3 Reasons the Dallas Cowboys Will Make the Playoffs
By Dink Kearney
The Dallas Cowboys finished the 2019 season 8-8, but with a new coaching staff in place, 2020 should produce much better results
After a successful 2018 season that saw the Dallas Cowboys win the NFC East and beat the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs, the Cowboys were supposed to duplicate, if not improve in 2019. Think back. Initially, the Dallas Cowboys started the 2019 season with dominating wins over the pathetic New York Giants, lowly Washington Redskins, and the awful Miami Dolphins. Those victories gave the Cowboys a 3-0 record, and the league was put on notice.
Yeah, the league was put on notice but it was extremely short-lived. After the first three weeks, the Dallas Cowboys spitted and sputtered their way through the rest of their schedule. Inconsistency, untimely errors, and lack of discipline eventually resulted in one of their most disappointing seasons to-date. But we should have seen it coming…
Reason No. 1 the Dallas Cowboys Make the Playoffs
The inescapable trend
For whatever reason, the Dallas Cowboys have a disappointing habit of making the playoffs one season, only to not make the playoffs the following season.
Since 2014, the Cowboys alternate years of making the playoffs and not making the playoffs. And since the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs in 2019, we can expect the Cowboys to make the playoffs in 2020.
But it’s more than just that seemingly unbreakable pattern. I’m not predicting the Cowboys to make the playoffs simply because it’s the year they’re suppose to make it. I’m predicting the Cowboys will make the playoffs for football reasons too.
Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the obvious reasons why America’s Team will make the playoffs and then some.
Reason No. 2 the Dallas Cowboys Make the Playoffs
Mike McCarthy and Co.
Like I mentioned before, Dallas has alternating years of going to the playoffs and missing the playoffs. Since 2014, Dallas wins the NFC East and makes the playoffs, but backs it up miserably and flat-out misses the playoffs the following season.
But with new head coach Mike McCarthy leading the way, the former Super Bowl winning coach will only make Dallas better with his coaching acumen.
First, Big Mac and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore are going to improve the outstanding quarterback play of Dak Prescott. They will play to his strengths, allowing him to run more in zone-read and using RPO (Run-Pass-Option).
More. Why the Dallas Cowboys Need the RPO. light
Secondly, Big Mac is known for grooming quarterbacks – specifically for developing the play of the Grinch of Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. One can only imagine how much better Dak will be with McCarthy. If he can build on his 2019 career year he could be a league MVP next season.
Thirdly, Big Mac inherits the top offensive team from 2019 and the weapons to go with it. Besides Dak, the offense offers Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott, backup running back Tony Pollard, two 1,000 yard receivers in Pro Bowler Amari Cooper and the dynamic Michael Gallup, along with up and coming tight end Blake Jarwin.
Jarwin will have the opportunity to showcase his athletic prowess even more because fan favorite Jason Witten signed a free agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Jarwin is going to be a headache for opposing defenses and a nightmare for linebackers and safeties because of his speed, size, and catching ability. It’s going to be hard to double team Coop, Gallup, and Jarwin.
Big Mac will have offensive weapons galore and the creativity to go with it. And I didn’t mention Dallas’ Pro Bowl offensive line that can open up huge holes for Zeke. He is coaching a better team than he ever coached at Green Bay.
Unlike his predecessor in Jason Garrett, Big Mac will know how to utilize his offensive weapons to its maximum capabilities, and Big Mac knows how to coach situational football, too.
Reason No. 3 the Dallas Cowboys Make the Playoffs
The Defense has something to prove
Dallas’ defense in 2019 was a shell of itself and played uninspiring and inconsistent football. Actually, Dallas’ defense was just awful.
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Dallas’ defense made average and below average quarterbacks look like Pro Bowlers. Sam Darnold, Mitchell Trubisky, and Jeff Driskel are a few quarterbacks who had career games against Dallas’ defense. What Dallas’ defense has working in their favor is that the majority of its players were starters on the 2018 team that was a top-five unit. Tank Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods, Anthony Brown, and Chidobe Awuzie are those players.
With new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan bringing in a new scheme, Dallas defense will be much better and create turnovers-something this defense desperately lacks. Plus, expect Dallas to bolster its defense in the draft with elite play makers.
Next. Jourdan Lewis shouldn't be relegated to a nickel-only CB. dark
Personal observation: There’s a strong possibility that edge rusher Randy Gregory might play this season which could be enormous for this defense
And because of those factors ladies and gentlemen, expect the 2020 Cowboys to make the playoffs. BOOM!
- Published on 03/19/2020 at 12:30 PM
- Last updated at 03/19/2020 at 12:10 PM