With 4 of next 6 games at home, Dallas Cowboys season could be decided over next month

NFL teams traditionally break their season down in easily digestible chunks.

When the league had a 16-game schedule, coaches targeted four-game quadrants to keep their players focused on the task at hand.

The 17-game schedule has made it little trickier.

But league schedule makers have made things easy for coach Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.

After opening with four of the first six on the road, the Cowboys (4-2) have four of the next six at AT&T Stadium starting Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (3-4).

“No place like home, right? It’s important for us to maintain the home-field advantage that you can establish,” McCarthy said. ‘I’m looking forward to playing at home.”

The Cowboys then have 10 days off before finishing with three of the final five on the road in December and January.

But lets focus on what has been and what’s immediately up next.

Despite still smarting from the shocking 28-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals (1-6) and still thoroughly-humbled by the 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers (5-1), who play the Minnesota Vikings Monday night, the Cowboys survived their first six games in relatively good shape with all their hopes for season still in front of them and there for the taking.

Certainly, having success in the playoffs is the ultimate hill the Cowboys must climb if they want to realize their dreams of reaching the Super Bowl first time since their last time in 1995 and end what has been a 28-year nightmare.

But the Cowboys can make statement about who they are and what they want to be from Oct. 29-Nov. 30.

And really all they have to do is be who have they have been in their own game of thrones: defenders of the star and protectors of AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys have won 10 straight games at home under McCarthy. They will go for 11 straight against the Rams. The last time the Cowboys won 11 straight games at home was in 1991-1992.

The 1992 season was also year the Cowboys won the first of three titles in four years, culminating with the previously-mentioned 1995 crown.

1992 was also the year the Cowboys began a string of four 12-win seasons.

McCarthy’s Cowboys are coming off back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time since those dynasty teams of 1990s.

If they hope to make their own championship journey in 2023, the time is now to assert themselves.

Technically, the Cowboys play five of their next seven games at home with the Rams on Oct. 29, at the Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) on Nov. 5, the New York Giants (3-4) on Nov. 12, at the Carolina Panthers (0-6) on Nov. 19, the Washington Commanders (2-5) on Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 23, the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) on Nov. 30 and the Eagles again on Dec. 10.

The big gap between the Seahawks and the Eagles and the stretch of contenders in the final two months should allow the Cowboys to compartmentalize that into a different section.

The Cowboys play at the Buffalo Bills (4-3) on Dec. 17 and at the Miami Dolphins (5-2) on Dec. 24 before a home game against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 30 and the season final at the Commanders on Jan. 6/7.

With only two opponents with winning records on the slate, the goal for the next stretch is simple: go at least 5-1.

Get to 9-3 and take the 10 days off before heading into the rematch against the Eagles at home and final stretch of the season.

And then copy the ALCS rallying cry of the Texas Rangers, go and take it.

The journey starts now.

But unlike the Rangers, the Cowboys are at home, where they play their best.