This 5-game stretch will determine the Cowboys season
This 5-game stretch will determine the Cowboys season
The Dallas Cowboys schedule was officially released on May 15th, revealing when the team will play their opponents for the 2024 regular season. The notable games fans always looking forward to on the schedule include the team’s season opener, their Thanksgiving matchup, and how many primetime games the team will have. This year, they will be traveling to Cleveland to face the Browns Week 1, they will host the division rival New York Giants on Thanksgiving, and they are tied for the most primetime games in the season with six.
Based on the 2023 season, the Cowboys have the 12th-toughest strength of schedule for the upcoming year. Their opponents had a combined 146-143 record last season. With that said, the Cowboys will face their biggest test in the middle of the season. October 13 through November 18 will determine the overall success of the team’s season.
Week 6: vs Detroit Lions
The start of this difficult stretch features the Detroit Lions, who they will be hosting at home at AT&T stadium in Week 6. One of the more memorable games of the 2023 season occurred when the Cowboys beat the Lions 20-19 after a two-point conversion controversy. While the Cowboys got the win, it was ultimately the Lions who got the last laugh, as they made it to the NFC Championship game for the first time since the 1991 season.
The Lions will be going into next season hungry to avenge their loss to the Cowboys, while competing to be the best team in the conference. They spent over $444M in new contracts to QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and OT Penei Sewell this offseason, keeping their core players together for the foreseeable future. Something that Cowboys fans have been wanting to see from the front office this offseason.
Week 8: at San Francisco 49ers
The Cowboys get their bye week following the Detroit Lions matchup, and it couldn’t come at a better time. They get a week of rest and preparation against their kryptonite over the last several seasons, the San Francisco 49ers.
For the third year in a row, the Cowboys will be playing the 49ers at Levi Stadium in California. The previous two times have not gone in the Cowboys favor. In the 2023 season, they lost by an embarrassing 32 points. They were dominated throughout the entire game, getting beat offensively, defensively, and on special teams. The season before that, the 49ers knocked Dallas out of the divisional round of the playoffs, beating them 19-12.
The Cowboys haven’t beat the 49ers since 2020, and it will be even more difficult this upcoming season. The Cowboys lost several key starters this offseason, and will play a 49ers team that will look very similar to the team that made the Super Bowl last season.
Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a team that could see the most improvement from the 2023 season. They replaced highly-criticized head coach Arthur Smith, and signed QB Kirk Cousins in free agency. Replacing two of their biggest problems last season should put the team in a comfortable position to win an underwhelming NFC South.
The Falcons should feature one of the more explosive offenses in the league this upcoming season. The team has an explosive wide receiving corps of Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore. They also have tight end Kyle Pitts, who is looking to have his breakout year with a new quarterback. However, the biggest threat to the Dallas defense is second-year RB Bijan Robinson who proved himself as an explosive playmaker his rookie season.
This is certainly not the Atlanta Falcons that only won seven games in 2023. They will be a legitimate threat to compete in the NFC and will be a tough test for the Cowboys defense this season.
Week 10: vs Philadelphia Eagles
In Week 10, the Cowboys will play their arch rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. It will be their first meeting of the season, and will likely be the their most important game of the year up to that point. The Eagles and Cowboys have competed for the division each of the last two years, with Dallas securing the division title in 2023.
With that said, the Eagles improved their roster drastically this offseason. Their secondary was widely regarded as their biggest weakness last season, and they were able to draft both CB Quinyon Mitchell and CB Cooper DeJean.
Not only did they get two of the best cornerbacks in the 2024 draft class, they also happened to sign RB Saquon Barkley. When healthy, Barkley was the driving force of the New York Giants offense during his time there. He figures to be dominant behind a significantly better offensive line with more weapons around him in Philadelphia.
Week 11: vs Houston Texans
The final game of this brutal stretch is against the Cowboys’ next door neighbor, the Houston Texans. The future in Houston looks bright, as their two first-round picks from 2023 led the team to a playoff win in their first year. QB C.J. Stroud and DE Will Anderson won the award for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Texans front office chose to capitalize on having Stroud on a rookie contract, as they traded for All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs and signed RB Joe Mixon this offseason. Houston now features one of the highest-powered offenses in the league with Stroud, Mixon, Diggs, WR Tank Dell, WR Nico Collins, and former Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz.
Not only will their meeting be the first time brothers Stefon and Trevon Diggs have the opportunity to play against each other in the NFL, it will be an opportunity for a team to claim bragging rights as the best team in Texas.