The Dallas Cowboys are heading into their final game of the regular season with their playoff hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads-and possibly already snapped by the time they take the field. Yet, despite the likely mathematical elimination, head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear: the Cowboys plan to play to win, regardless of what’s at stake.
Let’s set the stage. The Philadelphia Eagles, currently leading the NFC East, are set to face the Washington Commanders-a team that’s already pivoted toward 2026.
Washington has shut down rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the season, sitting at 4-10 with nothing left to play for but draft position. They’re not waving a white flag, but they’re also not exactly emptying the playbook.
This is the NFL version of strategic surrender, better known as tanking.
If the Eagles do what they’re expected to do-beat a Commanders team clearly looking ahead to the offseason-the Cowboys would be officially eliminated from playoff contention before their Sunday matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers even kicks off. That would seem to suggest a logical next step: rest the starters, protect the core pieces, and look toward the future.
But that’s not how Schottenheimer sees it.
“All about winning,” he said when asked if the Cowboys would shift their approach if postseason dreams were officially dashed. “It’s always going to be all about winning whether we’re sitting at undefeated or wherever we are today. It’s always going to be about winning because again our mantra and central theme of the program is compete every day.”
That’s a bold stance-and one that raises some serious questions about risk versus reward.
Let’s be clear: the Cowboys have nothing tangible to gain by going full throttle in this game. If the Eagles win, Dallas is out.
That makes the matchup against the Chargers essentially meaningless in the standings. But it’s not meaningless in other ways.
There’s pride, yes. Momentum, maybe.
But there’s also health, long-term roster investment, and the all-important 2026 NFL Draft order.
Dak Prescott is within striking distance of 4,000 passing yards on the season-just about 70 yards shy, in fact. That’s a milestone worth recognizing, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him play just long enough to reach it.
But beyond that? The calculus changes.
Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and key members of the offensive line are all cornerstones of this franchise. They’re not just important for this season-they’re vital to the Cowboys’ plans moving forward. Risking injury to those players in a game that won’t impact the playoff picture could have long-term consequences that far outweigh the short-term satisfaction of a meaningless win.
There’s also the draft to consider. Every game matters when it comes to draft positioning, especially for a team that may need to reload in key areas. Winning a game like this could cost Dallas valuable spots in the 2026 NFL Draft-a subtle but significant setback for a team that needs to maximize every asset in a competitive NFC landscape.
Schottenheimer’s commitment to competition is admirable. It reflects the ethos of a locker room that doesn’t want to quit, that wants to finish strong, and that believes in fighting until the final whistle.
But there’s a fine line between competing and compromising the bigger picture. The Cowboys have to walk that line carefully.
This is where leadership is tested-not just in terms of motivation, but in decision-making. It’s not just about playing hard; it’s about playing smart. That means weighing the value of a Week 18 win against the potential cost of losing a star player or missing out on a better draft position.
So, as the Cowboys prepare to face the Chargers, all eyes will be on how Schottenheimer manages his roster. Will he stick to his “compete every day” mantra at full throttle? Or will he find a balance that protects the future while respecting the present?
Either way, this game may not matter in the standings-but it could say a lot about where the Cowboys are headed next.