DALLAS COWBOYS
Head Coach - Mike McCarthy
Offensive Rank - 11th (355 YPG); Scoring - 4th (27.5 PPG)
Defensive Rank - 12th (330 YPG); Scoring - 6th (20.1 PPG)
Quarterback Dak Prescott is back for his eighth NFL season and had an injury filled regular season in 2022, but still passed for 2,860 yards with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Cooper Rush is a solid backup quarterback and he passed for 1,051 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The running game will be handled by Tony Pollard this season after Ezekiel Elliott wasn't re-signed in the off season. Pollard ran for 1,007 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns. The wide receivers are CeeDee Lamb (107 receptions for 1,359 yards and nine TD), Michael Gallup (39, 424, four TD) and Brandin Cooks (57, 699, three TD with Houston). Rookie Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan) and Jake Ferguson are the tight ends.
On defense, linebacker Micah Parsons leads the way and he had 13 1/2 QB sacks last season while defensive end Dorance Armstrong, Jr. had 8 1/2 sacks. Defensive End DeMarcus Lawrence and rookie defensive tackle Mazi Smith (Michigan) round out the front line. Leighton Vander Esch is another linebacker and had 90 tackles last season. In the secondary, Trevon Diggs (three interceptions), Stephon Gilmore (two picks with Indianapolis) and DaRon Bland (five INT) are the corners and Jaylon Kearse, Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker (three picks) are the safeties.
OUTLOOK FOR 2023 - The Cowboys finished strong last season and advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs where they were eliminated by San Francisco for the second straight year. Head Coach Mike McCarthy is taking over the play calling for the offense this season and he wants to see Prescott and the offense go to newer and higher ground should they make the post-season again.
The Dallas defense was solid a year ago as well as opportunistic, helping the team achieve a plus-10 in the turnover category, which ranked second in the NFL. The Cowboys had 54 sacks and 16 interceptions while finishing in the top ten against the pass and in scoring defense. With more of the same this year, they could challenge Philadelphia in the NFC East division. As for the playoffs, the Cowboys should get back there in January and how far they can go will depend on the offense coming through in crunch time.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at N.Y. Giants
Week Two - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Three - at Arizona
Week Four - vs. New England
Week Five - at San Francisco
Week Six - at L.A. Chargers
Week Seven - BYE
Week Eight - vs. L.A. Rams
Week Nine - at Philadelphia
Week Ten - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Eleven - at Carolina
Week Twelve - vs. Washington
Week Thirteen - vs. Seattle
Week Fourteen - vs. Philadelphia
Week Fifteen - at Buffalo
Week Sixteen - at Miami
Week Seventeen - vs. Detroit
Week Eighteen - at Washington
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