The Cowboys are always an entertaining team due to the rollercoaster-like excitement delivered on the field each week and the reactions by Jerry Jones in the owner’s box. He was very excited after his team’s impressive comeback victory in Week 2 of the 2020 season.
After dropping Week 1’s primetime loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Cowboys made an improbable comeback to even their record at 1-1. The Atlanta Falcons scored the first 20 points of the game and led by 15 points midway through the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys battled back and won, 40-39.
Dallas has had two very close games, and if the Cowboys had not completed the unbelievable comeback, new head coach Mike McCarthy might have started to worry about his job. Although former head coach Jason Garrett coached Dallas for ten seasons, his seat was consistently hot throughout his final years with the Cowboys. Garrett led the team to the playoffs three times but had just two postseason victories.
The Cowboys last made the playoffs in 2018, and they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round before losing to the eventual NFC Champion Rams. McCarthy, who last coached in 2018, was a long-time coach with the Green Bay Packers. He brings playoff experience to Dallas after sporting a 10-8 career postseason record along with a Super Bowl XLV championship ring.
Read Also: Philadelphia Eagles Predictions and Odds
2020 Cowboys Draft Picks
CeeDee Lamb, WR (Oklahoma)
Trevon Diggs, CB (Alabama)
Neville Gallimore, DT (Oklahoma)
Reggie Robinson II, CB (Tulsa)
Tyler Biadasz, C (Wisconsin)
Bradlee Anae, DE (Utah)
Ben DiNucci, QB (James Madison)
Notable Other New Faces for the Cowboys
Andy Dalton, QB
Blake Bell, TE
Dontari Poe, DT
Everson Griffen, DE
Maurice Canady, CB
Daryl Worley, CB
Brandon Carr, S
Greg Zuerlein, K
Notable Cowboys in New Places
Cooper Rush, QB – New York Giants
Randall Cobb, WR – Houston Texans
Devin Smith, WR – released
Jason Witten, TE – Las Vegas Raiders
Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG – Cincinnati Bengals
Maliek Collins, DT – Las Vegas Raiders
Daniel Ross, DT – Las Vegas Raiders
Kerry Hyder, DE – San Francisco 49ers
Joe Jackson, DE – Cleveland Browns
Christian Covington, DT – Cincinnati Bengals
Byron Jones, CB – Miami Dolphins
Kevon Frazier, S – Miami Dolphins
Jeff Heath, S – Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jones, S – Jacksonville Jaguars
Brett Maher, K – Washington Football Team
Notable Cowboys on the Injury Report
Ventell Bryant, WR – placed on injured reserve; expected to return for Week 4
Blake Jarwin, TE – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; he is out for the season
Tyron Smith, OT – questionable for Week 3 with a neck injury after missing Week 2
La’el Collins, OT – placed on injured reserve with a hip injury; expected to return for Week 7
Cameron Erving, OT – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; expected to return for Week 7
Mitch Hyatt, OT – placed on injured reserve with a knee injury
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE – questionable for Week 3 with a knee injury
Azur Kamara, LB – placed on injured reserve for an undisclosed reason
Sean Lee, LB – placed on injured reserve with a groin injury; expected to return for Week 8
Leighton Vander Esch, LB – placed on injured reserve with a collarbone injury; expected to return for Week 8
Chidobe Awuzie, CB – questionable for Week 3 with a hamstring injury; left Week 2 early
Anthony Brown, CB – placed on injured reserve with a rib injury; expected to return for Week 5
Cowboys Who Have Opted Out of 2020 NFL Season
Cole Wick, TE
Jason Vander Laan, TE
Cowboys Offense Predictions
The Cowboys have played a mere two games, and they already have nine players on injured reserve, including four offensive players. Dallas was without starting offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La’el Collins in Week 2. It is possible that the changes on the offensive line hampered QB Dak Prescott and the Dallas offensive attack early in the game. In the first quarter, three of the Cowboys’ drives ended in a fumble: one each by Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, and TE Dalton Schultz. However, Dallas did not turn the ball over in any of the final three quarters.
The Cowboys scored on seven of their last eight drives of the game. There was just one Dallas punt in the contest, and the game produced the most points (79) of any game in the first two weeks of the 2020 season. Of course, the over won by a large margin for bettors in this contest (the over/under was 53), but the Cowboys did not cover the three-point spread in the close home victory. Prescott threw for 450 yards and scored four touchdowns, including three on the ground.
The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has yet to throw an interception in 2020. Prescott, a fourth-round selection in the 2016 draft, is setting his sights on a career year. In 2019, his 30 passing touchdowns ranked fourth in the league, as the offensive line worked its magic for him last year. He was sacked on just 3.7 percent on passing plays, which also was the NFL’s fourth-best mark. With injuries affecting Prescott’s offensive line, the Cowboys hope that backup offensive tackles Alex Light and Terence Steele can help continue to keep the sack numbers down after they allowed just one in Week 2.
Cowboys Running Backs: Ezekiel Elliott Could See the Ball for 300 Times for the Third Consecutive Season
Heading into Week 3, Ezekiel Elliott has multiple touchdowns in four of his last six games, dating back to last season. In just four seasons in the league, he has made three Pro Bowls and led the league in rushing yards per game three times.
Elliott did not reach the century mark in rushing yards in either of the first two games of the season, but he does have a combined 249 yards from scrimmage in 2020. Elliott will continue to dominate as a featured member of the Dallas offense this season.
Cowboys Wide Receivers: Will CeeDee Lamb Finish the 2020 Season as the No. 2 Receiver in Front of Michael Gallup?
