EARLY pick-em: Cowboy win total for 2026 season. And GO!

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RogtaDru

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Individual games aside I'm going a 3rd consecutive 7 win season with the offense not quite as good as last year's.

And a defense, that while improved from last year's dumpster fire, is still unable to match all the offseason hype its being given based on a new DC and unproven rookies.

A 3rd place tie with Washington for Dallas in the division and unfortunately an ascending Giants team battles Philly for 1st and 2nd until season's end.

I feel like I just did a Dbair post game rant, lol.

Oh well, I enjoy my crow medium well thank you.
 
Dodger12

Dodger12

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7 to 9 wins so I'll split the pie and go 8 wins and I really feel like I'm being optimistic. The D will improved but we'll continue to suffer and fail under center.
 
Scot

Scot

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I have them at either 8 or 9 wins.

But for some reason I have this weird feeling that Philly is going to meltdown this year for one reason or another. If that’s the case Hurts and Siriani are on the chopping block and that gets us 1 more win

I hope they do juuuuust enough for Siriani to keep his job. Because you know CP is likely first in line for that HC job if he has any amount of success this season
 
dbair1967

dbair1967

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Scot said:
I hope they do juuuuust enough for Siriani to keep his job. Because you know CP is likely first in line for that HC job if he has any amount of success this season
Keep reading...
I doubt they fire Sirani unless it's just a complete debacle of a season (4 or 5 wins).

That said even if they do Parker would be no more likely to get that job right now than any other qualified candidate. He hasn't even been a coordinator for a yr yet.
 
Doomsday

Doomsday

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Watchin the dang Vegas line on our win total, I noticed our win total went up suddenly from 8.5 to 9.5!

Look no further than Thanksgiving and the old 70s advantage we have. Three straight home games against teams not coming off a bye and also the 35,000 mile travel weary fairy niners. It's certainly favorable and for wins line to move this big in Vegas is very unusual.
 
dbair1967

dbair1967

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Doomsday said:
???

He's under contract, can we not forbid contact? Other teams haven't?
Keep reading...
Not for HC positions. Teams still "ask" for permission but they cannot actually prevent an assistant coach from moving to a head coach role.

You can block coaches under contract for assistant coach roles but not HC. I think same thing applies to teams wanting to hire someone for a General Manager type role too.
 
dbair1967

dbair1967

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Doomsday said:
He's under contract, can we not forbid contact? Other teams haven't?
Keep reading...
Key Rules on Assistants Interviewing for Promotions (e.g., Position Coach to Coordinator)
  • Teams generally cannot block promotions to coordinator roles: Since a 2020 resolution, clubs cannot deny an assistant coach the opportunity to interview for a bona fide Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, or Special Teams Coordinator position with another team. This also applies to certain personnel/front-office promotions (e.g., to Assistant GM).
    • "Bona fide" typically means the role involves game-plan development (not necessarily play-calling).
    • Teams cannot include restrictive language in contracts (e.g., right of first refusal or matching rights) for these moves.
    • In disputes over job titles/structures, teams must submit coaching organizational charts to the league; Commissioner Roger Goodell makes the final call.
  • Lateral moves or same-level jobs can still be blocked: A team can deny permission for a coach to take a similar-titled role elsewhere (e.g., QB coach to QB coach). Only clear promotions (especially to coordinator) are protected.

  • Timing and playoff restrictions:
    • In-season (including playoffs for most teams): Strict limits apply. Interviews with assistants from playoff teams are often virtual, time-limited (e.g., up to 3 hours), and require current-team approval.
    • Offseason/post-season: More flexibility once a coach's current season ends. Assistants from non-playoff teams are generally available sooner.

      foxsports.com
Head Coach Hiring/Promotions from Assistants
  • Internal promotions (e.g., promoting a coordinator or assistant to HC on the same team) face fewer external interview hurdles but still fall under broader rules.
  • External hires: Teams must follow interview windows and cannot freely poach contracted assistants without permission (except for protected promotions). Head coaches have stronger contract protections.
No, NFL teams cannot forbid (i.e., block or deny permission for) an assistant coach from interviewing for a head coach position with another team. This is a clear, longstanding rule under the NFL's Anti-Tampering Policy.

Key Details from the NFL Anti-Tampering Policy
  • Mandatory permission for head coaching interviews: Once an assistant coach's playing season (including playoffs, excluding the Pro Bowl) has ended and they are still under contract, their current team must grant permission for them to interview and potentially accept a head coaching job with another club through March 1 of that year.
    • This applies even during the postseason for playoff teams (with specific timing, virtual interview, and location rules).
    • After March 1, permission becomes discretionary (the current team can deny it), but most serious head coaching searches happen earlier in the cycle.
  • No selective blocking: If one team is granted permission to interview the assistant for a head coaching job, the current team must allow all other inquiring teams the same opportunity.
Contrast with other moves:
  • Promotions to coordinator: Since 2020, teams also cannot block assistants from interviewing for bona fide coordinator (OC/DC/STC) jobs elsewhere.

    sports.yahoo.com
  • Lateral/same-level moves: Teams can deny permission (e.g., position coach to same role, or coordinator to coordinator)
 
daboyz

daboyz

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OK, time to bump this thread up. If I had to put a number on it right now, I’d predict the Cowboys finish 10–7. As Dooms had stated above, the betting market has Dallas at 9.5 wins. Dallas is coming off a 7–9–1 season, so getting to 10 wins would require a meaningful step forward.

I like the defensive additions/improvement enough to give them a slight edge over the market. Their defense has looked encouraging in early camp, including against the Rams. My prediction, 10–7, second place in the NFC East, and a playoff spot.

If Dak stays healthy and the defense really does take a jump, 11–6 is absolutely on the table. If the defense struggles or injuries hit, I could see 8–9.
 
dbair1967

dbair1967

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I will wait and reserve final prediction after completion of preseason and how any roster moves shake out.

Everything seems promising right now though.
 
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