Oddsmakers send Cowboys fans' hopes plummeting

If you're anything like me, I can tell exactly how you reacted to that notification that let you know Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Chances are that you let out a quick swear or a deep sigh. And then you opened up the Cowboys calendar to do some quick […]

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Sep 11, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hits his hand against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett (58) as he throws the ball during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

If you're anything like me, I can tell exactly how you reacted to that notification that let you know Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Chances are that you let out a quick swear or a deep sigh. And then you opened up the Cowboys calendar to do some quick math to figure out if the season can be salvaged.

If you did, you figured out pretty quickly that things don't look great. It feels like best case scenario, Dak Prescott will be back after the bye week to take on the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau. Here are the weeks between then and now.

  1. Bengals
  2. @ Giants
  3. Commanders
  4. @ Rams
  5. @ Eagles
  6. Lions
  7. Bears
  8. BYE

You could argue the NFC East games are within reach and that they could escape with one or two wins versus the NFC North teams that have some of the worst rosters in the league.

But even then, it's tough to predict winning outcomes for the Cowboys after the offense struggled to move the ball like it did on Sunday night.

The performance was so uninspiring that along with Dak Prescott's injury, it send the Cowboys plummeting to the bottom of the division in the eyes of oddsmakers.

Oddsmakers have the Cowboys at the bottom of the NFC East

One thing many in Cowboys Nation would've expected after Dak's injury is for the Philadelphia Eagles to become the favorites to win the division. They've got a very complete roster and have surrounded QB Jalen Hurts with high-end weapons and a loaded offensive line.

But maybe not many expected sportsbooks to rank their chances below the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants.

These are the odds to win the NFC East, per DraftKings:

  1. Eagles -140
  2. Commanders +450
  3. Giants +475
  4. Cowboys +550

Now granted, oddsmakers get things wrong all the time. But overall, stats reveal they're quite accurate when these developments take place.

If anything, the massive movement in odds that saw the Cowboys go from division favorites to the very bottom of it sheds light on how challenging the situation the Cowboys are in right now is.

Say Dallas wins three games without Dak, the Cowboys would still be at 3-6 and hoping for a miraculous run from Prescott beginning in Week 10. Perhaps this bleak picture pushes the Cowboys to make a move for an upgrade at quarterback in the next few days.

Right now, however, the short-term future of the Cowboys suggests a season of 17 more games. No more, no less.

Featured image via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

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