Just a few weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys looked like a team left for dead in the NFC playoff race. Sitting at 3-5-1 after a rough Week 9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, their postseason hopes were hanging by a thread. The Eagles were soaring, the wild-card picture was crowded, and Dallas was on the outside looking in.
But in true NFL fashion, things can change fast-and they have.
Since that low point, the Cowboys have ripped off three straight wins. First came a solid victory over the Raiders.
Then, in one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the season, they pulled off a comeback for the ages against the Eagles. Just four days later, they followed it up with a statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day.
That surge has pushed Dallas to 6-5-1, and suddenly, they're right back in the thick of things.
Here's where it gets interesting: despite sitting outside the wild-card picture, the Cowboys are now closer to the top of the NFC East than they are to grabbing that final wild-card spot. That’s not something anyone would’ve predicted a month ago, but with the Eagles stumbling and the rest of the conference in flux, the door is open.
Philadelphia’s recent loss to the Bears dropped them to 8-4, and while San Francisco currently holds the seventh and final playoff spot at 9-4 after a win over Cleveland, the math is starting to work in Dallas’ favor-if they can keep stacking wins.
That starts with a big one this Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. It’s a pivotal matchup, not just for the Cowboys’ playoff hopes, but for their momentum. They’ll need help from other teams along the way, but none of that matters if they don’t take care of business on their end.
As for the Eagles, their next test comes next Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. And here's where things might tilt in Dallas’ favor.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a broken bone in his non-throwing hand during Sunday’s win over the Raiders. He gutted it out-throwing for 151 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while wearing a hard cast and glove-but he’s now headed for surgery.
While Herbert expressed optimism about playing next week, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready in time. That extra day of rest before Monday night helps, but the Chargers will be monitoring his recovery closely.
If Herbert can’t go, the Chargers would turn to backup Trey Lance-yes, the same Trey Lance who spent two seasons in Dallas and threw just 41 regular-season passes in that span. Since joining the Chargers, Lance has seen limited action, throwing only 13 passes across three games.
The Chargers are still fighting for a playoff spot of their own, so they’ll be hoping Herbert can suit up. But if Lance is called upon, it adds another layer of intrigue to an already crucial matchup-with potential ripple effects for the Cowboys.
For Dallas, the path forward is clear: keep winning, and hope the dominoes fall their way. A few weeks ago, that seemed like a long shot.
Now? It’s starting to feel possible.