Dallas Cowboys 2012 Schedule: Power Ranking the Cowboys Games

The 2012 Dallas Cowboys will have a mighty tough road to the playoffs. There are games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens. Each team represents a road block in the way of the Cowboys' journey to the Super Bowl.

How can Dallas navigate their way through such a treacherous path? Better yet, can the Cowboys survive their first four tests as they travel to New York and Seattle?

Prior to this listing of rigid games the Cowboys must play, I have a few exceptions. Because Dallas plays the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants each twice a year, I will combine each contest into one ranking instead of having each individual contest listed separately.

Now that the rules have been laid out, let's take another peek at the Cowboys schedule from fibrous to facile. I'm sorry, I enjoy ambiguity.

13th Toughest Game: Cleveland Browns

No game in the NFL is ever easy, but if we were to take a peek at what's behind the schedule curtain for the Cowboys in 2012, I believe most fans will circle the game against Cleveland as a win.

Take nothing for granted in this league, as the "worst" teams will be the ones to shock the best. Yet, here, it is tough for me not to pencil this one in as a victory without the gift of being supernatural.

This game falls in Week 11, a potential big week for Dallas as they try to make the playoffs.

Cowboys 24, Browns 13

12th Toughest Matchup: Washington Redskins

I rank this one next to last because the Cowboys beat the Redskins twice last season. Both victories were by a combined five points, and Dallas struggled in both contests. The Redskins will probably have quarterback Robert Griffin III as their starter, a versatile and athletic signal-caller who may give the Cowboys defense fits.

Yet, it is still the Redskins. History tells us that Washington will find a way to screw their season up by either starting Rex Grossman as quarterback or trading for a player like Chad Ochocinco to anchor their receiving corps.

First Game: Cowboys 20, Redskins 15

Second Game: Cowboys 26, Redskins 13

11th Toughest Game: Carolina Panthers

"Killa" Cam Newton is a beast on the field, and he can beat you with his feet or his arm. Newton says that his growth as a quarterback this offseason has been "through the roof," which I slightly believe. He’ll be good in 2012, but he will not have the expected "breakout" session as many believe.

What will be key in this game is for the Cowboys to stay disciplined and remain poised when Newton starts to run or scramble. They’ll also have to contain the Carolina Panthers' rushing attack, as the legs of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart may give them hell.

Cowboys 21, Panthers 20

10th Toughest Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I know, some are probably wondering why I have the Bucs so high. Dallas destroyed them 31-15 during their 2011 contest, and the final score was not indicative of how the game was actually played.

Dallas dominated from the opening kickoff.

But, and it is a huge but, Tampa Bay checked out long before Dallas got to this December 17th game, not putting forth even half of their effort on the field that night in muggy Tampa Bay.

The Bucs have a new head coach in Greg Schiano, and will look to put their awful 2011 season behind them. This game will not be as easy as some think, as Tampa has a very nice young quarterback in Josh Freeman and their defense will be much better.

Cowboys 34, Bucs 22

9th Toughest Game: Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks will be much improved, as they have a running back with a new contract and a highly touted, well, maybe just mildly touted, free-agent quarterback on the roster.

Seattle won seven games last year and will look to add a few more victories in 2012 and compete in the burgeoning NFC West.

While this is another tough game, we should see the Cowboys come out on top, as Seattle is still growing and not quite ready for prime time.

Cowboys 28, Seahawks 17

8th Toughest Game: Cincinnati Bengals

This one is tough because Cincinnati is a young team with a lot of talent. They have a fantastic quarterback in Andy Dalton, and will be a tough win for Dallas in 2012.

Dallas always has one game that trips them or ticks them, and this one may be it. Dallas plays at Cincinnati, not an awful place to travel, but the Cowboys' road record in 2011 was just 3-5. Improvement will be needed if they want to make the playoffs, and this is a game that just makes a fan's stomach turn.

Bengals 17, Cowboys 14

7th Toughest Game: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons won 10 games in 2011 and clinched a wild-card playoff spot as well. They promptly went up to New York and received a very nice arse-whopping at the hands of the Giants.

Atlanta has some serious deficiencies, as they struggle in the playoffs. They are not mentally tough, it seems, and may be on their last leg with the team as it is constructed.

