Can the Cowboys Still Make the Playoffs? Here’s Where Things Stand After Week 14
The Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to the spotlight, but after trading away Micah Parsons earlier this season, the heat turned up fast in Arlington. Now, with just three games left in the regular season, the question is simple: can this team still make the playoffs?
Let’s break it down.
Offense Firing, Defense Catching Up
There’s no denying the Cowboys’ offense has been electric. Dak Prescott is playing some of his best football in years, and the addition of George Pickens in the offseason has added another layer of explosiveness to the passing game. This group can score with anyone in the league.
But the problem all season has been on the other side of the ball.
Early on, Dallas fielded one of the worst defenses in the NFL. It didn’t matter how many points the offense put up-if the defense couldn’t get stops, wins were going to be hard to come by.
That’s where Jerry Jones stepped in, making a pair of aggressive moves to shore up the unit. The acquisitions of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets and linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals have already started paying dividends.
The defense isn’t elite yet, but it’s no longer the liability it once was.
A Setback in Detroit
After rattling off three straight wins and building some serious momentum, the Cowboys stumbled on the national stage in Week 14. Their loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football was a gut punch-not just because it ended the streak, but because it came against another team fighting for its playoff life.
That one stung.
But the season isn’t over, and Dallas has a chance to bounce back quickly. They’ll host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15 in another primetime matchup. And with the NFC playoff picture still wide open, every game from here on out carries massive implications.
The NFC Playoff Picture: Where Dallas Stands
Heading into Week 15, the Cowboys sit at 6-6-1 and find themselves in the No. 10 spot in the NFC playoff race. That puts them just behind the Carolina Panthers (7-6) and Detroit Lions (8-5) for a Wild Card spot.
Here’s how the NFC playoff seeding looks right now:
- Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
- Detroit Lions (8-5)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
- New Orleans Saints (3-10)
- Washington Commanders (3-10)
- New York Giants (2-11)
The Cowboys are still in the hunt, but the margin for error is razor-thin. Losing to Detroit didn’t just hurt in the standings-it handed a tiebreaker to a direct Wild Card competitor.
NFC East: Still Up for Grabs?
Believe it or not, the division title isn’t out of reach.
The Eagles have hit a rough patch, dropping three straight games. That skid, combined with the Cowboys' recent surge, has brought Dallas right back into the NFC East conversation.
The Cowboys’ win over the Eagles in Week 13 was huge, not just for morale but for the tiebreakers. That victory evened the season series and improved Dallas’ division record to 3-1.
Here’s how the NFC East stands right now:
- Philadelphia Eagles: 8-5
- Dallas Cowboys: 6-6-1
- Washington Commanders: 3-10
- New York Giants: 2-11
With three games left, Dallas is two games back in the win column, but that tie complicates things a bit. Still, if the Cowboys win out and the Eagles slip again, the division crown could be in play.
The Road Ahead: Favorable Finish
The Cowboys' final three games are more than manageable-and that’s putting it lightly. Only one opponent left on the schedule is currently in the playoff picture: the Los Angeles Chargers, and that game is at home.
Here’s the closing stretch:
- Week 15: vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 17: at Washington Commanders
- Week 18: vs.
New York Giants
That’s two division games against struggling teams and a home matchup against the Chargers. If Dallas can take care of business, a 3-0 finish isn’t out of the question. And if they do that, whether it’s the Wild Card or a late push for the NFC East, they’ll be right in the thick of the playoff mix.
Final Word
The Cowboys have put themselves in a position where every snap matters. The defense is trending in the right direction, the offense is still humming, and the schedule is favorable. But they’re running out of time-and the margin for error is gone.
If Dallas wants to play football in January, it starts now.