Quote from lovelystyle100 on March 11, 2024, 8:33 AM

There are at least three things currently certain in life: death, taxes and the needing to end their Super Bowl drought that is now older than humans who can legally rent a car, and none of those three things are any fun. With the unveiling of their complete NFL schedule in May, all eyes immediately zoom in on the, but there's much more to it all than simply trying to win those five or six games, , because the barometer in Dallas reveals a ton of pre sure in the air around and inside the walls of Cowboys headquarters in Frisco, Texas.Having finished with a 12-5 record in 2021 only to be summarily dismi sed like a grade school child when the walked into AT&T Stadium and taught them a few le sons in January, it was yet another strong year that ended in disappointment -- putting head coach Mike McCarthy (and others) in some very real cro shairs this offseason. McCarthy's job was never in doubt in January 2022, as CBS Sports first reported, but another failure in the postseason (or failing to make it at all) will immediately usher in reports of him potentially being replaced by either Sean Payton or his own defensive coordinator -- Dan Quinn.To make matters more difficult for McCarthy, who admitted that while he enjoys being with the club but that he's also-- following comments from owner Jerry Jones that could easily be viewed as pitting Quinn (and other HC candidates) against McCarthy -- is in how the front office opted to trade four-time Pro Bowl receiver , release starting tackle , lose starting defensive end to free agency in controversial fashion and very as well after a contentious contract disagreement.But wait, there's more., and former second-round pick remains . The good news for McCarthy is, the lo s of Gregory and notwithstanding, the Cowboys aced the a signment of re-signing in-house talent., they're still unable to currently as the one they wasted in 2021. All of the old must now pa s away, though, because it is eyes forward to minicamp, training camp, preseason and then the coup de grce: the 2022 NFL regular season. With so much on the line for so many in Dallas, let's take a shot at predicting how it'll all shake out.There's a lot to di sect when it comes to this year's schedule for the Cowboys, because it's not only packed with challenges, but it's also structured favorably for them in many ways -- from the amount of rest they might see later in the season to the fact they'll enjoy lots of home cooking to begin the season. Factor in where their bye week is placed, and the Cowboys are in great position to trampoline themselves into the conversation for Super Bowl contention.That said, the things that aren't in their favor really, really aren't, and threaten to make their trek toward January a brutal one. Below are the top-20 most notable items you'll need to takeaway from Dallas' gauntlet of games. Notes on travel, rest and kickoff times:Bye: Week 95 prime-time games5 games played the first slate on Sundays (1 p.m. ET) Only two Thursday games, including ThanksgivingNo back-to-back Thursday games (first time since 2015)2 mini-bye weeks (post-Thanksgiving and post-Week 17)3 home games in first four, back-to-back to begin season5 home games before Week 9 bye week3-game home stretch to begin back end of the seasonNo 3-game away stretchesCro s-country trek from LA to Philly in OctoberBack-to-back road games to conclude seasonPotentially no winter weather away games in December (TEN + JAX)Notes on Cowboys' opposition:Matchups with both Super Bowl LVI teams in first five weeksMatchups with all three NFC East rivals in first six weeksBack-to-back contests against NFC East opponents4-game tour of NFC North before ThanksgivingNFC East rematch vs. on ThanksgivingTour of AFC South post-ThanksgivingRegular season finale vs. NFC East rivalWe touched on what's working in favor of the Cowboys, but that doesn't include facing the , Bucs and before they get a chance to open the cranberry sauce and stuffing in late November -- teams that finished first, second and fourth in the NFC, respectively, in 2021.These were the teams, along with the , that the Cowboys were desperately trying to shake off in the chase for the top seed in the conference last season before finishing third at 12-5. It's critical for Mike McCarthy and all involved to truly fire out of the gate, because the schedule is frontloaded with NFC bouts that will largely shape the entire playoff picture down the road, so stumbling mightily early will put Dallas in a tough spot; one difficult to climb out of simply by potentially running through presumably le ser teams in the AFC (the schedule is backloaded with AFC matchups).Here's a peek at the combined 2021 records of all