NFC East schedule looking ahead, and our chances to win it

[RunDMC]

The release of Randle just reduced the Cowboys chances even more. Despite his off the field issues he was the teams best, most consistent back this season. He's yet another contributor from last seasons 12-4 team that's gone. The Cowboys are just a shell of the team they were last season.

lol Randle is trash. McFadden is clearly our best back. Unfortunately after him we have nothing and he'll probably go down soon the way the season and his career has gone. Then were left with another scrub in Michael.

 

[Sydla]

LOL. Releasing Randle hurts our already tough chances?

Oy vey.

 

[KJJ]

lol Randle is trash. McFadden is clearly our best back. Unfortunately after him we have nothing and he'll probably go down soon the way the season and his career has gone. Then were left with another scrub in Michael.

Neither Randle or McFadden are very good but Randle had clearly been the better back this season which is why he was starting and receiving most of the carries. It took an injury and an off the field issue to give McFadden an opportunity. In McFadden's first 5 games this season he only gained 129 rushing yards averaging under 4.0 a carry in 4 of those games. He's avenged under 4.0 a carry in 5 of the 7 games he's played. He's had one good game all season which is the only reason he has a 4.0 rushing average.

Last season Randle put up 52 yards on only 5 carries against a better Seattle team than we played last Sunday. All McFadden could must vs a struggling Seattle team was 3.2 a carry. You need to get his Arkansas days out of your head and how he played 5 years ago. Our RB situation is CRAP compared to last season. Think about it the Cowboys have lost their top 3 runners from 2014.

 

[RunDMC]

Neither Randle or McFadden are very good but Randle had clearly been the better back this season which is why he was starting and receiving most of the carries. It took an injury and an off the field issue to give McFadden an opportunity. In McFadden's first 5 games this season he only gained 129 rushing yards averaging under 4.0 a carry in 4 of those games. He's avenged under 4.0 a carry in 5 of the 7 games he's played. He's had one good game all season which is the only reason he has a 4.0 rushing average.

Last season Randle put up 52 yards on only 5 carries against a better Seattle team than we played last Sunday. All McFadden could must vs a struggling Seattle team was 3.2 a carry. You need to get his Arkansas days out of your head and how he played 5 years ago. Our RB situation is CRAP compared to last season. Think about it the Cowboys have lost their top 3 runners from 2014.

Randle is good for about five carries and then he breaks down. At least McFadden has shown he can handle the work load. Part or the problem was trying to get cute with that stretch play instead of just running in between Tyron and La'El who have been road grades up front. Murray averaged below 4 yards if my memory serves correctly, but he had more carries and they were able to get production from Randle and Dunbar. The only kind of role Randle is suited for. He can't start because he can't handle the work load. He's soft, hesitates, dances, and doesn't hit that hole hard. One thing McFadden did so is run hard and hit the holes when they were there.

 

[KJJ]

Randle is good for about five carries and then he breaks down. At least McFadden has shown he can handle the work load. Part or the problem was trying to get cute with that stretch play instead of just running in between Tyron and La'El who have been road grades up front. Murray averaged below 4 yards if my memory serves correctly, but he had more carries and they were able to get production from Randle and Dunbar. The only kind of role Randle is suited for. He can't start because he can't handle the work load. He's soft, hesitates, dances, and doesn't hit that hole hard. One thing McFadden did so is run hard and hit the holes when they were there.

I agree Randle was only good for so many carries then he peters out. I pointed out during the offseason that once he gets 10 carries or more he's not affective. Although McFadden is faster Randle was quicker and shiftier giving him more escapability which is one reason the Cowboys started him and gave him more carries. He did get off to some good starts this season with some bursts especially against Atlanta rushing for 91 yards in the first half but started going backwards in the second half. McFadden has more power and can push some piles but let's be honest once this season is done the Cowboys will be done with him and they'll be in the market for a solid starting RB.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm surprised you haven't come up with some scenario where the Cowboys end up winning the SB this year. If anyone can find a silver lining to this 2-5 record it's you.

I'll find it for you. Even if we lose the next two games with the backups, all of the rest of the Cowboys games are winnable because we will have Romo. Green Bay will be the toughest.

Now, will we win all seven games with Romo? Probably not. But it's just as ridiculous to not see the "silver lining" when every team in the NFC East has at least four losses already.

I can just as easily see us going 9-7 winning the East and being a surprise team in the playoffs as finishing 8-8 or 7-9 and falling short in a year when the East is there for the taking.

