We're playing for the 6 seed

[Jake]

Eagles and Vikings are most likely going to run away with their divisions, we need them to win every NFC game from here out. Ideally, Philly has clinched everything by week 17 and sits everyone for our game.

NO or Carolina will win the south and the other most likely locks up the 5 seed. Again, we should be rooting for both. This only changes if Carolina stumbles and becomes competition for the 6 seed.

LA is two games up on Seattle but Seattle has beaten them once. We REALLY need LA to win the division and make Seattle compete with us for the 6 seed.

So what we will likely have is Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit and GB competing for the 6 seed. I think we can reasonably assume GB is done because they are one of the worst teams in football without Rodgers and will likely be 5-9 or 6-8 before he could return.

So Dallas/Atlanta/Seattle/Detroit. First the bad news: Atlanta owns the tiebreaker over us. The good news: They have the most difficult final 6 games in the league. They play FOUR games against teams with 7 or more wins and two are on the road. 5 of their last 6 are division games. It's tough to see them finishing better than 9-7.

Likewise Seattle has a brutal schedule and they play us in Dallas when we'll have Zeke back. We effectively control our destiny vs them assuming they lose 1 more.

Detroit will be a problem, after Minnesota and Baltimore they finish the year with 4 should be wins. It's hard to see them not getting to 10 wins.

That leaves Dallas. We have four straight games against teams with losing records, including two at home on the awkward Thursday game schedules which historically really hurt the road team. At worst, we have to go 3-1 and sit at 8-6 going into the last two games. We then get Zeke back for Seattle (a must win) and Philly.

Best case scenario: We find a way against below average teams over the next 4 weeks, beat Seattle with Zeke and Philly sits Wentz and others week 17. That locks us in unless Detroit also hits 11 wins in which case we'd have some advanced tiebreaker scenarios.

If we finish 5-1, we will need help but still a chance.

Not sure we can, but if we can find SOME way to at least get to Oakland at 8-5 we give ourselves a chance. So this week isn't a "must win", but if we lose we need to win out. 10-6 is simply a must.

I'm not sure we're playing for anything at this point, but I'd take the 6th seed if we can get it.

 

[landroverking]

Nice breakdown. 10-6 may get it done

 

[Sydla]

There would be a ridiculous amount of satisfaction if we squeaked in and then knocked Philly out.

The outrage up here would be off the charts.

 

[Stash]

well go for the draft pick time - whats the use with going to playoffs when you know your one an done

And if it means any of these coaches come back?

Yeah, no thanks!

 

[TWOK11]

In our last 23 possessions we have a grand total of one single TD.................and you guys are talking about 5-1 or 6-0 running the table

Last year the Packers were 4-6 through 10 games. They had a worse defense than we do and were coming off back to back blowout losses to Tennessee and Washington (worse teams than Atlanta and Philly by a lot). Overall they had lost 4 straight.

They finished the year on a 6 game win streak including wins over three playoff teams and made it all the way to the NFC Title game.

Almost every year one of the 4 playoff finalists was a .500 or so teammivh of the year that got hot around Thanksgiving.

 

[Sydla]

Last year the Packers were 4-6 through 10 games. They had a worse defense than we do and were coming off back to back blowout losses to Tennessee and Washington (worse teams than Atlanta and Philly by a lot). Overall they had lost 4 straight.

They finished the year on a 6 game win streak including wins over three playoff teams and made it all the way to the NFC Title game.

Almost every year one of the 4 playoff finalists was a .500 or so teammivh of the year that got hot around Thanksgiving.

They also had Aaron Rodgers, arguably the best QB in football.

Trying to make these blanket comparisons without actually taking into account some key factors is misguided IMO.

 

[TWOK11]

So you are thinking up scenarios of us getting to finish the season at 5-1 or 6-0 when we have scored a grand total of 1 TD in our last 2 games. Who cares if the teams we are playing aren't very good. You know what? This team isn't very good right now at all. I'd be worried playing Cleveland at home at this point.

San Diego right now is playing much better than we are. Rivers should have a field day against this junk defense. Their offense can score. And their defense is not that bad.

A team similar to us makes the playoffs almost every single year. A talented injured team that gets players back and goes on a run to make the playoffs.

Our situation around the 10 game mark is very similar to 4 SB champs from the last 12 years.

 

[TheBigEasy]

I appreciate the time spent on your post OP. Though I'm not very optimistic about the success of this team, for the remaining games this year, I'm still a fan and this gives me something to follow and root for.

 

[TWOK11]

They also had Aaron Rodgers, arguably the best QB in football.

Trying to make these blanket comparisons without actually taking into account some key factors is misguided IMO.

They had Rodgers and nothing else. We have far more overall talent than GB did.

Their fans have wanted McCarthy out since about 2013 too. They all think anyone could make the playoffs with Rodgers.

 

[pugilist]

lmao, get real

we're playing for a middling 1st round pick, nothing more nothing less

 

[TWOK11]

And if it means any of these coaches come back?

Yeah, no thanks!

I question the loyalty of any fan who would rather be right than make the playoffs.

I'm not much of a Gareet fan right now but it is what it is.

 

[TWOK11]

lmao, get real

we're playing for a middling 1st round pick, nothing more nothing less

Then stop watching until April

 

[CowboyRoy]

Eagles and Vikings are most likely going to run away with their divisions, we need them to win every NFC game from here out. Ideally, Philly has clinched everything by week 17 and sits everyone for our game.

NO or Carolina will win the south and the other most likely locks up the 5 seed. Again, we should be rooting for both. This only changes if Carolina stumbles and becomes competition for the 6 seed.