The Cowboys have an awe-inspiring group of receivers. The majority of Prescott passes will be headed to sixth-year veteran Amari Cooper, third-year receiver Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys selected Lamb with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Prescott targeted Cooper the most early in the season, with Lamb taking over the No. 2 receiver role from Gallup. Although none of the three scored a touchdown in the first two weeks of the season, they will be sure to get plenty of red-zone targets as the season continues.
Cowboys Tight Ends: In Blake Jarwin’s Absence, Dalton Schultz Can Play a Large Role in the Dallas Offense This Season
With future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten now in Las Vegas, Blake Jarwin took over the top spot in the depth chart. Unfortunately for Jarwin, his fourth year in the league was a short one. He is out for the rest of the 2020 season after tearing his ACL. However, third-year tight end Dalton Schultz can fit well in the offense.
In Week 2, he brought in nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Although he fumbled in victory, Schultz could be seeing a bunch of targets this season. He had just 19 targets and 13 receptions combined in his first two seasons in the league, but Schultz can be an important target for Prescott in 2020.
Read Also: New York Giants Predictions and Odds
Cowboys Defense Predictions
The injures are aplenty for the Cowboys defense, as multiple linebackers and cornerbacks have been affected. CB Chidobe Awuzie left Week 2 early with a hamstring injury, and he owns the only interception by a Cowboy this season. Dallas hopes he can play in Week 3 against the vaunted Seattle Seahawks, who have scored 38 and 35 points in their first two season games.
Aldon Smith, who played for the first time since November 15, 2015, had a strong Week 1. He sacked Rams QB Jared Goff once and hit him twice as a part of his 11-tackle night. Speaking of players returning from suspension, DE Randy Gregory should return later in the season after completing a six-week acclimation period to begin the 2020 season. He can start practicing on October 5. The 2015 second-round pick can help an injury-riddled Cowboys defense.
In the meantime, LB Jaylon Smith will continue to be everywhere for Dallas. He finished second in tackles on the team in 2018 before being the tackle leader on the Cowboys last season. Smith’s 2019 was his first Pro Bowl year, and Cowboys fans hope it is the first of many. In 2018, Smith played 95 percent of defensive snaps.
He then played 92 percent of snaps last year. Smith played every snap in the first two weeks of 2020, and he also jumped on 14 special teams snaps. In his career, Smith has three fumble recoveries, one interception, and one touchdown. He will hope to increase those numbers this season as well.
Read Also: Washington Football Team Predictions and Odds
Cowboys Special Teams Predictions
In his first year with the Cowboys, K Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein is already making a name for himself. After spending eight years with the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams, he is stepping up to a bigger stage as the kicker of the most popular team in the NFL. The 2017 Pro Bowler looks to add to his resume in Dallas.
In Week 2, Zuerlein was significant in the Cowboys’ comeback win. His unorthodox onside kick, dubbed the “Watermelon Kick,” led to a recovery by Dallas. After a quick 26-yard drive by the Cowboys, Zuerlein knocked in a 46-yard field goal to win the game. The made field goal was his fourth of the day, and he made both of his extra points in the tremendous win at AT&T Stadium.
Cowboys Head Coach Predictions
Mike McCarthy is in a fascinating situation in 2020. The Cowboys are often the team with the most pressure on them due to having a lot of national media attention and having an abundant fan base. Dallas has only one losing season since 2011 but has made the playoffs just three times in that span. The Cowboys last won the Super Bowl 25 years ago, and it was their third championship in four years. While those are lofty goals, most think that Jerry Jones expects the Cowboys to finish atop the division in 2020 and win multiple playoff games.
Cowboys Predictions for Week 3
The first three weeks of the 2020 season are not easy for the 1-1 Cowboys, as all three games are against difficult teams outside of the NFC East. Dallas next heads to CenturyLink Field in Seattle, where the 2-0 Seahawks opened as 3.5-point favorites for the Week 3 contest. The line has increased by more than a point across the board, as the Cowboys have a tough test in front of them.
Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson will be a fantastic matchup to watch in the featured Sunday afternoon game. The over/under for most books is 55.5 points, as Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb take on RB Chris Carson, WR DK Metcalf, and WR Tyler Lockett. The amount of offensive firepower in this contest is arguably the best in the NFC. If this turns out to be the NFC Championship Game matchup, then most NFL fans will be excited.
The Cowboys are a strong bet in this contest, especially with the line moving toward five points. As evidenced by Week 2’s comeback victory, Prescott can produce passing yards as well as any quarterback in the league. With his ability to rush the ball into the end zone, he makes it difficult for opposing defenses in the red zone. If Seattle wins this game, the Cowboys should be able to keep the contest within four points.
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Cowboys Predictions for 2020 Season
In 2019, the Cowboys went 9-7 against the spread, and their 2020 strength of schedule is the third-easiest in the league. If the rest of the NFC East struggles throughout most of the season, Dallas could have smooth sailing into a playoff spot. The Cowboys have a lot of potential this season, as they are searching for their first NFC Championship appearance since their Super Bowl XXX championship season.
Prescott and Elliott have been the leading passer and rusher, respectively, for each of the previous four seasons. Cooper was the top receiver in 2018 and 2019. Barring any injuries, these three potential 2020 Pro Bowlers should be reprising their roles again this season. The Cowboys have the potential to explode on offense every week, and since they are in a weak division, double-digit wins are a strong bet.
The 2020 over/under for the Cowboys is unsurprisingly 10 wins, so a 6-0 or 5-1 record against divisional opponents should be needed this season. The NFC West expects to be the best division in the league, so Dallas bettors will have to take the good (six games against the NFC East) with the bad (four contests against the NFC West). The Cowboys’ +1700 Super Bowl futures odds are the fourth-highest in the NFC. Since they have a decent chance at the No. 1 overall seed, and a bye week, taking the Cowboys may be a good choice.
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