There's a big problem in Big D.
Cowboys star QB Tony Romo and WR Dez Bryant are shelved for at least eight weeks each, leaving the team's offense with gaping holes. Second string QB Brandon Weeden and WR Terrance Williams cannot win games on their own; however, the best offensive line in the NFL may give them a hand.
Romo was sacked 29 times last season while posting a career high 113.2 QBR and having plenty of time in the pocket. But Romo wasn't the headliner; the Cowboys' success came from elsewhere on offense.
Philadelphia Eagles RB DeMarco Murray was a force to be reckoned with in Dallas last season. Who will step up in the absences of Romo, Bryant and the departed Murray?
Run The Ball!
The offense doesn't have an all-star RB - instead, three mediocre options will be rotated through. Weeden is not a starting caliber QB by any stretch of the imagination, he will look to manage the game clock more than anything else.
Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden are worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks as Garrett looks to balance his offense until Romo returns. Garrett will look to his backs to eat chunks of yards and rely on the offensive line that boosted Murray to 1,845 yards on 392 attempts a season ago.
If McFadden regains the magic he showed in 2010 when he trucked defenders en route to 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns, he makes for an intriguing contrarian option that could pay off in a deep tournament.
Weeden to Witten?
Prepare to hear about this duo a lot over the next several weeks.
When an inexperienced QB has a weapon equal to TE Jason Witten's talent, he will tend to target him time and time again. Witten has been targeted more than 110 times in seven of the 10 seasons with Romo at QB.
Witten is a high value pick heading into Week 3 due to the lack of weapons at the Cowboys' disposal. Weeden connected with WR Terrance Williams on a 42-yard bomb vs. the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, but defenses should be able to contain Williams and Cole Beasley with relative ease.
Work Together
T-E-A-M (Together Everyone Achieves More) is a motto the Cowboys would be wise to implement into their season.
The offense can't turn the ball over and must tally points - whether via field goals or touchdowns, the defense needs to be efficient in shutting down the opposing offense.
The Cowboys face arguably the toughest part of their schedule without their two offensive weapons. Here is a look at their schedule over the next eight weeks:
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sunday | vs. Falcons |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | @ Saints |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | vs Patriots |
| 6 | Oct.18 | BYE |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | @ Giants |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | vs. Seahawks |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | vs. Eagles |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | @ Buccaneers |
The Cowboys have several matchups which favor their run game, including tilts with the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants. The workhorse back is worth the FLEX spot on your roster in each of those weeks.
The resilence of the Cowboys' defense wil be tested in Week 3 and Week 5 matchups versus the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, when they'll take on one of the league's top receivers in Julio Jones and an elite QB in Tom Brady.
