Dallas Cowboys 2020 schedule predictions: Picking every game

Weeks 9-12

Mike Tomlin nearly coached an injury-plagued Steelers team into the playoffs last season. Ben Roethlisberger played just two games before he was out for the remainder of the year with an injury. Tomlin will have his Hall of Fame quarterback again in 2020. The front office also did well to add around Roethlisberger this offseason. This team’s identity is defense, and that unit will give the offense chances to win this game. However, Prescott will get the better of Roethlisberger and the Steelers once again. The last time these teams played, the Cowboys won a 35-30 thriller in Pittsburgh in 2016. Prescott will position the team for a win, which may come down to a Greg Zuerlein field goal late.

The Vikings visited the Cowboys last season in a primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football. Dalvin Cook and the play-action led the Vikings to a win in Jerry World. However, Moore and Prescott were able to move the ball against the Vikings. Dallas had 443 total yards, and Prescott threw for 397 of those with three scores. Here is what is different this year. As mentioned on other slides, stopping the run has the potential to be successful this season with McCoy and Poe. Leighton Vander Esch will be back from injury and re-form that partnership with Jaylon Smith. Take away Cook and the Vikings cannot establish play action. Then, Mike Zimmer is asking Kirk Cousins to win the game. Prescott will replicate what he did against the Vikings last season, with more help from Ezekiel Elliott this time.

Kellen Moore’s offense gathered over 500-plus yards of total offense three times last season. The team’s second-highest total of 517 yards came at home against the Redskins. Unlike last season, two veteran head coaches will stand opposite of each other on their respective sidelines in 2020. However, even with Ron Rivera as head coach, this Redskins team isn’t too close to competing just yet. Expect Moore and Prescott to dial up another big day on offense. Perhaps even besting those 517 yards from 2019.

In 2018, Patrick Mahomes burst onto the scene and took home the MVP honor. Projected to make it to the Super Bowl, the Chiefs fell short. However, in 2019, Mahomes and the Chiefs made up for that shortcoming a year before and won the Super Bowl this past campaign. Why is this relevant? Because Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are in a similar situation. Jackson won the MVP last season, and the Ravens were the Super Bowl favorites before losing to the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round. Jackson and the Ravens could very well pull a Chiefs here. Wanting to make people forget about how last season ended, the Ravens will be one of the league’s best again in 2020. Meaning, on the road, this is a game the Cowboys will try to keep to at least a one-possession game.