Jerry Jones doing paperwork (Credit: Dallas Cowboys)
The Dallas Cowboys and the rest of the NFC East have the NFC West and the AFC East on their schedules for 2023. They start with four of six road games and end with three of four of the same. With the addition of Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore to go along with a well-rounded draft, the Cowboys seem to have improved their team in the offseason.
Week 1 (Win) – @New York Giants
The Giants are supposedly a team who’s on the rise. Their fanbase isn’t entirely sold on Daniel Jones, but there’s not a better option at the moment. These two teams used to square off in the first game of the season often. There was a somewhat recent stretch where the Cowboys played the Giants in seven season openers out of 10 years, but the last time it happened was 2019.
Week 2 (Win) – New York Jets
The Jets are another team on the up and up. They’re almost certainly a fiercer monster than they’ve been in a long while. With the newly acquired Aaron Rodgers at the helm things are taking shape for them. Rodgers loves to beat the Cowboys, winning six of the last seven games. He’s also prone to getting off to slow starts.
Week 3 (Win) – @Arizona Cardinals
With the looming unknowns of Deandre Hopkins and Buddha Baker, the Cardinals are a team going in the wrong direction. There isn’t much in terms of expectations this season for them. If he’s healed up from his ACL tear, Kyler Murray can still cause problems for any team, particularly the Cowboys.
Week 4 (Win) – New England Patriots
The Cowboys finally got over their stretch of not beating the Patriots. Bill Bellichick’s got his own beast of a division to contend with. Even with his young quarterback gaining wisdom by the week, the Cowboys are going to be a daunting obstacle in his path.
Week 5 (Loss) – @San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have been the Cowboys’ playoff Kryptonite in the last two seasons. Though they are low scoring affairs, they’re also season ending soul crushers. Brock Purdy fits the 49ers like a glove. The fans and the organization are living large. Until proven otherwise, they’ve got the Cowboys’ number.
Week 6 (Win) – @San Diego Chargers
Nobody really wants to look up and see Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams lined up on the other side. It’s a young team with great players. This game could easily be a tossup. After losing to the 49ers, the Cowboys will have a resurgence.
Week 8 (Win) – Los Angeles Rams
This game may not be as easy as it was in 2022. The Rams were a huge disappointment to their fanbase last season. Sean McVay will probably not let that happen again. We’re still predicting the Cowboys come away with the win.
Week 9 (Loss) – @Philadelphia Eagles
When the Cowboys come to town, the hometown buzz might keep Baltimore awake all night, especially if the Eagles win. There was a rule proposed by the Jets which could limit the role of the motion blocker, but it was tabled in late March. The Eagles are probably too good to lose to anybody twice. They’re looking even better after the draft.
Week 10 (Win) – New York Giants
Given a second crack at it, the Giants will likely fall short once again in their quest to best the Boys. This could be the game which effectively ends their ability to win the division.
Week 11 (Win) – @Carolina Panthers
The Panthers went out and got themselves another quarterback. He’s not just any quarterback, though. Young was the number one overall pick in the 2023 draft. Needless to say, they’re expecting big things.
Week 12 (Win) – Washington Commanders
Despite all the turmoil at the top, the Commanders are built right. They’re probably not going to be fun to play for the next five years or more. There’s always a chance the team could fall apart if and when it gets sold.
Week 13 (Loss) – Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks dominated the Cowboys for a long time. After three wins in a row, the Cowboys may very well overlook them. Pete Carroll is a guy who mustn’t be overlooked. Even in the post-Wilson era they’re still a dangerous playoff contender who might have taken another step forward.
Week 14 (Win) – Philadelphia Eagles
The Cowboys are going to have the chance to split the series. It’s not going to be an easy task. The game will probably come right down to the last play. This stretch of games is going to be the climax of an already crazed season.
Week 15 (Loss) – @Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and Stephon Diggs are one of the top QB to WR combos in the league. Playing in Buffalo late in the season is hard work for any team, let alone a warm weather one. You’ve really got to be on your game to beat them anywhere, however.
Week 16 (Win) – @Miami Dolphins
An away game in Miami in December is one of the greatest gifts the schedule makers can give the Cowboys. It’s almost like home, except for the fact that the Dolphins aren’t pushovers. In fact, they’re more stacked than they’ve been in a long time. They’re thinking Super Bowl, but so are the Cowboys. If both teams keep their star players healthy, we might just be in for one of the best games of the season.
Week 17 (Win) – Detroit Lions
This is not the same lowly Lions’ team from years past. There’s some growl in them. They may still be a season or two away from competing with rest of the pride.
Week 18 (Loss) – @Washington Commanders
The Commanders have a good team and they’re well coached. This game will quite likely have a significant impact on the playoff standings.
That makes the Cowboys 12-5 and easily playoff bound if this prediction holds true, which it most certainly will not. While their roster improved, so did everybody else’s it seems. The Eagles still own the division, but just barely. The NFC East is a powerhouse. No prediction is safe, especially not four months before the season starts. Take any one of the other teams for granted and they’ll rub your face in it.
