News: BTB: Cowboys playoff picture: A wildcard matchup against the Seahawks seems imminent

[NewsBot]

Anybody afraid of Seattle?

Week 14 is officially in the books and the Dallas Cowboys have all but clinched the NFC East.

It’s true that the Cowboys still have work to do and even if/when they do secure a division title. The third seed in the NFC, even the second if you’re that optimistic, could still be had.

NFC Standings through Week 14:

1. New Orleans Saints (NFC South winners): 11-2 overall, 8-2 in conference
2. Los Angeles Rams (NFC West winners): 11-2 overall, 7-2 in conference
3. Chicago Bears: 9-4 overall, 7-2 in conference
4. Dallas Cowboys: 8-5 overall, 7-3 in conference
5. Seattle Seahawks: 8-5 overall, 7-3 in conference
6. Minnesota Vikings: 6-6-1 overall, 5-4-1 in conference
7. Carolina Panthers: 6-7 overall, 4-5 in conference
8. Philadelphia Eagles: 6-7 overall, 4-6 in conference
9. Washington Commanders: 6-7 overall, 6-5 in conference
10. Green Bay Packers: 5-7-1 overall, 3-6-1 in conference

If the playoffs started today (they don’t) the Cowboys would be the lowest-seeded division winner with a Wildcard Round game at AT&T Stadium against the Seattle Seahawks. It would mark the second playoff game against Seattle for the Cowboys franchise with the first one happening on a day that a piece of all of us died.

As you can see, the Seahawks have a sizable lead on the field when it comes to wildcard spots. While they have not earned their hats and t-shirts yet, the Cowboys will in all likelihood wrap up the NFC East so being a wildcard team themselves is extremely unlikely.

It’s not exactly likely that the Cowboys will catch the Bears for the three seed


The NFL is likely thrilled to have two of its cornerstone franchises in the thick of the NFC playoff picture, but the Cowboys and Bears are dueling with one another for the right to trail New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago just knocked off the latter on Sunday night and if they’re capable of defeating the Rams they’re likely going to win against Green Bay and at San Francisco and Minnesota to end their season.

As previously discussed, the Cowboys can clinch the division with one win. Any win. Dallas simply has to win one of their final three games to do it. Seattle is approaching similar win-and-in territory as far as one of the NFC’s wildcard spots is concerned and they’ll likely be the top one. With this being the direction that we’re headed, that’s why a Dallas and Seattle wildcard matchup is something you should brace for.

Dallas and/or Seattle could even have “bye” weeks ahead of the playoffs


Due to their abilities to lock things up so far ahead of time, it’s probable that the Cowboys and/or Seahawks will cement their status before they finish the regular season. This happened for the Cowboys both in 2014 and 2016 and we saw Jason Garrett play the team a lot in the former while not so much in the latter.

The Cowboys and Seahawks played what amounted to an effective playoff game on Christmas Eve last season. Both had to win in order to keep their season alive in Week 16 and it was Seattle that walked away with the victory (it was Earl Thomas that walked away to Jason Garrett).

Dallas lost at Seattle earlier this season in one of the only games through 13 of them that saw the Cowboys get utterly dominated. That was well before the Cowboys had traded for Amari Cooper and even before the defense really got going.

How’s a playoff game against Seattle sound to you?

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