Jeff Sullivan on the Cowboys Schedule

[Boyzmamacita]

Excerpt from the latest Star Mag (Zinio.com). Something to think about.

The two key games for the Cowboys this season were Week 1 at the Giants and Thanksgiving against the Commanders. All this talk about the schedule being tougher than last year and among the league’s more difficult is poppycock. (Have written several million words in my 15 years of sports writing, and am pretty sure that’s a first. Fun word.)

In reality, if Dallas defeats Washington on Turkey Day, one could easily argue that the Cowboys have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Never mind the opponents, it’s impossible to predict the league’s better teams year-to-year anyhow. The key is the time off between games.

Not including 1993, when the league had two byes, am guessing the Cowboys are going to become the first team in the history of the NFL to have three weekends off. They have a 10-day break before playing at Seattle, nine days between Thanksgiving and hosting Philly in Week 13 and the actual bye in Week 5.

Since implementing the bye week in 1990, teams are 368-329-1, a winning percentage of about 53 percent, in the game immediately following their time off. Not a staggering number, but definitely advantageous. And the Cowboys have fared much better than most, at 16-7. Always been a believer that the better the coaching staff, the more of a benefit the bye is. Look at the Eagles with Andy Reid at 13-0 or Bill Belichick at 9-3 with the Patriots. Right now, there’s not a better coaching staff than the Cowboys, from Jason Garrett to Rob Ryan to Jimmy Robinson to Bill Callahan.

Also, from Sept. 16 to Oct. 20, a span of 34 days, the team will sleep in its own beds every night except one. Then from Nov. 11 to Dec. 29, a stretch of 50 days, same deal, one night away from the friendly confines with zero travel. No other team in the league has two similar runs.

After Seattle, the longest flight is, what, Philadelphia, maybe three hours?

So if Dallas returns home at 2-0, there is literally no team in the NFL in better shape for the remainder of the season. Stop looking at the opponents, we have no idea how good anyone is at this point anyhow – remember San Francisco from a season ago? – and look at the Cowboys’ schedule for what it is. And that’s a ginormous advantage over the rest of the league.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Time off doesn't offset tough opponents.

 

[skinsscalper]

Funny that he doesn't mention the fact that we play 6 of the first 9 weeks on the road, either.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Has anyone ever noticed that people either love the Cowboys or hate them...There is no in between. Wonder why? Must be all the recognition the team receives.

 

[skinsscalper]

Has anyone ever noticed that people either love the Cowboys or hate them...There is no in between. Wonder why? Must be all the recognition the team receives.

They are polarizing to say the least............

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Funny that he doesn't mention the fact that we play 6 of the first 9 weeks on the road, either.

If we can get through that stretch with a decent record, we'll be in good shape. It will be interesting.

 

[AdamJT13]

Not including 1993, when the league had two byes, am guessing the Cowboys are going to become the first team in the history of the NFL to have three weekends off. They have a 10-day break before playing at Seattle, nine days between Thanksgiving and hosting Philly in Week 13 and the actual bye in Week 5.

We played two Thursday games in 2007 -- they were back-to-back, but we had the weekends off. Along with our bye, that's three.

Also, in 2001, every team essentially had two byes because there were no games on the weekend after 9/11. So, every team that played on a Thursday that season had three weekends off.

 

[Idgit]

We played two Thursday games in 2007 -- they were back-to-back, but we had the weekends off. Along with our bye, that's three.

Also, in 2001, every team essentially had two byes because there were no games on the weekend after 9/11. So, every team that played on a Thursday that season had three weekends off.

lol!! Awesome.

 

[sonnyboy]

Excerpt from the latest Star Mag (Zinio.com). Something to think about.

I said as much after the schedule was released. It's not perfect and probably will end up being one of the harder list of opponents, but the the extra break and getting the eagles after one of them may end up being huge.

Playing at Bal after our bye is nice.

I relish the thought of going to 2-0 with 8 of the final 14 at home.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

We played two Thursday games in 2007 -- they were back-to-back, but we had the weekends off. Along with our bye, that's three.

Also, in 2001, every team essentially had two byes because there were no games on the weekend after 9/11. So, every team that played on a Thursday that season had three weekends off.

Pwned

 

[Keystone_Heavy]

Funny that he doesn't mention the fact that we play 6 of the first 9 weeks on the road, either.

Who cares? You play 8 at home and 8 on the road. You're going to play them in some order, who cares what it is? I don't know why people make such a big deal about stuff like this and starting every season with 2 road games. If it was 6 of the LAST 9 weeks on the road, I bet people would complain about that too.

 

[Eskimo]

Who cares? You play 8 at home and 8 on the road. You're going to play them in some order, who cares what it is? I don't know why people make such a big deal about stuff like this and starting every season with 2 road games. If it was 6 of the LAST 9 weeks on the road, I bet people would complain about that too.

I actually prefer to have the late season games in Dallas because we get to play in dome-like situations which is advantageous to a warm weather team.

I really feel that we are at a disadvantage to cold weather teams late in the year when winter is going strong in December and January. That is when I would rather not be up in GB, Chicago, NY, Philly, Pitt, Cin and Cle. I'd much prefer that those games be at the Cowboys stadium late in the year.