I’ll be shocked if Cowboys are better than 8-8

[Bullflop]

I'm inclined to see the season ahead in much the same way as the OP, despite being hopeful of bigger and better things. So many things will have to come together for a new staff and new players to succeed in a year being hampered so seriously as the one ahead. I'm really hoping for the best but bracing for the worst, also. Preparing for trouble at the outset is a great way to avoid bitter disappointment in the end. After that, it's all good!

 

[visionary]

After looking at schedule and taking into account how rushed this whole thing is for a team with a brand new defensive system and way to communicate with the QB (McCarthy is the best QB coach there’s ever been here)

I just don’t see how the team is better than 8-8.

Week 1 - At Rams - they’ve lost a lot but they still have the boy wonder at HC and his schemes are not something I like a brand new defense having to face to open. LOSS

Week 2 - Falcons - Ryan and his trio of WRs return. There’s continuity at the OC spot and Ridley is poised to break out. Defensively they have to be better than last year - LOSS

Week 3 - At Seahawks - Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll. Did it on smoke and mirrors last year and should have some reinforcements this year - LOSS

Week 4 Browns - Also going through new system. Baker is a head case. Cowboys get first win of season - WIN

Week 5 - Giants - If it’s going to be a rough transition for Dallas, it will be that much tougher for Giants and Washington again - WIN

Week 6 - Cardinals - Not a believer in Kliff or Kyler. They’re doing a lot of retooling as well. - Another win comes here. WIN

Week 7 - At Washington - See the Giants - WIN

Week 8 - At Philadelphia - If this was after the bye I’d feel better about going into the Linc. As it is I’ll take Pederson and the DL - LOSS

Week 9 - Steelers - If Big Ben stays healthy they’ll be dangerous. Tomlin is a great coach to have for this season - LOSS

BYE - this will be where the staff can make better adjustments and team can start playing more to their talent level

Week 11 - At Vikings - Even without crowds there will still be Viking horn and a long travel trip after 2 weeks of not having to worry about COVID. Minn proved they were a different team going into NO last year and Zimm got the extension. I have Vikings in NFC Champ this year - LOSS

Week 12 - Washington - WIN

Week 13 - At Baltimore - I think it will be between Baltimore and Pitt to battle the Chiefs for the AFC Champ spot - LOSS

Week 14 - At Cinci - Team should start playing to their talent level. This will be a must win to have a chance at the playoffs. - WIN

Week 15 - SF - Shanahan has his offense rolling. They’ll be hitting on all cylinders this year and lucky that they get Dallas in a fluke year. In a normal year this may be a preview of the NFC Champ - LOSS

Week 16 - Philadelphia - Team avenges the earlier loss to Philly in an attempt to win out and get a wild card

Week 17 - At NYG - Giants have mailed it in by this point - WIN

Obviously we don’t know what injuries will happen or who will miss due to COVID. I think the team looks a lot better after the bye and in a normal year I’d have them beating Atlanta and either the Steelers or 49ers at home.

Now if they delay the season 3 weeks to allow for appropriate conditioning and practice it’s a whole new season. But this truncated rush job is not good for the team this year.

ill be “shocked” if we have more than 8 games

 

[glimmerman]

10-6 to 12-4.

 

[MWH1967]

If Dlaw were to opt out screw that guy! He just got paid a lot.

His wife is pregnant and he has been paid. you do the math.

 

[OmerV]

The only reason I think 8-8 is even a possibility is because of the limited time the team will have with a new coaching staff. Otherwise I would expect 10-6, or maybe even 11-5. I still think 10-6 is possible.

 

[kskboys]

The only reason I think 8-8 is even a possibility is because of the limited time the team will have with a new coaching staff. Otherwise I would expect 10-6, or maybe even 11-5. I still think 10-6 is possible.

We'd have to be missing players from injury/covid to be 8-8.

I don't think people understand how bad the last coaching staff was in general. All MM has to do is play to our strengths and we'll win 10.

 

[Future]

Nothing to see here. Just as easily as you came up w reasons why we would lose each of those games, I can come up w equally, if not, better reasons why Dallas would win. And neither argument would be accurate. That's why they play the game.

One of those reasons is that the cowboys are more talented than just about every team on the schedule

 

[elcowboi]

Coaching matters.

 

[jazzcat22]

Waiting for someone to start a counter thread...I'll be shocked if the Cowboys are worse than 8-8....

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I'll be shocked if we play a 16-game season. I think we'll be about 8 and 3.

 

[Parcells4Life]

The only reason I think 8-8 is even a possibility is because of the limited time the team will have with a new coaching staff. Otherwise I would expect 10-6, or maybe even 11-5. I still think 10-6 is possible.

In a normal season with adequate preparation I think 10-6 would be a baseline. However this is NOT Madden. You can’t turnover 40-50 percent of the roster, a whole new coaching staff and think having 3 weeks is adequate time to be ready to go.

The coaches don’t know what the players can and can’t do yet. McCarthy doesn’t know how to coach Dak yet. How he responds, what makes him tick. We know KM is not the guy to give hard coaching. He’s more of the schematic whiz kid.

Zeke wasn’t himself the first 8 weeks last year because he didn’t have adequate preparation. It will be like that for the whole team physically plus adding mental reps that other teams with returning staffs don’t have to deal with

 

[MWH1967]

No one has a clue how this season is going to go. All you can to is look at talent on a roster.

 

[Swagger]

I respect your opinion but you’re crazy. We have one of the best O lines in the league, 3 very good receivers and a good RB. We had the number offense under Garrett and even if Lamb isn’t as good as most think he will be he is still an upgrade, same with McCarthy (hopefully).

The defense is concerning but as I said earlier, I think it will be good enough and the offense will be able to overcome the defense’s deficiencies.

