Cowboys Surge into Playoff Picture After Statement Wins: Can They Finish the Job?
Thanksgiving weekend didn’t just bring turkey and leftovers-it brought a seismic shift in the NFC playoff picture. The Dallas Cowboys, left for dead not long ago, suddenly have a pulse. And after back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Eagles, they’ve got more than just a heartbeat-they’ve got real momentum.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Cowboys’ win over Kansas City wasn’t just a “nice upset.”
It was a gut-check performance that flipped the script on what felt like another patented Patrick Mahomes comeback. Dallas didn’t flinch.
They closed. Then, a day later, the Eagles stumbled hard against the Bears, their offense once again sputtering to a halt.
Just like that, the division race is back on.
Now, the Cowboys sit just two games behind Philly. They’ve split the season series and hold the edge in divisional record.
What once looked like a murky, uphill climb to the postseason now feels... possible. Maybe even probable.
The Playoff Math Is Starting to Work
According to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, Dallas had just a 10% chance to make the postseason after beating the Raiders. Fast-forward to now, and that number has jumped to 23%.
Beat the Lions this week? That number could climb to 41%.
And here’s where it gets interesting: Detroit has dropped three of its last five and may be without star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
That’s not nothing. This is a team that’s shown cracks, and the Cowboys are catching them at the right time.
Of course, this isn’t just about who’s next on the schedule. It’s about how Dallas is playing.
Offensively, they’re humming. The passing game is sharp, the run game is doing just enough, and the line is holding up.
Defensively, they’re not dominating-but they’re making timely plays and getting off the field when it matters most. That’s a winning formula in December.
Above .500 and Rising
Let’s not forget: this team is above .500 for the first time all season. That’s a milestone in itself considering where they were a few weeks ago. And while staying there won’t be easy, the road ahead isn’t exactly a gauntlet.
After Detroit, the Cowboys face just one more team with a winning record-the Chargers. The rest of the schedule?
Manageable. Nine wins is very much on the table.
And with that tie in their back pocket, nine might just be enough to sneak in.
But here’s the thing-sneaking in might not be the only path.
NFC East Still Up for Grabs
Let’s talk division. The Eagles are reeling.
They’ve dropped two straight and are averaging just 15 points per game over the last month. Their next matchup?
A road trip to face a stingy Chargers defense. After that, they’ve got to go to Buffalo in late December.
That’s a brutal stretch.
If Dallas wins out and Philly drops two more? The Cowboys take the NFC East thanks to having one fewer loss, thanks to that tie. It’s not just a dream scenario-it’s a realistic one.
Can the Cowboys Run the Table?
That’s the million-dollar question. Winning out is never easy in the NFL, but let’s look at the facts.
The Cowboys just beat the last two Super Bowl champions. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a team that’s figuring it out when it matters most.
The defense has found its footing again. The offense?
It only stops itself. If Dallas plays clean football, they can beat anyone left on their schedule.
But first, they’ve got to take care of business in Detroit. That’s the next big test. Survive that, and the final stretch of the season gets very interesting, very fast.
The Cowboys aren’t just alive-they’re dangerous.