 

[KJJ]

I'll find it for you. Even if we lose the next two games with the backups, all of the rest of the Cowboys games are winnable because we will have Romo. Green Bay will be the toughest.

Now, will we win all seven games with Romo? Probably not. But it's just as ridiculous to not see the "silver lining" when every team in the NFC East has at least four losses already.

I can just as easily see us going 9-7 winning the East and being a surprise team in the playoffs as finishing 8-8 or 7-9 and falling short in a year when the East is there for the taking.

If the Cowboys lose their next two games not even a rebirth of Joe Montana will save them. At 2-7 it's going to take at least 8 wins to win the division so the Cowboys would have to do no worse than 6-1 the rest of the way and that's not going to happen even with Romo. He's going to have to work off some rust when he returns and likely won't be as sharp. The team is a shell of what it was last season. The Cowboys top 3 runners are gone and Romo will be working with at least one back he hasn't played with this season. Although Dez is back he wasn't the same last week and it may take several games for him to return to form if he ever does this season.

The loss of Dunbar was big he was the teams second leading receiver when he was injured and came up with the play of the game that helped win the opener. Defensively the team has one effective pass rusher in Hardy who leads the team in sacks despite missing the first 4 games. Lee has disappeared since his concussion and the defense continues to struggle getting turnovers. Mo is playing not to get beat this season NFL Network showed how much cushion he was giving the receiver on Seattle's final drive that put the Seahawks in game winning FG range. With Romo going to have to work his way back into form with an average group of backs that he won't be able to lean on at 2-7 the Cowboys could end up with a top 5 pick next April.

The weak division is the only hope the Cowboys have but even when everyone losses they also lose. Every opportunity they have to gain some ground they blow it with another loss. Let's be honest they don't have a very good team this season the injuries have killed them and the coaching hasn't been good. Garrett is back to doing what he did his first 3 seasons playing not to lose and that approach helped cost the team last Sundays game. There's no silver lining to other teams in the division losing when we keep losing with them.

At some point one of those teams whether it's the Giants, Philly or Washington is going to get hot and start reeling off some wins. The Cowboys are going to have to reel off some wins just to get to 500. Realistically they're in too deep a hole to recover with the team they have this season. They're not near good enough offensively or defensively to make up the ground they need plus their special teams have been poor. This is an average at best Cowboys team that's left themselves little room for error the rest of the season.

 

[Kevinicus]

The Cowboys have won 16 of the last 20 games Romo has started. They won 15 of the last 17 that he wasn't suffering physically for some reason (this is including the Washington game where he got hurt in the middle of the game), including two separate stretches of 6-1. And lastly, they have won 7 of the last 8 that Romo started (@GB the only loss). Despite this, some of you seem to think the idea that he could go 6-1 this year, after he comes back with a better defense, is a ridiculous notion. I don't get it.

 

[Kevinicus]

If the Cowboys lose their next two games not even a rebirth of Joe Montana will save them. At 2-7 it's going to take at least 8 wins to win the division so the Cowboys would have to do no worse than 6-1 the rest of the way and that's not going to happen even with Romo. He's going to have to work off some rust when he returns and likely won't be as sharp. The team is a shell of what it was last season. The Cowboys top 3 runners are gone and Romo will be working with at least one back he hasn't played with this season. Although Dez is back he wasn't the same last week and it may take several games for him to return to form if he ever does this season.

The loss of Dunbar was big he was the teams second leading receiver when he was injured and came up with the play of the game that helped win the opener. Defensively the team has one effective pass rusher in Hardy who leads the team in sacks despite missing the first 4 games. Lee has disappeared since his concussion and the defense continues to struggle getting turnovers. Mo is playing not to get beat this season NFL Network showed how much cushion he was giving the receiver on Seattle's final drive that put the Seahawks in game winning FG range. With Romo going to have to work his way back into form with an average group of backs that he won't be able to lean on at 2-7 the Cowboys could end up with a top 5 pick next April.

The weak division is the only hope the Cowboys have but even when everyone losses they also lose. Every opportunity they have to gain some ground they blow it with another loss. Let's be honest they don't have a very good team this season the injuries have killed them and the coaching hasn't been good. Garrett is back to doing what he did his first 3 seasons playing not to lose and that approach helped cost the team last Sundays game. There's no silver lining to other teams in the division losing when we keep losing with them.

At some point one of those teams whether it's the Giants, Philly or Washington is going to get hot and start reeling off some wins. The Cowboys are going to have to reel off some wins just to get to 500. Realistically they're in too deep a hole to recover with the team they have this season. They're not near good enough offensively or defensively to make up the ground they need plus their special teams have been poor. This is an average at best Cowboys team that's left themselves little room for error the rest of the season.

