Can The Dallas Cowboys Earn A First-Round Bye?

150 150 Robert Moody
The Dallas Cowboys have everything to play for in their remaining two games against the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. Strangely, Dallas can manage to obtain the number one seed in the NFC, as well as narrowly miss out on the postseason completely.With so many attractive records so far in the NFC, a team that has had a fairly successful season will unfortunately be left out. The Cowboys are still in reach to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs. How? Let’s break it down.

With the Green Bay Packers losing to the Buffalo Bills last week, it opened up a race for the number one seed. In order for Dallas to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs they must be the number one or number two seed. For this to happen, they must win their remaining two games against the Colts and the Washington Redskins.

That’s not all that has to happen. Although it would be great to be the number one team in the NFC, it is more-so likely that the Cowboys will land in the second seed if the cards fall right. The Arizona Cardinals, who are currently the number one seed at an 11-3 record, must lose their remaining to games in order for the Cowboys to have a first-round bye. They are scheduled to play the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, two teams that could very well defeat them.

For Dallas to snag the number one overall seed, they would need Packers and Detroit Lions to each lose one more game. Luckily, the Packers and Lions play each other the last week of the season. There’s a loss for one of them, but that means either the Lions or Packers must lose this week as well.

If the Packers likely defeat the Buccaneers and Lions, then they would be the number one seed. This leaves the Cowboys clinching the number two seed as long as they win out and the Cardinals lose out. With the Philadelphia Eagles losing to the Washington Redskins, the Cowboys should realize the opportunity to clinch the division title this week against the Colts rather than hope to beat a division rival on the road at the end of the season.

There will be many outcomes to watch for these next two weeks, but let’s hope these Cowboys take it one step at a time. Win the division and make the playoffs first, then let the rest fall in place.

Finish the fight.

TAGS:Dallas Cowboys NFC Playoffs

AUTHOR

Robert Moody

All stories by: Robert Moody