Commentary

Cowboys 2013 staff predictions

Updated: April 18, 2013, 9:38 PM ET
By Tim MacMahon, Calvin Watkins & Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

Todd Archer, Tim MacMahon and Calvin Watkins break down the Cowboys' 2013 season. Make your predictions here.

2013 Predictions (all times CT)


Sun., Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. -- Giants at Cowboys (NBC)

Todd Archer: The Cowboys have never beaten the Giants in Arlington. Until they do, I can't pick them ... so expect Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks to have a big day and make it five in a row. Cowboys Stadium naming rights will go to Manning after this game.
Score (record): Giants 30, Cowboys 24 (0-1)

Tim MacMahon: Eli Manning just doesn't lose at JerryWorld. The Giants will continue their annual tradition of winning a wild, crazy game in the Cowboys' house.
Score (record): Giants 28, Cowboys 27 (0-1)

Calvin Watkins: The Giants have never lost at Cowboys Stadium. Never. Expect that trend to continue for Big Blue.
Score (record): Giants 35, Cowboys 27 (0-1)


Sun., Sept. 15, noon -- Cowboys at Chiefs (FOX)

Todd Archer: The last time the Cowboys visited Arrowhead, Todd Haley was the Chiefs' coach and Miles Austin had a breakout game. Now Andy Reid is the Chiefs' coach and there's nothing he can do to stop Austin. Healthy and happy, Austin will have two touchdown catches and 175 yards. Brandon Carr's return to Kansas City ends with an interception.
Score (record): Cowboys 26, Chiefs 19 (1-1)

Tim MacMahon: Maybe Miles Austin will resemble a $54 million receiver in his return to Arrowhead Stadium. Remember, that was the site of his stunning breakout performance in an OT win.
Score (record): Cowboys 24, Chiefs 16 (1-1)

Calvin Watkins: The last time the Cowboys visited here, Miles Austin had 250 receiving yards. He won't do it again as Andy Reid knows these Cowboys. Well ... Reid might know them, but he can't beat them.
Score (record): Cowboys 28, Chiefs 14 (1-1)


Sun., Sept. 22, noon -- Rams at Cowboys (FOX)

Todd Archer: Jeff Fisher will have his punter continuously hit the scoreboard just to make a point, as he did when he was Tennessee's coach in the first preseason game at Cowboys Stadium. Unfortunately for Fisher, the Rams will lose their legs late and ultimately lose the game on a Dwayne Harris punt return for a score.
Score (record): Cowboys 27, Rams 18 (2-1)

Tim MacMahon: Don't count on DeMarco Murray rushing for 253 yards like the last time the Cowboys faced the Rams. Let's figure he's good for about half that and plays a key role in closing out a win.
Score (record): Cowboys 24, Rams 17 (2-1)

Calvin Watkins: Both teams are improved, so this will be a tough game. Jason Garrett interviewed for the Rams' head coaching job a few years ago, but he's got a better gig and a better team now.
Score (record): Cowboys 28, Rams 14 (2-1)


Sun., Sept. 29, 3:25 p.m. -- Cowboys at Chargers (FOX)

Todd Archer: For nearly a decade, Jason Witten and Antonio Gates have been two of the best tight ends in football. Both players will have big days, but Mike McCoy, who helped navigate Tim Tebow to the playoffs in 2011 and oversaw Peyton Manning last year in Denver, will do a terrific job in turning around Philip Rivers, who had become a turnover machine.
Score (record): Chargers 24, Cowboys 21 (2-2)

Tim MacMahon: Romo apologists will complain all week that Philip Rivers isn't nearly as scrutinized. Then Rivers will have the kind of turnover-marred day that would get him ripped if he played for the NFL's highest profile team.
Score (record): Cowboys 27, Chargers 20 (3-1)

Calvin Watkins: This game features two quarterbacks -- Philip Rivers vs. Tony Romo -- who need to take their teams on a deep playoff run. Romo isn't going anywhere based on the new contract he signed. Rivers ... that's a different story. Cowboys will win a close one.
Score (record): Cowboys 31, Chargers 28 (3-1)


Sun., Oct. 6, 3:25 p.m. -- Broncos at Cowboys (CBS)

Todd Archer: Peyton Manning will make just his third visit to play the Cowboys. In his last trip in 2006, Indianapolis lost a shot at a perfect season thanks to new Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Once again, it'll be Romo, with a tip of the cap to Sean Lee, who gets the best of Manning here. Lee will intercept Manning for the third time in his career to seal the win.
Score (record): Cowboys 26, Broncos 24 (3-2)

Tim MacMahon: Tony Romo is 1-0 against Peyton Manning, helping the Cowboys hand the Colts their first loss in 2006. Manning will even the score by leading a comeback.
Score (record): Broncos 30, Cowboys 28 (3-2)

Calvin Watkins: Tony Romo has beaten Peyton Manning before, and he'll do it again with one of his best games of the season. Romo will throw three touchdown passes, and Anthony Spencer will have two sacks.
Score (record): Cowboys 21, Broncos 10 (4-1)


Sun., Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. -- Redskins at Cowboys (NBC)

