Cowboys' strength of schedule for 2022 is laughably easy
Right now, the Dallas Cowboys are a top-5 favorite to win Super Bowl LVII. Things can obviously change as the offseason continues, but for now, optimism is high when it comes to Mike McCarthy's squad. An NFC East title and a talented roster are two big reasons why Dallas is where it is as we […]
Right now, the Dallas Cowboys are a top-5 favorite to win Super Bowl LVII. Things can obviously change as the offseason continues, but for now, optimism is high when it comes to Mike McCarthy's squad.
An NFC East title and a talented roster are two big reasons why Dallas is where it is as we enter 2022. But there's another reason why the Cowboys are currently among the top Super Bowl favorites.
Dallas is tied with the Washington Commanders for the league's easiest schedule entering 2022. The Cowboys' 2022 opponents have a combined 2021 record of 133-155-1, which comes out to a .462 winning percentage, at the end of the day.
A lot of that has to do with the division. The Cowboys were easily the best team out of the Commanders, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles. Even if the latter won nine games and made the postseason. The Giants and Commanders combined to win 11 games, which was one win shy of Dallas' total for 2021.
It's no surprise that the NFC East rounds out the four easiest schedules in 2022, but it doesn't stop there for the Cowboys. Their 2022 schedule is contains bottom-tiered opponents such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Detriot Lions, and to lesser extents, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
In other words: nine of the Cowboys' 17 2022 opponents (including division opponents) finished with a losing record in 2021.
Now, there will be some challenges. Trips to Green Bay, Los Angeles (Rams), and Nashville as well as home contests against the Bucs and Cincinnati Bengals loom large. But the telling factor is when those teams are scheduled, which is currently unknown. Playing the Bucs in December will be much different than playing them in September. And that matchup could end up playing out in Dallas' favor, depending on the type of disparity.
There is obviously a long way to go, but so far, 2022 is off to a good start for Dallas.
Featured image via-Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
