Examining the 5 biggest takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys’ 2020 schedule release
By Jon Machota May 7, 2020
The opponents were already known, but the order in which the Cowboys will play them was revealed Thursday night. Coming off a disappointing 8-8 year, this offseason has been filled with many changes, none more critical than a new coaching staff, which makes it a little more difficult to predict double-digit wins or another letdown. The offense is expected to be somewhat similar. The defense is supposed to be much more multiple and aggressive. The special teams, well, they
have to be better. Not having a normal offseason adds even more challenges when it comes to projections. COVID-19 makes it difficult to predict when the season will start or whether there will be any fans in the stands when the games begin.
But the new NFL schedule is out, and it’s always fun to make an educated guess about how things might go during the upcoming season. Having a somewhat normal offseason in regards to free agency and the draft at least provides some information about the talent on each roster.
So here are five takeaways from the release of the Cowboys’ 2020 schedule.
1.) Can’t-miss game: Week 16 vs. the Eagles at AT&T Stadium. The NFC East has been won by either the Cowboys or Eagles each of the last four years. They remain the two best teams in the division. And there’s a decent chance the division comes down to that game. The Cowboys couldn’t get it done in Week 16 last year in Philly; maybe it will be different playing at home.
2.) Crucial stretch: Between Nov. 22 and Dec. 27. During that time, the Cowboys play at Minnesota, at Baltimore and then at home against the 49ers and Eagles. All four of those teams in that six-game stretch made the playoffs last year. That will be the part of the schedule that likely tells the story of the Cowboys’ season.
3.) Game that’s gotten easier: The season opener on the road at the Rams. Los Angeles has added Leonard Floyd and A’Shawn Robinson but parted ways with Todd Gurley and Dante Fowler. The Rams also didn’t have a first-round pick. This won’t be an easy game, but L.A. no longer seems to be on the level of the group Dallas lost to in the divisional round a couple of years ago.
4.) Bye-week impact: The bye week comes later than usual for the Cowboys. Over the last five years, Dallas has received its bye within the first eight weeks. This year, it doesn’t come until Week 10. The 2014 season was the last time the bye came that late for the Cowboys. That year, Tony Romo led the team to a 7-3 start before their Week 11 bye that followed the Jaguars game in London. Every year it seems like players and coaches say the bye comes at a good time. In this particular schedule, I think it actually does. That Eagles-Steelers-Vikings-Redskins-Ravens stretch is pretty rough. The bye split those games up, giving Dallas some time to regroup.
5.) Record prediction: 10-6, NFC East champs.
Let’s break it down by quarters. Starting off with the Rams, Falcons, Seahawks and Browns won’t be easy. Cleveland will be better than it was last year. I see Dallas winning two of those games. The Seahawks usually have one of the NFL’s best home-field advantages, but that game in Seattle won’t be nearly as difficult if fans are not in the stands. The next four are against the Giants, Cardinals, Redskins and Eagles. I’m predicting that Dallas wins three of those. That’s 5-3 to start the season. The game at Philadelphia will be the most difficult of that group. Then it’s the Steelers, Vikings, Redskins and Ravens, with the bye coming after the Pittsburgh game. I’ll go with two more wins here. That puts the Cowboys at 7-5 heading into the final month of the regular season. My prediction is that Dallas will lose to the 49ers but beat the Bengals, Eagles and Giants.
No team has won the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since 2004, and that streak continues as the Cowboys edge out the Eagles to win the division for the fourth time in the last seven years.
In case you are wondering how I’ve done at predicting the Cowboys’ schedule immediately after it has been revealed, here’s my record over the last five years.
2019 – Prediction: 9-7, wild card. Actual result: 8-8, missed the playoffs.
2018 – Prediction: 9-7, miss the playoffs. Actual result: 10-6, NFC East champs.
2017 – Prediction: 10-6, wild card. Actual result: 9-7, missed the playoffs.
2016 – Prediction: 10-6, NFC East champs. Actual result: 13-3, NFC East champs.
2015 – Prediction: 11-5, NFC East champs. Actual result: 4-12, missed playoffs.
Here’s a complete look at Dallas’ schedule. Blue denotes home games, while silver represents away games
2020 Cowboys schedule
| WEEK | OPPONENT | DATE & TIME |
|---|
| 1 |  Los Angeles Rams | Sep. 13, 7:20 |
| 2 |  Atlanta Falcons | Sep. 20, 12:00 |
| 3 |  Seattle Seahawks | Sep. 27, 3:25 |
| 4 |  Cleveland Browns | Oct. 4, 12:00 |
| 5 |  New York Giants | Oct. 11, 3:25 |
| 6 |  Arizona Cardinals | Oct. 19, 7:15 |
| 7 |  Washington Redskins | Oct. 25, 12:00 |
| 8 |  Philadelphia Eagles | Nov. 1, 7:20 |
| 9 |  Pittsburgh Steelers | Nov. 8, 3:25 |
| 11 |  Minnesota Vikings | Nov. 22, 3:25 |
| 12 | Washington Redskins | Nov. 26, 3:30 |
| 13 |  Baltimore Ravens | Dec. 3, 7:20 |
| 14 |  Cincinnati Bengals | Dec. 13, 12:00 |
| 15 |  San Francisco 49ers | Dec. 20, 7:20 |
| 16 | Philadelphia Eagles | Dec. 27, 3:25 |
| 17 | New York Giants | Jan. 3, 2021, 12:00 |