Todd Archer: Robert Griffin III had four touchdown passes in the second quarter last year in Arlington. That'll get cut in half this year and, as a result, the Cowboys win behind Tony Romo, who will console RG3 after the game and say he's still a great quarterback.
Score (record): Cowboys 34, Redskins 26 (4-2)

Tim MacMahon: Redskins RB Alfred Morris has another big day, but it's not enough. Romo has the kind of game that makes pessimists mutter about him not playing like that with the playoffs at stake.
Score (record): Cowboys 35, Redskins 34 (4-2)

Calvin Watkins: I'm not sure how effective Robert Griffin III will be, given his recovery from knee surgery. But the Redskins are just better than the Cowboys at this stage.
Score (record): Redskins 35, Cowboys 14 (4-2)


Sun., Oct. 20, noon -- Cowboys at Eagles (FOX)

Todd Archer: The Eagles are no longer the Dream Team. Wait, they never were. Michael Vick will have a nightmarish game, and Jay Ratliff will come up with his first sack since Dec. 2011. DeMarco Murray will chew up the clock, and the Cowboys will gut one out at Lincoln Financial Field.
Score (record): Cowboys 20, Eagles 17 (5-2)

Tim MacMahon: RB LeSean McCoy, whom the Cowboys didn't need in the 2009 draft because they were so loaded at the position, will go off for 150 rushing yards. That's still less than half the yardage USC allowed to Oregon's top RB last season.
Score (record): Eagles 28, Cowboys 23 (4-3)

Calvin Watkins: The Cowboys are not afraid of the crowd at The Linc. Dez Bryant will punctuate his two TD catches with an end zone X. But the difference maker will be DeMarco Murray rushing for more than 100 yards in a close victory.
Score (record): Cowboys 20, Eagles 17 (5-2)


Sun., Oct. 27, noon -- Cowboys at Lions (FOX)

Todd Archer: Who stops "Megatron"? Nobody. Highland Park's Matthew Stafford has a big day against the Cowboys and justifies his new mega-deal. The offense is just unable to keep up with Calvin Johnson, who will outduel Dez Bryant in a matchup of what turns out to be the NFC's best receivers in 2013.
Score (record): Lions 37, Cowboys 27 (5-3)

Tim MacMahon: The Cowboys will rally from a 24-point deficit to win on the road. Nah, a comeback like that could never happen, right?
Score (record): Cowboys 27, Lions 24 (5-3)

Calvin Watkins: Rod Marinelli had a rough time in Detroit as the head coach. The Cowboys defensive line will rally around him and knock off Dallas native Matthew Stafford in Ford Field. Can Dez Bryant outplay Calvin Johnson? Yep.
Score (record): Cowboys 27, Lions 10 (6-2)


Sun., Nov. 3, noon -- Vikings at Cowboys (FOX)

Todd Archer: Adrian Peterson (Palestine) will be ready for this Texas homecoming, and he'll shine so much that Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (Colleyville) will throw fewer than 20 passes in the win. There's little the new defense can do to slow down Peterson here.
Score (record): Vikings 23, Cowboys 20 (5-4)

Tim MacMahon: Is Tony Romo overpaid? Ask the Vikings, who would have surely loved to give him a nine-digit deal to complement $100 million tailback Adrian Peterson.
Score (record): Cowboys 21, Vikings 17 (6-3)

Calvin Watkins: The Cowboys' defense struggled to stop the run last season while struggling to run the ball themselves on offense. So do you expect Dallas to stop Adrian Peterson? Nope. He'll rush for 175, but the Cowboys will win a shootout.
Score (record): Cowboys 35, Vikings 31 (7-2)


Sun., Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.-- Cowboys at Saints (NBC)

Todd Archer: Jason Garrett counts Sean Payton as one of his mentors. Payton counts Jerry Jones as one of his mentors. In a game featuring the Cowboys coach vs. the guy a lot of fans wish was Cowboys coach, the Saints win. Drew Brees will have a field day, but so will Tony Romo against Rob Ryan's defense.
Score (record): Saints 41, Cowboys 38 (5-5)

Tim MacMahon: Dez Bryant will dominate the Saints' secondary again, but a couple of red-zone sputters will come back to haunt the Cowboys. Watch for TE Jimmy Graham to feast on Dallas' young safeties.
Score (record): Saints 28, Cowboys 27 (6-4)

Calvin Watkins: When they met last season, Sean Payton watched from home. This time, he'll be back on the Saints' sideline. The Superdome will be rocking, and Drew Brees will knock off the Cowboys with four touchdowns.
Score (record): Saints 35, Cowboys 24 (7-3)

>> BYE WEEK <<

Sunday, Nov. 24, 3:25 p.m. -- Cowboys at Giants (FOX)

Todd Archer: As friendly as Cowboys Stadium has been to the Giants, MetLife Stadium has not been a place to fear for the Cowboys. Jason Garrett is 2-1 there, including last season's opener. DeMarcus Ware introduces himself early and often to Eli Manning and Bruce Carter has a pick-six.
Score (record): Cowboys 31, Giants 24 (6-5)

