DALLAS COWBOYS
The Dallas
Cowboys will hope to keep their even-year playoff streak alive
in 2018. They made the playoffs in 2014 and 2016, when expectations were not
very high, and will not be considered one of the top contenders as they begin
2018. Is it in the cards to get back to the postseason?
Week 1: Sunday, Sept.
9, at Carolina
Panthers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Thankfully the Cowboys do not
have to see the New York
Giants in the season opener, but they will have to be ready
for Cam Newton and
a Panthers offense led by former Cowboys coordinator Norv Turner. Perhaps
that's a good thing for the Cowboys defense to have Newton and Turner still
feeling each other out. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept.
16, vs. New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. ET
Will Dez Bryant be
on the other sideline? That would certainly add to the drama, but the Cowboys
have found a way to bottle up Eli Manning even
if they are just 2-2 against him the past two seasons. The Cowboys' young
secondary makes some plays and the Cowboys get the big NFC East win, Dez or no
Dez. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sunday, Sept.
23, at Seattle
Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seahawks are going through a
transition. No Richard
Sherman. No Michael
Bennett. Kam
Chancellor is a question. The Cowboys have Seattle's old
coordinator, Kris Richard, and maybe they pull off a trade for Earl Thomas in
the draft. Still, the last time they went to Seattle in September, they were
hammered. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Sept.
30, vs. Detroit Lions,
1 p.m. ET
The Lions have a new coach in
Matt Patricia with his trusty No. 2 pencil tucked behind his ear. More
importantly, they will have Highland Park native Matthew
Stafford chucking the ball all over the yard. This feels like a
game in which Ezekiel
Elliott breaks out. Record: 3-1
Week 5: Sunday, Oct.
7, at Houston
Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
Is this where Bryant signs? Deshaun
Watson was setting the league on fire last season before he was
injured. J.J. Watt will be back from injury. Bryant would be a
good addition to this offense with his big-play ability. Stopping Watson will
be more of the issue. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct.
14, vs. Jacksonville
Jaguars, 4:25 p.m. ET
The last time the Jaguars visited
AT&T Stadium in 2010, David Garrard had a near-perfect passer rating of
157.8 as the Jaguars blew out the Cowboys. That was Wade Phillips' final home
game as head coach. The Jaguars will be a chic pick to be an AFC champion based
off what they did last season, but the Cowboys will answer the bell to stay above
.500. Record 4-2
Week 7: Oct. 21
at Washington
Redskins. 4:25 p.m. ET
The Cowboys have won five
straight games at FedEx Field. Kirk Cousins is
gone, replaced by Alex Smith.
He doesn't have the weapons he had with the Kansas City
Chiefs. The Cowboys make it six in a row at FedEx Field. Record:
5-2
Week 8: Bye.
Week 9: Nov. 5,
vs. Tennessee
Titans, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Titans made the playoffs last
season but fired their coach anyway and hired Mike Vrabel. They have some
quality pieces on both sides of the ball, including mobile quarterback Marcus
Mariota. They will rely on running back Derrick Henry now
that they have moved on from former Cowboy DeMarco
Murray, but that won't slow down the Cowboys. Record 6-2
Week 10: Nov. 11,
at Philadelphia
Eagles, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Cowboys have found Lincoln
Financial Field to their liking in recent years, including that thrilling 6-0
defeat of the Eagles to close last season that guaranteed the Cowboys
back-to-back winning records for the first time since 2007-09. Of course, that
meant nothing and cost the Cowboys draft positioning. Oh, Carson Wentz will
be healthy and the Eagles will be able to slow down the Cowboys. Record:
6-3
Week 11: Nov. 18,
at Atlanta
Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
The low point of last season was
the debacle at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Dak Prescott was
sacked eight times. Adrian
Clayborn had six sacks and should have sent part of his signing
bonus as a free agent to the Cowboys as an appreciation. This time Tyron Smith is
healthy. This time the Cowboys leave with a win. Record: 7-3
Week 12: Nov. 22, vs.
