As the regular NFL season barrels towards its dramatic close, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves with the football firmly in their grip, either to clench the No. 2 seed in the NFC or to spiral toward a less favorable matchup amid a thicket of playoff permutations. The paths plotting the Cowboys' postseason journey are winding, yet what's clear is they're masters of their fate, needing only a win against the Washington Commanders to secure the NFC East title and a coveted second seeding, with the home-field advantage it affords.
After stumbling earlier, the Cowboys notched a critical victory over the Detroit Lions. Combined with the Philadelphia Eagles' surprise loss to the Cardinals, this has positioned them atop the NFC East heap. But Cowboys fans are biting their nails as the playoff scenario thins out – a face-off with the Commanders stands as the only barrier to divisional glory yet a loss could spiral, dropping them as far as the No. 5 seed especially if the Eagles dispatch the Giants with ease, as Dallas tries to mend its less than stellar 3-5 away record, which says nothing of the possibility that they could still land at No. 3, if, say, the Giants play the unlikely role of the spoilsport against Philly, according to WFAA.
The potential rivals waiting in the Wild Card wings, should the Cowboys grab the No. 2 spot, range from the Los Angeles Rams to the Seattle Seahawks, with the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings in the mix as possible contenders, all teams Dallas might feel confident against given their undefeated record at AT&T Stadium. Despite this, the NFC East hasn't been conquered yet, and with only a win separating the Cowboys from the division title, or a drop to the wild brawl of wild cards, anxiety in Arlington is as thick as barbecue smoke at a Texas tailgate, as per FOX 4 News.
The NFC South looms as a potential landing spot for Dallas if they find themselves the top Wild Card team, hosting less intimidating opponents such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, or Atlanta Falcons, a trio mired in mediocrity and records that wouldn't normally strike fear in the heart of a playoff-bound team. This is a stroke of luck that even the most pessimistic Cowboys fan might tip their ten-gallon hat to, although with an 8-0 record at home, the fans and team alike know where they'd rather be playing.
