Division hopes on the line Sunday

[erod]

The losing team Sunday is, for all practical purposes, out of the race for the NFC East.

The Cowboys can't afford to be four games behind the Eagles in the win column. Philadelphia has home games against two struggling teams, the 49ers and Broncos, in the next two weeks before their bye.

Meanwhile, Dallas has two road games at Washington and Atlanta sandwiched around a home game against Kansas City.

Then, Dallas plays Philly on Nov. 19th at home with the Eagles coming off a bye. The Cowboys can not afford to be more than two games back when that game arrives.

Or kiss the East good bye.

 

[Reality]

I don't think this game is a "must-win" game at all. It's a very important game and winning would definitely help, but it won't be a dagger in the heart if they lose.

First, if they lose, they will be 3 games out of first, not 4. They play the Eagles twice so if they win both of those games, they would be only one game behind them while holding the first tie-breaker over them.

Second, if they lose, they would be 3-4 and which means the possibility (not saying it would happen) of being 12-4 would still be there for them and there's no way a 12-4 team is not making the playoffs at least as a wild card.

Third, this game is at Washington. If it was at Dallas, I would consider it closer to, though still not, a must-win game. However, since it is in Washington, this is an away game that even if they were 6-0 right now would be a potential loss given how well NFC East teams play each other.

Fourth, the Cowboys are 1-0 in the division, so losing this game would mean they are 1-1, which would still give them the tie-breaker advantage, at least for now, over the Commanders and Giants for the division (and wildcard) tie-breaker, as with a loss, the Commanders would be 1-2 and the Giants are 0-2.

 

[viman96]

Not even close. It means much more for the Commanders than it does for the Cowboys. If Washington loses they will be 0-3 in the division whereas Dallas will be 1-1.

 

[fifaguy]

hopefully the Cowboys will treat the game as a must win regardless of the divisional title implications.

 

[Stash]

The losing team Sunday is, for all practical purposes, out of the race for the NFC East.

The Cowboys can't afford to be four games behind the Eagles in the win column. Philadelphia has home games against two struggling teams, the 49ers and Broncos, in the next two weeks before their bye.

Meanwhile, Dallas has two road games at Washington and Atlanta sandwiched around a home game against Kansas City.

Then, Dallas plays Philly on Nov. 19th at home with the Eagles coming off a bye. The Cowboys can not afford to be more than two games back when that game arrives.

Or kiss the East good bye.

I'm with you. I know what the math says, but I also know what not being able to put even two wins a row together says as well.

If they can't beat Washington, I don't give them much chance of beating the team that's already beaten Washington not once, but twice.

 

[Sydla]

It's about as close to a must win as one can have if you want to win the division. If they lose, they are now in a situation where they would pretty much have to sweep Philly AND still get help from other places.

At least if you beat Washington here, you can argue that the Cowboys still control their own destiny. If they lose, they don't have that technically anymore.

 

[Trouty]

This game is absolutely a must win. 2-0 in the Division, a winning record, and keeps us viable for a WC spot.

A 3-3 start makes this must win. It is what it is.

 

[Trouty]

It's about as close to a must win as one can have if you want to win the division. If they lose, they are now in a situation where they would pretty much have to sweep Philly AND still get help from other places.

At least if you beat Washington here, you can argue that the Cowboys still control their own destiny. If they lose, they don't have that technically anymore.

Amen, Syd

 

[Alexander]

I don't think this game is a "must-win" game at all. It's a very important game and winning would definitely help, but it won't be a dagger in the heart if they lose.

Every in-conference game is important and every division game is critical from here on out if the Cowboys want to assure themselves of making the post-season.

A two game hole is tough and a three game one is next to impossible. We need to sweep the rest of the division games.

 

[LoneStarDawg]

Every in-conference game is important and every division game is critical from here on out if the Cowboys want to assure themselves of making the post-season.

A two game hole is tough and a three game one is next to impossible. We need to sweep the rest of the division games.

I would love to but do not see us “sweeping” the division.

 

[Alexander]

I would love to but do not see us “sweeping” the division.

I didn't say I believed we would either. I see us splitting with the Eagles unfortunately.

 

[Idgit]

Not really.

 

[Trouty]

Not really.

We’re gonna win, so it’s moot, anyways!

 

[Idgit]

We’re gonna win, so it’s moot, anyways!

Yeah. We are.

Just don't get the rush for people to declare seasons over. Off seasons are long enough as it is.

 

[reddyuta]

One of the few times I agree with the OP.

 

[Sydla]

Yeah. We are.

Just don't get the rush for people to declare seasons over. Off seasons are long enough as it is.

He didn't say the season was over with a loss.

 

[Trouty]

Yeah. We are.

Just don't get the rush for people to declare seasons over. Off seasons are long enough as it is.

I know, El Presidente, but we can’t go 3-4 with a one loss Eagles team, and an NFC that is begging us to snag a WC spot — with Rodgers out, Cam regressing, Ryan regressing, the Vikings without their starting QB, and a somewhat inconsistent SEA team.

We need this win. IMO, this is about as “must win” as it gets this early in a season.

4-3 ensures we control our destiny (as Syd pointed out), and gets us 2-0 in the division (probably at least as important as the overall record).

Idg, I don’t want to see us 3-4 and 1-1 in the NFCE. Would be horrible.

 

[Trouty]

One of the few times I agree with the OP.

LOL!!!!

E has his moments, Reddy

 

[Idgit]

He didn't say the season was over with a loss.

I know.

 

[erod]

I don't think this game is a "must-win" game at all. It's a very important game and winning would definitely help, but it won't be a dagger in the heart if they lose.

First, if they lose, they will be 3 games out of first, not 4. They play the Eagles twice so if they win both of those games, they would be only one game behind them while holding the first tie-breaker over them.

Second, if they lose, they would be 3-4 and which means the possibility (not saying it would happen) of being 12-4 would still be there for them and there's no way a 12-4 team is not making the playoffs at least as a wild card.

Third, this game is at Washington. If it was at Dallas, I would consider it closer to, though still not, a must-win game. However, since it is in Washington, this is an away game that even if they were 6-0 right now would be a potential loss given how well NFC East teams play each other.

Fourth, the Cowboys are 1-0 in the division, so losing this game would mean they are 1-1, which would still give them the tie-breaker advantage, at least for now, over the Commanders and Giants for the wild card tie-breaker, as with a loss, the Commanders would be 1-2 and the Giants are 0-2.

If Philly beats San Fran and Dallas loses.....

Eagles 7-1
Cowboys 3-4

That's four games back in the win column.