Dallas Cowboys: Game-by-Game Predictions for a Much-Improved Defense

The Dallas Cowboys had a weakness in their 2011 campaign.

Their pass defense allowed an average of 244 yards per game last season (with many of the yards coming at the most inopportune moments).  This statistic placed them 23rd in the league—and ultimately cost the Cowboys a playoff berth.

However, with the addition of Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Brandon Carr and the drafting of standout LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne (sixth overall), it's safe to say the Cowboys addressed their weakness during the offseason.

What follows is a game-by-game preview of how the revamped defense will perform in 2012.

Week 1: At New York Giants

The Cowboys travel to the Meadowlands to take on the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the NFL season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 5th.

Certainly the Cowboys defense will not have forgotten the 31-14 drubbing it suffered at the hands of the G-Men that ended its season in Week 17 last year.

In that game, Eli Manning (340 yards, three TDs) and Victor Cruz (six receptions, 178 yards, one TD) made quick work of the Cowboys secondary.

In what will be a huge game for Rob Ryan's new 3-4 scheme, look for the Cowboys to make a good first impression.  Hakeem Nicks could still be slowed by his foot injury, and the Giants' wide receiving corps will be missing Mario Manningham.

While Cruz will give the Cowboys secondary someone to worry about, I expect Claiborne, Carr and company to hold their ground and give the Cowboys offense a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter.

Week 2: At Seattle Seahawks

In Week 2, the Cowboys will be coming off of a long week of rest but will also be traveling across the country to face the Seattle Seahawks.

The 2011 version of this matchup was played in Cowboys Stadium, and the Boys defense held the Seahawks without a touchdown—until a relatively meaningless Marshawn Lynch score with six minutes remaining in the game.

In 2012, I look for more of the same. Matt Flynn will be in his first season as an NFL starter. Golden Tate and Sidney Rice just don't provide enough help to make the Seahawks a legitimate offensive threat.

If Rob Ryan can get the defense off to a hot start, the Cowboys might be posting one of the season's first shutouts.

Week 3: Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Cowboys must wait until Week 3 before their home opener, which comes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

The energy level at Cowboys Stadium is sure to be electric, and this will be the first look the home crowd gets at its new defense. 

Josh Freeman, Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount are sure to provide challenges for Rob Ryan's 3-4, but the solid Cowboys' run defense should be able to control the ground attack of the Bucs.

The key will lie in what type of coverage the Cowboys can get out of their secondary.  Solid coverage of Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams should provide DeMarcus Ware and company ample time to tee off on Freeman.

Week 4: Vs. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears pay a visit to Arlington for the Week 4 edition of Monday Night Football. 

Jay Cutler and newly acquired Brandon Marshall will yet again provide a challenge for the Cowboys secondary.

If Matt Forte gets the ground game going early, the Cowboys could struggle to contain Marshall and the speedy Devin Hester.

On the flip side, locking down Forte early could force Cutler into some early interceptions and hand the Cowboys an easy victory heading into their bye week.

Week 5: Bye

The Cowboys are scheduled for their bye during Week 5. 

This gives them an added week of rest before having to travel to Baltimore in Week 6 to face the punishing Ravens.

An early bye week puts added pressure on Rob Ryan to have the defense off and running from the start. 

If the defense starts slowly, the passionate fanbase will surely be losing patience by the time Week 5 rolls along, which would only add to the initial problem.

A powerful early showing from the defense would bring the Cowboys into the bye week with confidence and set them up for a run at the NFC East crown.

Week 6: At Baltimore Ravens

Coming off a bye in Week 5, the Cowboys will travel to Baltimore in what is sure to be a hotly contested battle.

The Ravens offense goes as Ray Rice goes, but the Cowboys will have an added week to prepare to stop his attack. 

Look for this to be a statement game for the Cowboys defense. 

While Joe Flacco is a solid quarterback, Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith can be contained. 

I predict that the Cowboys will not allow an offensive touchdown by the Ravens, alerting the rest of the league that their defense is for real.

Week 7: At Carolina Panthers

In Week 7, the Cowboys will be traveling for the second week in a row. 

This time it will be to Carolina to face Cam Newton and the Panthers. 

The basics of the matchup boil down to the threat that DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton provide versus the linebacking corps of DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer and Sean Lee.

The Panthers' wide receiving corps of Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and David Gettis do not provide enough weapons to damage the Cowboys secondary. This should allow the defense to key in on Newton.

While on paper the Cowboys defense looks like it should be able to handle the Panthers offense, the game has the makings of a trap. 

The Cowboys will be coming off a possible statement victory over the Baltimore Ravens, and at the same time they'll be looking ahead to a Week 8 matchup versus the Giants. 

My hope is that they don't overlook the pesky Panthers.

Week 8: Vs. New York Giants

Week 8 provides the Cowboys with a second meeting with New York Giants, this time at Cowboys Stadium.

Last season's home matchup against the Giants saw the Cowboys leading by 12 in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter before a monumental defensive collapse by the Cowboys sparked the Giants' Super Bowl run.

Don't think for a minute that the Cowboys have forgotten.

I expect the Cowboys defense to enact revenge on the superb Giants squad and atone for the previous week's lapse against the Panthers.

Week 9: At Atlanta Falcons

Coming off of what I predict to be a standout performance against the New York Giants in Week 8, the Cowboys will be on the road to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.

Quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner and the dangerous wide receiving corps of Julio Jones and Roddy White will provide quite a challenge for defenses across the league in 2012.

The Falcons were especially high-flying at home last season. 

Ryan's quarterback rating was nearly 16 points higher, and the ground game averaged 136 yards per game at home compared to a mere 93 on the road.

The Cowboys will have their hands full in Week 9, but they will not be alone.  Defensive coordinators will be losing sleep all season long while preparing for the high-flying Falcons. 

I think it is safe to say that Romo and the offense might need to rack up points in this game to keep the Cowboys close.

Week 10: At Philadelphia Eagles

In Week 10, the Cowboys find themselves on the road for a second consecutive week as they travel to Philadelphia to face their hated rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Always explosive and always a threat to burn the Cowboys for a big loss at Lincoln Financial Field, this is a matchup to be wary of as a Cowboys fan.
 
With this rivalry coming in Week 10, the question surrounding Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and company is not about their talent or explosiveness, but about their health. 

Reaching Week 10 fully healthy always seems to be a challenge for the Eagles, but a fully healthy Philadelphia squad would certainly pose a strong challenge for the Cowboys defense.

Week 11: Vs. Cleveland Browns

Coming off a rough three-week stretch in which the Cowboys must play the Giants, Falcons and Eagles in succession, the Cowboys return home for the beginning of a three-week stay in Arlington.

And boy, will the Cleveland Browns be a sight for sore eyes.

Nothing personal against the Browns, but when your best two—actually scratch that, only two—offensive weapons are freshly drafted rookies, your offense could be headed for a long season.

Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson will not be enough firepower to elevate a wide receiving corps filled with the likes of Greg Little, Jordan Norwood and Mohamed Massaquoi.

Score one for the Cowboys defense.  Next.

Week 12: Vs. Washington Redskins

The first matchup for the Cowboys against the division rival Washington Redskins comes on Thanksgiving Day in 2012.

This Thursday afternoon game will have the Cowboys coming off of minimal rest, having played the Browns four days prior.

At the same time, the Redskins will also be coming off the same amount of rest with rookie quarterback Robert Griffin lll.

A rookie quarterback combined with a subpar receiving corps should have the Cowboys defense licking their chops in anticipation of a tasty turnover feast.

Week 13: Vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The second-round bout between the Cowboys and Eagles takes place in Week 13, as the Cowboys wrap up a three-week stretch of games in Arlington.

In what could have been a rough game in Week 10 at Lincoln Financial, the Cowboys will be looking to enact revenge at home against the rival Eagles.

I predict that the blitzing schemes out of the Cowboys' 3-4 will have Michael Vick running for his life most of the game, as the Cowboys end their three-week home stretch with a victory.

Week 14: At Cincinnati Bengals

The upstart Bengals with quarterback Andy Dalton and electric wide receiver A.J. Green showed the ability to put up respectable offensive numbers against almost any defense last season. 

With the recent addition of former New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the Bengals offense should not miss a beat in 2012.

By Week 14 of the season, I'd like to see the Cowboys' third-round draft pick, Tyrone Crawford, really making a difference in the pass rush. 

Not only could the defensive end out of Boise State be a strong factor in the Bengals game, his presence down the stretch could determine the Cowboys' playoff destiny.

Week 15: Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 15 has the Cowboys set to face their second consecutive AFC North foe, the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The always-tough Steelers ranked in the top half of the league in most offensive categories in 2011, and their annually stingy defense makes offensive scores hard to come by.

In a game that could be marked as a defensive struggle, every defensive stop in this game will be crucial. 

To give Romo and the offense a chance to stay in the game, the Cowboys defense will need to hold the Steelers to under 20 points.

A key aspect to watch will be the return of Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall.  Mendenhall is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns in 2011. 

Initially, it looked like he might miss all of the 2012 season, but recent reports from Rotoworld.com show that the Steelers expect him back.

The big question remains: Will he be back in time for this potential Week 15 showdown?

Week 16: Vs. New Orleans Saints

The Cowboys' home finale in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints seems to have too many lingering questions to make an accurate prediction as of right now.

Will Drew Brees still be wearing a Saints uniform?  How will running back Mark Ingram respond to his third knee surgery in as many years?  What shape will the Saints collectively be in after one of the ugliest offseasons in the history of the NFL?

Of course, if the Saints offense stays true to form, it would be a mammoth challenge for any defensive unit in the league.

On the flip side, with a possibly disgruntled Brees and an absence of a running game—the tide could quickly swing in the opposite direction.

Week 17: At Washington Redskins

In their regular-season finale (with a playoff berth hopefully on the horizon), the Cowboys conclude with their second game against the Washington Redskins.

At this point of the season, I'd like to see every part of the defense hitting their full stride. 

Linebackers Sean Lee, Dan Connor, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer should have molded into a force to be reckoned with.

The secondary of Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Mike Jenkins and Orland Scandrick will hopefully have turned into one of the league's top cover units.  Plus, the addition of Brodney Pool at strong safety should prove to be an upgrade over Alan Ball.

And lastly, look for Jason Hatcher, Marcus Spears and Tyrone Crawford to provide some push up front.

If everything goes according to plan with the new defense, the Cowboys would be the last team I would want to face come playoff time.