Dallas Cowboys Game-by-Game Predictions Following 2012 NFL Draft
The Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming season was impossible to predict prior to the 2012 NFL Draft and the Cowboys’ first-round splash was a big reason why. Who expected Dallas to trade up and take the best cornerback in the draft? Those who made predictions about the Cowboys’ season prior to the draft didn’t take into account Dallas’ secondary would be this much improved after the event. Now that the Cowboys’ roster is mostly in focus, it’s safe to look at each game in the upcoming season.
Cowboys @ New York Giants at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5
Unless Dallas makes another surprising move, such as trade for Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, the defending champs win this game. The Cowboys never play well in primetime and the Giants have had Dallas’ number over the past few years. Neither of those things change as the Cowboys start the season off on a negative note. Score prediction: NYG 31, DAL 16
Cowboys @ Seattle Seahawks at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16
What better way to start the season than with the old 0-2 Super Bowl garbage? The Cowboys go to the Great Midwest and return dumbfounded after new Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn lights up Dallas’ “new and improved” secondary and leads Seattle to a surprising victory. It’ll turn out to be a good thing for the Cowboys, though. Score prediction: SEA 24, DAL 21
Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at noon on Sunday, Sept. 23
After two games of avoiding the limelight, Cowboys rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne comes alive and makes two key interceptions on deep passes to preserve a hard-fought Dallas victory over a much-improved Buccaneers team. New Dallas cornerback Brandon Carr does a tremendous job covering new Tampa Bay receiver Vincent Jackson and Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has a huge day on the ground against the Buccaneers’ porous run defense. Score prediction: DAL 34, TB 21
Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1
This game is the one that “defines” the Cowboys and determines if Dallas is “for real” according to every analyst from Valley Ranch to Timbuktu. Fortunately for Tony Romo and Co., it ends well. In a classic Monday night showdown, the Cowboys display a well-balanced offensive attack and Dallas’ new secondary plays like it’s expected to in a dramatic, surprising victory for the home team. Score prediction: DAL 21, CHI 17
BYE
Cowboys @ Baltimore Ravens at noon on Sunday, Oct. 14
The bye week is not kind to Dallas as hoped when the Cowboys travel to Baltimore and get pushed around by a tough, revitalized Ravens team. Dallas doesn’t look like the pushover of the past, but the ‘Boys are still nowhere near the physical level of the Ravens as Baltimore’s front seven manhandle their opponents up front. Score prediction: BAL 21, DAL 10
Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers at noon on Sunday, Oct. 21
In a high-flying shootout, the Cowboys rebound from a bruising loss to the Ravens. Dallas’ defense can’t stop Carolina quarterback Cam Newton and the upstart Panthers, but Claiborne, Carr and Co. do enough to allow Romo to pull out a win. The Cowboys prove their offense is still a lethal weapon to “get back on track.” Score prediction: DAL 41, CAR 38
Cowboys vs. Giants at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28
Finally! Dallas plays well against New York and beats the Giants for the first time in two years. The Cowboys are at home and the game isn’t in primetime, so call it what you want, but Dallas gets the win. As usual, it’s a high-scoring, last-second thriller, but the ball finally bounces the Cowboys’ way. Score prediction: DAL 33, NYG 31
Cowboys @Atlanta Falcons at 7:20 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4
It’s like clockwork; the Cowboys simply do not perform well under the lights and that doesn’t change in November. Dallas plays Atlanta tough, but the Falcons come out on top as they usually do at home. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett abandons the running game in the second half and it costs his team while he proves yet again it’s not always the players who are at fault in games like this. Score prediction: ATL 28, DAL 17
Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11
The Cowboys enter the game 4-4 at the midpoint of the season in desperate need of a win in the toughest place to get one. Dallas fans, players, coaches and executives alike are stunned at how well the Cowboys play on the road against the Eagles and the “Romo is great in November” chatter begins once again right on schedule. Score prediction: DAL 17, PHI 13
Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns at noon on Sunday, Nov. 18
The typical November hot streak continues as the Cowboys get their first big win of the season at home against the woeful Browns. New Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden has a great season, but is caught wide-eyed in Cowboys stadium as Dallas’ secondary has its best game of the year against the 29-year-old rookie quarterback. Score prediction: DAL 34, CLE 10
Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22
The Cowboys’ highly-anticipated first game against new Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is a disappointment as the rookie passer misses the game with a leg injury and fellow rookie Kirk Cousins gets the start. Like Weeden the week before, Dallas’ secondary chows down on Cousins, intercepting him three times and returning one for a score. Things are looking up for Dallas, but it’s still November. Score prediction: DAL 27, WAS 13
Cowboys vs. Eagles at 7:20 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2
Once again, the dreadful December woes plague Dallas. The Cowboys crumble under the Sunday night lights at home against the Eagles as Romo throws two interceptions and makes a critical fumble in the fourth quarter to snap his team’s 3-game win streak. With three tough games left, it looks like the same old Cowboys are in for a disappointing December again. Score prediction: PHI 24, DAL 19
Cowboys @ Cincinnati Bengals at noon on Sunday, Dec. 9
The Cowboys enter this critical contest with a record of 7-5 and a chance to win the NFC East outright. The December woes fuel the media as the young, fiery Bengals whip the Cowboys at home and make their own mark on the playoff race. Romo tells his usual “I’ve got to do better” sob story after the game and he gets grilled on radio and television and in the papers. Score prediction: CIN 33, DAL 12
Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16
This game has a flexible kickoff time and it gets changed to primetime, spelling doom for Dallas with only three games left and the division title on the line. It goes down as the most glorious game to date in Romo’s career as the Cowboys beat the Steelers for the first time since 1997 and give Dallas fans faith as the playoffs near. Score prediction: DAL 26, PIT 21
Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints at noon on Sunday, Dec. 23
This game isn’t nearly as important as once thought by the time it rolls around. With all the suspensions and contract controversy that plague New Orleans this year, the Saints aren’t the team many thought they would be. That works out great for Murray, who records his second career 200-yard rushing game in a big Cowboys win. Score prediction: DAL 24, NO 12
Cowboys @ Redskins at noon on Sunday, Dec. 30
Like the year before, Dallas enters its final game with a chance to win the NFC East and cap a 10-6 season. This time the Cowboys don’t disappoint and complete an impressive 3-game win streak in December to end the woeful talk. Griffin plays for Washington, but throws four interceptions as Dallas cruises into the playoffs. Score prediction: DAL 31, WAS 13
NFC Wildcard Playoffs: (4) Cowboys vs. (5) Detroit Lions
The Cowboys remember what happened the last time the Lions invaded Cowboys Stadium and match Detroit score for score. An interception by Carr seals the win for Dallas in the final minute of the game and Romo gets his second career playoff win. Score prediction: DAL 38, DET 34
NFC Divisional Playoffs: Cowboys @ (2) San Francisco 49ers
The Cowboys’ seemingly magic run that resembles 2009 comes to an end after one playoff victory. The game creates visions of the epic playoff battles Dallas and San Francisco played at Candlestick Park in the 1990s, but the 49ers come out victorious. Dallas plays much better than its last divisional playoff game, but San Francisco’s stifling defense is just too much. Score prediction: SF 20, DAL 14
The Cowboys’ 2012 season will be described as a success and the buzz surrounding the 2013 season will rival that of the Super Bowl years two decades ago. Romo still doesn’t quite win the fans over, but he does enough to validate his new contract extension he’ll receive this season and earn the right to give it a go again in 2013. The Cowboys will surprise many in 2012, but mostly themselves, and give the Dallas faithful something about which to cheer once again.
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Don’t forget that Ware is still on this team and think with a complete off season and training camp, they will be getting to the QB more often. So some of those games I think will go in their favor! I also see this offense being better with healthy receivers and balance in the running game! But who knows. I predict Dallas and Texans superbowl with Texan winning!