The Dallas Cowboys are taking a controversial stance on final three-game stretch, but it’s the correct one
Should the Dallas Cowboys play their starters even if they’re close to being mathematically eliminated from the NFL Playoffs?
The Dallas Cowboys are in a weird spot. Their playoff hopes are expected to be crushed from 1% to 0% before they even take the field next Sunday. However, it’s a team that is—and should be—interested in winning.
That’s why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed the team is playing to win over the last three weeks. Thus, the team is taking a controversial stance ahead of Week 16: Play the starters with the season virtually over. And it’s the right choice.
Jerry Jones leaves no doubt
On a radio interview on 105.3 The Fan, Jones made it very clear the Cowboys are planning to play to win despite the potential impact on the team’s draft positioning.
“We’ll worry about [being eliminated] when the time comes, but a win is very, very important in the NFL, and a win is important to me,” Jones said Tuesday. “A win does a lot of positive things. I don’t care when it happens. We owe it to that mirror, and we certainly owe it to our fans that we want to walk out there and be competitive. We will not try for a draft position. We won’t be looking at anything like that. We’ll be out there playing football, and we’ll bring them to play.”
Cowboys should play to win for obvious reason
I may not agree with Jones on a lot of things but I think he’s 100% right about this. This is Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as a head coach, and he’s not going anywhere in 2026. Not only is this valuable time for players to get reps in, but for him as well.
Here’s the thing: The Cowboys have had a winning streak only once this year. You don’t get very far in this league if you can’t learn to stack wins. And with a three-game stretch of manageable games, it’s a great opportunity for Dallas to do so.
Cowboys want a winning culture? Gotta prove it
I get the arguments about getting a better draft pick, and I’m sure in April we’ll discuss who they missed out on depending on how the final stretch of three games goes. But the Cowboys have talked a big game about Schottenheimer wanting to build a good culture. I’m not sure playing backups as soon as the playoffs are gone are what gives you a top-tier culture. But I’m pretty confident winning does.
This is football. Don’t overthink it. Try to win some ballgames before the season is over. Going 3-0 would still give them a winning record. That kind of stuff matters.
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DC Matt Eberflus is not going to like what Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones just admitted heading into Week 16
Oh, boy.
