Ranking the 5 biggest games on the Dallas Cowboys 2021 schedule

Cowboys
NFL Analysis Network

The Dallas Cowboys will enter the 2021 season with some pretty high expectations. Dallas will look to bounce back from a difficult 2020 season, the first under head coach Mike McCarthy.

Injuries derailed the offense, as Dak Prescott suffered a serious injury, but the offensive line was diminished as well. Despite that, Dallas could still score some points offensively, but their performance defensively was downright embarrassing.

Dallas spent plenty of resources to help shore up that side of the ball, using a majority of their draft selections on defensive players. With the offensive players looking healthier, Dallas looks poised for a stronger second season under McCarthy, but their schedule does offer some challenges.

Here are the five biggest games on the Cowboys’ schedule for the 2021 season.

5. Week 1 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 2021 season gets started with a bang for the Cowboys, as they will travel to face the defending Super Bowl champion, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers will be getting their rings on this night, so you know they will be energized and ready to play.

This will be a huge test for the revamped Cowboys defense to start the season. The offense should be able to hang with anyone, but can the defense get enough stops so that they can start racking up some victories? Dak Prescott returning from injury will be something fans keep an eye on as well.

4. Week 11 @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Cowboys have a brutal road schedule this season. In addition to their regular divisional games, they are traveling to face five legitimate playoff contenders, a few of which, such as the Chiefs, that are Super Bowl contenders.

Arrowhead is never an easy place to play, but at this point in the season, the Cowboys should be all geared up. This will be an excellent measuring stick game for the defense to see how far along they have truly come.

3. Week 13 @ New Orleans Saints

At this point in the season, the NFC playoff picture should start to come into shape. If Dallas hopes to make the playoff tournament, defeating teams that will also be vying for spots, such as the Saints, will be imperative.

New Orleans doesn’t have Drew Brees under center anymore, but this is still a team you cannot take lightly. This is yet another daunting road test for Dallas and is the fifth of sixth games either played on prime time or not on a Sunday in their season.

2. Week 16 vs. Washington Football Team

Week 16 is the final primetime game of the season scheduled for the Cowboys right now, but this also ends a stretch of games that could make or break their season. Dallas will play divisional opponents three consecutive weeks, as they will face off with the Washington Football team in Week 14, New York Giants in Week 15 and Washington again in Week 16.

The Week 15 game against the Giants will also be the end of a three-game road trip, which begins in New Orleans in Week 13. This is arguably the most difficult stretch of the season for the Cowboys and it comes at a difficult point of the season, as their bye week is back in Week 7.

1. Week 18 @ Philadelphia Eagles

There is a chance that this game decides the NFC East once again. Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles disappointed a lot of people, seemingly throwing the final game of the NFL season on national television against the Washington Football Team, which gave Washington the NFC East title.

Dallas will not want to lose to a division rival to finish the season again, as they lost to the New York Giants in Week 17 last season. Given how competitive this division is year in and year out, expect this game to have some playoff implications.

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