Sporting News picks the Cowboys to be 13-3

[tunahelper]

13 wins is a lot for a prediction, so you gotta say they have balls.

 

[Rampage]

Sorry if this is a repost.

Anyone else pick up a copy of The Sporting News magazine? I don't usually read it, but I'm taking a long flight on business and needed some reading material, picked it up today. I was going to wait until Monday to read it but I couldn't resist the "AFC/NFC Predictions" teaser on the cover.

Long story short, they picked our Cowboys to go 13-3 this season, win the NFC East and top seed in the NFC, and lose to the Patriots in the Superbowl. The Eagles were picked at 9-7, with the Giants and Commanders both under 7 wins.

Perhaps even more surprising than that - Of the 25 experts, 13 picked the Patriots to win the whole thing and 6 picked our Cowboys.

I haven't seen this much love for our boys in the media in a long time! Can't wait to read the whole magazine cover to cover.

since they predicted we go 13-3, did they say who will give us the 3 losses?

 

[Royal Laegotti]

SuperCow, you and me dont agree on much, especially when it comes to Jerry Jones, but I have to agree with you on this one buddy.

10 wins in reg season and 1 playoff victory would be freaking sweet. Of course 13-3 and SB appearance would be freaking awesome, but I dont want to get my hopes up that high.

10 wins and a playoff victory and we will build a freaking statue of Wade for the new stadium!!

Yeah, I might as well get my hopes up, I do spew very pessimistic stuff alot, but deep down I always have high expectations of the Cowboys. I get just as mad when things don't go well no matter what my expectations are.

 

[Vintage]

I see 9 or 10 wins.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

You should read some of the player rankings from sporting news. IIRC, Romo and Campbell are both at the bottom neck and neck, the Cowboys RBs are both in the bottom half, its interesting and absurd.

Ahh, whats this got to do with us going 13-3, winning the east, and playing in the SB against the Pats? NOTHING!!!

Just because someone burst your bubble doesn't mean what he is saying is irrelevant.

SaT is right on point. You can't rest your hat on just one interpretation mentioned in sporting news. Besides, Campbell is going to be a major threat to deal with this year. It's all in the OLs. If the OL is strong, Campbell is going to pick teams apart.

On the other hand, if the Cowboys, or Commanders, or even the Giants (doubtful) obtain a 13-3 record ...they have my support as an NFC-East fan. That's what several here do not understand ...I really do support the team that comes Out of the NFC-East ...but the Eagles are my pick. Last year was very cool, when we had 3 teams from the NFC-East make the playoffs.

Bottom line, don't buy into these pre-season ratings.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I believe the NFC East will regain the title of best in the NFL very soon....

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

I say 9-10 wins this year. Next year will be one where we can reasonably expect to see the 'Boys make a run at it all. Spencer will have his rookie year over with. Carpenter will have had another year to get better, which I truly believe he will a dominating force by mid-season, based on how well he was playing by the end of his rookie season last year.
The offensive line will have had another year to gel, with Leonard Davis being more comfortable with his teammates. Both Marten & Free will have a much better handle on the playbook and playing in the NFL in general.

 

[TheSkaven]

That is all I needed to read to know this writer is lacking a few brain cells.

The magazine has a fantasy football section and a pro football preview. The pro football preview is the one that has the Cowboy as 13-3 with a Superbowl birth, the fantasy guys (clearly different writers) didn't rank the individual players as very high.

The rankings that SkinsAndTerps pasted in is from their fantasy football draft board.

FYI also, JJT wrote a rather glowing article of the team. Didn't realize he was this high on the Cowboys. He's not exactly a homer or optimist.

 

[Mansta54]

The magazine has a fantasy football section and a pro football preview. The pro football preview is the one that has the Cowboy as 13-3 with a Superbowl birth, the fantasy guys (clearly different writers) didn't rank the individual players as very high.

The rankings that SkinsAndTerps pasted in is from their fantasy football draft board.

FYI also, JJT wrote a rather glowing article of the team. Didn't realize he was this high on the Cowboys. He's not exactly a homer or optimist.