upcoming Cowboys opponents:NFC East opponentsNon-division opponents (NFC + AFC)NFC opponents (non-division)20-3193-93-155-46-1A slow start to 2022 could very well lead to either a poor playoff seeding or none at all, if we're being frank here.Or, hell, even if we're being Shirley.As is always the case, they'll need to attempt to Darius Anderson Jersey dominate the NFC East to act as a buffer against some unfortunate lo ses outside of the division. Equally as important this year (if not a bit more so) will be to get wins against contenders who they might again find themselves jockeying for seeding with when winter arrives. After all, head-to-head games are paramount when determining tiebreakers, and nothing implies the Bucs, Packers and Rams have taken a step backward (the trade notwithstanding). The Cowboys, however, were arguably (not really) made worse on paper this offseason ahead of the draft, so there's much work to be done to ensure there is no brain fog when Sept. 11 rolls around. Date:Sunday, Sept. 11Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Time: 8:20 p.m. ET2021 record: 13-4Series record: Cowboys lead 15-5 TB QB #12 CMP%67.5YDs5316TD43INT12YD/Att7.39 Is it time for the streak to end? Brady is 6-0 against the Cowboys in his Hall of Fame career that spans more than two decades, but that was nearly a 5-1 record, if not for a controversial non-call on DPI and mi sed field goals by in the 2021 season opener. (However, there's no column between wins and lo ses labeled "what if?") As the 2022 season gets underway, it's yet another shot for the Cowboys to hand Brady a lo s, with the NFL effectively giving them a mulligan by scheduling this matchup as an opener for two consecutive seasons. The GOAT stole headlines by retiring and then quickly unretiring this offseason, the latter being great for the Buccaneers, but Tampa Bay is a little more in flux than it was last September.Bruce Arians has transitioned from head coach to the front office as Todd Bowles takes the reins, the future of is still undecided, and being out of Tampa gives Dallas one le s force to worry about protecting from.Additionally, re-signing was smart by the Bucs, but he's working to return from injury and that could admittedly be a wash when weighed against the unlikelihood of seeing in this game (as he also rehabs from a season-ending injury suffered in 2021). On the whole, and when considering Brady has been proven to not be invincible (ask the Rams), and with the rematch being at AT&T Stadium, as long as the Cowboys make their field goals, they can take the win in this nail-biter (as they could've a year prior). Both teams have some feeling out to do in Week 1, but home field advantage and the revenge angle gives the Cowboys a W. Prediction: 28-27, CowboysDate:Sunday, Sept. 18Location: AT&T StadiumTime: 4:25 p.m. ET2021 record: 10-7Series record: Cowboys lead 9-4 CIN QB #9 CMP%70.4YDs4611TD34INT14YD/Att8.87 Riding high off of their season opener over the almighty Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr., the Cowboys run face-first into a reality check when the Bengals claw their way into Arlington for Week 2. Hot off of a Super Bowl lo s wherein they were literally only one more big play away from hoisting a Lombardi Trophy, you can bet and head coach Zac Taylor are chomping at the bit to get back to pouncing on the league -- as they did in 2021. was inhuman as a rookie, and you can expect a similar level of production in Year 2. And unle s All-Pro safety III takes the expensive financial hit and holds out during his contract dispute, expect him to make life very difficult for a Cowboys receiving corps that no longer boasts Cooper and that will likely also be without Gallup for the first couple of games (ish).The Bengals, having seen their defense finally turn the corner in 2021 from being porous to making plays and getting key stops, are now as well-rounded as they are lethal on offense. To s in some added motivation for former Cowboys safety in his Dallas homecoming, and while Dallas pa sed its first test -- the opener -- there's a good chance it leave Week 2 with a 1-1 record. That is unle s Joseph is truly ready to take the mantle from , or unle s Brown plays this game at an All-Pro level to complement the actual All-Pro in and a very capable playmaker in . It just feels as if the Bengals will shock and awe in the first quarter, and the Cowboys will find themselves trying to grab the cat's tail the rest of the game, ultimately failing to get a handle on it.Prediction: 35-24, BengalsFirst meeting:Week 3 (MetLife Stadium) - Monday, Sept. 26, 8:15 p.m ETSecond meeting (Thanksgiving): Week 12 (AT&T Stadium) - Thursday, Nov. 24, 4:30 p.m. ET2021 record: 4-13Series Record: Cowboys lead 