The Cowboys Are on Life Support - and They Need Dan Quinn to Deliver a Miracle
When the Dallas Cowboys walked off the field in Arizona after a 27-17 loss in Week 9, sitting at 3-5-1, it felt like the season was slipping through their fingers. The offense was sputtering, the defense couldn’t get stops, and the NFC East crown looked like a distant dream. But football seasons are long, and sometimes, all it takes is a bye week and a little belief to turn things around.
Coming out of their Week 10 break, Brian Schottenheimer’s squad found a spark. First came a convincing 33-16 win over the Raiders.
Then, in one of the most memorable moments of their season, they pulled off a dramatic 24-21 comeback over the Eagles. And just when fans were starting to believe again, Dallas delivered a statement win on Thanksgiving, edging the Chiefs 31-28.
Suddenly, they were 6-5-1 and very much back in the playoff conversation.
When the Eagles dropped to 8-4 after a surprising Black Friday loss to the Bears, the NFC East race was officially back on. The door was cracked open - but the Cowboys couldn’t walk through.
They stumbled again in Week 14, giving up 44 points in a rough Thursday night loss to the Lions. And while the Eagles tossed them a lifeline with a loss to the Chargers, Dallas couldn’t capitalize.
A 34-26 defeat at the hands of the Vikings this past Sunday dropped them to 6-7-1. That loss officially knocked the Cowboys out of wild-card contention.
Now, their only path to the postseason is through the NFC East title - and it’s a narrow, winding road that requires help from a familiar face.
Enter Dan Quinn.
Yes, the Cowboys’ former defensive coordinator - now head coach of the Washington Commanders - is the unlikely figure Dallas fans are turning to for salvation. For the Cowboys to win the division, two things must happen: they have to win out, and the Eagles have to lose out.
That’s it. No tiebreakers.
No scenarios. Just a clean sweep on both ends.
Let’s start with Dallas. Winning out means beating a 10-4 Chargers team this weekend - no small task.
Justin Herbert is playing high-level football, and after Matt Eberflus’ Bears defense made rookie J.J. McCarthy look like a Hall of Famer last week, there’s real concern about how the Cowboys’ secondary will hold up against a quarterback of Herbert’s caliber.
But if the offense can click - and it has in flashes this season - the Cowboys have a shot. After the Chargers, they’ll face Washington on Christmas Day and the Giants in Week 18.
On paper, those are winnable games. But again, none of it matters unless the Eagles falter.
That’s where Quinn’s Commanders come in.
Philadelphia still has both of its matchups with Washington left - one this Sunday and the other in Week 18. Sandwiched in between is a Week 17 game against the Bills, which may or may not have playoff implications for Buffalo.
But for Dallas, the key is Washington. Twice.
Now, expecting the Commanders to sweep the Eagles feels like a tall order. Washington has had a tough season.
After reaching the NFC Championship Game last year - their first appearance since 1991 - expectations were high. But with Jayden Daniels missing half the season due to injuries and the defense struggling under Quinn’s watch, things haven’t gone according to plan.
The Commanders are 4-10, with their most recent win coming against the Giants, snapping an eight-game losing streak.
And Daniels won’t be back this year. He’s been shut down for the season, meaning it’s Marcus Mariota under center for both games against Philly. Mariota has shown flashes this season, but let’s be honest - the Cowboys would feel a lot more optimistic if Daniels were the one taking snaps.
Still, rivalry games can be unpredictable. Just ask the Broncos, who needed overtime to outlast Washington in Week 13.
The Commanders nearly pulled off the upset in that one, losing 27-26. But the following week, they were blanked 31-0 by Minnesota.
That’s the kind of inconsistency that makes it hard to bank on Washington - even once, let alone twice.
But here we are. The Cowboys need help, and Dan Quinn is the one holding the keys. If his team can rise up and knock off the Eagles twice - and if Dallas can handle its own business - the NFC East title is still in play.
It’s a long shot. It’s a prayer. But in December football, stranger things have happened.
For now, all the Cowboys can do is win - and wait.