Even though the Dallas Cowboys were not in action on Sunday, they still managed to benefit from the day’s events. Following their Thursday night victory over the Tennessee Titans, the Cowboys were hoping for a Philadelphia Eagles loss to keep their NFC East title hopes alive.
When the New Orleans Saints defeated the Eagles, Dallas kept their playoff chances intact heading into Week 18. With the final week of the season approaching, here’s what the Cowboys’ playoff scenarios look like.
To secure the NFC East title, Dallas must beat the Commanders and rely on the Eagles losing to the New York Giants. Additionally, if the San Francisco 49ers lose to the Arizona Cardinals, the Cowboys could still claim the number one seed, although this outcome is unlikely since both the Eagles and 49ers are heavy favorites.
Should the 49ers win and the Cowboys secure a victory along with an Eagles loss, Dallas would earn the second seed. The most probable outcome is that the Cowboys, Eagles, and 49ers all win, placing Dallas as the fifth seed and first wild-card team. In this case, Dallas would travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round.
A loss for the Cowboys in Week 18 would lock them into the fifth seed, no matter the other results. Regardless of the seed they end up with, the NFC playoff picture is wide open. No team has dominated the conference this season, making every playoff contender a potential threat.
The Cowboys will finish as either the first, second, or fifth seed, so they will need to focus on securing a win in Week 18 while hoping for favorable outcomes elsewhere in the league.
