Week 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sept. 23
The first home game on the schedule brings the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their maturing QB Josh Freeman and his speedy receiving corps to town. This is a great opportunity to see new cornerback Brandon Carr shore up the back side of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s attacking defense. The home opener is sure to be a sellout Cowboys tickets quickly because of the potential for a sack fest and interception derby for the Buccaneers’ struggling QB.
Week 4 Chicago Bears Oct. 1
The Chicago Bears travel to Dallas for a Monday night game under the lights. This could be the most talked-about game on the first half of their schedule as Ryan’s new defensive stars face the mercurial QB Jay Cutler who reunites with star receiver Brandon Marshall. Cutler is one of the most exciting QBs in the league, who is equally capable of torching the Dallas secondary for 5 TDs or tossing up 5 interceptions and taking 5 sacks from Demarcus Ware and his crew.
Week 8 New York Giants Oct. 28
This first home game in 4 weeks is sandwiched in the middle of four road games, against the Giants. This game is expect to sell out of Cowboy tickets fast because you can bet that Tony Romo will try to assert himself as the best QB in the NFC East, a title currently held by Giants QB Eli Manning’s. Also, look for the Cowboy’s new secondary to try to shut down Manning’s usual late-game heroics.
Week 11 Cleveland Browns Nov. 18
Watch the historic cellar-dwelling Cleveland Browns from the AFC North try to stop the high powered Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray attack. Make sure you buy your Cowboys tickets early for this game because I expect that they will go for a record setting day against the weak Browns secondary, while Rob Ryan’s vicious defense will stack up to wreck one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the last 5 NFL five seasons.
Week 12 Washington Redskins Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day)
The Thanksgiving Day game renews the Redskins rivalry in their first face-off of the season. This is a game of historic firsts: the first time their schedule has pitted Dallas vs. Washington in their first match up so late in the season, their first meeting of the season on Thanksgiving Day in years, and the probable first look at new Redskins QB Robert Griffin III against Rob Ryan’s quarterback killing machine.
Week 13 Philadelphia Eagles Dec. 2
Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles torched Dallas twice in 2011 and return to Dallas in week 10 for a rematch. Rob Ryan said he was out coached last year by Philly’s Andy Reid, so look for him to send his new defense flying after a dangerous, scrambling Vick. Tony Romo and his WRs will be looking to hang some long TDs on Philly’s great group of defensive backs.
Week 15 Pittsburgh Steelers Dec 16
This game could be a Super Bowl XLVII preview when the Steelers come for an inter-conference match up of the two most successful franchises in the NFL. These teams combined have the most Super Bowl appearances and wins and both are primed this year with high-powered passing games, Pro Bowl quarterbacks and frightening defenses. This Romo-Roethlisberger match up will be a must-see event.
Week 16 New Orleans Saints Dec 23
One of the most interesting games in the second half of the schedule brings the humiliated Saints to town after their Bountygate scandal. Saints head coach Sean Payton is suspended for the full season and interim coach Joe Vitt, also implicated in the pay-for-injuries defensive scheme, will be back from his own six game suspension and on the sidelines for this game. Romo and the Boys will be looking for a big day throwing downfield as the officials will have to keep a close watch on any more overly aggressive play by the Saints defenders.
2012-13 Cowboys Schedule
Wed, Sept. 5 – vs. Giants
Sun, Sept. 16 – vs. Seahawks
Sun, Sept. 23 – vs. Buccaneers
Mon, Oct. 1 – vs. Bears
Sun, Oct. 7 BYE Week
Sun, Oct. 14 – vs. Ravens
Sun, Oct. 21 – vs. Panthers
Sun, Oct. 28 – vs. GIANTS
Sun, Nov. 4 – vs. Falcons
Sun, Nov. 11 – vs. Eagles
Sun, Nov. 18 – vs. Browns
Thurs, Nov. 22 – vs. Redskins
Sun, Dec. 2 – vs. Eagles
Sun, Dec. 9 – vs. Bengals
Sun, Dec. 16 – vs. Steelers
Sun, Dec. 23 – vs. Saints
Sun, Dec. 30 – vs. Redskins