71-47-2 NYG QB #8 CMP%64.3YDs2428TD10INT7YD/Att6.73 Objectively speaking, which is the best way to speak but rarely done nowadays, you have to admit the Giants are having a very provocative offseason. They parted ways with the decrepit ways of former general manager Dave Gettleman and replaced him with a sharper mind in Joe Schoen, also ousting Joe Judge to make room for a more dynamic head coach and QB whisperer in Brian Daboll, then going on to have a solid offseason worth of acquisitions.Now, to the other side of the coin, one that's wrought with doubt and enough question marks to make The Riddler jealous, seeing as the Giants are also still the Giants until further notice. Is this to say they haven't improved? No, it is not, because they certainly have, at least on paper, but games aren't played on paper -- unle s it's a rousing match of Tic-Tac-Toe.When it comes to football X's and O's, however, the Cowboys have proven they own the Giants in recent seasons -- to the tune of 9-1 since the conclusion of 2016. The jury is also still out on if can have a breakout season and if can remain healthy, plus you can count and his seven interceptions for the Giants. With an extra day to prep for the first matchup and the Giants having to travel to AT&T Stadium for the bout on Thanksgiving, all signs point to Dak Prescott (who owns the 9-1 record against them as a starter, by the way) to use the aid of Dan Quinn's defense to continue steamrolling Big Blue (though you can count on the Giants to put up a fight).Week 3 prediction: 24-20, CowboysWeek 12 prediction: 42-24, Cowboys First meeting:Week 4 (AT&T Stadium) - Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 p.m ETSecond meeting: Week 18 (FedExField) - Sunday, Jan. 7/8 (TBD), Time TBD2021 record: 7-10Series Record: Cowboys lead 75-47-2 WAS QB #11 CMP%62.4YDs3563TD27INT7YD/Att6.91 is no stranger to the Cowboys, as the Cowboys are no stranger to Wentz. That doesn't bode well for the Commanders new quarterback, whom they landed via trade with the only one year after the Colts traded with the to acquire him. Wentz has never been a destructive force against Dallas, and that won't change in 2022. Diggs learned quickly how to dial up interceptions against him and has only improved since last facing him, whereas Wentz has done anything but. Keep an eye on wideout , though, a dynamic receiving talent who can change the game, but he has to have the ball in order for that to happen. Pre sure bursts pipes or makes diamonds and, more often than not, Wentz leaves the bathroom flooded when faced with a relentle s pa s rush.And if you've watched the film, you know it's not the kind of water NFL general managers are going to endle sly step in willingly -- e.g., the win-and-get-in regular season finale against the last season.If the Cowboys can use to help dial up the pre sure while mixing coverages in the defensive backfield to force Wentz into his third or fourth read, Jimmy Moreland Jersey and under dure s, it'll result in at least two turnovers for a Quinn-led defense that led the league in that category in 2021. The name of the game is to delete both McLaurin and rookie receiver , and that's half the battle won, with the other being a bit more difficult in hoping the rebuilt offensive line can stave off and Co.; but with Young returning from a torn ACL, there's a chance he's not in prime form by Week 4. I'll take the Cowboys to sweep the Commanders again this season, because Wentz presents nothing they haven't literally already beaten up on before. Week 4 prediction: 34-17, CowboysWeek 18 prediction: 30-14, CowboysDate:Sunday, Oct. 9Location: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)Time: 4:25 p.m. ET2021 record: 12-5Series record: 18-18 tie LAR QB #9 CMP%67.2YDs4886TD41INT17YD/Att8.13 A two-game win streak is nice, but three is better. And if that third consecutive victory can arrive at the expense of the reigning Super Bowl champs, all the better. This is yet another ma sive test for the Cowboys to help determine if they're ready to turn the corner in 2022, having already faced both the Buccaneers and the Bengals in Week 1 and Week 2, respectively. Fast forward le s than a month and here they are going up against and Super Bowl MVP , the offensive duo that combined with a stout defense to stave off the offensive juggernaut of Burrow, Chase and more. To say this won't be an easy battle is akin to saying the surface of the sun is simply balmy, so get ready for things to heat up in explosive fashion in Week 5.Kupp is a force to be reckoned with and, at times, flat-out unstoppable. But while Stafford has shown he can punch a hole through the opposing defense at any given moment, let's not forget his regular season antics that cost the Rams Tyrod Taylor Jersey games (i.e., the rash of midseason interceptions and ill-advised plays in the end zone). Stafford is a dominant QB, but also one who can be schemed and pre sured into making backbreaking mistakes, and that should give the Cowboys an in for defeating the Rams. Quiet as it's kept, Los Angeles is also a home away from home for the Cowboys, with a rabid Dallas fanbase aided largely by it being the home (Riverside) of Jerry Jones and Oxnard hosting the team's training camp on an annual, non-pandemic basis. That is to say, delete the home field advantage for the Rams, because they won't have one. At best, it'll be a 50/50 split in the crowd, so the Cowboys will get their share of cheers as Prescott enjoys the lack of alongside , but beware perennial All-Pro linebacker -- who joined the Rams in free agency after pa sing on the Cowboys -- but if only there was a coach in Dallas who knew every single detail about Wagner, including his weakne ses?If ... only.The Cowboys land the upset, and barely, but a win is a win.Prediction: 35-34, CowboysFirst meeting:Week 6 (Lincoln Financial Field) - Sunday, Oct. 16, 8:20 p.m ETSecond meeting (Christmas Eve): Week 16 (AT&T Stadium) - Saturday, Dec. 24, 4:25 p.m. ET2021 record: 9-8Series Record: Cowboys lead 72-54 PHI QB #1 CMP%61.3YDs3144TD16INT9YD/Att7.28 Flying high on a three-game win streak after downing the defending champs in LA, the Cowboys have to feel great about where they sit heading into Week 6. The problem is they're about to catch a flight from literally one side of the country to the other, a coast-to-coast trip to take on the Eagles, and without an extra day to prep. This works wildly in favor of the Eagles, who are also the most-improved team in the division this offseason. Sticking with as QB1 isn't something that should scare the Cowboys, considering they swept him last season, but he now has to play opposite , and that could be a huge problem if that tandem gets fired up early.Looking to the other side of the ball, an already strong defensive front is now much so with the addition of both and from this year's draft, two former superstar playmakers from Georgia, and Dean has a gargantuan chip on his shoulder from seeing his draft stock fall, which included the Cowboys pa sing on him several times before the Eagles gave him the nod.To s in the acquisition of linebacker and, well, either the Cowboys offensive line better have their act together by Week 6 or Prescott better be wearing his brown pants. Oh, and by the way, the Eagles also signed the aforementioned James Bradberry to a deal in late May, bolstering their secondary by dropping in a very capable complement to All-Pro cornerback . It's difficult to fathom the Cowboys landing a sweep of the birds this time around, but they'll get some payback when the Eagles fly into Dallas later in the year.Week 6 prediction: 30-24, EaglesWeek 16 prediction: 42-14, CowboysDate:Sunday, Oct. 23Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Time: 1 p.m. ET2021 record: 3-13-1Series record: Cowboys lead 17-12 DET QB #16 CMP%67.2YDs3245TD19INT8YD/Att6.57 It's easy to laugh at the Lions, or at least it was. Things changed when Dan Campbell took over as head coach in 2021 and, yes, I know what you're thinking. You're pointing at the 3-13-1 record to indicate not much has changed in Detroit, but tell me you don't watch football without saying you don't watch football. Campbell has quickly turned the Lions into an opponent that scraps and claws for every po sible inch, and they very nearly landed some ma sive upsets last season. This means it would behoove the Cowboys to not take this game for granted, and especially if they do lose the first matchup against the Eagles in the game preceding this one.Dropping two in a row is never a good thing, especially if those two are both within the conference, and this is a winnable game for the Cowboys (confe sion: I hate that phrase because technically every game is winnable, but that's a story for another day). With this being a home game for Dallas and Stafford not being on the other end -- those who know about those controversial battles know they usually ended in wild fashion -- it's they must account for. Unlike Wentz, Goff is still with the team he newly joined in 2021 but, like Wentz, Goff isn't a world-beater. Lawrence and Parsons should combine with Diggs to make life very difficult for Goff and, as such, for the entire Lions team in Week 7.Campbell will have his guys ready to play, though, and so the Cowboys need to be on upset alert with every rep in practice leading into this game. That's all they need to do to ensure they're not punished later for losing to the Lions in the middle of the season.Prediction: 27-10, CowboysDate:Sunday, Oct. 30Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Time: 1 p.m. ET2021 record: 6-11Series record: Cowboys lead 15-12 CHI QB #1 CMP%58.9YDs1870TD7INT10YD/Att6.93 The tour of the NFC North is now underway with the Cowboys having hosted the Lions, and they'll get one more at home against an opponent from the division, this time being the Chicago Bears. It's another team in flux after parting ways with their head coach to install a new one, and it's someone the Cowboys know very well. Meet Matt Eberflus, former linebackers coach in Dallas turned defensive coordinator for the Colts turned head coach for the Bears. Eberflus is one of the sharpest defensive minds in all of football, which explains why the Cowboys wanted to promote him over Rod Marinelli, but his loyalty to Marinelli led him to turn down the offer and instead take the same DC position for the Colts.He now brings his hard-nosed defensive mind to Chicago, but it remains to be seen how that will mesh with , a talented but young quarterback still in need of development to take the next step; and without as a weapon.Some solid gets in free agency will Tavierre Thomas Jersey help, along with a hefty haul of rookies, but it's mostly linebacker and another familiar face in who'll potentially present the biggest problems for the Cowboys, at least defensively. And then there's safety , one of the more unheralded great players in the league, so Prescott will have his hands full. But if the Dallas offense can jump out to a fast lead and allow Quinn to tee off on Fields -- a suming the Cowboys linebackers (led by one of the fastest players in the league in Parsons) can cover Fields sideline to sideline -- then it could lead to the young QB getting flustered as he's shown he can be at times when things aren't going his way. Capitalize off of that inexperience and protect your dinner table.Prediction: 38-20, CowboysDate:Sunday, Nov. 13Location: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)Time: 4:25 p.m. ET2021 record: 13-4Series record: Packers lead 20-17 NYJ QB #8 CMP%68.9YDs4115TD37INT4YD/Att7.75 This marks Game 3 of a four-game stretch against the NFC North, but this is probably where the good times come to a screeching halt against that division. This matchup will not be lacking for headlines, my friend. Rodgers remained with the Packers on a new mega-deal after two years of pretending he was going to leave and that, for the first time ever, pits him against his former head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy's departure from Green Bay was a toxic one that still has a bad taste in his mouth, and he'd love nothing more than to prove he's the main reason Rodgers has a Super Bowl ring, while Rodgers is thirsty to prove the same point -- considering McCarthy hasn't won another after being dismi sed from the Packers.And with that, the stage is set, but those aren't the only props. As a team, the Cowboys know Rodgers and the Packers all too well, especially in recent seasons.From Rodgers' late-game playoff heroics at AT&T Stadium to the near-upset derailed by the catch that was overturned, a play that might've been of no consequence if running back doesn't fumble the nail in the coffin earlier in the contest, it always feels like Rodgers and the Packers find a way to be the Cowboys' kryptonite whenever they are on the precipice of taking the next step in ending their Super Bowl drought. A huge void now exists with the trade of Davante Adams to the , and that cannot be ignored, but this game is also at a point in the season when the Packers have found their stride and when the Cowboys typically stumble a bit. As such, they stumble here, but it might provide that much more fuel should these two teams meet in the playoffs -- when the long-awaited Cowboys revenge can be truly served ice cold.Prediction: 30-27, PackersDate: Sunday, Nov. 20Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, MN)Time: 4:25 p.m. ET2021 record: 8-9Series record: Cowboys lead 18-15 MIN QB #8 CMP%66.3YDs4221TD33INT7YD/Att7.52 At this point, if all goes to prediction, the Cowboys are 6-3 heading into U.S. Bank Stadium, and they don't want to start dancing around the .500 mark, if they can help it. To put it plainly, can be buried under his own field when facing a capable defense, to the point where is yelling expletives at him (this literally happened the last time Dallas traveled to Minnesota and handed them a lo s). This isn't expected to be an easy go for the Cowboys, though, and it never is. From Prescott finding Dez Bryant to help steal a win a few seasons back to 's circus catch that led to the same outcome more recently, the Cowboys typically find ways to get the win in Minneapolis.But let's play the law of averages