The Dallas Cowboys are 8-3 heading into Thursday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cowboys are in an excellent position to make the postseason with six games left in their schedule. With the help of PFN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, we can scope out different scenarios for how the rest of the season could play out for the Cowboys.
Can the Dallas Cowboys Clinch Playoff Contention?
Ahead of Thursday’s game, the Cowboys are sitting as the fifth seed in the NFC playoff picture and, according to ESPN, have a 99% chance to make the playoffs regardless of what happens.
In fact, here is what the rankings look like for the NFC playoff picture:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- San Francisco 49ers
- Detroit Lions
- Atlanta Falcons
- Dallas Cowboys
- Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings
The fate of the Cowboys is really up to what happens with the Eagles and 49ers; it’s not in their own hands anymore. If Dallas can win at least four of their next six games, they will clinch a spot in the postseason.
Can the Cowboys Clinch the NFC East or Top Seed?
Because the Eagles have only lost one game this season and already beat the Cowboys in Week 9, clinching the NFC East isn’t likely, but it’s still not impossible. For this to happen, Dallas would need to win out the rest of their season, in turn beating Philadelphia next week.
But the Eagles would have to lose to the Cowboys and another NFC East team, racking up their losses to at least three for the season. The issue is that the only other team in the division that Philadelphia will face after Dallas is the New York Giants, who are 4-8 so far this season.
Both the Eagles and Cowboys would need to end the regular season 14-3, and then NFL playoff tiebreakers would determine the fate of who would clinch the NFC East.
According to ESPN, the Cowboys have a 10% chance to clinch the division. This means that the chances of them clinching the NFC’s No. 1 seed would be determined by what other teams do.
MORE: Seattle Seahawks Playoff Scenarios and Chances
Because of the losses the Cowboys have to the Eagles, Cardinals, and 49ers this season, they no longer control their own fate. However, if San Francisco, Philly, and Detroit can all lose multiple games within the next six weeks, Dallas has a shot. But, again, this isn’t a likely scenario.
The good news is that the Cowboys have a 20% chance to reach the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Eagles have a 34% chance, and the 49ers have a 37% chance.
Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
