The Dallas Cowboys will prove critics wrong

The critics are predicting the Dallas Cowboys’ season will not be as successful as their 2016 campaign, but the Cowboys will prove the critics wrong.

Heading into the 2017 season, critics are predicting the Dallas Cowboys will not be as successful as they were in 2016. To some critics, the Cowboys 13-3 record was a fluke.

One of the reasons the Cowboys are expected to win less games is because of its first-place schedule, and this team has the 10th hardest schedule in the league. But there are other reasons to why the critics believe the Boys will have a less than stellar season.

However, I’m going to debunk these myths and give reasons to why the Cowboys will prove the critics wrong.

Critics: First Place Schedule Will Doom Dallas

I understand Dallas will face off against six playoff teams next season, but this team is more than capable of winning 10 games, despite playing a first place schedule. Yes, I’m predicting Dallas to win more than 10 games next season because they have the best rushing attack in the NFL, along with the best offensive line.

Starting with its own divisional rivals, Dallas can easily (and more than capably) win four of those games, if not five. I can see a scenario where Dallas sweeps the Washington Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles, and spit with the New York Giants.

Besides, Dallas is 6-4 against each of their divisional rivals over the last few seasons. Further, each divisional foe has a major weakness that Dallas can exploit easily. So I predict Dallas to go 5-1 in their division. That’s five wins right there.

When it comes to the heavyweights on their schedule, Dallas has home games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and road games against the likes of the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, and the unpredictable Arizona Cardinals.

I expect Dallas to beat the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Packers, and go 3-1 against the Falcons, Broncos, Raiders, and Cardinals.

Of course, the critics, haters, and naysayers disagree wholeheartedly with my predictions. The critics believe Dallas will regress and win less games because of their key personnel losses in their secondary.

The critics believe quarterback Dak Prescott will regress, too, because defenses have a whole year worth of tape on him. (the defenses around the NFL have 16 years of tape on Tom Brady, also. See how that turned out).

First, I predict Dallas to win 12-13 games because they have a lethal running game with one of the best runners in the league, plus a talented signal caller who proved he’s a winner, and an upgraded secondary with a combination of skill and experience.

Add first rounder Taco Charlton to the defensive line, and this team has all of the markings to duplicate if not exceed last season’s success.

Further, Dallas is equipped to beat all of the teams on its schedule. Subtract the the players who left via free agency, and this is the same team from last season. Except Dallas is expecting their talented defensive/offensive draftees to be heavy contributors.

If the rookies can at least play decent (which is what the previous class did), this team will have no problem repeating as NFC East Champs and going far into the playoffs. Combine Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott as second year vets, this team is poised to go to the Super Bowl.

So critics, please try again.

Prescott will have sophomore slump

I don’t believe in sophomore slumps, junior slumps, or senior slumps. As an NFL player, you either can play or you can’t. Period.

Where you land on the scale of productivity has more to do with the player’s skill set than anything else.

The last person I’m worried about slumping is Prescott. Why you might ask? Because Dak played under the most difficult situation any rookie signal caller could play under AND he performed on a high level.

Let’s go down memory lane one more time.

Flashback

After becoming a preseason sensation, rumors already had started that Dak would be Tony Romo‘s successor when he retires. But Romo would injure his back in a preseason game and Dak took over the reigns.

As Dak took Dallas on an impressive winning streak, the rookie had to deal with rumors about Romo getting his starting job back after recovering from his back injury. Also, owner and general manager Jerry Jones would not commit to Dak remaining as the starter, constantly saying “its Tony’s job when he recovers.”

Despite Dak breaking NFL and franchise rookie records for a quarterback, the outstanding rookie had to play risk-free ball. Because with a healthy Romo (and Jerry’s third adopted son) in the wings, Dak was one or two poorly played games away from his dream ending as a Dallas quarterback.

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Also, Jerry fuels the QB controversy on purpose, creating more pressure on Dak. So Dak had to play while Romo looked over his shoulder. He had to play at the highest level with a small margin of error, be a pawn in Jerry’s self-created drama, constantly listen to rumors about Romo getting his job back, and quarterback the most recognizable franchise in all of sports.

What task to handle. But the critics thinks Dak will now suddenly crumble?

All Dak did was play fantastic football as a rookie, lead his team to a 13-3 record, NFC division champs, set rookie and franchise records, earn his first pro bowl berth, and gain the respect of his teammates and coaches.

If Dak can withstand all of that noise and perform at a high level, what makes critics think Dak will have a sophomore slump? If Dak was going to have slump, it would’ve happened last season because of all the circumstances.

Dak exemplified leadership, grit, determination, and a knack for winning under abnormal conditions.

By withstanding last season’s trials, Dak is more than ever capable to lead his team deep into the playoffs and to a Super Bowl victory. And remember Dak plays smart football, knowing when to run, when to get down, when to audible out of plays, and how to lead his team to victory.

Next: Dallas Cowboys: Is a 2017 slump a misguided prediction?

Dak passed his test last season. He’ll pass it again this season, only with better results and a Lombardi trophy in his hands.

Once again, the Cowboys will have proven the critics wrong.

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