Ranking of the Dallas Cowboys 2024 matches from sure wins to nightmare scenarios

The NFL is back and we're looking at the Dallas Cowboys' schedule and ranking their games from seemingly sure wins to nightmarish scenarios and everything in between. Dallas enters the 2024 season with the 12th toughest schedule in the league.

Although the Cowboys have a few games scheduled in which they should actually achieve “automatic” victories, there are also a few games coming up that could end up being the downfall of them and their fans, like Freddy Krueger.

New York Giants (Weeks 4 and 13): This should be self-explanatory, as the Giants were a disaster last season, losing their best offensive player (Saquon Barkley) to the Eagles. Dallas won this series last season, beating New York 89-17 in two games. However, the Cowboys thrashed the Giants 40-0 in the first game, which was Week 1. And Daniel Jones is still quarterback for the G-Men, so Dallas' defense will be licking its fingers.

New Orleans Saints (Week 2): Arguably the worst division in the NFL (NFC South), the Saints march into Big D in Week 2 where they will undoubtedly be considered underdogs. New Orleans finished 9-8 last season and just missed the playoffs, while Tampa Bay won the division crown. Sure, Derek Carr has his moments, as do Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave, but Dallas should be able to hold its own against New Orleans in every way. There's no good reason why the Cowboys should lose this game.

Washington Commanders (Weeks 12 and 18): No matter how good everyone thinks Jayden Daniels will be in the future, it won't matter this year against the Cowboys. Yes, these are division rivals, but Dallas has the edge at most of the specialty positions. That's not to say the games can't be close, but the Cowboys have to win these matchups because they're supposed to. That's what true championship contenders do. Dallas also knows the intricacies of Dan Quinn's defensive strategy, which can only be a benefit.

Carolina Panthers (Week 15): The Panthers have a long way to go before they're even ready to compete in the NFC South, let alone beat one of the better teams in the conference. While the Cowboys did lose a game to the Arizona Cardinals last season, no one could have predicted that. The bar isn't set high in Carolina, having won two games in 2023, so this game against Dallas will be another disappointment.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 16): Tampa Bay was one of the league's surprise teams last year, making the playoffs after Tom Brady retired. Not many believed in Baker Mayfield, but he proved everyone wrong by going 9-8 and winning the NFC South title. If this is one of those magical Mayfield performances, then anything is possible, but looking at it just from the matchups, this is a game the Cowboys should easily win at home. Tampa allowed just 19.1 points per game last season, but Dallas has an even better defense, a dynamic offense and plays this game at home.

Cleveland Browns (Week 1): Cleveland is in a tough spot missing Nick Chubb and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. No one is sure about Deshaun Watson and his remaining options, but even then there's still a chance Dallas fumbles in this game since it's Week 1 on the road. The Browns were the best defense in terms of total yards last season. Dallas probably wins, but it could really go either way.

Philadelphia Eagles (Weeks 10 and 17): These rivals won't see each other until November, so we should know which teams they are by then. Predicting a win for either side is always difficult because you just never know what will happen when the Cowboys and Eagles meet. Surprisingly, neither game is scheduled for prime time, but there's still a chance they can add something later in the season.

Atlanta Falcons (Week 9): Ultimately, the Cowboys should be the better team on paper, but games aren't won that way. We said the same thing about the Cowboys and Cardinals last year before Arizona beat them 28-16. That was a road game for Dallas, as was their matchup with Atlanta. The Falcons now have a true QB (at least in the regular season) in Kirk Cousins ​​and this could be the Cardinals' game again.

Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 5): It's hard to judge the Steelers unless you know the defense is going to play. Russell Wilson is currently running the offense, but no one really knows what to expect from him. They have George Pickens at the outside positions and Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the backfield, but all things considered, Dallas should win this game. However, it's hard to automatically write off a team coached by a man (Mike Tomlin) who has never experienced a losing season.

San Francisco 49ers (Week 8): That's a no-brainer, because the 49ers have had a tight end over the Cowboys lately. They've eliminated Dallas in two of the last three postseasons. San Francisco also beat Dallas in Week 5 of last season, 42-10. When it comes down to it, the Niners are too physical, and Kyle Shanahan tends to out-coach Mike McCarthy.

'Houston Texans (Week 11): Houston is coming and it's only a matter of time before Dallas' in-state rival is considered a top-five team in the NFL. DeMeco Ryan's defense, coupled with an offense led by rookie sensation CJ Stroud last season. Ryans was a physical player in his day and he's building this team in his image. It's not a given, but this game has the potential to slip away from McCarthy's guys.

Baltimore Ravens (Week 3): Like the Niners, the Ravens bring a physicality that the Cowboys typically struggle with. Baltimore was so strong last year that they went to San Francisco and kicked the Niners' butts, 33-19. Don't be surprised if Dallas suffers a similar fate.

Detroit Lions (Week 6): This could be one of those shootouts we love so much in the NFL. Dallas beat Detroit last season on a bad call late in the game that cost the Lions a win late in the year. The Lions are evenly matched with the Cowboys and when you have two quarterbacks that like to hit, this could easily be an instant classic. If the refs don't interfere too much, the Lions could get their revenge.

Cincinnati Bengals (Week 14): Cincinnati is one of those teams you really want to catch at the beginning of the year. They are a team that starts off slow and gets better as the season goes on, especially when Joe Burrow is on the field. We expect the Cowboys to be battling for the division and possibly the top seed in the NFC by this point. The Bengals play in the toughest division in the NFL (AFC North) and will likely be in the thick of the battle as well. In that situation, it's hard to compete against Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase.