Cowboys New Schedule: 5 ‘Fear Factors’ to Playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys regular season schedule is out in its entirety, and here are five things you need to know.

The Dallas Cowboys schedule is out in its entirety, as the NFL's reveal of the regular-season slate is giving fans a first-hand look at what is ahead. However, while the excitement of football season is in the air, the wait is not over, as the months ahead will be a big factor in how the Cowboys perform in the season ahead. 

Here are five takeaways from the Cowboys' schedule: 

1- Season Opener in the Big Apple

The Cowboys have swept the New York Giants in the last two season series and will look to be halfway to doing it again as they open the season in East Rutherford. The Cowboys have to feel good about their chances, as the Giants' offseason did see the add of weapons around newly re-signed quarterback Daniel Jones. …. But it’s still all about one thing. Stopping running back Saquon Barkley will again be the key to a Cowboys' season-opening victory.

2- Tough Opening Six 

The first six games leading up to the bye week looks to be the toughest grouping for the Cowboys. Four of those games will come on the road facing the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and the Los Angeles Chargers. 

The Giants and 49ers were playoff teams a year ago, while the Chargers were on the outside looking in. But the home games won't be much easier as they will host Aaron Rodgers the New York Jets and Bill Belichick the New England Patriots. 

These first six games will give fans a good feeling about what this Cowboys team will be like in 2023. … or, - maybe in the case of the nemesis Niners, a bad feeling.

3- AFC Beast?

The Cowboys drew the AFC East as their AFC crossover opponents for the upcoming season, which starts in Week 2 with the Jets and quarterback Rodgers. The Jets and the Patriots play in Dallas early in the season, then later  the Buffalo Bills (Week 15) and Miami Dolphins (Week 16) will happen on the road. 

The Week 4 matchup with the Patriots looks like the most winnable game for the Cowboys out of the four. … With the Jets being a distant second if Rodgers continues to have his way with the Cowboys. 

Which eastern division is the best? We'll find out. 

4- Few Cupcakes

No game in the NFL is truly a "cupcake," unlike at the college level where a powerhouse can schedule a weaker opponent for their out-of-conference beat-down. But do the Cowboys have any games where they should be heavily favored? 

Two of those three games will be on the road, with Week 3 at the Arizona Cardinals being the first. Then right after the bye week, the home game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 should be pretty favorable to the Cowboys as they face a team in a rebuild (albeit one led by local guy Matthew Stafford.)

Lastly, the Week 11 game at the Carolina Panthers should be another case of the Cowboys facing a team in rebuild mode. … depending on how No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young is faring as a rookie QB.

But games in which Dallas is a double-digit favorite? Nope. Not a bunch of those.

5- Week 9 or Week 14 for the NFC East Title?

The NFC East hasn't had a repeat champion since 2004, when the Philadelphia Eagles last did it. Will the streak of having a new division winner continue in 2023? 

If the Cowboys can deny Philadelphia becoming a back-to-back division winner, it will likely come down to their Week 14 matchup in Dallas. The Cowboys did it a season ago in a thrilling 40-34 game but were still unable to keep the Eagles from winning the East.

So maybe it will be largely determined by their Week 9 game in Philadelphia, where if Dallas pulls out the win, it can take an early lead in the race for the division.

But really, the “fearsome five” here is very much the Eagles twin set …  with some Cowboys comfort, knowing that Philadelphia probably feels the same way.

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