The Cowboys need to make up one game. The hole doesn't really get any smaller than that.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys need to make up one game. The hole doesn't really get any smaller than that.

The Cowboys need to make up 2 games to catch the Giants who are leading the division. We currently have better divisional record at 2-1. The Cowboys are in a deep hole for a wildcard with a 2-4 conference record and Seattle and NO holding tiebreakers. It's win the division or bust.

 

[gimmesix]

At some point one of those teams whether it's the Giants, Philly or Washington is going to get hot and start reeling off some wins. The Cowboys are going to have to reel off some wins just to get to 500. Realistically they're in too deep a hole to recover with the team they have this season. They're not near good enough offensively or defensively to make up the ground they need plus their special teams have been poor. This is an average at best Cowboys team that's left themselves little room for error the rest of the season.

Why do you believe this about teams that have actually been average so far with their actually QBs starting? What have those teams shown to make you think they are going to get hot and reel off some wins?

It is less out of the question for Dallas, which was 2-0 with Romo playing and a defense missing Hardy, to win 6 of 7 with him back at QB than for one of the other East teams to get on a roll when they haven't shown they can this year.

 

[KJJ]

Why do you believe this about teams that have actually been average so far with their actually QBs starting? What have those teams shown to make you think they are going to get hot and reel off some wins?

It is less out of the question for Dallas, which was 2-0 with Romo playing and a defense missing Hardy, to win 6 of 7 with him back at QB than for one of the other East teams to get on a roll when they haven't shown they can this year.

I believe one of those teams will get hot at some point happens practically every year and the Giants are the team to keep an eye on because they can generate some offense we saw that last week vs NO. They've scored 30 or more three times this season and have only scored under 24 once. If they can get Cruz back who hasn't played a down this season that would give them a lethal one-two punch at WR with Beckham. They remind me of the team they had in 2011 that was 7-7 at one point and no one was taking seriously. That team was virtually dead until the Cowboys gave them new life late in the season. The only thing they don't have from their championship teams is a great pass rush but with the return of JPP that could change some. They blew a couple of games they should have won. None of the teams in the division are having to deal with the adversity the Cowboys are having to deal with.

Dez's return didn't change anything last week and Romo will have his work cut out when he returns with the RB situation in turmoil. Sure, the Cowboys will likely start playing better when Romo returns but it will be too little too late especially if they drop their next 2 games. There's no gimme wins left on the schedule they're going to be in a battle to win games even with Romo. He carried the team to their first win of the season with 45 passing attempts for over 350 yards and 3 TD's. He needs help and he's not going to get much with the backs we have and with Dez trying to return to form after his injury. The Cowboys are in the worst physical shape of any team in the division and their confidences low. It's going to be extremely difficult to rebound from 2-5 with 2 more games without Romo. There's nothing good about the team right now. The offense is impotent and the defense is average and lacks a steady pass rush. We make very few plays defensively and don't force many turnovers.

The RB situation is the worst it's been since the days of Troy Hambrick and an aging Emmitt Smith. Anyone can sit here and be Joe homer FAN and come up with ways the Cowboys can still salvage their season but none of the possibilities would be very realistic based on the team they currently have. This is not a good a football team with the personnel we're stuck with and it's ridiculous and certainly not very logical to come up with a way the Cowboys could still make the playoffs if they lose their next 2 games. If you want to find ways the team could still make the playoffs they need to win their next to games and build from there not when Romo returns. You can't leave him with a 2-7 record and expect him to carry the team to 9-7 after missing 7 games. FANS say I'm negative but how realistic is that?

 

[fifaguy]

right now only care about beating the Eagles. 2-5 teams rarely wind up going to the playoffs.

 

[Kevinicus]

The Cowboys need to make up 2 games to catch the Giants who are leading the division. We currently have better divisional record at 2-1. The Cowboys are in a deep hole for a wildcard with a 2-4 conference record and Seattle and NO holding tiebreakers. It's win the division or bust.

The Cowboys have one more loss, so only 1 game to make up. The other game to win is not a makeup.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

I believe one of those teams will get hot at some point happens practically every year and the Giants are the team to keep an eye on because they can generate some offense we saw that last week vs NO. They've scored 30 or more three times this season and have only scored under 24 once. If they can get Cruz back who hasn't played a down this season that would give them a lethal one-two punch at WR with Beckham. They remind me of the team they had in 2011 that was 7-7 at one point and no one was taking seriously. That team was virtually dead until the Cowboys gave them new life late in the season. The only thing they don't have from their championship teams is a great pass rush but with the return of JPP that could change some. They blew a couple of games they should have won. None of the teams in the division are having to deal with the adversity the Cowboys are having to deal with.

