Jimmy Johnson offers his thoughts on Dallas Cowboys' 2024 schedule

Following the release of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 schedule on Wednesday night, former head coach Jimmy Johnson weighed in on how it shakes out for Jerry Jones’ squad. On The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Johnson, like many analysts, believes if the Cowboys can power through the first half of the season, they’ll be in prime position for the playoffs.

“I think (a weaker ending to the schedule) can be an advantage if they are still confident and if they’re healthy going into the last part of the season,” Johnson said. “They’ve got some difficult games right off the bat. For instance, they go up to Cleveland, a great defense. They’re gonna have a young offensive line. That’s gonna struggle against that pass rush of Cleveland.

“Then the third week, they’ve got Baltimore, a physical football team. I think the big thing is the Cowboys have got to survive the early part of the season. They’ve got to survive not only confidence-wise but also health-wise. And if they do that, they can finish strong.”

The Cowboys have finished 12-5 in each of the last three regular seasons under Mike McCarthy. However, it’s the postseason that matters increasingly with each year of McCarthy’s tenure that passes.

Ryan Clark: ‘They probably won’t make the playoffs’

Not all are as hopeful as Johnson about the Cowboys’ chances at a postseason run, however. Former Steelers defender Ryan Clark believes Dallas could miss the playoffs entirely thanks to the increase in talent by other teams. The Cowboys had a relatively quiet offseason and they now have question marks at multiple spots on the field, including running back, defensive line and offensive line.

Because Dallas comes face to face with the Browns, Ravens, Steelers, Lions and 49ers – all teams chasing divisional titles – in the first half of the season, Clark doubts the Cowboys’ talent stacking up against those teams, plus, the ones they face at home in the back half of the schedule.

“They could be out of the playoff discussion by the time we get to the last nine games,” Clark said on Get Up on Thursday. “In those home games, you have the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans, who we expect to be one of the best teams in the entire NFL. So, we have to look at what the Dallas Cowboys didn’t do this offseason and the way other teams improved…

“This team won the East last year. They’re not going to win the East this year. That’s a worse team. And they probably won’t make the playoffs, if you ask me.”

Dallas Cowboys 2024 schedule

• Week 1 – at Cleveland Browns, Sun. Sept. 8, 3:25 p.m. CT
• Week 2 – vs. New Orleans Saints, Sun. Sept. 15, 12 p.m. CT
• Week 3 – vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sun. Sept. 22, 3:25 p.m. CT
• Week 4 – at New York Giants, Sun. Sept. 26, 7:15 p.m. CT
• Week 5 – at Pittsburgh Steelers, Sun. Oct. 6, 7:20 p.m. CT
• Week 6 – vs. Detriot Lions, Sun. Oct. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT
• Week 7 – Bye
• Week 8 – at San Francisco 49ers, Sun. Oct. 27, 7:20 p.m. CT
• Week 9 – vs. Atlanta Falcons, Sun. Nov. 3, 12 p.m. CT
• Week 10 – vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sun. Nov. 10, 3:25 p.m. CT
• Week 11 – vs. Houston Texans, Mon. Nov. 18, 7:15 p.m. CT
• Week 12 – at Washington Commanders, Sun. Nov. 24, 12 pm CT
• Week 13 – vs. New York Giants (Thanksgiving), Thur. Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m. CT
• Week 14 – vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Mon. Dec. 9, 7:15 p.m. CT
• Week 15 – at Carolina Panthers, Sun. Dec. 15, 12 p.m. CT
• Week 16 – vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sun. Dec. 22, 7:20 p.m. CT
• Week 17 – at Philadelphia Eagles, Sun. Dec. 29, 3:25 p.m. CT
• Week 18 – vs. Washington Commanders, Sat/Sun. Jan. 4/5, TBD