May 15, 2024
·Kristen Humphries
Searching for the Dallas Cowboys 2024 schedule? You’re in the right place. Our comprehensive 2024 guide gives you every detail from the season kickoff with the Browns to crucial NFC East showdowns, providing all the necessary information and expert commentary that Dallas Cowboys fans need to stay updated on each play throughout the season.
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Key Takeaways
Per SeatGeek, the Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers and Cowboys at Steelers are two of the top-selling matchups as of Wednesday evening
The Dallas Cowboys have a challenging but manageable 2024 season schedule, ranking at 11th-toughest according to Vegas oddsmakers and 15th according to PFN metrics, with key home games and tough away matchups that will test their resilience.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is under the spotlight as he enters the final year of his contract, and the running back committee strategy is a significant change, with the absence of a drafted running back and expectations on veteran Ezekiel Elliott’s performance.
Head coach Mike McCarthy’s strategy for the 2024 season involves defensive improvements, tactical enhancements, and potential acquisitions like Myles Garrett to strengthen the team’s competitiveness.
Breaking Down the 2024 Dallas Cowboys Schedule
Vegas oddsmakers have placed the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season schedule as the eleventh most challenging in the NFL. Despite these odds, other analyses such as PFN’s advanced metrics offer a slightly more optimistic outlook, ranking it fifteenth for difficulty. This suggests that while daunting, their lineup of games is still within manageable territory.
The Cowboys will be welcoming an array of tough competitors to AT&T Stadium this coming season, including division rivals and high-caliber teams like the Ravens Bengals and Buccaneers. On top of that challenge are away game hurdles against opponents like Commanders Eagles Giants Falcons Panthers Browns Steelers and 49ers - encounters which truly put to test Dallas’ tenacity.
The excitement peaks during Week 2 when AT&T Stadium lights up with energy for what will be the second time hosting a home game for Dallas- this one versus Saints promises plenty of fanfare on native soil Before hitting stage though they’ll first venture onto opposition lands opening battle set pace possibly defining entire team trajectory.
If outcome echoes ambitions could indeed make memorable statements follow-up campaign ensuring all eyes remain focused on them throughout unfolding weeks ahead.
Opening Week: Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns, expectations are high for a season opener that’s more significant than a mere notch in the win column. The attention won’t just be focused on those competing on the gridiron.
Tom Brady is set to make his highly anticipated broadcasting debut, adding an extra dimension of excitement to this first-week matchup. Entering Cleveland territory as slight underdogs with DraftKings setting them back by only one point and an over/under pegged at 44.5, it’s evident that there’s substantial pressure mounted upon Dallas. Will they manage to quiet down Cleveland’s passionate fans and kick off their season with a resounding triumph?
The sense of eagerness swells as we approach Wednesday’s game kickoff, where it becomes unmistakable. The task before the Dallas Cowboys extends beyond squaring off against a formidable opponent from Cleveland—they must also prove themselves amidst intense national scrutiny during this broadcasted spectacle, aware that every play has potential long-term implications for their season.
NFC East Rivalries: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
In the highly competitive NFC East, where rivalries run as deep as Texas oil fields, the Dallas Cowboys are on a quest to secure back-to-back division titles for the first time in over 20 years. Clashes with their fierce rivals - New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders - go beyond mere games. They’re contests of dominance that echo throughout each season. Offseason developments including coaching changes for the Commanders and acquisitions by all teams look set to inject new life into these already intense matchups.
As Dallas prepares to face these adversaries at home and away venues, there is considerable speculation about how offseason strategic adjustments will alter NFC East showdowns. True insight won’t come from prognostications but from observing strategy execution on the gridiron where football legends are forged.
The Road to Success: Home and Away Games
The Dallas Cowboys’ path to playoff prominence hinges on their results across the 17-game regular season. The balance of home and away matches is vital in this journey. While playing at their own stadium has proven beneficial, with the Cowboys surpassing NFL average win rates at home over the past five years, it’s facing opponents on unfamiliar grounds that often serves as a barometer for a team’s resilience.
For the Cowboys to excel when traveling presents its unique set of challenges. Adopting strategies that turn potential setbacks into opportunities is essential. It’s about enduring under pressure, where raucous fans from rival teams could potentially unsettle or inspire them towards victory. With the goal of keeping an edge during games, Dallas must uphold intense concentration and resolve if they are to navigate through these adversities successfully while on the road.
AT&T Stadium Advantage
Harnessing the vigor of their fans and leveraging the comforts of AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys consistently secure wins on home turf. The numbers are telling. Over a five-year period, they have achieved an impressive leading home winning percentage within the NFC East and come out top in points scored at home while placing second for touchdowns at their own stadium. Even with unique challenges such as AT&T Stadium’s notorious sunlight glare, it hasn’t overshadowed the team’s performance.
The significance of this advantage extends beyond statistics to serve as a fortress where strategy meets spirit. In Dallas, amidst one of football’s most passionate fan followings right there on-site, the team finds resilience and confidence—essential elements that allow them to huddle up effectively at what is both refuge and battlefield.
