The Dallas Cowboys open their season against the New York Giants on Sept. 13 - a nice NFC East rivalry game to open their 2015 campaign. As the defending division champions, the Cowboys know the other three NFC East teams will be gunning for them.

The Cowboys have a great squad, but just how many wins will this team rack up this year?

The big number floating around Cowboy land is 11. The Cowboys won 12 games last season, but with the departure of DeMarco Murray, that number could see a one game dip. Murray was easily the best running back in the league last season, leading the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. As we all know, Murray is now with the Eagles, and that has definitely shifted the balance in the NFC East.

The Cowboys remain the favorites in the division because they have such an advantage at quarterback. Sam Bradford, Kirk Cousins and Eli Manning haven't been performing like Tony Romo at all in recent years.

The Cowboys' toughest games will be against the New England Patriots, at Eagles, Seahawks, and at the Green Bay Packers in Week 14. Let's just assume the Cowboys lose all four of those games, just to put the disadvantage against the favored team. That means the Cowboys are 0-4 right off the bat. The Cowboys should be able to sweep the rest of the division, improving their record to 5-4. The Washington Redskins and New York Giants obviously have much to improve upon.

Other (ostensibly) easy games for the Cowboys include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and New York Jets. If the Cowboys win their "gimme games," they should now be 10-4 at minimum. So, that leaves two games. Those two games are no cake walks, but they're not exactly against powerhouse squads either.

Those two teams are the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, both of whom play in the AFC East. In fact, both of those games will played on the road.

The Bills haven't had consistency at quarterback since Jim Kelly, but they have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Cowboys will be facing a familiar foe in LeSean McCoy in that game.

The Bills vs. Cowboys game will be in December, so you can bet it will be a cold one in Buffalo. The Dolphins also have a terrific defense, and with the addition of Ndamukong Suh, the Cowboys offensive line will be tested to the fullest extent.

If the Cowboys can win just one of those games against the Bills or Dolphins, they finish 11-5, just as experts are currently predicting.

How many wins do you think the Cowboys will finish with? Feel free to vote in our fan poll below.

 Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1