Are we high on the Eagles’ defense or low on the Lions’ offense?
Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down the SNF matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
The Dallas Cowboys were in desperate need of a victory in their “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders after dropping the final two games before their Week 10 bye.
Dallas got that much-needed victory behind a stellar game from Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ passing game.
Things didn’t start great for the Cowboys offense in the 33-16 win. They went three-and-out on the first drive, for which CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were benched due to a “coach’s decision,” and saw Prescott get strip-sacked on the second drive.
But after that, Prescott was nearly flawless. He finished the game going 25 of 33 passing for 268 yards and four touchdowns while Dallas’ new-look defense – headlined by the acquisition of star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and the return of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown – put together one of its best efforts of the season against the Raiders.
Dallas’ victory wasn’t enough to catapult it back into the thick of the NFC playoff race, but it did keep the team alive as it enters a critical stretch of three games in 12 days. Here’s a look at where the Cowboys currently stand in the playoff race and their chances of making it to the postseason.
Cowboys playoff odds
The Cowboys may have beaten the Raiders, but they remain a longshot to make the playoffs. They presently rank 10th in the NFC standings and have just a 7% chance to make the postseason, according to the NFL Next Gen Stats.
Dallas entered Week 11 with just a 4% chance to make the postseason. Their odds to make the playoffs would have dropped to just 1% with a loss, so their win over the Raiders was significant in at least keeping them in the running for the increasingly competitive NFC.
Cowboys remaining schedule
The Cowboys will face the 11th-easiest schedule down the stretch of the season, per Tankathon. They have three games remaining against teams with a winning record, three divisional matchups and a critical Thanksgiving game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Below is a look at Kansas City’s remaining opponents:
NFC East standings
The Cowboys are in second place in the NFC East standings, but they are well behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional race. Below is a look at the division’s pecking order.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)Washington Commanders (3-8)New York Giants (2-9)
The Cowboys should soon know whether they have any chance of chasing down the Eagles. The two division rivals are facing off in Week 12 in a game that Dallas essentially must win to keep their minuscule hopes of winning the NFC East alive.
NFC playoff picturePhiladelphia Eagles (8-2; NFC East leaders)Los Angeles Rams (8-2; NFC West leaders)Chicago Bears (7-3; NFC North leaders)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4; NFC South leaders)Seattle Seahawks (7-3; wild card No. 1)Green Bay Packers (6-3-1; wild card No. 2)San Francisco 49ers (7-4; wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (6-4); Carolina Panthers (6-5); Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1); Minnesota Vikings (4-6); Arizona Cardinals (3-7); Atlanta Falcons (3-7); Washington Commanders (3-8); New Orleans Saints (2-8); New York Giants (2-9).