Cowboys must Win Division or Bust!

[DFWJC]

The problem for a number of these teams we're competing with for a wild card spot is that they play each other. The Packers and Vikings still have two games (as do the Packers and Lions). The Packers' schedule is absolutely brutal. I think only one wild card is going to come out of the North because they all play each other and someone has to lose.

Seattle's schedule looks pretty brutal as well. They still have Miami, Bears, Cards, Bills, 49ers and Rams. I could see them dropping 3 games easily, but their tiebreaker over us is tough.

Tampa is basically out of it with their schedule (and our tiebreaker). They still have Carolina, Falcons (twice), Broncos, Eagles and Saints.

We could be playing for a wild card spot against the Saints at Christmas.

Cannibalism at it's finest.

To me, Seattle is the main obstacle. That tie-breaker is killer. I see them going 10-6 or 9-7. So it looks like winning the division has better odds for us.
They will be favored at home for all games--even against SF. The road games are at Miami (long trip, so tough), at Chicago (but missing Cutler), at Buffalo. They already have 6 wins, so 10 wins are very doable.

Tampa Bay will probably go 9-7 or 8-8. They would have to win their homes games then win at either, New Orleans, Denver or Atlanta to make it interesting.

Minnesota looks like 9-7 or 8-8 team to me, but being at 6-4 right now sure helps.

Our head-to-head game vs New Orleans could be huge. We're in similar situations, each with 3 very tough games ahead of us. But their overall schedule is a bit worse.

 

[DFWJC]

Look at the remaining strength of schedule for the teams we're competing with for a wild card:

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/nfcsosrg.html

Lions (71%)
Vikings (69%)
Cardinals (59%)
Packers (57%)
Saints (55%)
Buccaneers (54%)
Seahawks (49%)
Cowboys (40%)

Yeah, our schedule is better for sure.
I just saw the latest NFL.com rankings.
All 5 of our losses are to teams in the top 11...and 3 in the top 5.
Things do get more managebale going forward.

One key to that list you posted, as you know, is that it would only really be apples-apples if we all had the same record.
THREE of those teams have won TWO more games than we have. And another has won one more game.

So remove the two easiest games from our slate going forward, take an average of the remaining team records, and then you have a true measure.

 

[theogt]

Yeah, our schedule is better for sure.
I just saw the latest NFL.com rankings.
All 5 of our losses are to teams in the top 11...and 3 in the top 5.
Things do get more managebale going forward.

One key to that list you posted, as you know, is that it would only really be apples-apples if we all had the same record.
THREE of those teams have won TWO more games than we have. And another has won one more game.

So remove the two easiest games from our slate going forward, take an average of the remaining team records, and then you have a true measure.

Look at it in terms of how many more games we've lost than each of those teams.

Lions (71%) - 5 losses
Vikings (69%) - 4 losses
Cardinals (59%) - 5 losses
Packers (57%) - 3 losses
Saints (55%) - 5 losses
Buccaneers (54%) - 4 losses
Seahawks (49%) - 4 losses

Only 4 teams in the race have fewer losses than us, and 3 of those 4 teams have only 1 fewer loss. Now add on top of it that they most of those teams play each other. Someone has to lose those games, so there are built in losses.

Oddly enough, we're right in the mix.

 

[Doomsday101]

The problem for a number of these teams we're competing with for a wild card spot is that they play each other. The Packers and Vikings still have two games (as do the Packers and Lions). The Packers' schedule is absolutely brutal. I think only one wild card is going to come out of the North because they all play each other and someone has to lose.

Seattle's schedule looks pretty brutal as well. They still have Miami, Bears, Cards, Bills, 49ers and Rams. I could see them dropping 3 games easily, but their tiebreaker over us is tough.

Tampa is basically out of it with their schedule (and our tiebreaker). They still have Carolina, Falcons (twice), Broncos, Eagles and Saints.

We could be playing for a wild card spot against the Saints at Christmas.

True, I was thinking the same thing about the saints. Right now it is just talk because unless the Cowboys can get out of their own way for a change that game will not mean anything.

 

[aikemirv]

I think you need 10-6 to get in as a wild card - that is pretty much the standard. I think history shows 10-6 teams usually get in.

That said, 10-6 will win the division as well and at the current rate 9-7 might win it!

 

[Zman5]

I think it's going to depend on how the Giants play after their bye. They usually play well in December and we usually play really bad.

Giants do seem little different though this year. Their defense doesn't look as good and look little "old". I think Osi and Tuck is on a decline and their secondary is bad.

Their defense usually carried them late in the season when Eli was playing bad. I'm not sure if they can do that this year.

I think we are going to be the same team we've been in the past. We'll most likely go 8-8. Maybe with some luck (key injuries to other teams) we may be able to go 9-7.

 

[anj113]

Looking though the standings there are a lot of teams with better records than the Cowboys. If we are to have a snow balls chance in H _ _ _ to make the playoffs, we would have to win the Division out right. Looks like the Wildcard will be taken by someone NOT in the NFC East.

Can we please just try to win 2 games in a row...

 

[dez_for_prez]

Remember last year when we thought Arizona was going to be a win down the stretch. 1 game at a time.

 

[Red Dragon]

This season is very likely going to be a repeat of last year. Cowboys need the Giants to go on a losing streak while the Cowboys put together a winning streak of their own that puts Dallas in the driver's seat for the division title. And just like last year, it may all come down to the season finale on the road against a bitter rival - this time against the Commanders at FedEx, not the Giants at MetLife. (Not that the Commanders would be in position to make the playoffs, but rather, that the Cowboys would likely need to win at FedEx in order to get that NFC East title.)