Dallas travels to Atlanta for this Sunday night contest in the Georgia Dome in Week 9. It may hold serious playoff implications for both teams as they enter the second half of the NFL season.

I don't trust the Falcons. Wait, let me say that I trust the Cowboys more than I do the Falcons. That's better.

This is why I will stick with my pick for the Falcons to lose at home.

Cowboys 29, Falcons 27

6th Toughest Game: Chicago Bears

The Bears flamed out last season due to injuries. If not for a hurt Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, they may have made it to the Super Bowl. They were pretty darn good in 2011 before they became an aesthetic of the hurt locker.

The Bears had the fifth best pass defense in the league last year, and the ninth best rushing attack. Dallas will need a strong rushing attack and an even better rush defense.

Chicago will look to exploit the Cowboys' soft defensive line and shaky secondary. This is all based on 2011 information, so the Cowboys may very well turn their fortunes around in 2012.

Bears 24, Cowboys 19

5th Toughest Game: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are a physical team with a tough running game and an inconsistent quarterback. Well, in my eyes he is inconsistent.

Baltimore has maybe one or two years to make a serious run toward a Super Bowl, but after that, their window is closed. Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and the Ravens defense will host the Cowboys in Week 6.

What I like about this game is how early it lands on the schedule—if it is a loss, the Cowboys have time to make up for it.

The Ravens have a stout defense, but it is 40 percent lore. They are rough and can beat you up, but this is not the Ravens defense that would choke the life out of teams.

This should be an almost black-and-blue type of game with a little finesse.

Ravens 12, Cowboys 10

4th Toughest Game: Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh will always be a tough out, no matter the opponent. The Steelers have the big frame and arm of Ben Roethlisberger, the legs of Rashard Mendenhall and the speed and hands of Mike Wallace.

Their offense is formidable, and the defense is still pretty good. Dallas will have to keep the pressure on Big Ben and control Mendenhall. All is easier said than done, but it is possible.

This game is winnable for Dallas, as they have the tools necessary to best Pittsburgh. However, it all depends on their ability to control their penalties, the clock and Ben's arm.

Side note: The Cowboys play the Steelers at home in Week 15. Playoffs and maybe seeding will be at stake.

Cowboys 16, Steelers 13

3rd Toughest Game: New Orleans Saints

I’m not sure what to think of the Saints until I see them on the field. New Orleans has a disgruntled quarterback and a suspended head coach.

What will happen in Nola in 2012?

New Orleans will still be good, but not Super Bowl-caliber good. Depending on which players are suspended due to the bounty scandal will show us what to expect from the Saints.

Dallas plays Brees and New Orleans in Week 16, another critical late-season matchup. We are all cognizant of the Cowboys' late-season struggles, but maybe this year will be different.

Cowboys 35, Saints 31

2nd Toughest Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are always a tough game for the Cowboys, as evidenced by their poor showing against Philly in 2011. Dallas scored a total of 14 points in two games and allowed more than 50.

Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy destroyed Dallas last year, and if the Cowboys have any chance of a split, both players will need to be contained. The issue is that Philadelphia has so many offensive weapons that stopping one player will not be enough.

A blown coverage, dumb penalty, missed assignment or poor execution, will blow their chances of beating such a great team.

First Game: Cowboys 28, Eagles 26

Second Game: Eagles 38, Cowboys 29

1st Toughest Matchup: New York Giants

Well, we’ve arrived at the end point. The Giants represent the largest road block to the Cowboys' success. Dallas lost to the Giants twice in 2011, once by three points and the other by a couple of touchdowns and a field goal.

Dallas kicks off the 2012 season on a Wednesday night in the New Meadowlands stadium against the Giants. How this game ends, may determine the Cowboys' flight for 2012.

There is a mental block Dallas must get past in order to win this division, as well as make the playoffs. The good thing about their matchups with N.Y. is that the last one falls in Week 8, so Dallas will not have to play the Giants late in the season.

So, Mr. Brandon Carr, you’ll get your wish of trying to stop the salsa dancing of Victor Cruz. If you cannot, the Cowboys may as well queue the salsa music in Jerry World.

Get past these two games with a split or sweep, and I believe the Cowboys will overcome a lot in their young season.

First Game: Giants 23, Cowboys 19

Second Game: Cowboys 21, Giants 20