here, and then mix in . Smith chose the Vikings over an interested, but underbidding, Cowboys team in free agency (the added goal being to stick it to the Packers), and he joins to form a rather tantalizing pa s rush duo aimed at Prescott.They've also further bolstered the defense by adding (2021) and , while future Hall of Fame cornerback returns for a second year in Minnesota with and former Georgia safety patrolling behind him. Of course, the Vikings also have a lot of firepower on offense with Jefferson, and , but this feels like a game to be dominated by a defense out to prove something after adding gunpowder following the firing of Mike Zimmer. Unlike the Giants, the law of average might be more apt to hand the Cowboys a lo s here, after they've defeated the Vikings in four of the last five games (because the Vikings are a better team, presumably). A field goal by as the clock hits all zeroes snatches victory from the jaws of defeat for the Purple People Eaters.Prediction: 31-28, VikingsDate: Sunday, Dec. 4Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Time: 8:20 p.m. ET2021 record: 9-8Series record: Cowboys lead 10-7 IND QB #2 CMP%67.0YDs3968TD20INT12YD/Att7.09 It was one of the biggest trades in recent NFL history, in an offseason filled with them. Ryan, an Atlanta legend and potential future Hall of Famer (it's definitely a discu sion), has played what was likely his final game in a uniform. As the organization moves into the new era, they've now traded away both and , the latter finding his way to a very, very promising situation with the Colts. And he's no greenhorn so, given the right weapons and a defense that can actually stop someone from scoring, Ryan is set up for immediate succe s Indy.That is, until Week 13, because there's a good reason he could struggle mightily to begin the month of December. That reason is Dan Quinn, his former head coach who knows every single thing about how to rattle him in a game and, to a le ser but still meaningful degree, former Falcons linebacker . And while Ryan can still to s multiple touchdowns in a contest, he's also not equal to prime form, but Quinn is hot off of a blazing defensive year in Dallas and with a new multi-year contract in tow; and there are questions on if he'll be able to replicate the rabid succe ses of 2021.None of this works in Ryan's favor, nor does the fact the Cowboys will enter this game following a mini-bye after having faced the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day. That gives Quinn more time to scheme for Ryan, and offensive coordinator more days to plan an attack on a Colts defense led by All-Pro linebacker and having now added defensive end (with a defensive coordinator change to Gus Bradley after Eberflus left for Chicago), and Moore is going to need every minute of it. But if Quinn can get to Ryan early and often, mistakes will be made, and the Cowboys can capitalize on them to snap a two-game win streak in their return to AT&T Stadium.Prediction: 28-17, CowboysDate:Sunday, Dec. 11Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Time: 1 p.m. ET2021 record: 4-13Series record: Cowboys lead 3-2 HOU QB #10 CMP%66.8YDs2664TD16INT10YD/Att6.76 Having the Colts in their rearview, the tour of the AFC South is underway and, to the Cowboys benefit, the first two legs of said tour are in Arlington. There's a lot to like about Mills taking over the QB position in Houston, given what he showed flashes of in 2021 after went down with injury. The David Culley experiment lasted just one year for the Texans, and the role of head coach is now in the hands of a promoted Lovie Smith, who has coronated Mills as the QB1 going forward. He'll have veteran running back attempting to gain yards from the backfield, and a healthy is very much a problem for opposing defenses, but you can't honestly look at the Texans offense and find a reason to fear them.Can they land an upset against an NFL opponent? Of course, that's called football. But will they land one against the Cowboys, and on the road? That, my friend, is unlikely, barring the Cowboys wetting the bed like toddler who drank too much juice before bedtime.Otherwise, the Cowboys should walk away with this one in convincing fashion. It appears the Texans are now on the forward track after yet another head coaching change and finally parting ways with the i sues, but time will have to reveal that they are before awarding them a prediction upset against a Cowboys team with so much more to prove in 2022, and so much more talent to get it done. This is one wherein Moore will try to order a 40 burger, with extra cheese and bacon.Prediction: 45-13, CowboysDate:Sunday, Dec. 18Location: TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, FL)Time: 1 p.m. ET2021 