It may be a sacrilegious thing to ask but should the Dallas Cowboys (11-4) intentionally lose week 18 vs the Washington Commanders (7-7-1)?

Follow me for a sec and take a look at how the NFC playoff race is structured.

If the Philadelphia Eagles win this weekend against the New Orleans Saints, they win the NFC East, meaning the Cowboys will secure the fifth seed. Making the last game of the season meaningless.

It goes beyond that. Assuming the NY Giants win one of their last two games (Indianapolis Colts, Eagles), they will secure the sixth seed. Likely facing them off against the San Francisco 49ers.

So what about the seventh seed?

At the moment, Washington still controls their own destiny. Either winning out, or losses from the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers will put them in.

The easiest way to allow the Dallas Cowboys to reach the NFC Championship game, and potentially the Super Bowl could be how week 18 is approached.

Assuming the standings stay how they currently are, the Cowboys will go to Tampa Bay in a rematch with the Buccaneers. Meaning if they win, they could end up playing in Philadelphia again…

… Depending on who is the seventh seed.

The most dangerous team fighting for the seventh seed are the Packers. They are winners of four of their last six, with an offense and defense hitting their strides. Making up for their any deficiencies.

As a seventh seed, they would take on their rival Minnesota Vikings. If they pulled that off, they are very much a threat to the Eagles in round two.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy might respect QB Aaron Rodgers from all their time spent together. Even he's smart enough to know that giving away their last game of the season to Washington (assuming it's meaningless) and keeping him away from the postseason.

The knowledge that QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have against the Eagles, may seem like a much more attractive road to go down than to risk the 'Cowboys Killer' getting a chance to meet them again. As hot as they are.

This is all in theory of course. As how week 17 ends, will decide how most playoff teams approach the final week of the regular season.

But if things fall like they're supposed to, this may be a time where losing is winning.

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports