Dallas Cowboys Still Clinging To Hope Of Making The Playoffs Despite Uphill Battle
A single win can change everything. For the Dallas Cowboys, Monday night’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders was more than just a notch in the win column; it was a glimmer of hope in a season that has been fraught with challenges. Now standing at 4-5-1, the Cowboys and their ever-optimistic fanbase are once again opening the discussion about a potential path to the postseason, even if that path is narrow and steep.
The situation is undeniably dire, but for America’s Team, hope springs eternal as long as a mathematical possibility exists.
The State of the NFC Playoff Picture For The Dallas Cowboys
To understand the Cowboys’ challenge, one must look at the crowded NFC landscape. With the Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) running away with the division, Dallas’s most realistic shot at the playoffs is through a Wild Card spot. Currently, the three spots are held by the Seattle Seahawks (7-3), Green Bay Packers (6-3-1), and San Francisco 49ers (7-4).
The Cowboys are currently the 10th seed, trailing not only the Wild Card holders but also the Detroit Lions (6-4) and Carolina Panthers (6-5). They have dug a significant hole, and climbing out will require a near-perfect finish to the season and some help from the teams ahead of them.
An Uphill Battle and a Brutal Schedule
The road ahead for Dallas is anything but easy. Their remaining schedule is packed with formidable opponents, including matchups against the Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs (5-5), and a crucial road game against the Detroit Lions. They also face the competitive Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) and a divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings (4-6). While they finish the season with games against the struggling Commanders and Giants, the preceding stretch will define their season.
For the playoffs to become a reality, the Cowboys will likely need to win at least five of their remaining seven games to get to the nine-win mark. Even in that optimistic scenario, their fate is not entirely in their own hands. They would need teams like the 49ers, Seahawks, or Packers to stumble down the stretch.
The most comparable team is Green Bay, whose 6-3-1 record is close to Dallas’s due to their head-to-head tie. The Packers face a tough slate of their own, with two games against the Chicago Bears and matchups against the Lions, Broncos, and Ravens. If Green Bay falters, a window could open for Dallas.
For now, the playoffs remain a long shot. But after a convincing win, the conversation in Dallas has shifted from “what went wrong?” to “what if?”. The Cowboys will need to play their best football of the season to turn that glimmer of hope into a tangible playoff berth.
