Cowboys’ 2010 Division Games Evaluated
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America’s Team opens their 2010 regular season campaign at FedEx Field against division-rival Washington. The Redskins look to bounce back from a poor 4-12 season after adding new coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb. Dallas tortured former Washington quarterback Jason Campbell last year, picking him off twice, sacking him five times, and now allowing a single touchdown pass while defeating the Redskins in both division contests. Washington will indeed improve from last season, but McNabb is no stranger to DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff. Don’t expect Shanahan’s new crew to give Dallas any trouble in either of the teams’ meetings. The Cowboys play the Redskins at home in Week 16.
After four non-division games, the Boys return home in Week 7 to take on the Giants. New York beat Dallas in both meetings last year, scoring at least 31 points in each contest. The Cowboys gave up their only punt return for a touchdown all season in the second meeting, a 79-yarder by Domenik Hixon. The Dallas run defense was solid, not allowing any rushing touchdowns and keeping all Giants running backs under 58 yards each. However, Eli Manning torched the Cowboys secondary for 571 yards and two passing touchdowns in both games combined. With a better pass-covering free safety in Alan Ball, Dallas will not be giving up those kinds of numbers in 2010. The Cowboys might let one slip at the Meadowlands in Week 10, but they will avenge last year’s loss in the debut of Cowboys Stadium at home.
Two of the Dallas’ last four games are against the Eagles. The Cowboys beat their bitter rivals three times last year, the first such occurrence in franchise history. The Birds come to Arlington in Week 14 of 2010, and new Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb is in for a rude introduction to the Dallas defense. Almost every sports analyst in the country expects Kolb to be a top 10 quarterback this year. That may be so, but it will not show against Dallas. Terence Newman will have lockdown duties on DeSean Jackson, a big-time deep threat, but nothing more. Running back LeSean McCoy is an overnight stud, and will be the majority of Philadelphia’s offense against Dallas. McCoy had 115 total yards in the first meeting with Dallas in 2009, but only 42 yards in the latter two games combined. Coach Andy Reid loves to pass, but will be forced to run more often once the Dallas secondary shuts Kolb down. The Boys travel to the City of Brotherly Love in the final game of the regular season, but that contest will not have playoff indications. Even if the Philly Birds somehow beat the Giants, Packers, or Falcons out of a Wild Card spot, Dallas will already have the NFC East locked up by Week 17.
The Cowboys have an excellent opportunity to earn home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs in 2010, paving the road to the Super Bowl in Dallas through…Dallas. Aside from going undefeated, the Cowboys have the chance to record the most historical season in football history. With as many cities that have hosted the big game and the great variety of teams that have played in it, no team has ever played in the Super Bowl in their own stadium. With the Cowboy’s fifth on ESPN’s first preseason power rankings and fourth on NFL.com’s list, the Dallas faithful are not the only ones who believe the Boys have a chance to make history. The Cowboys already own Super Bowl history, appearing in eight big games, the most of any NFL team. The 2010 season will be a great one for Dallas. Let the wagering begin.
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