Opening on the road is a trend for us

[whcarm]

Here is our opening day games for the last 30 years:

at Jags
at Chargers
at Vikings
Falcons
at Texans
Bucs
Eagles
at Commanders
Cardinals
at Steelers
at Bears
at Giants
at Steelers
at Commanders
Commanders
at Browns
Chargers
at Saints
at Steelers
at Cardinals
Giants
Commanders
at Rams
at Commanders
Steelers
at Commanders
at Commanders
at Cardinals
Colts
at Vikings

So 20 times in the last 30 years we have opened on the road, including 10 times in the last 15 years.

Odd that we have only played the Eagles once and the Giants twice on the opening day game while we have played the Commanders 7 times.

 

[skinsscalper]

That's a bunch of crap! You would think the NFL would notice this trend and even things out a bit.

SS

 

[whcarm]

Also, in case you were wondering, we played the following games to close the season in the last 30 years:

?
Rams
at Giants
at Saints
at Commanders
at Lions
at Titans
Giants
Commanders
Giants
at Commanders
at Cardinals
at Giants
at Giants
Bears
Falcons
at Falcons
Packers
Eagles
Cardinals
Bears
at 49ers
at Dolphins
at 49ers
at Vikings
at Giants
Eagles
Commanders
at Jets
Broncos
Commanders

So, a more even split here. We ended up the season 16 times at home and 14 times away.

We have most often played the Giants to end the season (6 times) with the Commanders a close second (5 times).

Interesting that we never opened the season against the Packers of the 49ers in the last 30 years.

 

[bbgun]

at Texans

Burn the video.

 

[cowboys#1]

Burn the video.

: uhhhh, i can explain..

 

[dreamshatterer]

That's a bunch of crap! You would think the NFL would notice this trend and even things out a bit.

SS

Besides your name, I would have to agree with you. No team should be forced to play on the road on opening weekend more times than at home. They are in the central time zone so I don't see why they do this.

 

[5Stars]

That's a bunch of crap! You would think the NFL would notice this trend and even things out a bit.

SS

Well, maybe you think that is a bunch of crap...but, you have to REMEMBER....

The Dallas Cowboys are AMERICAS TEAM! :starspin

 

[whcarm]

Here is our record on opening day games since 1976:

18-11

We were 12-7 on opening day away games.

We were 6-4 on opening day home games.

 

[Roger78]

The NFL has historically had us open away or on Monday Night because it is so hot in Texas in early September. Note the pickle juice game.

 

[whcarm]

Hmm, wonder if the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins have also opened 67% of their opening day games on the road.

 

[lspain1]

The NFL has historically had us open away or on Monday Night because it is so hot in Texas in early September. Note the pickle juice game.

Trust me, it will not be cool in Jacksonville in September! Admittedly, it might be cooler than Dallas because we have no 100 degree days here, but it will NOT be cool on a Sunday afternnon in September.

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

And it will be shadier at Texas stadium, which in some ways makes up for the heat.

 

[silverbear]

Besides your name, I would have to agree with you. No team should be forced to play on the road on opening weekend more times than at home. They are in the central time zone so I don't see why they do this.

Probably because it's really, really hot in Texas in early September... I don't know what the big deal is anyway, you've gotta play 8 road games by season's end, might as well get one out of the way right out of the gate...

It ain't like having your home opener on the second weekend of the season is gonna make the crowd less psyched for the game...

 

[silverbear]

And it will be shadier at Texas stadium, which in some ways makes up for the heat.

I wouldn't swallow that if I were you...

I was in Texas Stadium once, Labor Day weekend, a Monday night game... I repeat, a night game (against the Skins)...

I now have some fair idea how a pizza feels when you stick it in the oven, LOL...

Yeah, there's shade from the sun, but the tradeoff is that there isn't a hint of a breeze to be found... at halftime, I walked up to the concourse to procure an adult libation, and it was still 80 degrees plus up there, but at least you could feel the wind... it felt REAL nice...

 

[tyke1doe]

The NFL has historically had us open away or on Monday Night because it is so hot in Texas in early September. Note the pickle juice game.

