The Dallas Cowboys entered the weekend looking like they would have to be a wildcard team in the NFC Playoffs but are now poised to take the NFC East in the final week of the regular season.
Dallas trailed the Philadelphia Eagles by one game, but a Dallas win over NFC North champion Detroit on Saturday night set the stage for much more heading into Sunday’s games, and the rest of the league delivered.
“Man, what a way to start the year,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. “How exciting. 2023 was a heck of a year for everyone involved in many ways around the Cowboys. I just can’t wait to try to top it in 2024.”
The most important game was between the Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals. Philadelphia would have likely wrapped up the NFC East with a win, and things appeared to be trending in that direction as it led 21-6 after the first half. However, Arizona erupted for 29 second-half points, as recent struggles continued for Philadelphia, and went home with a 35-31 win on a late touchdown run from James Conner.
“Certainly, we thought that this is where we wanted to be from the day we walked into training camp, be in a position to play hard and win a game and have it give us this kind of shot at home,” Jones added. “… I just couldn’t believe it when Philadelphia ended up losing that ballgame this weekend and gave us this opportunity.”
Philadelphia has now lost four of its last five games and is tied with Dallas atop the NFC East, but Dallas holds the tiebreaker because of a better record within the conference, meaning that a win clinches the division for the Cowboys and would make the Eagles a wildcard. But a Dallas loss would mean the Eagles could win the division with a win or a tie against the New York Giants.
The Cowboys (11-5) now enter their regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders (4-12) in second place in the NFC overall, with a chance to clinch home-field advantage over anyone but San Francisco, which has already snagged the top spot.
Dallas is currently slated to face the Green Bay Packers (8-8), who are battling the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks for the final playoff spot in the NFC, in the first round. Dallas could also face the Los Angeles Rams, currently occupying the No.6 seed.
The Cowboys also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Detroit, meaning Dallas will be the No.2 seed if both teams win, but Detroit could take the spot if Dallas were to lose in a shocking upset. Neither team can catch San Francisco.
That’s why the controversial calls at the end of Saturday’s game against Detroit were so crucial. They not only kept the division title and home-field advantage attainable, but they also gave the Cowboys a leg up on the Lions and may force any potential rematch to stay in Arlington, where the Cowboys have been unstoppable this season.
Of course, it will all have to be sorted out on the field, making Week 18 one of the most intriguing and dramatic weeks of the season.
The Cowboys face Washington at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday with it all on the line.