record: 3-14Series record: Cowboys lead 4-3 JAC QB #16 CMP%59.6YDs3641TD12INT17YD/Att6.05 The final leg of the AFC South tour will see the Cowboys leave Dallas to head over to North Florida, taking on the Jaguars in favorable December weather typical to Florida. With winter weather unlikely to play a factor, it'll be all about who is the better team, and that nod goes to the Cowboys. Well, that's the first part of the equation. The second part is you're the better team, because the familiarity Doug Pedersen has with battling the Cowboys will surely be weaponized when he faces them again for the first time since being fired as Eagles head coach following the 2020 season.Can Pedersen take Lawrence to the next level in ways Urban Meyer could only dream of? It's safe to say the answer there is a resounding "yes", but it probably won't be as early as 2022 when you see the former first-overall pick have a breakout season. Much like the plan for Justin Fields, the name of the game needs to be bullying the young QB into making far more errors than good plays.In doing so, the worry of having to keep a cap on -- the veteran wideout signing a big-money deal to join the Jaguars in free agency after his unceremonious exit from the Cardinals -- and the speedy will be significantly reduced on a snap-to-snap basis. There's a different air in Jacksonville at the moment, but an organization that's been one of the more dysfunctional in the league as of late needs to prove they have their act together; and they can start as early as 2022. Just not in a game against a Cowboys team that, at this point in the season, is likely jockeying for playoff position (a suming they've handled enough busine s to this point to again be toward the top of the NFC).Prediction: 34-20, CowboysDate:Thursday, Dec. 29Location: Ni san Stadium (Nashville, TN)Time: 8:15 p.m. ET2021 record: 12-5Series record: Cowboys lead 8-7 TEN QB #17 CMP%67.2YDs3734TD21INT14YD/Att7.03 After defeating the Eagles in Week 16 to split the series in 2022, the Cowboys are now on a five-game win streak heading into Week 17, and they'll head to another Southern City that has the po sibility of escaping wintry weather in December. They'll enter it on a short week, though, because they played the Eagles on Christmas Eve, leaving them only two days of practice and a travel day before suiting up to take on the monster that is running back . Without A.J. Brown to contend with, there's some good vibes to throw toward a capable Cowboys secondary, particularly when noting how poorly played even when Brown was in uniform.Henry is still Henry, though, and is now in the building to combine with rookie wideout as the plan to replace an unproductive Julio Jones and a wildly productive Brown.Defensively, you can bet Mike Vrabel will have his team ready to step up on the "Thursday Night Football" stage to take on "America's Team" under the bright lights of prime-time TV and at home, no le s. The Titans finished last season with the best record in the AFC, and seem to always find ways to make life difficult for visitors. If this game was in Dallas, the Cowboys would have the edge, but it isn't, and Ni san Stadium will be literally shaking from Kenyon Green Jersey the crowd as they cheer the Titans on to a narrow win over the Cowboys -- who see their late-season five-game win streak stopped due to a late game turnover or controversial call/no-call.Prediction: 21-20, TitansLanding at 12-5 for a second consecutive season would be impre sive (and it's doable) and put the Cowboys in position to achieve the rare feat of delivering a repeat champion in the NFC East and again put them in the race for the top seed in the NFC. But feel free to flip one of the wins to a lo s, because football, and 11-6 could still achieve those two goals (and I honestly landed there a few times before landing on my current final record prediction).I'll stick with the 12-5 projection, though, because while they've taken a step back roster-wise to maybe 10 or 11 wins, the schedule rebalances the scale with plenty of party favors for the Cowboys. Overall, I see them doing better at protecting home field in 2022, but the offset is they take a step back in how dominant they've been on the road and, as such, break even in their travels. My prediction has them finishing one game worse in the NFC than last year, and one game worse in the division, but they make up for it elsewhere -- thanks to the AFC South.Call me crazy with this overall prediction, and you will, but, hey,. But remind me, please, what was their final regular season record in 2021?Now let's play some football.Cowboys 2022 record: 12-5Conference record: 9-3Non-conference record: 3-2Division record: 5-1Home record: 8-1Away record: 4-4