Breakdown: If the Dallas Cowboys want to get back in the playoffs after their catastrophic 2015 season, then they will have to get out of the gate early.
Three of their first six games are played against playoff teams from last year -- at Washington Redskins, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, at Green Bay Packers -- before the bye week.
The fact that the Cowboys play two division games to open the season is ultra-important. They went 2-0 last year, beating the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles but lost Tony Romo in the Eagles' victory to a broken left collarbone that sent their season into a tailspin. This will only be the second time since division realignment the Cowboys have opened the year with consecutive division games.
The Cowboys have three of their final four games on the road -- at Minnesota, at New York, at Philadelphia -- but Jerry Jones is fine with that.
“I really like the rest of our schedule in the latter part of the year relative to weather,” the owner and general manager said.
Win at home: The Cowboys have not been able to turn AT&T Stadium into a homefield advantage at all since it opened in 2009. They are just 27-29 at the $1.2 billion palace. That has to change this season because of the Cowboys’ road schedule. Four of the Cowboys opponents away from home made the playoffs last year: Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. The Vikings are opening a new stadium. The Cowboys lost last year at Lambeau Field. They lost in their only trip to Heinz Field (2007). Only two of their visitors this year made the playoffs in 2015: Cincinnati Bengals and Washington. The Cowboys don’t have to be perfect at home, but they have won more than half of their home games since 2009 just three times. That has to change in 2016.
Thursday specials: Jason Garrett likes to say the Cowboys have to be prepared to play anywhere at any time. The Cowboys have back-to-back Thursday night games which means they play three times in 12 days with a meeting on Thanksgiving against the Washington Redskins and their first trip U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys might not like to play that many games in such a tight timeframe, but it does allow them a break before they take on the New York Giants on Dec. 11 in what could be a pivotal division game in December.
The Cowboys have played back-to-back Thursday games in 2007 and 2014. Both times they made the playoffs. So maybe that is a good omen.
Strength of schedule: T-27th, .465
Cowboys Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, N.Y. Giants, 4:25 p.m.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, at Washington, 1 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, Cincinnati, 4:25 p.m.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Pittsburgh, 4:25 p.m.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 24, Washington, 4:30 p.m.
Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 1, at Minnesota, 8:25 p.m.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 26, Detroit, 8:30 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.