Why am I not suprized...:starspin

 

[BourbonBalz]

I have to agree with Thumper. Last year we were 9-7. Now I know Parcells always said you are what you are. Well, maybe not. We could've very easily been 12-4 or better last and should have been at least 11-5. Not to mention the fact that we should've advanced in the playoffs. I know, I know. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Still, Bledsoe cost us at least two games, and maybe three. We were up 10-0 against Jacksonville and Bledsoe went on his int. spree and cost us the game. He also cost us a chance to beat Philly early in the year when he threw an awful int. when we were at the 6 yard line threatening to tie the game. Would be have won? Maybe, but we'll never know. He cost us a chance to beat the Giants on Monday night. As awful as we played in the first half of that game, we should've taken the lead just before halftime, but Bledsoe once again threw a terrible int. near the N.Y. endzone. Now, enough about Drew. We all know he cost us games. We simply gave a win away at Washington on a fluke play. No one can question that. We also should've beaten Detroit in the season finale. Terrible defensive coaching and scheming cost us that game. Bottom line is we were just a razor thin break from 11-5 and possibly 12-4 or better. I don't think I need to review how we lost our playoff game. We were an unlucky team. Maybe we made that luck (or lack thereof), but we were a better team than our record reflected. We're as talented as any team in the league and we have no real weaknesses. Would I like to see a little more at some positions? Sure, but so would any fan or any other team. We have the players in position to win it all. The question is can the new coaching staff get the most out of them and can they put them in the position to be successful. It will be an exciting season and I predict great things.

 

[BourbonBalz]

By the way for what it's worth, Athlon also picks us to go to the Super Bowl and lose to New England.

 

[BouncingCheese]

All I know is that the Commanders and their running game is going to be really dangerous even without Derrick Dockery. Nobody pays attention to them (and rightfully so) but since I live in DC I can attest that the skins have one of the best running offensive lines in the league. They can't pass block a lick IMO, but if they get ahead with a quick strike to Moss or Randel El and they pound Ladell Betts, (who is a frekin idiot who could have cashed in for a 20 million dollar deal in B-more or Buffallo) the real fit for that system in Washington for 17 times and give it to Portis ( who is looking really worn out, by the way... he isn't the same back he was even two years ago) 15 times they have a chance to win.

I don't put much stock in what sporting news or fox or any of these people talk about because I know what the skins and us are capable of. We could have a 13-3 season or totally bomb it. People think the skins are going to do terrible again, but guess what if Carlos Rogers can start playing like he cares and the defensive line can TRY to make a stop they have a chance to win a bunch of more games than anybody thinks.

 

[lspain1]

I want the Cowboys to win....but I don't think we have a prayer of going 13-3 in our division.

 

[Vintage]

I want the Cowboys to win....but I don't think we have a prayer of going 13-3 in our division.

Nor do I.

The people saying we were 9-7 last year and threw away a couple of games and we've improved, thus making 12-4 perfectly reasonable to expect are 'out there.'

We aren't playing the exact same teams as last year. They didn't all remain the same while ONLY us improved.

Every team took steps in the offseason to change their team (for better and for worse).

We weren't the only team that improved.

We could very well go 9-7 with a better team than last year. Just because we are better on paper than last year, doesn't mean we'll necessarily win more games.

 

[Achozen]

I want the Cowboys to win....but I don't think we have a prayer of going 13-3 in our division.

It's unlikely, but it's not as far fetched as some would think. I think 11-5 or 12-4 is where we'll end up. To some it might sound a bit homerish, but whatever.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Vince Young rated that far above Romo?

Hey, Vince Young is the last of my worries. They have Chris Sims, Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, Byron Leftwich, Matt Schaub, Brodie Croyle, Matt Leinart, Michael Vick, and Daunte Culpepper above Romo for no good reason. Ok, a few of them you *might* think they could be close at this stage, but Chris Sims? Matt Schaub? Matt Leinart? Culpepper? I mean ***?