Tim MacMahon: This seems like a good game for Jason Garrett to have a clock-management malfunction. Dan Bailey's 56-yarder as time expires bounces off the crossbar.
Score (record): Giants 21, Cowboys 20 (6-5)

Calvin Watkins: The lights will go out for the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium as the Giants remember losing the 2012 season opener. Eli Manning will outplay Tony Romo in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.
Score (record): Giants 28, Cowboys 24 (7-4)


Thu., Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m. -- Raiders at Cowboys (CBS)

Todd Archer: Reggie McKenzie is going about the rebuilding job in Oakland the right way, but it will take time and it may end up costing coach Dennis Allen, the Hurst native. Dez Bryant will have a big day with three touchdown catches against a defense that can't get to Tony Romo. The defense will get the turnovers, too.
Score (record): Cowboys 33, Raiders 20 (7-5)

Tim MacMahon: If you think the Cowboys' salary cap situation is a mess, take a look at the Raiders and laugh. The Cowboys will welcome Mike Jenkins back to JerryWorld by picking on their former first-round pick all day.
Score (record): Cowboys 31, Raiders 20 (7-5)

Calvin Watkins: The Cowboys defense will put a beatdown on the Raiders as Brandon Carr gets an interception, Sean Lee has 10 tackles (at least) and the offense does its part.
Score (record): Cowboys 21, Raiders 3 (8-4)


Mon., Dec. 9, 7:40 p.m. -- Cowboys at Bears (ESPN)

Todd Archer: Out of respect for his good friend, Lovie Smith, Rod Marinelli could not remain as Chicago's defensive coordinator when Marc Trestman was hired. In effect, the Cowboys traded Joe DeCamillis for Marinelli. On this day, Marinelli gets the win and gets inside Jay Cutler's head with a ton of pressure, which leads to two turnovers. Dan Bailey does in his old special teams coach.
Score (record): Cowboys 26, Bears 23 (8-5)

Tim MacMahon: Rod Marinelli wasn't the only reason the Bears forced so many turnovers last season. Romo will throw three interceptions, which is progress considering last season's loss to the Bears.
Score (record): Bears 35, Cowboys 21 (7-6)

Calvin Watkins: This is a different Bears team than the one that beat the Cowboys last season on Monday Night Football. Is it better? No. The Cowboys will win in Solider Field as Bruce Carter will return a Jay Cutler pass for a touchdown and Rod Marinelli gets revenge.
Score (record): Cowboys 17, Bears 13 (9-4)


Sun., Dec. 15, 3:25 p.m.-- Packers at Cowboys (FOX)

Todd Archer: The last time Aaron Rodgers visited Arlington, he beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLV. If the Cowboys want to be taken seriously, they must win this home game. Brett Favre never beat the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Rodgers will have much more success in his first regular-season start at Cowboys Stadium.
Score (record): Packers 35, Cowboys 31 (8-6)

Tim MacMahon: There's a reason that Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to get a contract that makes Tony Romo's $55 million guaranteed look like chump change. The Packers' defense is pretty good against teams that don't run the zone read.
Score (record): Packers 28, Cowboys 24 (7-7)

Calvin Watkins: Do you really expect the Packers to not remember the good times they had in Cowboys Stadium when they won Super Bowl XLV? Aaron Rodgers will have a big game, beating up the Cowboys secondary.
Score (record): Packers 35, Cowboys 10 (9-5)


Sun., Dec. 22, noon -- Cowboys at Redskins (FOX)

Todd Archer: Alfred Morris goes left. Alfred Morris goes right. Alfred Morris goes up the middle. Rob Ryan could not stop Morris last season at FedEx Field, and Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli won't get it done this season. Mix in some play action from Robert Griffin III, and the Redskins will do just enough to beat the Cowboys again.
Score (record): Redskins 22, Cowboys 16 (8-7)

Tim MacMahon: The Cowboys' comeback attempt will go kaput when Brian Orakpo gets a strip sack. A 100-yard rushing day for RG III will end with a couple of kneel downs.
Score (record): Redskins 26, Cowboys 20 (7-8)

Calvin Watkins: The Redskins are just better right now. It's OK. That happens sometimes. RG III does his thing.
Score (record): Redskins 27, Cowboys 10 (9-6)


Sun., Dec. 29, noon -- Eagles at Cowboys (FOX)

Todd Archer: Monte Kiffin gets a crack at Chip Kelly after failing to stop Kelly's Oregon offenses while at Southern Cal. With better players, more time to prepare and Kelly rebuilding in his first year, Kiffin's defense comes up with the turnovers that he never got in college.
Score (record): Cowboys 30, Eagles 17 (9-7)

Tim MacMahon: No matter which birds he's coaching, Chip Kelly will give Monte Kiffin fits. But the corner-starved Eagles won't be able to stop Dez Bryant.
Score (record): Cowboys 31, Eagles 30 (8-8)

Calvin Watkins: Will Monte Kiffin's defense be able to hold Chip Kelly and his expected up-tempo offense? This is the NFL, and Kelly's offense might not translate well in the pro game. Expect Kiffin's defense to win this one.
Score (record): Cowboys 20, Eagles 17 (10-6)

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