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Dallas Cowboys 2021 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By William Schneiderhan

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 04: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field at AT&T Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 04: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field at AT&T Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 03: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Austin Johnson #98 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on January 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 03: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Austin Johnson #98 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on January 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Looked at as one of the divisional favorites, the Dallas Cowboys must win these games in 2021.

Aspirations were high for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys. A new head coach, Mike McCarthy, was hired to replace the since-fired Jason Garrett. With this came a sense of renewal that the Cowboys would finally reach the potential so many believed this team had.

Unfortunately, that door of hope was slammed shut when Jerry Jones and a stadium full of stunned fans looked on with their heads in their hands as Dak Prescott sustained a gruesome, season-ending injury.

Prescott’s injury marked the end of the year, basically. The Cowboys finished 6-10 with Andy Dalton running the show, and the defense was rather inconsistent.

This offseason, ironing out Prescott’s contract took precedence. Jones and the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback came to an agreement while the front office filled some other areas on the open market.

Dallas will contend for the NFC East divisional title in 2021. In doing so, these will potentially be the five must-win games on the team’s new 17-game schedule.

5 must-win games for the Cowboys in their 2021 NFL schedule

5. New York Giants

Last year, the NFC East seemingly belonged to the Cowboys. The New York Giants were unknown, Washington didn’t have a quarterback, and the Philadelphia Eagles seemed projected to either boom or bust.

Now, the division is much tighter, which means divisional wins will carry almost double the worth of any other common win.

Dave Gettleman was aggressive this offseason. He re-signed Leonard Williams and inked Adoree’ Jackson and Kenny Golladay as free agents. Add those playmakers to that already stout defense, and the Giants could make some noise this year.

Therefore, Dallas will have to win these head-to-heads to create separation in the standings.

Last year, the season series between these two clubs ended in a 1-1 split. Prescott sustained his injury in the early-season matchup in Dallas, but Dalton secured the win in that game. Later in the season, in the final week, the Giants won a crucial game at home 23-19. In fact, that was the first win the Giants have had against the Cowboys since December of 2016 (10-7).

Dallas has owned this series of late, taking seven straight from September 2017 to October 2020, and the team will have to continue that trend to be legitimate players for the division in 2021.

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