Cowboys Playoff Chances: A Descent into Despair or a Hail Mary Pass?

As the NFL regular season comes to a close, the Dallas Cowboys are in a precarious position. With a 7-8 record and a struggling offense, it's unclear whether the team can mount a playoff push. The Cowboys' playoff chances are on life support, and it's anyone's guess whether they'll be able to find a way to breathe life back into their season.

The Cowboys' offense has been a major point of concern all season, with quarterback Dak Prescott struggling to find consistency. The team's running game has been equally unimpressive, with Ezekiel Elliott's production down significantly from last year. On the other hand, the Cowboys' defense has been a bright spot, with standout performers like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. However, even the defense's best efforts can't compensate for the offense's shortcomings.

With the playoffs just around the corner, the Cowboys' chances of making a deep run are looking increasingly slim. The team's schedule for the remainder of the season is brutal, with matchups against top-tier teams like the 49ers and the Eagles. The Cowboys will need to pull off some miracle performances if they hope to stay in the hunt.

Assessing the Cowboys' Playoff Chances

To determine the Cowboys' playoff chances, we need to take a closer look at their current standing and the teams they still need to play. The Cowboys are currently in sixth place in the NFC East, 3.5 games behind the division-leading Washington Commanders. With 6 games remaining on the schedule, the Cowboys have a tough road ahead of them.

Here are the Cowboys' remaining opponents for the rest of the season:

• Washington Commanders (Week 13)
• New York Giants (Week 14)
• Philadelphia Eagles (Week 15)
• Arizona Cardinals (Week 16)
• Los Angeles Chargers (Week 17)
• San Francisco 49ers (Week 18)

The Cowboys' Path to the Playoffs

For the Cowboys to make the playoffs, they'll need to win at least 5 of their remaining 6 games. That's a daunting task, especially considering the strength of their remaining schedule. Here are the Cowboys' current playoff scenarios:

• Win 5 of 6 remaining games: playoff spot
• Win 4 of 6 remaining games and beat the Commanders in Week 13: playoff spot
• Win 3 of 6 remaining games and beat the Commanders and Giants in Weeks 13 and 14: playoff spot

The Cowboys' Playoff Odds

The Cowboys' playoff odds are currently sitting at around 12%. That's not a very encouraging number, considering the team's current form and the strength of their remaining schedule. However, there's still hope for the Cowboys to turn things around and make a push for the playoffs.

Here are the Cowboys' current playoff odds, according to ESPN:

• 12% chance of making the playoffs
• 5% chance of making the NFC East divisional round
• 2% chance of making the NFC Championship game

The Importance of Upsets

For the Cowboys to make the playoffs, they'll need to pull off some significant upsets. The team will need to win games against top-tier teams like the 49ers and the Eagles, as well as against teams like the Cardinals and the Chargers.

Here are some potential upsets that could help the Cowboys' playoff chances:

• Win at 49ers in Week 16
• Win at Eagles in Week 15
• Win against Cardinals in Week 16
• Win against Chargers in Week 17

The Role of the Wild Card

The Cowboys' playoff chances are also dependent on the teams they'll be competing against in the wild card game. The team will need to win the NFC East divisional round to secure a home game in the wild card round.

Here are some potential wild card matchups that could hurt the Cowboys' playoff chances:

• San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders
• Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers

Conclusion

The Cowboys' playoff chances are looking increasingly slim, but there's still hope for the team to turn things around and make a push for the playoffs. The team will need to pull off some significant upsets and get some key breaks in order to stay in the hunt. As the season wears on, the Cowboys will need to prove themselves capable of performing under pressure in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.