Philly game is significant no matter what (win, and we only need to tie NY)

[Red Dragon]

I've heard posters say that the Philly game is meaningless if the Giants beat the Jets, because the Cowboys would then have to defeat the Giants no matter what. That's actually not quite true.


If the Cowboys beat Philly (and improve to 9-6,) and the Giants beat the Jets (and improve to 8-7,) Dallas would only need a tie against New York to win the division. This is because a 9-6-1 Dallas team would trump an 8-7-1 New York team in the standings.



Granted, a tie is an extremely unlikely event. But it is very significant, because it could affect how Garrett coaches in overtime. If the Cowboys-Giants game goes to overtime, and the final few minutes are winding down, then Garrett can afford to simply sit on the ball and take an ultra-conservative approach and eat up the clock instead of having to take the risks associated with (interception risk) trying to set up the Cowboys for a game-winning field goal.

 

[Risen Star]

Granted, a tie is an extremely unlikely event.

So unlikely that it's not worth talking about.

 

[cowboys2233]

Granted, a tie is an extremely unlikely event. But it is very significant, because it could affect how Garrett coaches in overtime. If the Cowboys-Giants game goes to overtime, and the final few minutes are winding down, then Garrett can afford to simply sit on the ball and take an ultra-conservative approach and eat up the clock instead of having to take the risks associated with (interception risk) trying to set up the Cowboys for a game-winning field goal.

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of over Garrett's ultra-conservative approaches. But your point is duly noted.

 

[Fizziksman]

it's not meaningless it's time this time started to get some sort of momentum going into the playoffs, but it's nice to know they can't knock us out.

 

[JBS]

So unlikely that it's not worth talking about.

lol, if the power goes out (see SF last night and as a matter of fact new meadowlands vs us last season) the game could easily be called a tie...

 

[Doomsday101]

nice to know that if we are tied with NY with 2 min to go in overtime all we need to do is kill the clock. Will this happen? seriously doubt it.

Right bottom line Cowboys need to take care of their business and win these games.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I've heard posters say that the Philly game is meaningless if the Giants beat the Jets, because the Cowboys would then have to defeat the Giants no matter what. That's actually not quite true.

The Philly game also isn't meaningless because there are scenarios in which Dallas beats Philly, loses to the Giants, and gets in as a wildcard. They're not very likely scenarios, but they're orders of magnitude more likely than the Cowboys and Giants going an entire overtime period with no points scored.

 

[Tricericon]

Given the chance of a tie, you're looking for "not completely totally absolutely irrelevant, only almost so" rather than "significant".

 

[links18]

So unlikely that it's not worth talking about.

And yet, we missed the playoffs in 2008, because of a tie (sort of).

 

[85Cowboy85]

Assuming we beat the Eagles and lose to the Giants there is also a chance we could get the wildcard. For that to happen Atlanta would have to lose out and Seattle, Arizona and Chicago each have to lose one game.

Atlanta plays New Orleans and Tampa
Seattle plays San Fransisco and Arizona
Arizona plays Cincinnati and Seattle
Chicago plays Green Bay and Minnesota

Considering Atlanta already lost to Tampa once this scenario is not impossible.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Assuming we beat the Eagles and lose to the Giants there is also a chance we could get the wildcard. For that to happen Atlanta would have to lose out and Seattle, Arizona and Chicago each have to lose one game.

Atlanta plays New Orleans and Tampa
Seattle plays San Fransisco and Arizona
Arizona plays Cincinnati and Seattle
Chicago plays Green Bay and Minnesota

Considering Atlanta already lost to Tampa once this scenario is not impossible.

There's another scenario. If Atlanta and Detroit lose out, we need either Chicago to lose one or Seattle & Arizona each to lose one (but not all three).

 

[85Cowboy85]

There's another scenario. If Atlanta and Detroit lose out, we need either Chicago to lose one or Seattle & Arizona each to lose one (but not all three).

You're right. Good catch.

 

[JD_KaPow]

You're right. Good catch.

I posted all the playoff scenarios here.

 

[Mash]

Isnt it just....beat the Eagles and were in?

The Giant game doesnt matter.....right?

Dont we win the tie breaker with the Giants if we lose to them?

 

[cowboys2233]

Isnt it just....beat the Eagles and were in?

The Giant game doesnt matter.....right?

Dont we win the tie breaker with the Giants if we lose to them?

Um...

 

[Mash]

Um...

My Bad....For some reason I thought we beat the Giants our first game.....

Giants win the tie breaker ....I had a brain fart....

 

[DallasInDC]

My Bad....For some reason I thought we beat the Giants our first game.....

Giants win the tie breaker ....I had a brain fart....

That's what you would call putting a bad loss out of your mind.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Garrett 'coaching' like that is WHY we do not have this division wrapped up already.