Dallas Cowboys Eliminated From Playoff Contention With Philadelphia Eagles Win
The Dallas Cowboys won’t be punching a ticket to the postseason this year. Dak Prescott and the boys weren’t even on the field Saturday night, but their fate was sealed all the same. While Cowboys fans were likely glued to their TVs hoping for a miracle from the Washington Commanders, reality had other plans. The Philadelphia Eagles took care of business, handing Washington a 29-18 loss and effectively extinguishing the last flicker of hope in Arlington.
It is a tough pill to swallow for a fanbase that enters every season with Super Bowl aspirations. But after watching the Eagles dismantle the Commanders, fresh off a 31-0 shutout of the Raiders the week prior, it is clear the NFC East crown belongs in Philly this time around.
The Writing Was On the Wall For the Cowboys
Let’s be honest: this didn’t happen overnight. The heartbreak has been building for weeks. The Cowboys stumbled into this weekend on the back of consecutive losses, including that absolute gut-punch against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. Losing 34-26 in a game where the offense just couldn’t find the end zone when it mattered most was the nail in the coffin; Saturday night was just the hammer driving it home.
After that Vikings loss, the analytics folks gave Dallas less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs. We all know sports are weird, and 1% is technically something, but in the NFL, relying on math and miracles usually ends in disappointment. To add a little salt to the wound, the Eagles are the first team to win the NFC East in back-to-back seasons in 21 years.
What’s Next For Dak and the Boys?
So, where does that leave Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers? In the grand scheme of the playoffs, it is meaningless. But don’t expect the Cowboys to just roll over.
There’s still pride on the line. Prescott, despite a frustrating 294-yard, zero-touchdown performance last week, is a competitor. The team has an obligation to finish the season strong, if not for the standings, then for the sanity of their fanbase and the job security of the coaching staff.
The Chargers, sitting at 10-4, are fighting for their own playoff positioning, so they won’t be taking it easy. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium. It might not be the high-stakes drama we wanted for late December, but it is still football. And for Cowboys fans, it is a chance to see the team play without the crushing pressure of “must-win” hanging over their heads.
