rwalters31
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Jon Machota's predictions for the rest of the Dallas Cowboys' season
1/5
Only four regular season games remain. The Cowboys have won five of their last seven and are in a great position to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2009. That also happens to be the last time Dallas won the NFC East. Will that three-year drought come to an end? SportsDayDFW.com’s Jon Machota gives his prediction.
Photo: Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer
2/5
Dec. 9 at Chicago: LOSS. The Bears have dropped three of their last four but they’re also 4-2 at home this season. Jay Cutler missed his third consecutive game Sunday with a high ankle sprain and it has yet to be determined if he’ll be ready to quarterback Chicago Monday night. With or without Cutler, the Bears will be tough to stop on offense. If Andre Holmes can get whatever he wants against the Cowboys, it’s scary to think what Brandon Marshall (pictured, left) and Alshon Jeffery (right) will be able to do. (Cowboys record: 7-6)
Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn/Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport
3/5
Dec. 15 vs. Green Bay: LOSS. This one continues to depend on Aaron Rodgers (pictured). If the Packers’ franchise quarterback returns from the broken collarbone he suffered on Nov. 4 then I’m picking the Packers. If Rodgers can’t go, the Cowboys are looking at a 10-win season, a possibility I highly doubted back in August. Without Rodgers the Packers aren’t close to being a playoff team. The 40-10 blowout loss in Detroit on Thanksgiving was proof of that. But Rodgers was cleared to practice on a limited basis last week, so my projection is that he’ll return in time to play in Arlington. (Cowboys record: 7-7)
Photo: Carlos Osorio/AP
4/5
Dec. 22 at Washington: WIN. The 3-9 Commanders aren’t very good. The Cowboys have already defeated Washington 31-16 earlier in the year and I don’t see this one being much different. With Jason Garrett as head coach the Cowboys have been outstanding at taking care of business against bad teams. The Commanders are a bad team. At worst, this one is similar to the Raiders game where the Cowboys get off to a slow start but get going in time to pull out a victory. A win here would give Dallas its third road win of the year with all three coming against division opponents.(Cowboys record: 8-7)
Photo: G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer
5/5
Dec. 29 vs. Philadelphia: WIN. I’ve had the Cowboys going 8-8 all season and that will happen if they continue their trend of falling in win-or-go-home games. The difference the previous two seasons is that they played those games on the road. The division will likely come down to this matchup and I like the Cowboys only because they’re at home. Philadelphia is a much better team than they were when the Cowboys beat them 17-3 in Week 7. Nick Foles has been impressive since losing to the Cowboys, throwing 13 touchdown passes and no interceptions over the last four games. A victory would give the Cowboys a home playoff game, a winning season and an undefeated division record. Regardless of the outcome of that Wild Card game, Jason Garrett’s job is safe. (Cowboys final record: 9-7)
Photo: Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer
