So wanting on the schedule, it appears fairly apparent that video games in opposition to Baltimore, San Francisco, Detroit and each Philly video games ought to be powerful. There are another massive video games additionally, however what’s an opponent that could possibly be a possible lure sport to regulate? – Craig McElroy, Palestine, TX
Patrik: Once I was penning my full breakdown of the schedule (up now on the positioning — shameless plug), I pointed at one sport particularly that some Cowboys followers may rightfully view as this 12 months’s lure sport. All issues thought of, I consider it is likely to be the Week 15 matchup in opposition to the Panthers. The Cowboys will come off of a stretch that may embrace three divisional video games and two grueling AFC fights — the Texans and Bengals — earlier than marching onto the identical discipline in Charlotte whereby they beat the Panthers handily in 2023, and regardless of taking part in with their meals a bit, most likely feeling as if they’ll take a proverbial breath in opposition to a crew that completed 2-15 final season. To me, that has “lure sport” written throughout it, and the hazard is unquestionably there for the Cowboys to get upset in the event that they sleepwalk into Financial institution of America Stadium on Dec. 15 — unable to afford such a loss at a very powerful time of the common season (playoff seeding, division race, momentum, and many others.). Keep frosty, Cowboys.
Nick Harris: The Cowboys play simply 4 video games in opposition to 2023 playoff groups after the week 8 matchup in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, because the second half of the schedule may enable them to widen a lead or catch as much as one earlier than season’s finish. The sport that stands out for me is a Sunday night time conflict in opposition to Tampa Bay as a kind of 4 video games that could possibly be undervalued entering into. Forward of a possible pivotal divisional showdown in Philadelphia the next week, it’s going to take quite a lot of consideration to take down the Bucs — a crew that very same might have forgot gained a playoff sport a 12 months in the past.
Nick Eatman: Typically, it is the stuff proper in the midst of the sandwich that you do not even see. On this case, the Cowboys play on the street at San Francisco on Oct. 27 and a Nov. 10 residence sport with Philly. However in between these two headline matchups, the Cowboys have a Nov. 3 street sport in Atlanta. That is the one to regulate. The final two journeys to the Falcons have seen Dak getting blitzed all sport and sacked eight occasions to a 27-7 loss in 2017 after which a last-second 22-19 win in 2018. It hasn’t been straightforward in any respect and the Falcons have simply sufficient gamers to make it attention-grabbing. Kirk Cousins hasn’t had a lot success vs. Dallas but when the Cowboys aren’t in the suitable mind set after the 49ers and earlier than the Eagles, it could possibly be a tricky one.