BTW, most people here know I’m far from a homer and have been a pessimist my entire life so I’m not just saying this because I’m a Jerry kool aid drinker. I’m very critical but I truly believe it.

haha everyone is entitled to their opinion and if you think i'm crazy then fair enough.

One or two unexpected teams pop every season and go on, I fancy the Falcons to be one of those and go on to have an excellent season. Julio Jones is still the best receiver for me whilst Ridley and Hurst are obvious break out candidates. Their corners are potentially very exciting and they have Neal back from injury. They started to get their act together at the end of last season, winning their final four games including against the 49ers. I fancy them to win their division. Most expect the Bucs or Saints to get it done but people are sleeping on the Falcons in my opinion.

 

[VACowboy]

I think 8-8 is entirely possible but I wouldn't be shocked to see 11-5 either. DakCarthy is a huge enigma for me.

 

[Swagger]

10 wins min.

Don't comprehend how anyone can not see the massive upgrade in coaching.

I concede that perhaps i'm underplaying that factor.

I still think some players were unable to execute a load of plays last season regardless of coaching and we lost several games that should have been won. It's easy to just blame the coaching but I guess we shall see next season.

The Steelers must have a good roster to win 8 games without a quarterback. I'm a big fan of Tomlin and he's an excellent HC but you still need the players to get it done and to win 8 games in the same division as the Ravens without Big Ben was impressive and I don't view them as a gimme win at home.

 

[aria]

haha everyone is entitled to their opinion and if you think i'm crazy then fair enough.

One or two unexpected teams pop every season and go on, I fancy the Falcons to be one of those and go on to have an excellent season. Julio Jones is still the best receiver for me whilst Ridley and Hurst are obvious break out candidates. Their corners are potentially very exciting and they have Neal back from injury. They started to get their act together at the end of last season, winning their final four games including against the 49ers. I fancy them to win their division. Most expect the Bucs or Saints to get it done but people are sleeping on the Falcons in my opinion.

Ha, definitely no offense meant, I’m crazy in plenty of ways myself.

I know whatchya mean about every year an unexpected team “pops” and no one saw it coming so you very well may be right about the Falcons, I just don’t see it.

I’m also well aware of the annual Cowboys hype by fans and media alike but I think this year we have more reasons to be optimistic than we have in a long time. Having said that, last time I was this optimistic I think we didn’t even make the playoffs which is why I usually keep my expectations low.

Anywho, at this point I’m just hoping for a full season with all starters on all teams playing. I know thats unlikely though.

 

[Swagger]

Ha, definitely no offense meant, I’m crazy in plenty of ways myself.

I know whatchya mean about every year an unexpected team “pops” and no one saw it coming so you very well may be right about the Falcons, I just don’t see it.

I’m also well aware of the annual Cowboys hype by fans and media alike but I think this year we have more reasons to be optimistic than we have in a long time. Having said that, last time I was this optimistic I think we didn’t even make the playoffs which is why I usually keep my expectations low.

Anywho, at this point I’m just hoping for a full season with all starters on all teams playing. I know thats unlikely though.

No worries at all man and i'm sure some/most people on here think i'm crazy with what I claim any way

Our offense will roll regardless as we have too much talent and investment on that side. The D is the ? but I do think we will at least see the best of Lawrence again. Personally I'm very concerned about our secondary and can see us getting torn apart in certain games and that's why i'm not convinced we will win 11-12 games but it's all conjecture at this point.

 

[aria]

No worries at all man and i'm sure some/most people on here think i'm crazy with what I claim any way

Our offense will roll regardless as we have too much talent and investment on that side. The D is the ? but I do think we will at least see the best of Lawrence again. Personally I'm very concerned about our secondary and can see us getting torn apart in certain games and that's why i'm not convinced we will win 11-12 games but it's all conjecture at this point.

Ditto, I wasn’t a big fan of letting Jones walk just because he didn’t get INT’s. First of all, that may have had to do with scheme. Second of all, even if it wasn’t scheme I’d rather have a guy that could take out the teams best receiver and not get picks than a guy who gets a few picks but gives up big plays on the regular. We better hope Diggs is very good otherwise we’re going backwards in a big way.

I’m also concerned about the LB’ers. I think Jaylon was over rated and will we see the rookie LVE or last years version and how long will he last? The D line seems somewhat improved on the interior but I’m not buying the hype until I see it. I hope you’re right about Dlaw because we lost our sack leader, even if he wasn’t good against the run.

I think a lot of people brush off these losses, like they do anytime we lose good players. We always have the best roster on paper according to a lot of people but then when we lose some of our best players he wasn’t all that or wasn’t worth it

 

[Parcells4Life]

Negatives:
- Lamb will not be as good as Cobb this season
- The center will not be as good as Frederick
- The RE will not be as good as Quinn
- The CB spot is going to miss Byron
- Coaching will be worse before the bye as the staff learns the players
- Schedule seems tougher

For the positives:
- The kicker will be better
- Haha is better than Heath
- DLaw should be as healthy as he can be
- Coaching should be better after the bye as the staff is able to evaluate the players
- Theoretically we can only get more from LVEs spot than last year

 

[kskboys]

I concede that perhaps i'm underplaying that factor.

I still think some players were unable to execute a load of plays last season regardless of coaching and we lost several games that should have been won. It's easy to just blame the coaching but I guess we shall see next season.

The Steelers must have a good roster to win 8 games without a quarterback. I'm a big fan of Tomlin and he's an excellent HC but you still need the players to get it done and to win 8 games in the same division as the Ravens without Big Ben was impressive and I don't view them as a gimme win at home.

Fair enough.

Funny thing is, I'm not a huge MM fan. However, he's a legit NFL HC and still a massive upgrade to JG. Same w/ Nolan.