Cowboys 2012 Schedule: Smells Like 9-7
In April? A week before the NFL Draft? Before free agency is over?
Yep, only a fool would attempt to dissect, much less predict the Dallas Cowboys' hot-outta-the-oven schedule. No one else around, so I must be that fool.
Taking into consideration last year's results, this year's roster and, of course, the current odds at the Las Vegas MGM Sports Book, away we go …
Sept. 5 at N.Y. Giants (NBC) 7:30 p.m. – No defending Super Bowl champ has lost its opener since 1999. Another debut defeat in Gotham for Dallas. 0-1.
Sept. 16 at Seattle (FOX) 3:05 p.m. – Last time Cowboys were here Tony Romo infamously fumbled a snap. This time he returns as a better quarterback than his opponent, Matt Flynn. 1-1.
Sept. 23 Tampa Bay (FOX) Noon – Bucs have a new coach in Greg Schiano, but the same lousy team Dallas handled last December. 2-1.
Oct. 1 Chicago (ESPN) 7:30 p.m. – If only Marion Barber hadn't retired Dallas might win this game. 2-2.
Oct. 7 BYE
Oct. 14 at Baltimore (FOX) Noon – Joe Flacco ain't one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, but he does have one of its best defenses. 2-3.
Oct. 21 at Carolina (FOX) Noon – Cam Newton is entertaining, but he isn't enough all by himself. NFC South sucks. 3-3.
Oct. 28 N.Y. GIANTS (FOX) 3:15 p.m. – New cornerback Brandon Carr backs up his trash talk, keeps Victor Cruz from salsa dancing on the star. 4-3.
Nov. 4 at Atlanta (NBC) 7:20 p.m. – In a battle of the best quarterbacks to always suck in the playoffs, Romo is better than Matt Ryan. 5-3.
Nov. 11 at Philadelphia (FOX) 3:15 p.m. – Eagles are faster. Eagles are better. 5-4.
Nov. 18 Cleveland (CBS) Noon – Colt McCoy's return to Cowboys Stadium is expectedly ugly. 6-4.
Nov. 22 Washington (FOX) 3:15 p.m. – Robert Griffin III gets a rude, turkey-basted welcome to the rivalry. 7-4.
Dec. 2 Philadelphia (NBC) 7:20 p.m. – See Nov. 11. 7-5.
Dec. 9 at Cincinnati (FOX) Noon – Terence Newman, Bobby Carpenter and Pacman Jones get their revenge on the team that cut them? Afraid so. 7-6.
Dec. 16 Pittsburgh (CBS) 3:15 p.m. – Cowboys beat the Steelers for the first time since '97 in the season's most raucous atmosphere in Arlington. 8-6.
Dec. 23 New Orleans (FOX) Noon – A Bill Parcells return would've been fun. A Drew Brees return won't be. 8-7.
Dec. 30 at Washington (FOX) Noon – Needing a win at frigid, snowy FedEx field, the Cowboys … Oh how the hell should I know? Somehow win. 9-7.
*Predictions subject to change. Guaranteed.
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