The Dallas Cowboys won their third straight game on Sunday when they beat the San Francisco 49ers. They are now 3-1 on the season. Cowboys fans are telling themselves and everyone around them that only good things can come from here on out. Those Cowboys fans probably didn’t check the schedule the rest of the way.
Enjoy 3-1 For Now, Dallas Cowboys Fans
The Cowboys have one of, if not the roughest schedule heading forward in 2016. The Cincinnati Bengals come to AT&T Stadium in Week Five. While the Bengals have struggled much more than the Cowboys have, wide receiver A.J. Green has not struggled at all. He is clearly the leader on this team, as he has 468 receiving yards through four games.
That performance includes 180 receiving yards Week One against the New York Jets and 173 yards in Week Four against the Miami Dolphins. If the Cowboys can’t stop him, they’ll have a hard time winning against the Bengals.
After the Bengals game, they have to travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys have not won at Lambeau since 2008 and were blown out last season. Going up against Aaron Rodgers and this Packers offense is a huge challenge for Dallas.
Say Bye-Bye Before the Bye Week
After a Week Seven bye week, the Cowboys will host their NFC East rival in the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football on October 30th. The Eagles are off to a hot start in 2016. They are currently 3-0 and are on their bye week to fix whatever bugs they have, if any. Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz has impressed everyone so far. If he continues to play like he has, the Cowboys defense will struggle.
After a game in Cleveland in Week Nine, the Cowboys head to the steel city to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. While quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t have wide receiver Martavis Bryant to throw to, but he still does have Antonio Brown and several other great receivers.
Not only that, but the Steelers have a great running back duo in Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. The Cowboys defensive line hasn’t done well against the run in recent memory. There is possibly too much for the Cowboys to be able to overcome in Pittsburgh.
Dallas plays their third consecutive AFC North rival in the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. The Ravens are currently off to a hot 3-1 start. If, like the Eagles, they can keep it up, the Cowboys will have struggles handling players such as Steve Smith Sr.
Over the final six weeks, the Cowboys play five teams that they could easily struggle against. Those teams include the Washington Redskins, the New York Giants, and the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys beat the Redskins in a Week Two thanks to a strong defense. Washington will plan accordingly to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes they did in their first meeting. The Giants have a team full of star wide receivers that the Cowboys couldn’t stop Week One.
The Vikings defense is arguably the best in the NFL. If they can sack former MVP Cam Newton eight times, imagine what they could do against Dak Prescott or even worse, an injured Tony Romo.
Another team that the Cowboys face that could pose as a challenge is the Detroit Lions. The Lions are currently 1-3, but have not played like their record shows. Not only that, but the Cowboys have had much trouble against the Lions in their last three meetings.
Dallas gave up a 27-3 lead in a loss to Detroit in 2011. They gave up 61 yards in two plays, including the game winning touchdown in 2013. The team even fell behind 10-0 against them in the 2014 NFC Wild Card. The Cowboys finish their season in Philadelphia against the Eagles.
Cowboys fans are very excited with the team being 3-1, but they shouldn’t be because the rest of the season isn’t looking too good.
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