Cowboys gain another edge in NFC East race
The Dallas Cowboys are a long shot to win the NFC East. That's because they need help from two teams that seem somewhat unlikely to provide it against the 13-2 Philadelphia Eagles. After all, in order to shock the NFL and end up as NFC East champions, the Cowboys need: To win out (@ WAS)Eagles […]
The Dallas Cowboys are a long shot to win the NFC East. That's because they need help from two teams that seem somewhat unlikely to provide it against the 13-2 Philadelphia Eagles.
After all, in order to shock the NFL and end up as NFC East champions, the Cowboys need:
- To win out (@ WAS)
- Eagles to lose out (vs NO, vs NYG)
That's a tough ask, especially because the Eagles are a very good football team and are expected to win both of their remaining games even following the recent news around the NFL.
This brings us to exactly the reason why Cowboys Nation is slightly getting its hopes up ahead of Sunday. According to multiple reports, Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts is designated as doubtful for this weekend's game against the New Orleans Saints.
Against the Cowboys, the Eagles offense moved the ball pretty well even without Hurts. Led by Gardner Minshew, the Eagles averaged over 6 yards per play and put up 27 points (they scored 34 as a team but seven of those were via a pick-six).
The Saints are 6-9 this season but rank 11th in pass defense, per Football Outsiders' DVOA metric. That's to say the Eagles have nothing guaranteed this Sunday. In Week 18, they'll meet a banged-up version of the New York Giants, whom they beat 48-22 in Week 14.
The most likely scenario for the Cowboys is to remain a wild card in the playoffs, which would mean playing as the 5th seed and facing the champions of the NFC South. But the NFL is a wild league and the division title remains a possibility until the Eagles win.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday that he'd announce on Monday if the team is playing its starters next weekend, referring to the Eagles' score on Sunday being the key variable.
Featured image via Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
