The NFL released the schedule for its 104th season back in May. On September 7th, the kick-off game will see defending champions Kansas City facing the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium.
From September 2023 to January 2024, 32 teams will play 17 regular season games spread out over 18 weeks.
The 17th game will bring together teams from different conferences, specifically those that finished in the same position within their division in the past season.
So, how will the Dallas Cowboys fare during the first five weeks?
In what follows, we break down the game-by-game predictions for the team’s 2023-2024 NFL season.
Game-by-game predictions
While it’s impossible to predict exactly how things will unfold between now and January 2024, this September will surely mark an optimistic offseason for the Cowboys.
Under veteran coach Mike McCarthy, the team comes off of back-to-back 12-win seasons. Despite the remarkable achievement, the Cowboys have also been consistent in the past two seasons’ playoffs, losing to the San Francisco 49ers.
Still, the team’s much-improved roster may increase their chances of breaking their Super Bowl drought.
Week 1
Weeks 1 and 10 will see the Cowboys facing off against the New York Giants on September 10th and November 12th respectively. Just as in 2022, the matchups will be highly competitive due to both teams’ recent upgrades.
Quarterback Dak Prescott won his last 10 starts against the Giants while, with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, the Silver and Blue have enough speed to keep their rivals at bay.
We can expect a Cowboy victory in week 1 (24-20) and week 10 (42-24).
Week 2
The NFL’s 2023-24 second season will bring plenty of excitement and speculation, with fans placing their bets on sites like bettingtx.com. It also sees the Cowboys facing the New York Jets on September 17th at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys will face Aaron Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP and a quarterback who led the Packers to a 31-28 overtime victory last year.
With that said, things aren’t looking bright for the Silver and Blue and they may end up falling to the Jets (34-28).
Week 3
Week 3 sees the Cowboys facing off against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 24th.
The Cardinals’ Kyler Murray will likely be absent from the game after tearing his ACL and meniscus last season. Without the star quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys will potentially face 37-year-old Colt McCoy or 2023 fifth-round pick Clayton Tune.
If that’s the case, we can expect a Dallas 41-17 win.
Week 4
In week 4, the Dallas Cowboys will cross paths with the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium on October first.
It’s no secret that 2021 first-round pick quarterback Mac Jones’ has had an up-and-down first two seasons. However, with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien on board, the Pats’ luck may change for the better.
Thanks to young talent like Gonzales, White, and Mapu, the team will likely fare well defensively. Even so, the Cowboys’ firepower may result in a 35-17 victory.
Week 5
After Brock Purdy’s elbow injury, there has been much quarterback uncertainty among the 49ers. However, the team’s cast of playmakers, including Samuels, Aiyuk, Kittle, McCaffrey, and Mitchell makes for one of the NFL’s strongest rosters.
What’s more, the Cowboys have a history of back-to-back playoff dismissals at the hands of the Niners.
Unless the Cowboys’ offensive line can hold up, the team may end up losing (23-21).
To conclude
The start of the NFL’s 2023-2024 is getting closer and closer.
Can the Dallas Cowboys put an end to their Super Bowl drought?
While the initial weeks look promising for the Silver and Blue team, there’s a long road ahead to victory.