W2W4: How the Dallas Cowboys can win Week One

The Dallas Cowboys start the 2018 season on the road versus the Carolina Panthers. Here is what to watch for and how the Cowboys can be victorious.

Starting this afternoon, it counts for real.  The Dallas Cowboys will take the field at Bank of America Stadium to play the Carolina Panthers in their 2018 debut.

This opening game will have a very different look for the team you are accustomed to seeing. For the first time since 2010, Dez Bryant will not be lining up at wide receiver. For the first time since 2003, Jason Witten will not be working the middle of the field at tight end.

Depending on which players make the game day 46, a lot of new faces will be playing for Dallas today.  In fact, there could be as many as 20 new players that will wear the Star for the first time ever.

If history means a lot to you, there are harbingers on both sides of the fence.

Jason Garrett is 4-3 as head coach for this team in opening games. Since 2013, he’s alternated wins and losses to start the season. Last year, Dallas won so a loss this year would fit that pattern.

On the flip side, the Dallas Cowboys dominate Carolina, especially in their own building. Dallas is 9-2 historically versus the Panthers with four straight road wins in this series.

Ultimately, history will have little to do with the outcome today. What will have everything to do with a win or a loss is how this team plays today. What can the Dallas Cowboys do to ensure starting 2018 with a win?

Here are the biggest keys to a successful start to the 2018 season.