USA Today's 2014 Season Prediction

[TheCowboy]

With the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select....

 

[DallasEast]

Nate Davis
Sports
Nate spent his first four years out of college as a U.S. Army field artillery officer. He's worked at USA TODAY since 2000 and covered the NFL since 2005. Loves U2 and HBO.

http://www.usatoday.com/staff/2359/nate-davis/

***

Anyone know his prediction records for 2005 - 2012? Knowing that would go a long way towards giving his opinion any worthy consideratioin.

 

[cmoney23]

Where is this guy touted as "most accurate"? Link?
Don't make statements unless you have proof.

A bunch of people picked Seattle to beat Denver last year. Everyone seemed to pick either Seattle or SF to face Denver or New England.

Do you maybe have a link to his 2013 predictions?

Colin Cowheard was talking about him and this on the show today, he said he's the most accurate... Thats why I said "touted"
tout1
tout/
verb
past tense: touted; past participle: touted

1. 1.
   attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner.

doesn't mean its fact... just that someones selling it as such. But Colin is usually pretty good about these things.

You can pod cast his show if you'd like, it was in the later part of the second hour.

 

[Doc50]

That's the Weeden scenario.

Right.

If Tony goes down, and we are forced to go with any #2 QB, we're screwed. There will be a handful of winnable games that we'll lose on turnovers, other mistakes, or ultra-conservative offensive tactics. Since many folks fear an unstable situation with Romo's back, their pessimism is justified.

Personally, I don't fear the spine issue (this one really is fairly minor), and I believe the OL and Linehan will keep Tony upright.

The DL could lose Melton and Crawford, and we'd still be better than the neighborhood kids we put out there last year.

Since we've already lost heart of our D though (Lee), I'm gonna go out on a limb and reach for another 8-8.

I'm also hoping the injury virus spreads to the northeast.

 

[tantrix1969]

Oh yes we can.

I think they'll improve, but there is room for substantially worse play as well.

Yep, we could give up yardage like we did last year without being in the top10 for turnover differential
http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-turnover-differential-statistics/2013/

 

[Doomsday101]

Great then we end up with a top 5 draft pick. lol Their 3-13 prediction is no better or worse than when people predicted the SB for Dallas. They play the games for a reason.

 

[pugilist]

rather go 3-13 and have a shot at a potential franchise turning player than go 8-8 again and get just a starter

 

[Gameover]

11-5

 

[Zordon]

I'd rather be 3-13 than 8-8. At least we'll have a high draft pick and Garrett will be gone.

 

[Ren]

If Romo's back craps out 3-13 would be an accomplishment. With a healthy offense we should be somewhere around 8-8 again.

D is a big question mark right now, all they would have to be to be improved is average, we're to stacked on Offense to be 3-13 bad 8-8 losing the division in week 17 seems to be the safe bet with this team

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Their NFC West prediction is amusing, I'm not sure it's mathematically possible. Someone should add up all of the records to see if it ends up even.

 

[gimmesix]

Please, we were 8-8 with the worst defense in the history of the world. We've gotten younger. You can't get worse than we were on defense last year.

Although I hope that's the case, I can't say that we can't get worse on defense. Hatcher played pretty well and we're relying on a player coming back from injury to replace him. And even though Ware was hobbled, who's to say a hobbled Ware isn't better than anyone we can roll out there in his place? Plus, we've already lost the star of this defense to injury this year.

Now, I think we've got a plan together with the line especially to throw better bodies at the other team overall than we did last year, but those bodies have to prove that they are better for Dallas to not be worse. I also think there are several younger players who could easily be improved this year, but it's possibly that they won't be.

 

[dstovall5]

I just don't see it for the Eagles. Seriously, what have they really done except lose a game changing player and get older on offense?

They weren't very good on defense last year (allowed more passing yards per game than we did), so which unit is going to carry this team?

Also, the Eagles have gotten WORSE on offense. Not only did they lose Desean Jackson, but their QB play will go down for the 2014 season. No way in heck does Foles have a better season then the one he just had (27 TDs/2 INTs). So unless their defense significantly improves, I don't see how they're getting this much praise, but I guess it comes with being the "dream team". Ohh they're dreaming alright.

rather go 3-13 and have a shot at a potential franchise turning player than go 8-8 again and get just a starter

I'd rather just make the darn playoffs ....

 

[DFWJC]

Yep, we could give up yardage like we did last year without being in the top10 for turnover differential
http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-turnover-differential-statistics/2013/

I agree that they could be worse.

But turnover differential is not solely a defensive measurement...it's only 1/2 of the equation.
If you said they would have less total takeaways, then you could say that was a defensive stat.
Our offense actually did better in that category last year, as they were 8th fewest turnovers. The had the 13th most takeaways.

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

I don't think we'll be 3-13...but I'm predicting a 6-10, 7-9 type season.

Leaning more on the 6-10 side of things.

 

[Future]

Yep, we could give up yardage like we did last year without being in the top10 for turnover differential
http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-turnover-differential-statistics/2013/

There were also a few games when the defense played really well...Philly, KC, Detroit, Washington, Oak...

 

[NJ22]

Please, we were 8-8 with the worst defense in the history of the world. We've gotten younger. You can't get worse than we were on defense last year.

I believe Dez, Terrence and the O-line will be better. I'm not buying what they're selling. We are the Dallas freaking Cowboys. They better ask somebody. Heads are gonna roll if we get anywhere near 4 & 12 before 6 games are played. Jerry may look crazy but he aint real crazy.

On paper I agree with you. The only thing we have to take into account, is this team has played hard for a coach they like, but the same coach has gift wrapped about 2 games per season to opponents, at some point do they say enough is enough and start giving up on him as they did Wade? Then you could see the 3-4 win year. I see no reason to expect anything other than 8-8. If it walks like a duck..

 

[jday]

So this guys touted as the most accurate and predicted the super bowl, correctly, with winner at this time last year... This doesn't look good for us...

(honestly, I said 4-12 so... )

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-projections-playoffs-seahawks-colts/9767615/

11 - 5 for the Eagles and yet they say Desean will be missed. Seems like a contradiction to me. Aside from that, while I am not expecting the Cowboys to be contenders, they are better than a 3 win team. I'd put money on that. Any takers?

 

[DFWJC]

There were also a few games when the defense played really well...Philly, KC, Detroit, Washington, Oak...

Certainly the 1st Philly game.

Detroit game. Uh, no. 27-17 lead with 6 minute and lost. Calvin with 300+ yards, Bush with almost 100 rushing, Stafford with almost 500 passing. yikes

No turnovers by the offense and 31 points scored...though they looked off that game, imo.

The defense did get several turnovers though--which helped a ton.

 

[Dwight]

I really feel for some Cowboys fans once reality sets in this season.

This team has too many holes on defense. And just because the team is young does not mean they have talent.

I want a winning record this season but there are too many question marks.