Here is the last part of my season predictions series for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys will be aiming for the NFC East championship and the number one seed in the NFC by the third quarter of the season.
The Cowboys shocked the league with victories over the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals, defying many predictions that they would not even make the playoffs. They will be better prepared for the postseason if they have a successful season finale.
Use the following links to view the first three installments of this series:
Days 1-4; Weeks 5–10; Weeks 11–14
At the Carolina Panthers in Week 15
QB Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers will get another chance to win his first game against the Dallas Cowboys. Young’s previous season was not particularly successful. He completed just 55% of his passes for 123 yards and had two fumbles in a 33-10 loss at home.
Forecast: Triumph
The Cowboys will travel to Carolina and settle their score before hosting a more important game the following week against a different NFC South rival.
Bryce Young will be harassed by Mike Zimmer’s defense all day, which will result in three turnovers from him. Each of those turnovers will be converted into a score by Dak Prescott and the offense, as Dallas wins by double digits for the fourth straight year.
Panthers 9 Carolina Cowboys 35
Week 16: Sunday Night Football matchup vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cowboys will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the winners of the NFC South the previous season, in another primetime game at AT&T Stadium. Baker Mayfield, the quarterback, and Mike Evans, the wide receiver group, continue to lead Tampa Bay.
There will be a significant impact this game has on the NFC playoff picture. Not just for the Cowboys, but also for the Bucs.
Forecast: Triumph
Even though the Tampa Bay offense will battle hard, they are not going to prevail in an away primetime shootout at AT&T Stadium. This game should play out like last season’s primetime Cowboys vs. Seahawks game, in my opinion.
In an offensive exhibition of strength from both sides, Dallas will prevail, laying the groundwork for a pivotal divisional game the following week.
Tampa Bay Bucs 33, Dallas Cowboys 38
At the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17
The Cowboys’ second game of the season, against the Philadelphia Eagles, is one week before the last regular season game and promises to be one of their hardest tests yet.
In addition to deciding who wins the NFC East, this game could also decide whether either team plays home or away in the postseason. It is impossible to ignore Jalen Hurts and the offensive weapons that surround him.
The Cowboys’ defense will have to be on the lookout for strong weapons like wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, running back Saquon Barkley, and tight end Dallas Goedert every play if they want to slow them down.
Although I think the Cowboys offense can move the ball, I worry that their problems in the red zone could result in a close loss.
Forecast: Defeat
The Eagles have too much skill on their roster to lose in the regular season series, as much as I hate to say it. Dallas used a 35-31 scoring outburst to win the first game in Arlington.
The defenses will be strong this time, in late December, and limit the number of points scored.
Eagles of Philadelphia 20, Cowboys of Dallas 17.
Against. Washington Commanders in Week 18
With a victory at Philadelphia the previous week, the Dallas Cowboys hoped to secure the NFC East and a higher seed in the league. Sadly, with the division title on the line, resting starters at home in week 18 will not be an option.
Dallas easily defeated the Commanders 26–13 earlier in the season, and they will not disappoint their supporters now. Once more, the Cowboys will take the Commanders to the wood shed, and this time, they will win the division.
Forecast: Triumph
The last regular season game will serve as a pregame practice for the postseason for Mike McCarthy. With a significant lead, Dak Prescott will miss the fourth quarter for the Cowboys.
Cowboys of Dallas 30, Commanders of Washington 10
Final Standings: 12-5
For the fourth season in a row, the Dallas Cowboys will finish with a record of 12-5. They will also become the first NFC East team to win back-to-back division titles since the Eagles did so in 2001–2004.
San Francisco is probably going to be the conference’s top seed. After defeating the Detroit Lions in the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Cowboys will earn the second seed and will once again host the seventh seed in the Wildcard round.
I will wait to make any postseason predictions for the time being, but feel free to critique anything you want in the comments. Let us discuss it.
