Dallas Cowboys: NFC East

2009-10 Record: 11-5 (T-1st); vs. NFC East: 4-2; vs. NFC: 9-3

2010-11 Strength of Schedule: 3^rd hardest schedule – .543 (139-117)

Big Games: Week 1 at Washington Redskins, Week 6 at Minnesota Vikings, Week 12 vs. New Orleans Saints, Week 13 at Indianapolis Colts, Week 15 vs. Washington Redskins

Key Additions: OT – Alex Barron

Key Losses: OT – Flozell Adams, S – Ken Hamlin

Draft Picks: 1^st Round – WR – Dez Bryant; 2^nd Round – LB – Sean Lee; 4^th Round – S – Akwasi Owusu-Ansah; 6^th Round – OT – Sam Young, CB – Jamar Wall, 7^th Round - DT – Sean Lissemore

2009 Team Leaders:

Passing – Tony Romo: 347-for-550, 4.483 yards, 26 TDs

Rushing – Marion Barber: 214 atts, 932 yards, 7 TDs

Receiving – Miles Austin: 81 rec, 1,320 yards, 11 TDs

Scouting via NFL Scouts:

“I think you can’t overstate how huge (Dez Bryant) could pay off. The question everyone seemed to be asking was, how much of a risk is it to take him? They should’ve been asking, how much of a risk would it be to pass on him? He has rare talent. … I just think Bryant is skilled, strong physically. What you want from a receiver coming straight from college is someone who can run the entire route tree. He can do that. He can go vertical, muscle up on a slant, anything. And he does so much naturally. … They might have been the best team in the NFC at the end of last year, but they just couldn’t protect Tony Romo in Minnesota. That was it. Flozell Adams got hurt, the line fell apart and the Cowboys couldn’t do a thing. If they protect him, that team has all the ingredients for a run. … The Boys have got the personnel. But frankly, they didn’t do enough with it last year. If their goal was winning a wild card playoff game, then they accomplished their goal.”

Thoughts:

The Cowboys would love nothing more than to become the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. They have all the pieces to do just that if they can stay healthy and overcome another late-season tumble. It also helps that the Eagles traded away most of their talent to the Redskins. The Redskins could be sneaky if Albert Hanesworth doesn’t cause too many locker room distractions. I see the Cowboys winning the NFC East this year and getting to the NFC Championship game vs. the Saints.

Prediction: 12-4 (1^st) – NFC Championship game losing to the New Orleans Saints

Cash Scott for Citadel Digital © 2010