Realistic 2022 NFC East outlook and prediction for the Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders

Matchups:

• Week 4, Sunday, October 2, 1 pm EST, in Arlington
• Week 18, Date/Time TBD, at Washington

Realistic Prediction: Cowboys and Commanders split 1-1

This one feels a little bit tough to write. But again, I am giving a realistic view and that isn’t always the most fun. I wholeheartedly think Dallas is definitely the better team and SHOULD win both of the games against Washington, but that isn’t how the NFL works.

While Carson Wentz is by no means good, he is better than what Washington trotted out last season. The quartet of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert, and Kyle Allen that they rolled with in 2021 would only strike fear in a Dallas-area high school team… if that. So, it isn’t exactly hard to improve their quarterback play from a year ago.

Wentz is erratic as they come. That bodes both good and bad for him and his opponents. For every blind flailing interception he throws (there are a lot), he does come up with some magic every once in a while. Wentz has the ability to make a handful of NFL-caliber throws a game, and if the Cowboys’ offense is boom-or-bust as we saw in 2021, it may only take a couple of good throws to steal a game. We know Trevon Diggs is certainly excited to line up against the former Colt.

The Week 18 game has playoff implications written all over it. That is something Cowboys fans know all too well. They have found themselves in too many win-or-go-home games for one’s liking. Ideally, the final week of the season could be a game Dallas chooses to rest everyone. My gut says it will be otherwise.

Cowboys split 1-1 with Washington in a loss that could have a meteoric impact.