 

[DallasEast]

Hey, Vince Young is the last of my worries. They have Chris Sims, Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, Byron Leftwich, Matt Schaub, Brodie Croyle, Matt Leinart, Michael Vick, and Daunte Culpepper above Romo for no good reason. Ok, a few of them you *might* think they could be close at this stage, but Chris Sims? Matt Schaub? Matt Leinart? Culpepper? I mean ***?

That's just a little Commanders' misinformation. TheSkaven cleared up that nonsense...

The magazine has a fantasy football section and a pro football preview. The pro football preview is the one that has the Cowboy as 13-3 with a Superbowl birth, the fantasy guys (clearly different writers) didn't rank the individual players as very high.

The rankings that SkinsAndTerps pasted in is from their fantasy football draft board.

FYI also, JJT wrote a rather glowing article of the team. Didn't realize he was this high on the Cowboys. He's not exactly a homer or optimist.

 

[lspain1]

A 13-3 record means you are winning pretty much every game against your divsion opponents. That just isn't going to happen in our division. The Bears are the only team that might (and even there it's just a "might") get a free ride this season in their divsion. Every other NFC division promises to be competitive, at least right now.

I'll wait until we get ready to clear camp and go into the regular season before I make any predictions....but it won't be 13-3.

 

[Green28]

Day 1: Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning 9.8
Tom Brady 9.7
Carson Palmer 9.5
Matt Hasselbeck 8.8
Drew Brees 8.7
Donovan McNabb 8.7
Marc Bulger 8.6
Ben Roethlisberger 8.5
Mike Vick 8.4
Jake Delhomme 8.4
Matt Leinart 8.1
Phillip Rivers 8.0
Daunte Culpepper 7.9
Vince Young 7.9
Jay Cutler 7.9
Rex Grossman 7.8
Chad Pennington 7.6
Brett Favre 7.5
Eli Manning 7.4
Byron Leftwich 7.2
Chris Simms 7.2
Steve McNair 7.0
Matt Schaub 7.0
Brodie Croyle 7.0
Alex Smith 6.8
Tony Romo 6.7
Jason Campbell 6.7
Jon Kitna 6.4
Tavaris Jackson 6.4
JP Losman 6.2
Brady Quinn NR
JaMarcus Russell NR

Running Backs

LaDainian Tomlinson 9.9
Larry Johnson 9.6
Edgerrin James 9.2
Shaun Alexander 9.2
Steven Jackson 9.0
Reggie Bush 8.9
Cadillac Williams 8.9
Ronnie Brown 8.5
Fred Taylor 8.3
Laurence Maroney 8.1
Willie Parker 8.0
Rudi Johnson 8.0
Brian Westbrook 7.9
Frank Gore 7.9
Clinton Portis 7.9
Joseph Addai 7.7
DeAngelo Williams 7.7
Warrick Dunn 7.6
Willis McGahee 7.6
Jamal Lewis 7.5
Cedric Benson 7.5
Chester Taylor 7.5
Travis Henry 7.5
LaMont Jordan 7.4
Thomas Jones 7.1
Ahman Green 7.1
Julius Jones 7.1
LenDale White 7.0
Reuben Droughns 7.0
Kevin Jones 6.8
Vernand Morency 5.5
Marshawn Lynch NR


I dont see how 2 of the 3 starters are so low and yet they expect you to go 13-3.

My point was that the Sporting News isnt in-line how they are ranking players.

That's all screwed up. Edgerrin James 9.2, Drew Brees 8.7...

 

[Green28]

I can't believe how many people here think we will only win 9 or 10 games this year. We won 9 games last year and threw away at least 3 games which would have put us at 12-4 and you don't think we are at least as good as last season? Wow, you must really want to avoid disappointment at all costs.

I think 12-4 is quite realistic for this year and expect to see us in the SB.

9 or 10 wins, sheesh! :bang2:

Maybe something will go wrong? Maybe the Cowboys aren't the best team in the league. It's great to be optimistic about your team, but I think most are wise in not setting up foolishly optimistic expectations.