The NFL continues to keep us interested in what’s going on with professional football. Just two weeks after the NFL Draft, we got the 2020 schedule released this evening to continue to tide us over.
Roger Goodell has even outlined instructions for teams to open their facilities as early as next week, which is good news for the possibility of an NFL Season in 2020.
For now, let’s take a look at the Dallas Cowboys 2020 schedule and all the fun that could be had this season.
Preseason
Hall of Fame Game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers in Canton Ohio
Week 1 at Los Angeles Chargers (TBD)
Week 2 vs. the Baltimore Ravens (TBD)
Week 3 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs (TBD)
Week 4 at the Houston Texans (TBD)
Regular Season
Week 1 at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football
The Dallas Cowboys get an early opportunity against one of the better teams in the NFC to make a statement. The last time the Cowboys faced the Rams, they lost 30-22 in a game that looked entirely out of hand in the first half before Dak Prescott and the offense battled back to make it close.
Last season, the Dallas Cowboys decimated the Rams at home 44-21 to keep their playoff hopes alive. In that game, Dak Prescott had a 123.8 passer rating, and Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard both ran for 100 yards.
Week 2 vs. the Atlanta Falcons
With Dak Prescott at quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys are 1-1 against the Atlanta Falcons. In 2017, the Cowboys offensive line allowed Prescott to get beat up to the tune of eight sacks in a lopsided loss.
In 2018, the Cowboys got revenge in a 22-19 victory in the second half of the season that helped propel them to go 7-1 over their last eight games, win the NFC East, and make the playoffs.
Week 3 at the Seattle Seahawks
Week 3 at the Seattle SeahawksThe last time these two met, Dak Prescott was throwing dimes and flipping over defenders en route to his first victory in the playoffs during the 2018 Wild Card round.
In that 24-22 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Prescott threw for a touchdown and ran for one a score, Ezekiel Elliott ran for 137 yards on 26 carries and added four receptions for 32 yards. His 44 yard run at the end of the first half helped led to a Michael Gallup touchdown reception that gave the Dallas Cowboys their first lead of the game heading into halftime.
Week 4 vs. the Cleveland Browns
The last time these two teams played was Dak Prescott’s rookie year when he went 21 of 27 for 247 yards and three touchdowns. His 141.8 passer rating that day is the third-highest of his career to date.
The Dallas Cowboys will get their first opportunity to see Cleveland Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield, but they’ll face off against a familiar foe in Wide Receiver Odell Beckham, Jr.
Week 5 vs. the New York Giants
Week 5 will mark the return of former head coach Jason Garrett to AT&T Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys have won six straight against the Giants over the last three seasons.
Week 6 vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football
This should be an entertaining matchup between two of the better offenses in the NFL led by Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury and Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore are two of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL.
It should make for a really fun Monday Night Football game.
Week 7 at the Washington Redskins
This will be the Dallas Cowboys’ first opportunity to get an in-person look at the 2020 second overall pick Chase Young. Their defensive line was already one of the best in the NFL, and then they added arguably the best player in the draft in Young.
Week 8 at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football
The Dallas Cowboys return to the site of where their 2019 playoff hopes were dashed in a disappointing week 16 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia.
The offense struggled that day as Dak Prescott played with a hurt throwing shoulder, and the defense struggled to slow down Carson Wentz and a bunch of no-name receivers.
As all divisional games are, this will be a pivotal midseason matchup that will set the stage for an exciting second half of the season between the two favorites for the NFC East.
Week 9 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers
The 2016 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a bit of a coming-out party for Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. Though the Cowboys had won seven in a row leading up to their big matchup in Pittsburgh, there were still questions.
Well, Prescott and Elliott answered those questions that Sunday afternoon, going toe-to-toe with Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown and coming out on top with a 35-30 victory.
Prescott threw for 319 yards, and two touchdowns and Elliott ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.
Most of the faces have changed, but the Steelers will still be a test for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys.
Week 10 Bye
This is the latest the Dallas Cowboys have had a bye week since 2014 when they got their rest week in week 11 of the season. They were 7-3 heading into the bye that year and then came out and went 5-1 to finish the season.
Week 11 at the Minnesota Vikings
The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott have had mixed results against the Minnesota Vikings. They’ve given Prescott trouble even though he’s recorded a passer rating above 100 in both meetings. The Cowboys are 1-1 against the Vikings with Prescott at quarterback, including last year’s disappointing loss where Dalvin Cook had a field day running and catching the ball.
Week 12 vs. the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving Day
After just a few days to prepare, the Dallas Cowboys get the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving Day. Since 2016, the Cowboys are 7-1 against Washington and 2-0 against the Redskins on Thanksgiving Day.
Week 13 at the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football
Like the week six matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, this should be an enjoyable game to watch as the Dallas Cowboys will get their first dose of Lamar Jackson at the NFL level. While fun, it’s going to be a tough game for the Cowboys.
Week 14 at the Cincinnati Bengals
The Dallas Cowboys will get their first look at the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Joe Burrow.
Week 15 vs. the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football
The Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers will renew the rivalry that was one of the best in the 1990s in this pivotal late-season NFC matchup. The 49ers were the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl and had Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on the ropes before Mahomes. The running game orchestrated an impressive comeback.
Week 16 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles
Late season matchups with the Philadelphia Eagles always seem to carry a ton of importance, and this one will too. Last season the Eagles clinched the NFC East in week 16. In 2018, the Cowboys all but clinched the NFC East by sweeping the Eagles in the second half of the season.
The two teams have alternated the division title each of the last four seasons since Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz came into the NFL. Whoever wins this game will likely be the NFC East champion for 2020.
Week 17 at the New York Giants
The Dallas Cowboys will face the New York Giants in the final week of the season. Could it be a chance for Jason Garrett to play the spoiler?
Notes
Per Gil Brandt, based on 2019 records, the Dallas Cowboys have the easiest strength of schedule for 2020. Because it’s based on 2019 records, a lot of things will look different. The Bengals have Joe Burrow now. The Giants have a new coaching staff. Ben Roethlisberger is healthy. Just because the schedule looks “easy” now means nothing once they start playing games.
In 2016, the Dallas Cowboys went 4-0 against the AFC North and 4-3 against the NFC West, the two divisions the Cowboys will face in 2020.
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Which game are you most excited to see? How do you think the Dallas Cowboys will fare against this schedule?
