The Dallas Cowboys made the playoffs a season ago and have designs of returning there in 2019. The core of the team is back, and there is belief this team will challenge the Philadelphia Eagles for supremacy in the NFC East. The current NFL odds are calling a Cowboys playoff run a literal toss-up, as there are even odds on whether they make it to the postseason or not. Dallas fans certainly think it will happen but there is some concern about this group, led by the current holdout of star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cowboys odds to make the playoffs
Yes -110
No -110
Cowboys Playoff Odds Analysis
The Cowboys went 10-6 a season ago, really catching fire down the stretch after they added star wide receiver Amari Cooper to the fold. Dallas won the NFC East and then beat the Seahawks in the wild card round before falling to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Cowboys’ main competition in their division this year is the Eagles, as the Washington Redskins and New York Giants are both in rebuilding mode. Dallas will play those three teams twice apiece this year, and will also have games against the Dolphins, Saints, Packers, Jets, Vikings, Lions, Patriots, Bills, Bears and Rams.
There are some tough games on the Dallas schedule, but there are also a handful of easy ones in which the Cowboys must take care of business to help the playoff push.
Dallas Cowboys Odds
Elliott is one of the NFL’s premier running backs but he is in the midst of a contract squabble with Dallas and it is unknown when he will return to the team. The Cowboys have Cooper and quarterback Dak Prescott along with a strong offensive line, but the team won’t be as dangerous as expected without the services of its star running back.
It will be interesting to see if either side blinks in this negotiation. Dallas is going to have to start paying a lot of their stars big money soon, and Elliott wants a piece of that pie. If the Cowboys don’t have him for the early part of the season, it will decrease their chances of making the playoffs.
While there is that big question on offense, the Cowboys are excited about the development of their defense. The team has arguably the most talented linebacker core in the league, led by Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee. The Cowboys retained star edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence this offseason, while Byron Jones is the big name in the secondary.
Key Stats or Trends
The Cowboys have a lot of key pieces in place in 2019, and it seems like the season could hinge on a couple of things. The first is getting Elliott back in the fold. The other is for Prescott to take a step forward and become a star. His numbers dramatically improved following the addition of Cooper, and the Cowboys believe a full season of that kind of explosiveness awaits.
If that is true, the playoffs will be very attainable. However, if Elliott stays away and teams can focus more on stopping the pass, it will make life tougher on Prescott. The Cowboys’ roster could look different next season as they try to figure out a way to keep all of their stars and remain under the salary cap. This is an important year to make some noise, as a playoff berth is expected by owner Jerry Jones and the fanbase in 2019.
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