The start of the 2021 NFL Season seems near as the calendar turns to August 1. It’s almost time to predict the future, as teams are ramping up training camps and depth charts begin to form.
The Dallas Cowboys will head into this upcoming year expecting a major turnaround from last year’s injury-ridden campaign. Dak Prescott will be back at quarterback, despite a minor shoulder injury in camp, and the team’s offense projects to be one of the most dynamic in the league. The Cowboys may not be able to compete with the best team in the NFL because of questions about their defense.
Bleacher Report NFL analyst Kristopher Knox weighed Dallas’s high-powered offense with their seemingly average defense and came up with a prediction of what their record will be in 2021: 9-8. He said that while the Cowboys could win the NFC East title, they might struggle to beat more balanced teams.
Knox wrote that the Cowboys might have one of the NFL’s most powerful offenses in 2021 with the help of weapons like CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper as well as Ezekiel Elliott, Michael Gallup, and Ezekiel Elliott. Their defense, which was 28th in points allowed is a concern. Keanu Neal, a rookie first-round selection, and Micah Parsons could help the unit but Dallas doesn’t have an elite D.
“Dallas will rebound this season, and may win the NFC East,” said Dr. The Cowboys won’t be among the top conference contenders, however.
After a disappointing 2020 season, which saw them literally and metaphorically limp to the finish line, a 9-8 record would be a significant improvement for the Cowboys. Dallas finished the campaign at 6-10, and was third in the NFC East.
It is still too early to predict how the NFL teams will finish this season. There are still over a month before the start of the preseason. Injuries or other factors could play into this and cause roster changes. The Cowboys seem to be on track for a better performance as of now. But, time will tell if the hype is true.
The 2021 regular season will start against the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 9.