The Dallas Cowboys will likely be facing four quarterbacks in the 2023 season that they’ve never had the pleasure of lining up across the field from before.
This is part two of a three part series. To read part one, click here.
Part one discussed five teams on the Cowboys’ schedule, with a possible eight quarterbacks they could face depending on how injuries and the offseason play out.
Part two of this series continues today, analyzing the career record of the opposing quarterbacks of the next four teams on the Cowboys’ 2023 slate.
Los Angeles Chargers
Projected starter: Justin Herbert
W/L record vs DAL: 0-1
Justin Herbert is entering his fourth season in the NFL after being drafted sixth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has had one chance to defeat Dallas, coming up just short at AT&T Stadium early in the 2021 season.
Herbert played exceptionally well in that game for a player making only his 17th career start.
The Oregon product threw for 338 yards with a 75.6% completion rate. He threw for a single touchdown, but made two costly mistakes throwing the football into the hands of the Cowboys’ defense.
Herbert appeared to be on a meteoric rise after making a Pro Bowl in his second season, but his play plateaued in year three.
Dallas will have to be vigilant if they want to keep Herbert winless versus the Cowboys franchise. He has weapons at his disposal, and another year of experience under his belt.
Los Angeles Rams
Projected starter: Matthew Stafford
W/L record vs DAL: 2-4 (0-1 in playoffs)
Matthew Stafford started his career versus the Cowboys by winning his first two games before dropping the next four against his home-state team.
Both of Stafford’s wins versus Dallas came as a member of the Detroit Lions in dramatic fashion.
Playing against the Cowboys for the first time in AT&T Stadium in his third season, the Highland Park product staged a 17 point comeback in front of many friends and family.
Down 20-3 to Tony Romo and the Cowboys at halftime, Stafford used two interceptions returned for touchdown thrown by Romo to his advantage.
With the game now in reach, Stafford threw two second half touchdowns to WR Calvin Johnson. None was bigger than the last one from two yards out to give the Lions the lead for good, and an improbable 34-30 victory.
His second victory came two seasons later. This time on his home turf in Detroit in equally dramatic fashion, jumping over the goal line on a fake spike with 12 seconds left.
The trick play gave the Lions another improbable win over Dallas. This time by the score of 31-30.
Stafford always seems to play well against Dallas. He averages 320 yards passing per game, but has only thrown 6 TDs to go along with 5 INTs.
He will have to overcome some demons to avoid increasing his losing streak to five games.
Philadelphia Eagles
Projected starter: Jalen Hurts
W/L record vs DAL: 1-2
Despite playing three seasons in the NFL, injuries and coach’s decisions have seen Jalen Hurts only start three games versus the Cowboys.
Hurts is 1-2 in those three games, with the one win carrying an asterisk. Eagles fans won’t admit it, but if Dak Prescott weren’t injured for that 26-17 Philadelphia victory, Hurts might be 0-3.
The only thing Hurts has going for him in that argument is that one victory is the most recent game versus Dallas.
He is viewed as an ascending player, and will enter the 2023 season with all benefit of the doubt coming off of a Super Bowl appearance.
Hurts’ numbers against the Cowboys don’t jump off of the screen at you.
Yards per game: 274
Completion rate: 59.3%
Touchdowns: 5
Interceptions: 4
QB rating: 87.1
Those aren’t really numbers to be flexing as hard as Eagles fans flex.
Unfortunately for Cowboys and Eagles fans, the much anticipated first matchup will have to wait until Week 9. Hurts will get his chance to improve to 2-2 vs Dallas or fall to 1-3.
Carolina Panthers
Projected starter: Bryce Young
W/L record vs DAL: 0-0
If this game were scheduled in the first couple of months of the season, the projected starter would likely be veteran and former Cowboy Andy Dalton.
It’s still possible that the Carolina Panthers ease Bryce Young into the NFL by redshirting him for his entire rookie year.
As much as they praised his football knowledge coming out of Alabama, however, that is unlikely.
Should Dalton get the start in Week 11, he has an 0-2 career record versus Dallas.
The final installment of this three part series will be available at a later date.