Washington Redskins, 4:30 p.m. ET
Is Dez Bryant on this team? The
Cowboys have lost four of their past six games on Thanksgiving. So much for the
home-field advantage. Let's give the Redskins the W here as Daniel Snyder's
team spoils Jerry Jones' holiday. Record: 7-4
Week 13: Nov. 29,
vs. New Orleans
Saints, 8:20 p.m. ET
This is the third straight year
the Cowboys will have played back-to-back Thursday games, so the NFL likes the
idea. Saints coach Sean Payton will like it too. So will Drew Brees.
Is Bryant on this team? The Saints have enough firepower to make it work
without Bryant. Record: 7-5
Week 14: Dec. 9, vs.
Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Cowboys will have 10 days to
get ready for Philadelphia, and that is a good thing. They'll need it. Prescott
gets his revenge on Wentz as the Cowboys get a must-win for their playoff
hopes. Record: 8-5
Week 15: Dec. 16,
at Indianapolis
Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Will Andrew Luck still
be Andrew Luck? If so, then this game will be a little more difficult. The last
time the Cowboys played at Lucas Oil Stadium, Lee intercepted a Peyton
Manning pass and returned it for a touchdown in 2010. He'll do the same against
Luck. Record: 9-5
Week 16: Dec. 23,
vs. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
The Buccaneers seem to have
talent but can't seem to put it all together. Will Dirk Koetter still be the
coach? If not, then that means the Bucs' season is in a tailspin. They will put
up a fight, but the Cowboys will get to 10 wins in a pivotal season for Coach
Jason Garrett. Record: 10-5
Week 17: Dec. 30, at
New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
The Cowboys will need a win to
make the playoffs for the third time in five seasons. They have faced this
winner-take-all scenario three other times in the Garrett era and come up
short. They will come up short here, too. Dez Bryant throws up the X for the
game-winning touchdown. Record: 10-6
NEW YORK GIANTS
The New York
Giants don't get any breaks early this season. It will be an
uphill climb back to respectability with their schedule. But hey, at least they
don't open in Dallas for the fourth straight year. They'll save that difficult
prime-time contest for Week 2. Instead they will open against a tough AFC team
with a familiar face coming back to MetLife Stadium.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept.
9, vs. Jacksonville
Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ET
This isn't going to be any old
game for Tom Coughlin and the Jaguars. The former Giants coach returns to stick
it to his former team, which fired him after the 2015 season. This is a tough
spot for the Giants to unveil a new offensive system against the Jaguars' tough
defense. Record: 0-1
Week 2: Sunday, Sept.
16, at Dallas
Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET
This year you have to wait an
extra week for this matchup. The Giants had started their season in Dallas each
of the previous three years. This doesn't bode well playing on the road in
prime time against a quality opponent. Record: 0-2
Week 3: Sunday, Sept.
23, at Houston
Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET
Back to Texas for the second
straight week. This isn't going to be an easy game. Much like the Giants last
season, the Texans were devastated by injury. Quarterback Deshaun
Watson is back. But the Giants manage to confuse the young
quarterback with all the exotic blitzes in new defensive coordinator James
Bettcher's bag. Record: 1-2
Week 4: Sunday, Sept.
30, vs. New Orleans
Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET
Drew Brees and
the Saints are expected to be Super Bowl contenders after an influx of young
talent led to a resurgence last year. They prove to be too much for the
Giants. Record: 1-3
Week 5: Sunday, Oct.
7, at Carolina
Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Dave Gettleman gets a crack at
his former team. Thankfully, this is the year the Giants finally have some kind
of an answer for tight ends thanks to Bettcher's new scheme and improved
linebacker play. The Panthers' Greg Olsen gets
silenced and Carolina doesn't have enough weapons to overcome it. Record: 2-3
Week 6: Thursday,
Oct. 11, vs. Philadelphia
Eagles, 8:20 p.m. ET
The defending Super Bowl champs
make the trip north on a short week. The Eagles have the Giants' number. They
have won seven of the past eight games between these NFC East rivals. It
continues here. Philadelphia's pass-rush continues to give Eli Manning and
the Giants' offensive line fits. Record: 2-4
Week 7: Monday, Oct.
