Dallas Cowboys could have major home-field advantage (fans) over NFC East rivals this season
If Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has his way, his team will be playing in front of fans at home this NFL season.
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Currently at William Hill sportsbook, the Dallas Cowboys are +110 favorites on the moneyline odds to win the NFC East this year – which Dallas has done the past three even-numbered seasons. If owner Jerry Jones gets his way, and he usually does, the Cowboys could have a huge advantage over their division rivals because they will play in front of fans at home while Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Giants will not.
Last month, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued an executive order limiting social gatherings to 500 people, which means no fans at Giants home games at MetLife Stadium. Also last month, the City of Philadelphia announced it was canceling public events of more than 50 people through February 2021 and thus no fans for Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field.
On Wednesday, the Washington Football Team announced it would play without fans at FedEx Field in Maryland. The team noted things could be re-evaluated if the situation surrounding the pandemic improves over the course of the season. That's surely the case with the NY Giants and Philadelphia, too.
Jones, meanwhile, said Wednesday in his first remarks from training camp that he expects fans for every game at AT&T Stadium. Jones doesn't have a number in mind, but currently Texas allows 50 percent capacity for sporting events.
In typical Jones speak, Jones said that monstrous AT&T Stadium is well-suited to accommodate groups of people who are safely spaced apart and that Jerry World has a "naturally-built airflow" that can help keep fans safe.
AT&T Stadium has a capacity of more than 100,000, the largest of any NFL stadium, and the facility in total is a whopping three million square feet. The Statue of Liberty and its base could fit inside the stadium with its roof closed. Jones mentioned the possibility of a "pod" formula, where groups of no more than 15 individuals could be seated in various areas.
For what it's worth, the Cowboys are 49-39 straight up at home in the regular season since AT&T Stadium opened in 2009 but just 38-48-2 against the spread. Last year, Dallas was 5-3 SU & ATS there.
The Cowboys' home opener is Sept. 20 vs. Atlanta with Dallas projected as an early 7-point favorite but what happens Week 1 can/will affect that number.
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