The Dallas Cowboys just got a lifeline in the NFC East race - and it came from an unlikely place: a Thursday night stumble by the Philadelphia Eagles against the Detroit Lions. That loss, which looked like a gut punch for the Eagles, suddenly cracked the door open for Dallas. Now, with four games left in the regular season, the Cowboys have a narrow - but very real - path to the division crown.
Let’s break it down.
Dallas sits a game and a half behind Philadelphia, which means the math is pretty straightforward: if the Cowboys run the table and the Eagles drop two of their final four, the NFC East title shifts to Dallas. A single slip-up by the Cowboys doesn’t eliminate them entirely, but it does crank up the pressure - the Eagles would then need to lose three of their last four.
Doable? Yes.
Easy? Not at all.
Here’s what’s ahead for both teams.
The Cowboys' Road: Handle Business, No Room for Error
Dallas has to go 4-0 down the stretch. That means wins over the Chargers, Vikings, Commanders, and Giants.
Not exactly a murderer’s row, but no freebies either. The Chargers have been unpredictable all season, the Vikings are still fighting for a Wild Card spot, and divisional games - especially late in the year - never come easy, no matter what the standings say.
But if the Cowboys can take care of business, the pressure shifts squarely onto Philly.
The Eagles' Schedule: Two with Washington, a Trip to Buffalo, and the Raiders
Philadelphia’s final four games are against the Raiders, Commanders (twice), and the Bills. On paper, that looks manageable - but this is where things get interesting.
The Commanders are 3-9, but they’ve played the Eagles tough in recent seasons. And with Dan Quinn now at the helm in Washington, the Cowboys may have a little extra rooting interest. Quinn, the former Dallas defensive coordinator, could play spoiler - especially if his defense can force Philly into mistakes the way Detroit just did.
There’s also the quarterback situation in Washington. Jayden Daniels is dealing with a non-throwing arm injury, and it’s unclear if he’ll be available for either matchup with the Eagles.
If he can’t go, Marcus Mariota could step in - and he’s looked more than capable in limited action this season. For Cowboys fans, one Washington win over Philly would go a long way.
Two? That’s a dream scenario.
Then there’s the Buffalo game. A December trip to Orchard Park is never easy, and with the Bills still in the AFC playoff hunt, that’s a matchup with real stakes on both sides. Add in the Raiders game this week - a team that’s been unpredictable but scrappy - and suddenly the Eagles’ path isn’t as smooth as it might’ve looked a few weeks ago.
Déjà Vu from 2023?
This isn’t the first time the Eagles have looked vulnerable late in the year. In 2023, they were 11-4 heading into Week 17, only to drop a shocker to the 3-12 Cardinals - a loss that helped Dallas steal the division.
That collapse still lingers in the minds of fans, and this year’s slide has a familiar feel. The Eagles have lost three straight, and not just barely - they’ve looked out of sync on both sides of the ball.
Jalen Hurts hasn’t been himself. The offense is struggling to find rhythm, and the injuries are piling up.
Jalen Carter, a key piece of the defensive front, is expected to miss more time. The offensive line is banged up.
And the confidence? It’s clearly shaken.
Bottom Line: The Door’s Open - But the Cowboys Have to Walk Through It
The opportunity is there. The Cowboys control what they can control - win out, and they put the pressure on the Eagles. But they’ll need help, and that help might just come from a familiar face in Dan Quinn and a Commanders team with nothing to lose.
It’s December football. The stakes are high.
And for Dallas, the path to the NFC East title is narrow - but it’s there. Now it’s on them to make it count.