USA Today's 2014 Season Prediction

[Sportsbabe]

Well, they did get younger on defense. Question is can they replace the 17 sacks Hatcher and Ware had last year this season.

Can the guys replacing them, Crawford, Lawrence have the same impact rushing the passer? They have 0 career sacks so far.

Was last year an aberration for George Selvie or can the Cowboys count on 7 sacks from him again this season?

Can Henry Melton come back from his injury?

Can Spencer come back from injury?

Lack of pass rush killed the team last year and right now, IMHO, this is the most unproven DL in the entire NFL. A lot of things have to right for them to mediocre -- and I'd be perfectly happy with mediocrity on the DL.

I hear you, but you said lack of a pass rush killed us last year but in the same post talked about the 17 sacks we need to replace. Those 17 sacks didn't do us any favors when it came down to stopping teams from scoring 40 points and 40 first downs on us per game (hyperbol).

I believe pass rush is just one of the multiplicity of problems this defense had last year. You name it ... it was a problem on the defensive side of the ball. That's why I believe there is nothing worse ... oh wait, Sean Lee is gone for the entire year. But it may not be that bad because we can get his replacement straight out of the gait.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I thought they'd be 10 wins before I sat down and went week by week in the division.

Of the tough teams they play, I think they can handle IND and SF.

SF: They've traditionally been good against SF and they get them at home in November. Hard to travel to the east coast. Same goes for AZ.
IND: They get at home after a bye week, while IND is coming off an AFC road game and looking forward to a bye.

Outside of that I think they'll win...
@DET, AZ, HOU, ATL, @JAXand @STL

So that's 8 wins. Split the division 3-3 puts them at 11 overall.

EDIT: Overall they have made a lot of improvements on their team. They had the best defense in the division last year, still have made some improvements on that side of the ball, and with a new OC and help on the OL it's hard to imagine the OL will be as bad.

Well let's agree to disagree. ... Giants are a terrible team and DL just isn't that good anymore. I really doubt they beat SF, STL and AZ. Detroit isn't bad a team and will put up some points against NY. Indy, Hou and Atl could all beat NY

 

[Sportsbabe]

Oh yes we can.

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

I wouldn't want to live inside your head.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I hear you, but you said lack of a pass rush killed us last year but in the same post talked about the 17 sacks we need to replace. Those 17 sacks didn't do us any favors when it came down to stopping teams from scoring 40 points and 40 first downs on us per game (hyperbol).

I believe pass rush is just one of the multiplicity of problems this defense had last year. You name it ... it was a problem on the defensive side of the ball. That's why I believe there is nothing worse ... oh wait, Sean Lee is gone for the entire year. But it may not be that bad because we can get his replacement straight out of the gait.

People keep talking about our defense and not about our offense that will score points. GB and NO both won championships with no pass rush, terrible defense. They won with a great offense note that being said what those two teams defense did do was.... create turnovers which Rod has really done well.

My point is not that Dallas will win the superbowl this year but will win games on great offense, special teams and creating turnovers. Anything the defense can do only helps.

You need 2 of the 3 to win.... offense, defense, special teams. We will win at least 8 games possibly 12, so 8-12 wins (if we stay relative healthy)

 

[DallasEast]

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.

It's possible:

Team (Overall Record) + Division/Conference/Non-Conference Records

Seahawks (12-4) 5-1, 10-2, 2-2
49ers (11-5) 5-1, 9-3, 2-2
Cardinals (10-6) 2-4, 7-5, 3-1
Rams (10-6) 0-6, 6-6, 4-0

Doesn't seem likely though. Heck, I don't see St. Louis playing .500 ball in the NFC, but going undefeated against the Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs. Then again, who knows how he did his projections.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

We would have to be quite a bit better than last year just to go 8-8 this year with this schedule. We wont know until like game 3 what we might have but for now it doesnt look promising. Were relying on all rookies and injured guys on defense.

this guy looks like hes got at least 13 teams records wrong to me and some are way off. Even with weeden dallas would win at least 3 games.

All rookies and injuried on defense, Carr, Carter, Church, Scandrick, Mincey, McClain, Durant, Holloman, Wilber, Hayden.... didn't know they were rookies and injuried

 

[EST_1986]

I'd take that over 8-8.

