Bold NFL Predictions for 2014: Cowboys will make the playoffs

[Jungletiger]

Bold NFL Predictions for 2014: Cowboys will make the playoffs

By John Breech | CBSSports.com

August 19, 2014 4:27 am ET

Are the Cowboys going to ride Jerry Jones' party bus to the playoffs? Will the Titans end a playoff drought that dates back to 2008? Will Andy Dalton win an NFL playoff game for the first time in his life? Will I keep asking questions or will one of these sentences eventually end with a period?

It's time to answer all of those questions with some bold predictions.

Five bold predictions for the 2014 NFL season

1. Andy Dalton wins his first playoff game -- In three seasons, Andy Dalton has proven that getting the Bengals to the playoffs is easy. The hard part for Dalton is actually winning a game once he gets there.

Dalton might have put on a choke show in Cincinnati's 27-10 loss to the Chargers last season, but at least the Bengals didn't lose 41-0 or 24-2. Why did I bring up those scores? Because 41-0 is how bad Peyton Manning lost when his career playoff record dropped to 0-3 and 24-2 is how bad Matt Ryan lost when his career playoff record dropped to 0-3.

After both of those games, both quarterbacks spent an entire offseason being asked if they'd ever win a playoff game. In 2003, Manning was dealing with the same criticisms Dalton is dealing with now.

That's not to say Manning and Dalton are the same quarterback, because they're not. Dalton's never been in a rap video with Eli and Peyton doesn't have red hair, but Dalton's career is similar to Manning's when it comes to failure in the first three playoff games. Both quarterbacks were horrible.

When Manning finally did win a postseason game, it came on a night where he only threw 26 passes, a number that's still tied for a career playoff low.

The Bengals have a new offensive coordinator in Hue Jackson who understands that sometimes less is more. If the Bengals make the playoffs this year, I don't expect to see 41 pass attempts from Dalton -- the number that he's averaged in his three playoff losses -- but I do expect to see a win.

Fan tweet: I hope Andy Dalton has home insurance. You know, just in case the Bengals lose.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24667448/bold-nfl-predictions-for-2014-cowboys-will-make-the-playoffs