Dez's return didn't change anything last week and Romo will have his work cut out when he returns with the RB situation in turmoil. Sure, the Cowboys will likely start playing better when Romo returns but it will be too little too late especially if they drop their next 2 games. There's no gimme wins left on the schedule they're going to be in a battle to win games even with Romo. He carried the team to their first win of the season with 45 passing attempts for over 350 yards and 3 TD's. He needs help and he's not going to get much with the backs we have and with Dez trying to return to form after his injury. The Cowboys are in the worst physical shape of any team in the division and their confidences low. It's going to be extremely difficult to rebound from 2-5 with 2 more games without Romo. There's nothing good about the team right now. The offense is impotent and the defense is average and lacks a steady pass rush. We make very few plays defensively and don't force many turnovers.

The RB situation is the worst it's been since the days of Troy Hambrick and an aging Emmitt Smith. Anyone can sit here and be Joe homer FAN and come up with ways the Cowboys can still salvage their season but none of the possibilities would be very realistic based on the team they currently have. This is not a good a football team with the personnel we're stuck with and it's ridiculous and certainly not very logical to come up with a way the Cowboys could still make the playoffs if they lose their next 2 games. If you want to find ways the team could still make the playoffs they need to win their next to games and build from there not when Romo returns. You can't leave him with a 2-7 record and expect him to carry the team to 9-7 after missing 7 games. FANS say I'm negative but how realistic is that?

So much fail. Dallas is 6th in rushing yards per game without Romo. In two games against Dallas the Giants offense scored 11 points a game. A team with no pass rush isn't comparable to a team completely built on their pass rush. See this is you bending over backwards to find a silver lining for a rival while doing the opposite for the team. Or trolling.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys have one more loss, so only 1 game to make up. The other game to win is not a makeup.[/quote

They're unable to make up any games they keep losing. They're off to a worse start this season than in any of their three 8-8 seasons.

 

[ufcrules1]

If we lose against Philly this Sunday we are done.

 

[dallasdave]

It doesn't matter. We just have to win a game. The next 2 games are winnable but so were the others minus the Patriots. It's no use looking ahead until we start winning.

Great point-just win a game because each week Dallas digs a bigger hole to crawl out of, and soon it will be their grave.

 

[KJJ]

Many are trying to find a positive to give them some hope for this season and the only positive is the Cowboys play in the NFC Least not the NFC Beast. It's a weak division but to take advantage of the struggles the rest of the teams are having the Cowboys need to make up some ground and it takes wins to do that. The team blew a great opportunity last week to make up some ground with the Giants losing. At some point someone in the division is going to get hot and start reeling off some wins and the Cowboys are going to be eating their dust if they don't win the next 2 games. Even a spilt the next 2 weeks will leave the Cowboys at 3-6 with the Packers still left on the schedule. The Cowboys would have to go 5-2 just to reach 8-8. This is the worst 7 game stretch the Cowboys have had since 2010.

They never lost more than 2 straight games in any of their three 8-8 seasons that shows just bad this season has been. You have to target 9 wins to have a realistic shot at the playoffs. Someone yesterday said the Cowboys could lose their next 2 games and still make the playoffs. Dream on! They would have to win out the rest of the way to have a realistic shot and not even last years team won 7 straight. The Giants are the team to worry about they lead the division and if they get Cruz back and JPP can still play at a high level with his hand they could get hot. I'm telling you they remind me of their 2011 team that was an uninspiring 7-7 at one point. I don't care how bad the Giants look some weeks you can never count them out.

To get 9 wins the Cowboys are going to have go 7-2 the rest of the way good luck with that based on the team they have that will still be without Romo the next 2 games. Last weeks loss to Seattle was the first nail in the Cowboys coffin and every loss from here on out will add another nail. The only glimmer of hope the team has is to win their next 2 games because Romo isn't going to be able to carry the Cowboys to 6-7 wins. If they can't beat Philly who's QB situation isn't much better than theirs then there will be no hope for the rest of this season. Once you've dug yourself a hole and begin losing to the only teams you beat all season you're done.

 

[Slashar00]

My prediction:

Dallas 8-8
New York 8-8
Philly 7-9
Washington 5-11

Dallas wins on division record.

That was basically my prediction before the season began except I had the Cowboys at 11-5. Oh, how things have changed. At least the rest of the East still sucks.