 

[Verdict]

They could do a lot of things. Mathematically they could go 11 and 5 and write their own ticket. It looked bleak at 3 and 5. It looks like we have more life at 4 and 5. If we beat the Browns and get to 5 and 5, we don't look so much like a wounded duck.

If we beat the teams we are easily capable of beating, we can easily get in the playoffs. If we were 4 and 5 with the toughest part of our schedule coming up, it would LOOK a lot different than where we currently stand ....with a weaker schedule coming up and a majority of the games at home.

If we beat the Browns, the mentality of this board will shift and if we win the following week, posters will be evaluating the odds of getting a home game in the playoffs. That's what makes the NFL fun.

 

[Verdict]

Remember last year when we thought Arizona was going to be a win down the stretch. 1 game at a time.

True, but what does a post on a message board have to do with winning or losing a game?

 

[theogt]

Remember last year when we thought Arizona was going to be a win down the stretch. 1 game at a time.

Remember when everyone thought the Giants were done for after 5 straight losses?

 

[TOCowboy]

I worked it through guys, we're fine:

Cowboys df Browns
Commanders df Eagles
Giants bye

Cowboys df Commanders
Packers df Giants
Eagles df Panthers

Cowboys df Eagles
Giants df Commanders

Ravens df Commanders
Cowboys df Bengals
Saints df Giants
Bucs df Eagles

Eagles df Bengals
Commanders df Browns
Falcons df Giants
Steelers df Cowboys

Giants df Ravens
Saints df Cowboys
Commanders df Eagles

Cowboys df Commanders
Giants df Eagles

Final Division Standings:
Cowboys 9-7
Giants 9-7
Commanders 6-10
Eagles 5-11

Cowboys div record: 5-1
Giants div record: 4-2

Cowboys win tiebreak and the division

 

[birdwells1]

True, but what does a post on a message board have to do with winning or losing a game?

exactly, WE DON'T PLAY THE GAME, we can look ahead and it won't affect a thing.

 

[rwalters31]

exactly, WE DON'T PLAY THE GAME, we can look ahead and it won't affect a thing.

Good points made in this thread. Even though I started the thread, it is not an endorsement that the Cowboys will be the Division Champs. Right now the Giants are sitting on the thrown and waiting to be crowned. The Bishop has the crown in his hand and turning to put it on the Giants. The Cowboys are the only team in the Division that can stop the crowning. The Cowboys will have to fight their way into the chamber to stop it.:

Giants chance of to be Division Champions . . . . . . . . 75%
Cowboys chance of being Division Champs . . . . . . . . 25%

Things can change now but the plants need to be in alignment, the Pope has to bless the Cowboys, the Jerry has to chance his ways, etc.

 

[rwalters31]

Giants chance of to be Division Champions . . . . . . . . 75%
Cowboys chance of being Division Champs . . . . . . . . 25%

Things can change now but the plants need to be in alignment, the Pope has to bless the Cowboys, the Jerry has to chance his ways, etc.

Some corrections that did not happen when I tried earlier:

Giants chance to be Division Champions . . . . . . . . . . 75%
Cowboys chance of becoming Division Champions . . . . 25%

Things can change in our favor, however, the planets need to be in alignment, the Pope has to bless the Cowboys, and Jerry Jones has to change his ways, etc.

 

[WV Cowboy]

the planets need to be in alignment, the Pope has to bless the Cowboys, and Jerry Jones has to change his ways, etc.

Check with Sam I Am about the planets, the Pope is just a man, he can't bless anybody, and you can forget about #3.

 

[aikemirv]

Good points made in this thread. Even though I started the thread, it is not an endorsement that the Cowboys will be the Division Champs. Right now the Giants are sitting on the thrown and waiting to be crowned. The Bishop has the crown in his hand and turning to put it on the Giants. The Cowboys are the only team in the Division that can stop the crowning. The Cowboys will have to fight their way into the chamber to stop it.:

Giants chance of to be Division Champions . . . . . . . . 75%
Cowboys chance of being Division Champs . . . . . . . . 25%

Things can change now but the plants need to be in alignment, the Pope has to bless the Cowboys, the Jerry has to chance his ways, etc.

Cowboys win the next 2 and the chances go to 50/50

 

[cowboyfan4life2]

The problem for a number of these teams we're competing with for a wild card spot is that they play each other. The Packers and Vikings still have two games (as do the Packers and Lions). The Packers' schedule is absolutely brutal. I think only one wild card is going to come out of the North because they all play each other and someone has to lose.

Seattle's schedule looks pretty brutal as well. They still have Miami, Bears, Cards, Bills, 49ers and Rams. I could see them dropping 3 games easily, but their tiebreaker over us is tough.

Tampa is basically out of it with their schedule (and our tiebreaker). They still have Carolina, Falcons (twice), Broncos, Eagles and Saints.

We could be playing for a wild card spot against the Saints at Christmas.

Seattle's schedule is easy, the dolphins,bills, cardinals, and rams all blow, and they almost beat san fran in san fran, no question they can beat them at home.

 

[Shunpike]

I love your pessimism really.

With that remaining schedule, you should go at least 9-7.

Things aren't looking good for us right now. Osi and Tuck aren't the same players. Our secondary can't cover anybody. Pass rush is non-existent. Cruz has a lot of tape on him so he won't repeat what he did in 2011 for us. Nicks is banged up. Our schedule is brutal. Eli is not himself this season either.

At this point, I would be surprised if Giants finish better than 9-7

Most likely both teams will be at 9-7 and Dallas will win the division.

I hate to say it but Big Blue won't be in the play offs this year.