LA is two games up on Seattle but Seattle has beaten them once. We REALLY need LA to win the division and make Seattle compete with us for the 6 seed.

So what we will likely have is Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit and GB competing for the 6 seed. I think we can reasonably assume GB is done because they are one of the worst teams in football without Rodgers and will likely be 5-9 or 6-8 before he could return.

So Dallas/Atlanta/Seattle/Detroit. First the bad news: Atlanta owns the tiebreaker over us. The good news: They have the most difficult final 6 games in the league. They play FOUR games against teams with 7 or more wins and two are on the road. 5 of their last 6 are division games. It's tough to see them finishing better than 9-7.

Likewise Seattle has a brutal schedule and they play us in Dallas when we'll have Zeke back. We effectively control our destiny vs them assuming they lose 1 more.

Detroit will be a problem, after Minnesota and Baltimore they finish the year with 4 should be wins. It's hard to see them not getting to 10 wins.

That leaves Dallas. We have four straight games against teams with losing records, including two at home on the awkward Thursday game schedules which historically really hurt the road team. At worst, we have to go 3-1 and sit at 8-6 going into the last two games. We then get Zeke back for Seattle (a must win) and Philly.

Best case scenario: We find a way against below average teams over the next 4 weeks, beat Seattle with Zeke and Philly sits Wentz and others week 17. That locks us in unless Detroit also hits 11 wins in which case we'd have some advanced tiebreaker scenarios.

If we finish 5-1, we will need help but still a chance.

Not sure we can, but if we can find SOME way to at least get to Oakland at 8-5 we give ourselves a chance. So this week isn't a "must win", but if we lose we need to win out. 10-6 is simply a must.

Personally, I could care less about making the 6th seed. Although I can admit that if Lee, Hitchens, Smith, Zeke were all playing and healthy then this team could beat anyone. I just dont see it as a realistic possibility. That being said, Im thinking we are playing for a top 10 pick and a new head coach.

 

[CATCH17]

What is a bigger priority...?

Making the playoffs or getting rid of Jason Garrett?

This is such a tough choice for me because i'd be betting on the unknown..

If Jerry does get rid of Garrett, which isn't even a guarantee, he'd probably go get a guy like Jeff Fisher.

I'd rather have another year of JAson Garrett and the 6th seed over a switch to someone like Jeff Fisher.

Now if missing the playoffs somehow landed us a top 15 pick and Jim Harbaugh I would much rather have that then a 6th seed.



I just want what is best for the Cowboys long term and I think Garrett has been so exposed recently that we may finally have a chance to get rid of him.


The worst thing that can happen is we keep Garrett and barely miss the playoffs.

 

[TWOK11]

Personally, I could care less about making the 6th seed. Although I can admit that if Lee, Hitchens, Smith, Zeke were all playing and healthy then this team could beat anyone. I just dont see it as a realistic possibility. That being said, Im thinking we are playing for a top 10 pick and a new head coach.

Garrett isn't getting fired this year no matter what, so you might as well hope we win.

 

[TWOK11]

What is a bigger priority

Making the playoffs or getting rid of Jason Garrett?

This is such a tough choice for me because i'd be betting on the unknown..

If Jerry does get rid of Garrett, which isn't even a guarantee, he'd probably go get a guy like Jeff Fisher.

I'd rather have another year of JAson Garrett and the 6th seed over a switch to someone like Jeff Fisher.

Now if missing the playoffs somehow landed us a top 15 pick and Jim Harbaugh I would much rather have that then a 6th seed.



I just want what is best for the Cowboys long term and I think Garrett has been so exposed recently that we may finally have a chance to get rid of him.


The worst thing that can happen is we keep Garrett and barely miss the playoffs.

Making the playoffs, no question

Garrett WILL NOT BE FIRED THIS YEAR. Jerry has all but said he blames all of this on Goodell. We could go 5-11 and at most we'll change coordinators.

 

[Sydla]

They had Rodgers and nothing else. We have far more overall talent than GB did.

Their fans have wanted McCarthy out since about 2013 too. They all think anyone could make the playoffs with Rodgers.

QB is the most important position on the team and Rodgers has shown time and time again he can make chicken salad out of dirt and spit.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I question the loyalty of any fan who would rather be right than make the playoffs.

I'm not much of a Gareet fan right now but it is what it is.

Im hoping for a top 10 pick and Garrett fired. But I can tell you it has nothing to do with being right. Its about realizing that this season is toast and the team isnt good enough. It needs drastic changes in the coaching staff and better players on D. So limping into the playoffs and getting booted early seems small to me. The bigger picture and a championship is what really matters. And thats not happening with Garrett as coach. Unless we have sooo much talent that we blow everyone out. But getting the talent isnt going to happen drafting 25 and lower. Im willing to sacrifice waving my pom poms for the greater good in the long term.

For me its the opposite. I have to question any fan that cares more about limping into the playoffs then winning the Superbowl and long term success.

 

[Sydla]

Making the playoffs, no question

Garrett WILL NOT BE FIRED THIS YEAR. Jerry has all but said he blames all of this on Goodell. We could go 5-11 and at most we'll change coordinators.

At this point, I wouldn't be that upset with 5-11 and two new coordinators.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Making the playoffs, no question

Garrett WILL NOT BE FIRED THIS YEAR. Jerry has all but said he blames all of this on Goodell. We could go 5-11 and at most we'll change coordinators.

See that. I have to completely question what kind of fan you are. Cant see the forest through the trees. Its almost like you would rather be right and limp into the playoffs then pay our dues and do what has to be done to win a championship.