FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys wanted a break over the weekend.
They only completed a span of 4 video games in 18 days with their 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday, which ended a three-game win streak and dropped them to 6-6-1 on the season. Our bodies have been sore. Minds have been worn.
“I do assume it is good for our gamers to get their our bodies again proper,” coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned as preparations started for Sunday’s residence recreation in opposition to the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings (8:20 p.m. ET).
Whereas gamers rested, the coaches went by way of a self-scout course of to hunt out tendencies of their offensive and defensive schemes, though they gained three of their previous 4 video games. The group’s analytics division was given one other activity: determine the Cowboys’ playoff probabilities.
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ESPN Analytics places the Cowboys’ postseason probabilities at 10% with Week 14 full.
Whereas there’s a approach the Cowboys could make the playoffs even when they do not win their closing 4 video games, they would wish as a lot assist as a toddler driving an 18-wheeler.
So let’s study the premise that the Cowboys should win out in opposition to the Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
That may put them at 10-6-1 on the season however needing assist to make the playoffs in Schottenheimer’s first yr.
What else must occur to lock up a playoff spot?
Win the NFC East
The simplest path to the playoffs is to win the division. The Philadelphia Eagles are in place to turn out to be the primary repeat champion within the NFC East because the 2003-04 Eagles, however issues haven’t gone swimmingly for the defending Tremendous Bowl champions.
NFC East standings
TeamRecordDivConfEagles8-52-27-3Cowboys6-6-13-13-5-1Commanders3-101-11-7Giants2-111-31-8
This looks as if 2023 once more for the Eagles. With Monday’s loss to the Chargers, they’ve dropped three in a row and are 8-5. The offense has been stagnant. The protection is lacking sort out Jalen Carter.
However the schedule appears to favor the Eagles. Their closing 4 video games are in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11), Buffalo Payments and Commanders (3-9) twice. All of the Eagles need to do is break up their final 4 video games and they’d win the division.
Proceed the free fall and lose three extra video games, and the Cowboys would win the NFC East and maintain the no-repeat champ streak intact by profitable out.
Earn a wild-card berth
There will probably be three wild-card spots within the NFC. At 6-6-1, the most effective the Cowboys can do is 10 wins. Their convention file is 3-5-1, so they might be 6-5-1 in the event that they win out. So how does Dallas stack up in opposition to the opposite groups within the NFC wild-card race?
The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) are 8-2 within the convention. The Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-3-1), whom the Cowboys tied earlier this yr, are 7-2-1. The Chicago Bears (9-3) are 6-3. The Carolina Panthers (7-6) are 5-3. The Lions (8-5) are 5-4, as are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6).
The Cowboys have misplaced to the Bears, Panthers and Lions. So if these groups find yourself with a tie in certainly one of their closing video games, they might maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker.
NFC standings
TeamRecordDivConfRams10-33-15-3Packers9-3-14-07-2-1Eagles8-52-27-3Buccaneers7-62-15-4Seahawks10-32-26-349ers9-44-18-2Bears9-41-36-3Lions8-51-35-4Panthers7-62-15-3Cowboys6-6-13-13-5-1
The NFC West seems to be poised to get three groups into the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams prime the division at 10-3 and presently maintain the No. 1 seed within the NFC. Their final two video games are in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) and Arizona Cardinals (3-10). Win a type of two, they usually have 11 wins.
The Seattle Seahawks are additionally 10-3. This week, they play the Indianapolis Colts (8-5), who misplaced quarterback Daniel Jones for the season (Achilles) on Sunday. Win that they usually have 11 wins.
The Niners’ subsequent two video games are in opposition to the Tennessee Titans (2-11) and Colts. Win these, and they’re at 11 wins.
So give the NFC West three playoff groups.
The NFC North is within the lead for at the very least one wild-card spot. The Packers lead the division, adopted by the Bears and Lions.
After taking part in the 3-10 Browns this week, the Bears shut with the Packers, Niners and Lions. The Cowboys want the Bears to lose their final three to get the wild-card nod over the Bears.
The Lions play the Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6), Vikings and Bears. The Cowboys want the Lions to lose two of their final 4 but additionally beat the Bears, ought to Chicago beat Cleveland.
The NFC South is a two-team battle between the 7-6 Buccaneers and 7-6 Panthers. They play one another in two of the final three weeks. So one crew can have seven losses.
And that might saves the ultimate wild-card spot for the Cowboys — ought to they win their closing 4 video games and get all types of assist.
None of that issues to Schottenheimer proper now.
“On the finish of the day we’re targeted on beating Minnesota,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “We will do what we received to do, and if you happen to begin trying too far forward of, ‘Okay, if this occurs, if that occurs,’ you are going to drive your self loopy. And I am not going to try this.”