A more likely scenario is that Dallas has traditionally been one of the premier teams in the league. Therefore, the network that broadcasts the NFC games is always going to prefer the Cowboys as an opening day major feature or as a package in its double header.

When the NFC plays at an AFC team, the network that broadcasts the NFC (CBS before FOX won rights to broadcast NFC games) gets broadcast rights to the game. When the NFC plays at home to an AFC team, then the network that broadcasts the AFC games (NBC before CBS won the contract) gets the rights to the game.

Therefore Dallas at Jacksonville becomes a FOX game.

This would be my assumption for Dallas playing AFC teams at their home.

 

[acheman]

Someone posted that losing our last game of the year (they referred to a comment by Spagnola) was the reason we would open up on the road this year. I don't know if there is any truth to this, but our losing the last game of the year the past few years might actually be part of this formula.

 

[sonnyboy]

That's a bunch of crap! You would think the NFL would notice this trend and even things out a bit.

SS

I've always believed that the same list if opponents scheduled differently can make a difference. Here's what I hope for when viewing our schedule release:

1) Opening Day on the road - Preferably against a weaker opponent. Nobody likes to start 0-1, but there are some advantages to opening on the road. Reduces the chance of getting back to back road games further down the list and since you get extra time to prepare for week one, it might as well be on the road. When you can start off the season with a quality road win it really makes a statement and gets you ahead of the game. Much like last year in S.D. I see us set up for that with this Jacksonville game. Not insurmontable, but a good quality win I see us getting.

2) No back to back road games.

3) Monday Nite road game before the bye-week.

4) Bye between week 5-7.

5) Two road games sandwiching the bye-week.

6) Two of our three Monday Nighters at Home.

7) Home game before Thanksgiving Day Game home game.

8) Toughest road game after Thanksgiving.

9) Second toughest road game after bye-week.

10) Our last cold weather road game played two weeks before Thanksgiving.

11) Not so much concerned with the last game of the season. Perfer it's against someone out of it.

12) Perfer to play our division rivals on the road first because of the weather. Also puts alot of pressure on them if we get that first win in their place. Can also help us finish the season strong.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't know what the big deal is anyway, you've gotta play 8 road games by season's end, might as well get one out of the way right out of the gate...

Exactly... Last year, Parcells complained that we had most of our division games at home early, which meant we had to finish up with a tough stretch on the road. Maybe it's better to try to keep your head above water at first, then finish strong with the benefit of a home crowd down the stretch.

 

[lspain1]

I've always believed that the same list if opponents scheduled differently can make a difference. Here's what I hope for when viewing our schedule release:

1) Opening Day on the road - Preferably against a weaker opponent. Nobody likes to start 0-1, but there are some advantages to opening on the road. Reduces the chance of getting back to back road games further down the list and since you get extra time to prepare for week one, it might as well be on the road. When you can start off the season with a quality road win it really makes a statement and gets you ahead of the game. Much like last year in S.D. I see us set up for that with this Jacksonville game. Not insurmontable, but a good quality win I see us getting.

2) No back to back road games.

3) Monday Nite road game before the bye-week.

4) Bye between week 5-7.

5) Two road games sandwiching the bye-week.

6) Two of our three Monday Nighters at Home.

7) Home game before Thanksgiving Day Game home game.

8) Toughest road game after Thanksgiving.

9) Second toughest road game after bye-week.

10) Our last cold weather road game played two weeks before Thanksgiving.

11) Not so much concerned with the last game of the season. Perfer it's against someone out of it.

12) Perfer to play our division rivals on the road first because of the weather. Also puts alot of pressure on them if we get that first win in their place. Can also help us finish the season strong.

Good post sonnyboy. Let's hope the NFL sees fit give us at least some of the items on this list.

 

[Bledsoe4MVP]

I actually prefer opening on the road.....it's a good way to build momentum and silence the critics early.

Jacksonville shoud be a formidable opponent, but I think we will pull away in the 2nd half and win by a 7-10 points.

Also Bledsoe has fared pretty well against the Jags during his career.....his last trip to Jacksonville he passed for over 350 yards....and that was in the 3rd quarter before he was pulled!