Midseason: Do The Cowboys Have 4 More Wins in Them?

If you’re like me, you woke up and still had the Lions debacle on your mind; moreover, you were probably scouring the internet for answers or perhaps clues of some sort of trade news that would get you hopeful again. Unfortunately, there are no answers, and the future just got a bit cloudier than ever. The Cowboys sit atop the NFC East at 4-4 (for now), but just like the previous two seasons, the future is pointing to another 8-8 season at best. There isn’t anything to support the Cowboys will go on any sort of winning streak.

And just like previous years, the Cowboys still control their destiny, but time is running out. Very winnable games against the Chiefs, Broncos, and Lions could bite us down the line. Luckily, the
Cowboys could still get in the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

So with 8 games in the bag, what do we know about the Cowboys?

— We know the Cowboys defense is decimated more than last year, and at the bottom in total defense.
— Miles Austin and DeMarco Murray can’t stay healthy again
— A running attack that scares no one
— Jason Garrett still has time management issues, even as a walk around head coach
— Gavin Escobar in the 2nd round was just stupid, he’s not very good right now
— Travis Frederick in the 1st round turned out to be a hit
— Rod Marinelli was the best hire for the defense
— 2012 draft class is a bust just one year in, Claiborne is not looking worthy of the #6 pick
— DeMarcus Ware has peaked, and on the downside of his career
— Terrance Williams is a bona fide weapon and Austin’s replacement

I think its safe to say the consensus is that the Cowboys will be 8-8 again, but do we even have 4 wins or more in us? Let’s look at the schedule with an honest viewpoint, no homerism:

Minnesota Vikings, 12:00 p.m. (WIN)

@ New Orleans Saints, 7:30 p.m. (SNF) (LOSS)

Bye Week

@ New York Giants, 3:25 p.m. (LOSS)

Oakland Raiders, 3:30 p.m. (Thanksgiving) (WIN)

@ Chicago Bears, 7:40 p.m. (MNF) (LOSS)

Green Bay Packers, 3:25 p.m. (LOSS)

@ Washington Redskins, 12:00 p.m. (LOSS)

Philadelphia Eagles, 12:00 p.m. (WIN)

As of today, I don’t see us making it to 8-8. The Vikings should be a win, they are horrible, if we lose to them, forget this team. The Saints don’t lose at home, and the offense is going to light up the secondary, that’s a loss. The Giants are on a nice little streak and I think they are turning it on, on the road in NY is probably another loss. The Raiders game should be a win, but its definitely one of those trap games like the Vikings. Our offense will struggle against the Bear D, without a running game, we’ll fall into the Bears hands being one dimensional, thats a loss. The Packers are catching on too and finding a way to run and pass the ball, a scary team to play down the stretch. The Redskins will be looking for revenge in December, and here comes Romo’s trademark December floundering. The Eagles should be a win to close out the season.

I see the Cowboys winning (3) more games, and that’s probably not enough. We’ll probably need to steal that Saints game on the road and/or one of our divisional road games. Its going to be tough, real tough. Do you see the Cowboys winning 4 games at the minimum??

In grand scheme of things, teams that have it together don’t cut it this close, and they don’t leave any doubt week-to-week. These Cowboys are on a roller coaster ride, and if we miss the playoffs again, we all throw up at the end of the ride – again…