Cowboys NFC East Predictions in 2016
Dallas Cowboys 2015: Overall (4-12) Division (3-3)
The Dallas Cowboys' (4-12) 6th season under head Jason Garrett, was doomed once quarterback Tony Romo suffered a broken collarbone in week two against the Eagles.
Also wide receiver Dez Bryant being sidelined for seven weeks after requiring surgery for a fracture in his foot in week one didn't help Dallas either.
Last season Dallas had a revolving door of pedestrian backup quarterbacks:
Brandon Weeden, who will always be remembered for when the Metamucil finally got to his head, and he decided to enter the NFL draft at the young age of 28, setting a record as the oldest player drafted in the first round.
The only time, you will hear the name of "Brandon Weeden" mentioned in the same conversation with Canton, Ohio.
Then when you complement Weeden with Kellen Moore, who has the physique of a junior high school quarterback, Owner and General manager Jerry Jones was just asking for a debacle to happen.
Now that Jones has decided to sign Marc Sanchez to the revolving door of backup quarterbacks, he is just looking to prove that everything is bigger in Texas.
A Sanchez butt-fumble in 2016 will just further support that theory.
Offense: Dallas will go as far as the odds that Romo is healthy this year.
In the third preseason game this season he suffers a fractured vertebrae in his back, sidelining him for 6-10 weeks with a projected return in week seven.
The Cowboys hold a record of 1-13 in the past three seasons without Romo, and finished 22th in the NFL in total offense in his absence last year.
This euphoric level of excitement that Dallas fans have for rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has been full of hyperbole and exaggeration.
I guess when you go through as much losing as American's team in last 20 years, having hall of fame numbers in preseason against 2nd and 3rd stringers will garner that type of reaction.
Although I'm a fan of Prescott and believe he will be Romo's future successor.
The addition of drafting Ohio State star running Ezekiel Elliot 4th overall will be the most exciting for Dallas.
Elliot has an elite skill set of ball carrying vision in the open field to being a threat in the passing game, and pass blocking makes him a bona fide superstar in the making.
Especially running behind that omnipotent Dallas offensive line.
Signing Morris in free agency will be a good complement to Elliot.
I expect Bryant to have a bounce back year after a injury plaque season with a career low: 401 yards, 31 receptions and three touchdowns in nine games in 2015.
Defense: Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli leads a very underrated Cowboys defense, who finished 17th overall in total defense, and 5th in pass defense.
The Cowboys didn't make any big offseason moves, but cornerback speedster Orlando Scandrick will be back after he tore his right ACL and MCL in 2015.
Sean Lee who has a history of being injury prone is coming off his first pro bowl in 2015.
However Dallas lacks defensive lineman depth, choosing not to resign Greg Hardy.
In short, I think the end of the Romo era is fait accompli with his litany of injuries.
The Cowboys record of 10-23 in the past decade without him does not bode well for their chances.
Dallas will use this season to develop the tandem of Prescott and Elliot, and look at the future post Romo and the bevy of blond bombshells in his life.
PREDICTION: I have the Cowboys finishing third in the NFC East with a record of (8-8).