NFL schedules are out for the 2020 season and it's always exciting to watch how things look for your favorite team. Here at Inside The Star, we cover your Dallas Cowboys every day, but this time we'll take quick look at each of the rivals in the team's schedule.
Let's get to know where they stand ahead of the 2020 NFL season.
Week 1: @ Los Angeles Rams – Sunday Night Football
Brandin Cooks, Todd Gurley, Eric Weddle, and Clay Matthews are out. It's hard to know where the Rams stand in 2020. There are issues on their offensive line, including the fact that Andrew Whitworth will hit 39 in December.
For the Rams, it's likely all about the quarterback. Can Jared Goff bounce back from a somewhat disappointing 2019 campaign? Even more interesting, can Sean McVay's coaching staff bounce back before we start questioning its future?
Week 2: VS Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons defense was terrible in 2019 and should bounce back in 2020 with a few key additions the team has made in the offseason. But can Matt Ryan's offense keep up with Drew Brees' Saints and Tom Brady's Bucs?
For the Falcons, the problem seems to be depth. Deion Jones is a good linebacker, Keanu Neal a good safety. But can they stay healthy? Their offensive line is a promising unit, and it'll be interesting to see how Todd Gurley does behind it.
Week 3: @ Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are always in contention thanks to one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Russell Wilson. But have they done enough upfront to protect him? And is Pete Carroll finally going to be more aggressive on offense? I'm excited to watch D.K. Metcalf's sophomore season after he caught 58 passes for 900 yards.
One other question regarding the Seahawks comes in the pass rush department. Are they bringing Jadeveon Clowney back? Last year, they were terrible getting to the opposing quarterback. If they want to have a shot at the division, this needs to improve.
Week 4: VS Cleveland Browns
I know, I know. Every year it seems like we say “the Browns will be back this season.” I don't believe they'll be real contenders, but don't expect them to be an easy win. Head Coach Freddie Kitchens is gone and Kevin Stefanski has to be better than him at the helm.
An underrated factor in the Browns 2019 6-10 season was their poor offensive line. Quarterback Baker Mayfield will likely have a better offensive line unit after signing Jack Conklin and drafting Jedrick Wills. With strong offensive weapons, I'd watch out for Cleveland as a tough opponent.
Week 5: VS New York Giants
The Giants offense features Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Both will benefit from the team investing in the offensive line, including the fourth overall pick Andrew Thomas. Their roster still has plenty of holes, but the Giants seem to be taking steps in the right direction.
Forget about them being contenders, but look for them doing better than last year. And don't forget, Jason Garrett is their new offensive coordinator, so that'll spice up the division.
Week 6: VS Arizona Cardinals – Monday Night Football
I'm so excited about this one. If you consider the Cardinals' second-round pick essentially was WR DeAndre Hopkins, then Arizona had one of the best drafts of the year. They added versatile defensive player Isaiah Simmons in the first round and took a tackle for Kyler Murray.
I can't wait to see what Kliff Kingsbury has in store for us in his second season in the NFL. It should be exciting. Plus, Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald on the same offense? Yes, please.
Week 7: @ Washington Redskins
Ron Rivera takes the reigns for a talent that has quite a few very talented players. Washington continued to build on a strong defensive line by adding Ohio State's Chase Young, who's NFL ready and will make an immediate impact on Sundays. It won't be fun facing their defensive front twice in 2020.
But what about Dwayne Haskins? Will he be better? For the Redskins, it seems to be all about their young quarterback.
Week 8: VS Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday Night Football
The jury is still out on how the Eagles handled their offseason. Was Jalen Reagor the right pick in the first round when Justin Jefferson was still on the board? We'll see. Did they do enough to help Carson Wentz?
Quietly, the Eagles might be going through a bit of a transition process. While they are still talented and have a good coaching staff, they will need someone to step up on offense to help out Wentz.
Week 9: VS Pittsburgh Steelers
You know you're thinking about that unforgettable 2016 showdown between the Steelers and Cowboys. How can you not? What a game.
The Steelers are coming off a disappointing season in which they went through a QB carousel that wasn't very successful replacing Ben Roethlisberger. But Big Ben is back, and the Steelers should be a serious contender in 2020.
Their defense is legit, featuring Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety and T.J. Watt at outside linebacker. Besides Roethlisberger coming back, adding WR Chase Claypool in the Draft should help JuJu Smith-Schuster bounce back from a 552-yard season.
Week 10: BYE
Get healthy, ‘boys.
Week 11: @ Minnesota Vikings
I've been saying the Vikings will win their division for the past two seasons. I believe I'm sticking to my story in 2020. They lost CB Trae Waynes but added rookie Jeff Gladney to fill his place. They lost Stefon Diggs but added rookie WR Justin Jefferson to make up for it.
With a better offensive line, I'm betting Kirk Cousins can take the next step. Last time the Cowboys played Minnesota, we saw one hell of a game from Dak Prescott. Will these two quarterbacks go at it for four quarters this year?
Week 12: VS Washington Redskins – Thanksgiving Day
See week 7.
Week 13: @ Baltimore Ravens – Thursday Night Football
The Ravens didn't go through any major changes since last season. They will once again be contenders after Lamar Jackson's impressive MVP season. The question in the mind of many of us is if the Ravens' scheme will endure the test of time. I believe it will, but their division will be a bit more complicated than it was in 2019.
Patrick Queen was a huge steal for the Ravens in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft as he'll fill an important need for an already talented defense.
Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow. By the time the Bengals face the Cowboys, one of the most promising number one picks in recent history will already have a bit of experience in the NFL. Cincinnati still has a long way to go, but you never know how much of an impact a rookie quarterback can make.
Week 15: VS San Francisco 49ers – Sunday Night Football
Joe Staley will be missed in San Francisco, but bringing in Trent Williams was an absolute steal by John Lynch. Williams is one of the best players in the NFL. Jimmy Garoppolo not only gets a top-tier left tackle but a first-round wide receiver in Brandon Aiyuk.
Don't expect the 49ers to go anywhere. They'll be back after appearing in the Super Bowl last season.
Week 16: VS Philadelphia Eagles
See week 5.
Week 17: @ New York Giants
See week 8.
