by Mark Halpern
So here we are Thursday, August 5th, 2021, the Hall of Fame Game between My Dallas Cowboys and an old rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is the seventh time these two teams have met in this annual game. Last season we saw a Cowboys team that was primed for a tremendous season. However, due to covid issues, massive injuries across both offense and defensive squads, Zeke Elliot being out of football shape, and insufficient backup players, we witnessed the Cowboys finish with a week 6-10 record. There were some bright sides as Cee Dee Lamb proved that he is the star rookie WR that the Cowboys needed and showed that Dallas, when healthy, has the best offense in football. Dallas defense has gone through a significant overhaul with bringing in Dan Quinn, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, to handle the defense. He is known to be a top-notch defensive strategist and has put together an excellent young crew to man the gridiron on the defensive side.
For Those of you hoping to tune in and see all the number one players play, you will be disappointed. With the covid problems around the league and training camps just opening, we will all be entertained by the second and third-string starters this week. The final score will be 21-17 Dallas.
Let’s celebrate what this game is about: the induction of the Hall of Fame class of 2021. Drew Pearson, who started the legend of the #88 in the Cowboy organization, finally is inducted and will get to put on that coveted gold jacket. Other inductees include Charles Woodson, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, and Bill Nun. It’s great seeing some oldies and first-timers get in, and rightfully so.
Dak Prescott is primed for another big season where we will see him set records for Passing Yards and Touchdowns after going down against the New York Giants with a broken ankle injury. Zeke Elliot is in the best shape of his career, shedding a ton of pounds for muscle and looking like the beast we drafted. He has a shot at beating the record for rushing in a season. Dak has the proper support with Wide Receivers Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb to go along with Tight Ends Blake Jarwin and Dalton Shultz. The Offensive line is something they haven’t been for the last few years, and that word is healthy. If they are as good as advertised, it will be a fun season. As for the defensive side, they upgraded the Defensive line, which has been poor, and the secondary is looking good. The LB core of Jaylen Smith, Vander Esch, and Keanu Neal, with support from rookie Micha Parsons, should be the best in football if injuries stay away. If I had to pick the top Dallas rookie this season, it would be Micha Parsons.
For this season, I expect Dallas to go 13-4 on the year. I expect either Dak and Zeke to challenge for MVP and comeback player of the year Leighton Vander Esch. We will see tons of excitement from this young team, and this year’s team is being compared to the 1992-93 Cowboys that won the first of 3 Super Bowls in the 1990s. So, sit back and grab your popcorn as football is back tonight. America’s team is back, and that is how the old man sees it.
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