A QUICK GLANCE AT THE 2011 SCHEDULE

Finishing 3^rd in the NFC East in 2010 will ensure the Cowboys 2011 schedule is certainly statistically somewhat easier than that of 2010. Instead of playing the previous year’s division winners they will be playing the 3^rd place teams in each division. Let’s take a peak at the 2011 schedule and see just how the Cowboys will measure up to the competition.

 

 

 

 

Washington Redskins
Coming off of a very disappointing season, Mike Shannahan is looking to make positive changes at several positions and remove multiple distractions. Who’s the Redskins QB in 2011? No one knows just yet, but the story lines in Washington will truly be intriguing especially if Shannahan continues to fail. The Cowboys split the series with the Redskins. After losing a heart breaker on the last play of the first game of the season, the tone for the 2010 season was set.

 

Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles won the NFC East in 2010. Behind the arm and legs of rejuvenated Michael Vick the Eagles are a top NFC Contender. The Cowboys split the series in 2010 vs. the Eagles but can we really count the week 17 game when the Eagles started there second stringers?

 

New York Giants
The Giants seem to always be a contender in the NFC. They typically start fast and finish slow. 3 seasons in a row the team has collapsed in the second half of the season. The Cowboys split the series with the Giants however the Giants presumably ended the Cowboys season when a blitzing Linebacker came straight through to sack Tony Romo and broke his collarbone ending his season in their first match-up. Let us not forget however, Jason Garrett received his first win as a head coach against this New York football team.

 

 

Arizona Cardinals
If Arizona can find a legitimate Quarterback, this team is talented enough to go places. As we saw with the Carolina Panthers last year, you’ll only go as far as your weakest player takes you. And if your weakest player is a QB, your not going very far.

St. Louis Rams

After coming 1 win short of winning the NFC West under first year QB Sam Bradford, the Rams appear to be ready to make another run in 2011. This team is talented at the QB and RB positions and former Cowboys WR Danny Amendola led the league in 2010 in all-purpose yards.

 

Buffalo finished the season last year at 4-12. But there has been no better 4-12 team in recent memory. This team is poised to make an impact if they can solidify their QB position. Let us be thankful we are playing Buffalo at home and not on the road in December.

 

The Dolphins are another team looking for an identity at the Quarterback spot. The Dolphins have 2 solid running backs and a legitimate receiving corps. Now they just need someone to consistently put it all together. Let us not forget the head coaching debacle that went on just after the Dolphins season ended.

 

Somehow I get the feeling that the Lions are a step away from being contenders. If their young and talented QB can stay healthy they have the tools in place to make things interesting in the NFC North.

 

 

 

Coming off a sub-par season and firing head coach Mike Singletary the 49ers are looking for quick success with new head coach Jim Harbough. In 2010 the 49ers were predicted to be the flavor of the NFC West and some even went as far as predicting a Super Bowl season for the 49ers. It was nearly that pretty as the 49ers fell hard and moved into a different direction after firing head coach Mike Singletary.

 

The Cowboys must visit the turbulent Qwest Field in 2011. Qwest Field is heralded as the loudest stadium in the NFL. I’m not sure who is responsible for measuring crowd noise in the NFL, but the Cowboys always seem to struggle in Seattle.

 

Foxboro, here we come. The Cowboys have not played in Foxboro since 2003 when a Bill Parcell’s led Cowboys team lost 12-0 behind Quincy Carter and a lackluster offense. This is a different Cowboys team but that New England team is pretty much the same. Good defense, smart offense and perfect execution make the New England Patriots a perennial power house in the NFL. Let’s hope this game is early in the year so we can avoid the sub-freezing temperatures and possible snow bowl.

 

The New York Jets are coming off of a stellar season one in which they beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in back-to-back weeks in the playoffs. The Cowboys should be familiar enough with there new stadium considering they play the Giants there each year. Behind young gun QB Sanchez, the Jets look to remain strong in 2011. This game will be somewhat of a family affair as Cowboys new Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan will go head to head with his brother Rex Head, head coach of the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!

 

And last but certainly not least is maybe one of the youngest brightest teams in the NFL. After missing the playoffs in 2010 with a 10-6 record the young Buc’s still have much to prove. Dallas last played in Tampa Bay in the opening week of 2009 when the Cowboys beat down the Buccaneers by a score of 34-21.