Archer: Cowboys season prediction: 10-6

[Cowboysrule122]

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

After two straight 8-8 finishes, the Dallas Cowboys will finally break through and make the playoffs again with a 10-6 record in 2013.

For the first time since 2009, the pieces come together for an offense led by Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, and a defense led by DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee. Freed up from calling plays, Jason Garrett’s game management will improve and an offense that has piled up yards -- if not points -- in the recent past will now be able to score more consistently. With a sounder scheme under Monte Kiffin, the defense might not be Doomsday reincarnated, but it will take the ball away.

Jerry Jones believes if you just make the tournament, then you can compete for a Super Bowl, using the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers as recent examples. The Cowboys will be a wild-card team, which will likely mean their trip toward Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium will have to take place on the road.

The Cowboys’ return to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons won’t last long, but it will give Garrett job security for 2014 and Jones a belief that contention is not far away.

Predicted finish in NFC East: second

----------------- ----------------- ----------------------- ----------------- -------------------

I disagree, we'll go 8-8 and finish 3rd.

 

[Midswat]

11-5

Giants at Cowboys ----------- WIN
Cowboys at Chiefs ------------ WIN
Rams at Cowboys-------------- LOSS
Cowboys at Chargers -------- WIN
Broncos at Cowboys ---------- LOSS
Redskins at Cowboys ----------WIN
Cowboys at Eagles -------------WIN
Cowboys at Lions----------------WIN
Vikings at Cowboys --------------WIN
Cowboys at Saints ---------------WIN
Cowboys at Giants ---------------LOSS
Raiders at Cowboys --------------WIN
Cowboys at Bears ----------------WIN
Packers at Cowboys ------------- LOSS
Cowboys at Redskins ------------ LOSS

 

[Rynie]

I don't know. I think we beat the Broncos and Packers this year. With that said, we'll Probably lose to the chiefs and chargers.

 

[Midswat]

We tend to lose games we should win, and occassionally win a game or two we should lose.

Barring injury, I think we're division winners and that week 16 game could determine a playoff bye.

 

[bbgun]

I don't know. I think we beat the Broncos and Packers this year. With that said, we'll Probably lose to the chiefs and chargers.

That's the crux of the season, IMO. We'll beat the Giants and then all week we'll implore them not to overlook the Chiefs. "Do not lay an egg in KC like you did in Seattle last year!" And then they'll go up there to that noise-filled stadium full of corn-fed hicks and promptly lose.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

We should win this division unless we get some terrible injury or the Skins are a lot better than I expect. This is not a good division.

 

[Midswat]

I think the Redskins are grossly overrated.

It's like people forget they were 3-6 at one point last year.

Sure they went on a miraculous run. Not discounting that. But they're still a seriously flawed team. OL sucks. Defense sucks - since when did Haslett become a good D-Coord? RG3 won't play a full 16. etc.

 

[boozeman]

I think the Redskins are grossly overrated.

It's like people forget they were 3-6 at one point last year.

Sure they went on a miraculous run. Not discounting that. But they're still a seriously flawed team. OL sucks. Defense sucks - since when did Haslett become a good D-Coord? RG3 won't play a full 16. etc.

Who wants to be if we are 3-6 that Jerry uses that Redskin team as a sales pitch?

 

[Midswat]

If we go 3-6, I'll spend the remaining 7 weeks of the season carving pumpkins with my kids.

#nevergetsold

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Who wants to be if we are 3-6 that Jerry uses that Redskin team as a sales pitch?

So true. You can guarantee that would happen.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

All four teams are 8-8 teams

 

[boozeman]

All four teams are 8-8 teams

I think the Eagles are a step below that.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

What bad teams do we lose to? Show me multiple bad losses

 

[boozeman]

What bad teams do we lose to? Show me multiple bad losses

We could lose to the Chiefs and Chargers maybe.

All in all, this happens every year. We see some game as a gimmie and we get hammered...the Seattle and Chicago games looked like slam dunks last year. In 2011, the Lions and Cards. In 2010, no one expect to lose to the Jaguars and Titans early in the season and that contributed to the team falling apart.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Not saying we'll lose, but I bet the Chiefs game is tough. Reid is a really good coach, and as limited as Smith is, he's a perfect QB for Reid's system.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Show me the games we have already Lost to bad teams recently

 

[Midswat]

Not saying we'll lose, but I bet the Chiefs game is tough. Reid is a really good coach, and as limited as Smith is, he's a perfect QB for Reid's system.

Chiefs actually do have a suprisingly good record. I wouldn't be suprised if they were #2 in their division this year.

 

[boozeman]

This is the most realistic 10-6 scenario IMO...

Giants at Cowboys ----------- WIN
Cowboys at Chiefs ------------ LOSS
Rams at Cowboys-------------- WIN
Cowboys at Chargers -------- WIN
Broncos at Cowboys ---------- LOSS
Redskins at Cowboys ----------WIN
Cowboys at Eagles -------------WIN
Cowboys at Lions----------------WIN
Vikings at Cowboys --------------WIN
Cowboys at Saints ---------------LOSS
Cowboys at Giants ---------------LOSS
Raiders at Cowboys --------------WIN
Cowboys at Bears ----------------WIN
Packers at Cowboys ------------- LOSS
Cowboys at Redskins ------------ LOSS

Swing games with the Rams, Lions and avoiding either a Giant or Redskin sweep will be the determining factors....at least how it looks right now.

 

[bbgun]

Cowboys at Bears ----------------WIN

winning in a cold, hostile environment? not our style.

 

[Jon88]

I'm going with my usual prediction for the past 15 years:

12-4