, then Derek Carr could put up some big numbers. The Cowboys come out of the black hole with a loss moving to 8-6, and causing national media outlets to start the Cowboys December collapse narrative. LOSS: (8-6)
Week 16: Dec. 24th 4:25 PM vs Seattle Seahawks
Matt: Seattle took out Tony Romo in the preseason last year, and I think the Cowboys get a little payback here. Playing at home, I see the Cowboys running all over Seattle. Dallas wins a close game against another likely playoff team. WIN: (10-5)
Tony: These new younger Cowboys come out to prove they are not the same team as previous years by beating the Seahawks quite handily. The win moves them to 9-6 and likely sets up a huge week 17 matchup in Philadelphia. WIN: (9-6)
Week 17: Dec. 31st 1:00 PM @ Philadelphia Eagles
Matt: Dallas, after what I predict to be a slow start, gets hot to end the season. The Eagles will play them tough, but with Dallas still fighting for playoff position, I see them taking care of Philly — whom I believe will be out of contention. WIN: (11-5)
Tony: In this prediction, the Cowboys would likely need a victory here to assure themselves a playoff spot. This situation has not worked out for the team in the past, but Dak and Zeke continue to prove these aren’t the same Cowboys. A late Dan Bailey field goal gives the Cowboys a playoff birth and division crown for the second straight year. WIN: (10-6)
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