Me too we're going on be middle off the road anyway if rather just have a higher draft selection

 

[Nova]

Well let's agree to disagree. ... Giants are a terrible team and DL just isn't that good anymore. I really doubt they beat SF, STL and AZ. Detroit isn't bad a team and will put up some points against NY. Indy, Hou and Atl could all beat NY

That's fair man. Just my prediction. I wouldn't blame anyone for not believing in (fearing) NY. They were bad last year... mostly on offense though.

There just really not the same team though. Lots of turnover, all for the better.

 

[Hardline]

My prediction for the Cowboys right now is zero wins,zero loses.
Ill put my predictions up against anyone.

 

[StarBoyz83]

All rookies and injuried on defense, Carr, Carter, Church, Scandrick, Mincey, McClain, Durant, Holloman, Wilber, Hayden.... didn't know they were rookies and injuried

Obviously I wasnt talking about carr, scandrick or church. Durant and carter at this point are not starter quality. Hollowman and wilber though kind of intriguing are backups with a shot because our lb core is easily one of the worst in the nfl. Haydens not very good and not sure about mincey.

 

[cowboyblue22]

if they don't find a young qb that is really good then the future is dark don't make a difference what the defense does or don't do or how young they are on offense with out a qb u don't win period.

 

[jterrell]

We would have to be quite a bit better than last year just to go 8-8 this year with this schedule. We wont know until like game 3 what we might have but for now it doesnt look promising. Were relying on all rookies and injured guys on defense.

this guy looks like hes got at least 13 teams records wrong to me and some are way off. Even with weeden dallas would win at least 3 games.

It is almost mathematically impossible for us to win only 3 games if the Commanders and Giants are also as bad as labeled.
Even bad NFCE teams tend to get splits with conf opponents.

I'd rather Dallas be as bad as he suggests then the reality which is probably 6-7 wins.

IMHO the offense will be good enough to win games like the Titans and Rams.
The ST and offense are good to very good, the defense is bad to terrible.

It is more likely we beat SF week 1 then it is for us to win only 3 games.

 

[Pabst]

8-8 until proven otherwise.

 

[jterrell]

It is almost mathematically impossible for us to win only 3 games if the Commanders and Giants are also as bad as labeled.
Even bad NFCE teams tend to get splits with conf opponents.

I'd rather Dallas be as bad as he suggests (and draft #1 overall) then the reality which is probably 6-7 wins.

IMHO the offense will be good enough to win games like the Titans and Rams.
The ST and offense are good to very good, the defense is bad to terrible.

It is more likely we beat SF week 1 then it is for us to win only 3 games.

FWIW I have them at 6-9 entering road game versus the Skins week 17.
Losing that game and going 6-10 would be the smart move but we'll win it just to frustrate the fan base and go 7-9 then pick outside the top 10.

 

[TwoDeep3]

If the season went down this way there would be five 3-13 teams heading into the draft.

I do not wish for this, but entertaining the idea, why do I think somehow Dallas would be the last of the five to pick. It always works that way.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

3-13?? Do these "experts" realize the Cowboys went 5-1 in the NFC East last year even with the worst defense in franchise history?

No team in this division will be any worse than 6-10. And that 6-10 team might be the Giants, in my opinion.

 

[StylisticS]

FWIW I have them at 6-9 entering road game versus the Skins week 17.
Losing that game and going 6-10 would be the smart move but we'll win it just to frustrate the fan base and go 7-9 then pick outside the top 10.

I have around the same record of 6-10. Thought that for a while. I'll still cheer my heart out though. Well not as much. I have more important priorities such as tackling calculus this upcoming semester.

 

[big dog cowboy]

USA TODAY 2013 NFL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

NFC East winner:

Jarrett Jim Nate Lindsay Pete Tom
Ball Corbett Davis Jones O'Brien Pelissero

Cowboys Commanders Giants Giants Cowboys Cowboys

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/09/04/2013-staff-picks-season-predictions/2768317/

 

[Ashwynn]

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/

whelp, depending on the tie breakers, were in the running for the #1 pick. Woohoo!

 

[Future]

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.

Game was over at half time if the offense didn't suck so bad.