22, at Atlanta
Falcons, 8:15 p.m. ET
Matt Ryan in
the dome is dangerous. He has his way against a questionable Giants
secondary. Record: 2-5
Week 8: Sunday, Oct.
28, vs. Washington
Redskins, 1:00 p.m. ET
Alex Smith struggled
against a porous Giants defense last season. He has trouble again this year with
a new team against an improved unit. Record: 3-5
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Monday, Nov.
12, at San Francisco
49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET
The 49ers should be much improved
this season. This won't be an easy game. It's an L right now. Record: 3-6
Week 11: Sunday, Nov.
18, vs. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
This is where the Giants start to
put it together under new coach Pat Shurmur. It took some time, but that is to
be expected. They beat Jason
Pierre-Paul and a Bucs team that is improved this season. Record: 4-6
Week 12: Sunday, Nov.
25, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 p.m. ET
The first real staple victory of
the Shurmur regime. Something tells me this is the game where the Giants top 30
points for the first time in almost three years. The Eagles were one of the few
teams Manning had success against last year. It happens again. Record: 5-6
Week 13: Sunday, Dec.
2, vs. Chicago Bears,
1:00 p.m. ET
The Bears will be better this
season. But so will the Giants. The home team dominates the young quarterback.
Finally back to .500 with a third straight win. Record: 6-6
Week 14: Sunday, Dec.
9, at Washington Redskins, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Redskins end the streak. They
still have some talent on their roster and will win some games. They'll manage
a split with the Giants in '18. Record: 6-7
Week 15: Sunday, Dec.
16, vs. Tennessee
Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
This is a tight one. The Giants
win it on a last-second field goal, even though we don't know who their kicker
will be yet. Record: 7-7
Week 16: Dec. 22/23,
at Indianapolis
Colts, TBD
This is a chance for the Giants
to snare a road victory. They get it done even if Andrew Luck is
healthy and back in business. Record: 8-7
Note: The
NFL will decide no later than after Week 8 whether the Giants-Colts will be
played on Saturday (Dec. 22) or Sunday (Dec. 23). If the game is played on
Saturday, it will be at either 4:30 p.m. ET or 8:20 p.m. ET on the NFL Network;
if the game is selected for Sunday, it will be 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Week 17: Sunday, Dec.
30, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET
Maybe an outside chance to sneak
into the playoffs. But the better team wins here. That is the Cowboys. They go
into the playoffs on a high by beating their division rival on the road on the
strength of their dominant ground game. Record: 8-8
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
There will be no shortage of
story lines as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia
Eagles set off on their title defense. They'll face most of the
top NFC contenders, including the Minnesota
Vikings in Week 5, and will play a total of seven playoff teams
from a year ago. It all leads to a Week 15 game at the Los Angeles
Rams, as Carson Wentz returns
to the site where his season was cut short looking to exorcise a few demons.
Here's a stab at how the year might play out:
Week 1: Sept. 6
vs. Atlanta
Falcons, 8:20 p.m. ET.
Wentz expects to make his return
from a torn ACL and LCL against the Falcons. Whether that comes to fruition or
not, there should be enough energy inside Lincoln Financial Field on the night
they raise the championship banner to carry the Eagles past last season's
divisional opponent. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sept. 16 at
TB Bucs, 1 p.m. ET
Former Eagles defensive
linemen Vinny Curry and Beau Allen are
now in Tampa. Michael
Bennett and Haloti Ngata were
brought in as their replacements, and will make their presence felt
against Jameis
Winston & Co. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sept. 23
vs. Indianapolis
Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Former offensive coordinator
Frank Reich is now head coach of the Colts. He'll bring Doug Pederson's
aggressive approach to Indy and has inside information on how the Eagles'
offense operates. Then again, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will know what
to expect from Reich as well. Record: 3-0
Week 4: Sept. 30
at Tennessee
Titans, 1 p.m. ET
The post-Super Bowl ride hits its
first bump, as the Mike Vrabel-led Titans prove a worthy opponent. Wentz
vs. Marcus
Mariota should be fun. Record: 3-1
Week 5: Oct. 7 vs.
Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m. ET
Think this game will have some
buzz to it? Philly throttled the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, and the
Minnesota fans in attendance left feeling less than welcomed. A rather unlikely
rivalry has emerged and will be kicked up a notch now that Kirk Cousins,
who gave the Eagles fits during his time in Washington, is under center for the
Vikings. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Oct. 11 at NY
Giants, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Giants should have a better
showing this season following a disastrous 3-13 campaign, but aren't at the
Eagles' level. Record: 4-2
Week 7: Oct. 21
vs. Carolina
Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
The Eagles' win over Carolina
last season was one of the first signs that they might have something special,
as they were able to go on the road on short rest and pull out a Thursday night
win. This time they're at home and will have the benefit of extra rest, which
should lessen the degree of difficulty. Record: 5-2
Week 8: Oct. 28
at Jacksonville
Jaguars, 9:30 a.m. ET
It's the Eagles' turn to go
across the pond. This London games could very well be a heavyweight bout. The
tailgating is going to start bright and early. Record: 5-3
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Nov. 11
vs. Dallas
Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET
This is Season 3 of Wentz
vs. Dak Prescott,
with each QB winning a round so far. Wentz made a convincing case last season
that he deserves top billing in the NFC East, and will further that argument
here. Record: 6-3
Week 11: Nov. 18
at New Orleans
Saints, 1 p.m. ET
Can we talk about how great this
travel schedule is for a second? Nashville, London, L.A., Tampa and New
Orleans? The beat writers have nothing to complain about this year, but we'll
find a way. Record: 7-3
Week 12: Nov. 25 vs.
NY Giants, 1 p.m. ET
The last time these two teams
played at the Linc, Jake Elliott booted a 61-yarder as time expired to lift the
Eagles to a win. It won't be nearly as dramatic this time around. Record: 8-3
Week 13: Dec. 3
vs. Washington
Redskins, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Eagles have a pretty significant
talent advantage over Washington. But divisional games can get weird. Record: 8-4
Week 14: Dec. 9 at
Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET
Dak strikes back. Record: 8-5
Week 15: Dec. 16 at
Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET
Could be the game of the year.
Wentz returns to the Coliseum, where his season ended, to bring the comeback
story full circle. Not a bad setting for Wentz-Goff, Part II. The Rams went a
bit crazy importing big-named talent this offseason in hopes of toppling the
Eagles in the NFC, but Wentz is going to be a motivated soul. Record: 9-5
Week 16: Dec. 23
vs. Houston
Texans, 1 p.m. ET
Here's hoping that Wentz and
Deshaun Watson make it through healthy. It's what's best for football, and
would set up a heck of a matchup late in the year. Record: 10-5
Week 17: Dec. 30 at
Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Washington hasn't treated the
Eagles particularly well in recent years, but they snapped their D.C. losing
streak last season and will notch another "W" with playoff
positioning on the line. Record: 11-5
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The Washington
Redskins haven’t had a bad offseason, just a relatively quiet
one. It’s hard to know how much better they’ll be after going 7-9 in an
injury-filled 2017 season. They’re relying on a good draft, better health and
young players progressing. But their schedule is a difficult one, and if those
factors don’t all happen, it’ll be a tough season.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept.
9, at Arizona
Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
With a new coach (Steve Wilks)
and quarterback (Sam Bradford,
a rookie or Mike Glennon)
in Arizona, there could be growing pains. The Redskins will take advantage,
even though they, too, have a new passer -- but Alex Smith is
not coming off a major knee injury. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept.
