Dallas Cowboys’ playoff odds receive a significant boost that has nothing to do with Thursday’s matchup vs Lions
The Dallas Cowboys’ top rival in the playoff race just suffered a major blow.
The Dallas Cowboys are a longshot to make the NFL playoffs. According to NextGen Stats, a win against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football would put them at a postseason probability of 36%. A loss would drop them to a nearly hopeless 8%.
It’s thin ice for Dallas. Heck, not even winning out would guarantee them a spot considering what the NFC picture looks like. Currently, there are four non-division leaders in the NFC with more wins than the Cowboys.
That’s why the Cowboys’ biggest hope to secure a playoff spot is the Philadelphia Eagles dropping the lead in the NFC East. Which leads me to this: The Eagles’ struggles could be about to get bigger due to an injury to their best defensive player, DT Jalen Carter.
Jalen Carter is considered week-to-week due to surgery on both shoulders
The Eagles no longer play the Cowboys after both sides split the series. However, if Dallas wins out, two Eagles losses would put them atop the NFC East for the first time this season while securing them a spot in the playoffs. With games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders (twice), and Buffalo Bills, it could very well happen.
Specially if Carter misses multiple of those games. Carter is considered week-to-week by the Eagles following surgery to both of his shoulders. So far, he’s been ruled out for Monday night’s matchup against the Chargers but it’s unclear how long he will be absent.
Though you never want to root for a player’s injury, there’s no doubt this unfortunate news for Carter directly benefit the Cowboys’ chances of making the postseason. However, they can’t control what the Eagles do or don’t do. In other words, for players and coaches, it’s all about beating the Lions on primetime and taking things one game at a time from there.
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