Challenges on the Road
The Cowboys are challenged to adapt to different stadium atmospheres and the enthusiastic crowds of their opponents when they’re not playing on home turf. With a successful passing strategy from last season under their belts, it’s anticipated that they will lean heavily on this approach during away games, especially considering their weaker running game.
The situation is made more difficult as no new running back was selected in the 2024 draft, and with Ezekiel Elliott being brought back into the fold.
Faced with these circumstances, it becomes imperative for the Cowboys to concoct effective tactics for handling games on foreign soil in order to maintain high morale and positive momentum. Indeed, securing wins while out on the road often serves as a crucial factor that sets contending teams apart from others in the league.
Key Players to Watch in 2024
Heading into the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys are concentrating on their standout players who are poised to make a notable impact during game time. The team is an assembly of experienced pros and talented rookies, each expected to play a critical role in propelling the Cowboys toward victory. With Dak Prescott at the helm, coupled with potential breakout performances from new stars like a running back sensation, there’s as much depth in compelling narratives as there is in skill across the playing field.
The real intrigue lies in identifying which player will rise to become central to the success of Dallas’ campaign this season. Only by facing and overcoming challenges throughout regular season matches will it be revealed who emerges as that crucial difference-maker for Dallas.
Dak Prescott: Leading the Charge
The spotlight shines brightly on Dak Prescott as he enters the final year of his contract with a legacy of accolades, including a second-team All-Pro nod and a near MVP season. His leadership, marked by a supportive and success-inspiring approach, remains a cornerstone for the team’s morale.
Despite the scrutiny over interception rates, Prescott’s off-field demeanor and leadership quality have never wavered, earning him the unwavering respect and loyalty of his teammates. As the ‘Cowboys Break’ podcast pundits have emphasized, the pressure on Prescott is palpable, adding a layer of scrutiny to his every move this season.
With soaring expectations, Prescott’s role as the team’s leader will be under intense scrutiny, and his ability to steer through the NFL’s turbulent waters will be vital to the Cowboys’ success.
Running Back Committee: Who Will Emerge?
In 2024, the Cowboys have adopted a running back committee approach with an eye toward keeping their ground attack vibrant and energetic throughout the lengthened season. Ezekiel Elliott, now sporting jersey number 15, heads up an eclectic squad featuring:
Royce Freeman
Deuce Vaughn
Rico Dowdle
Hunter Luepke
Malik Davis
Nathaniel Peat
While Elliott is poised to play a variable role as RB1, especially excelling in situations that call for short-yardage gains, each week could see different strategies regarding his use on the field. The choice not to draft a new running back coupled with bringing in both seasoned players and rookies—like Nathaniel Peat who showed promise at rookie minicamp—complicates predictions about which player will take precedence as a top rusher.
As they move through the upcoming season, it’s anticipated that there will be intense internal competition among the Cowboys’ stable of backs. All are driven by aspirations of making a definitive mark on Dallas’ rushing history.
Coaching Strategies: Mike McCarthy's Plan for 2024
Guided by Mike McCarthy, the Dallas Cowboys are set on a clear course for their 2024 season.
Engage in strategic collaboration with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to bring both physical size and flexible strategies to the defense.
Strengthen the core of the defense.
Consider recruiting additional talent at running back among other roles to enhance team performance.
On offense, they intend to:
Expand depth among receivers.
Improve early down play execution for a more effective and less predictable offensive force.
Introduce varied running techniques under McCarthy’s direction, keeping opponent defenses off-balance.
McCarthy’s approach goes beyond mere tactical plays. He envisions an overarching plan that capitalizes on the Cowboys’ strengths while remedying any vulnerabilities. This is all part of an orchestrated effort toward one end: triumph.
Myles Garrett: A Potential Game Changer?
Myles Garrett’s name has been synonymous with defensive prowess, and the mere prospect of him wearing the Cowboys’ star has sparked discussions about the transformative potential he could bring to the team’s defense. Although the move remains in the realm of speculation, the media and public have fervently debated the impact his addition could have on the Cowboys’ defensive lineup.
Tyler Guyton, should he find himself lining up against Garrett, faces a formidable challenge that could prove to be a defining moment in his career. Garrett’s hypothetical arrival could shift the Cowboys’ defense from formidable to fearsome, adding a new and exciting dynamic to the team’s performance.
If circumstances favor and Garrett joins the Cowboys, the team’s defense could reach unprecedented levels, posing an even greater challenge for opponents when they cross the line of scrimmage.
Wide Receiver Options: Zay Jones and Beyond
The receiving group of the Cowboys is poised to enhance its depth and prowess should Zay Jones join a squad that already boasts talents such as CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. Jalen Jalen. Tolbert is also set to take on an increased role within the offense, providing another dynamic weapon for Prescott’s array of passing options. With these receivers at their command, the Cowboys’ aerial attack has the potential to be among the most formidable in all of football, capable of overpowering even stout defenses.
As we approach kick-off time for this season, expect clarity in terms of who will comprise Dallas’ cadre of wide receivers – a promising ensemble destined to keep adversaries guessing while thrilling supporters with every snap.