16, vs. Indianapolis
Colts, 1 p.m. ET
In the home opener, the big
question will center around the opposing quarterback: Will Andrew Luck even
be playing? The Colts also have a new coach and the Redskins will capitalize
against a defense that ranked 30th in both yards and points last season. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sunday, Sept.
23, vs. Green Bay
Packers, 1 p.m. ET
This will be a crucial game to
solidify a hot start. If the Redskins truly have progressed, they will win this
game. It’s hard to say that at this point and a healthy Aaron Rodgers will
make the difference. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: Monday, Oct.
8, at New Orleans
Saints, 8:15 p.m. ET
This was the site of Washington’s
most crushing loss in 2017, blowing a 15-point lead late. The Redskins have
lost eight of their past nine games on Monday Night Football; reversing that
trend in the Superdome will be difficult. Record: 2-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct.
14, vs. Carolina
Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
The Redskins’ defense has turned
over quite a bit in recent years, but their task will be the same as the
others: stop Cam Newton.
He’s 4-0 with nine touchdowns and no interceptions against Washington. Record: 2-3
Week 7: Sunday, Oct.
21, vs. Dallas
Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET
Dallas has won eight of the past
10 games against Washington, including the past five at FedEx Field. But Smith,
in his first appearance against Washington’s hated rival, will snap that
skid. Record: 3-3
Week 8: Sunday, Oct.
28, at New York
Giants, 1 p.m. ET
This is another one that will
reveal just how much they’ve changed, but we need to know more about the roster
first before giving them a win in this game. One note: Smith has thrown eight
career picks in only four games versus the Giants, tied for his most against
any team. Record: 3-4
Week 9: Sunday, Nov.
4, vs. Atlanta
Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
The Redskins did not have
corner Josh Norman shadow
the opposition’s top receiver, but they might have to alter that strategy
against receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons have a lot of weapons. Record: 3-5
Week 10: Sunday, Nov.
11, at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
Former Redskins receiver DeSean
Jackson didn’t make a big impact with the Bucs last season. The
Redskins missed his speed but hope they’ve replaced some of what he can do with
free agent Paul
Richardson. Record: 4-5
Week 11: Sunday, Nov.
18, vs. Houston
Texans, 1 p.m. ET
The hard part with Houston is
knowing what Deshaun
Watson can do coming off the knee injury and how it’ll impact
his game. Smith is 4-1 against Houston with 10 touchdowns and three
interceptions; his quick decisions and mobility will be a factor in this
one. Record: 5-5
Week 12: Thursday,
Nov. 22, at Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET
The Redskins have won once in
Dallas on Thanksgiving -- Robert Griffin III’s rookie season of 2012. It’s just
not a good place for them to spend a holiday, as they’ve lost seven of eight to
Dallas on that day. Record: 5-6
Week 13: Monday, Dec.
3, at Philadelphia
Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Redskins couldn’t stop Carson Wentz last
season, especially when he got on the move. His legs hurt them in both
meetings, leading to touchdown passes and key third-down scrambles. Record: 5-7
Week 14: Sunday, Dec.
9, vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
The Redskins entered the season
having won three of the past five against the Giants. The Redskins struggled
against this defense under former quarterback Kirk Cousins,
with only 40 points combined in the past three meetings. Record: 6-7
Week 15: Sunday, Dec.
16, at Jacksonville
Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
This schedule makes it hard to
build any momentum, especially late, with so many good teams around every
corner. The Jaguars had the NFL’s second-ranked defense in yards and points
allowed. Record: 6-8
Week 16: TBD (either
Saturday, Dec. 22 or Sunday, Dec. 23), at Tennessee
Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Tennessee made the playoffs, but
part of that stemmed from its schedule, and the Titans remain an enigma. Two
former Redskins could be starting for Tennessee’s defense: linebackers Brian Orakpo and Will Compton. Record: 7-8
Week 17: Sunday, Dec.
30, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
The Redskins really could be
fighting for a playoff spot in this game if young players develop and the draft
provides a boost. All of that is hard to predict, but they will end the season
on a strong note. Record: 8-8
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