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Week 14 TNF features two teams looking to keep their playoff hopes alive

USA TODAY Sports’ Chris Bumbaca and Prince Grimes break down the huge Thursday night matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.

When the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Arizona Cardinals on “Monday Night Football” ahead of their Week 10 bye, many believed it would mark the beginning of the end of Dallas’ season.

Instead, first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer and red-hot quarterback Dak Prescott have led the Cowboys on a three-game, post-bye winning streak. That has allowed the Cowboys to return to the fringes of the NFC playoff picture.

The Cowboys remain postseason longshots, as expected after they began the season 3-5-1. That said, Dallas will have a chance to continue its ascent on “Thursday Night Football” when it faces the Detroit Lions, who are also on the outside looking in of the playoff race.

The Lions were the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2024 and Dan Campbell’s squad will pose a formidable test for the Cowboys. But given what Dallas’ offense and improved defense have shown in recent weeks, the Cowboys may have a chance to remain hot and get Jerry Jones and their fans dreaming of a potential playoff berth.

Here’s what to know about Dallas’ playoff chances and where the Cowboys rank in the NFC East and wild-card standings.

Cowboys playoff odds

The Cowboys enter their Week 14 “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Lions with an estimated 17% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Dallas’ playoff chances may look slim, but it’s worth noting their chances stood at just 4% before their Week 12 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. They then improved to 10% before the Cowboys beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving.

If Dallas can continue to win, its chances should increase. The Cowboys are getting a nice opportunity to move up in the NFC standings, as they face a Detroit team that ranks eighth in the conference (Dallas ranks ninth).

That said, the Cowboys may have an easier path to the postseason as an NFC East contender than as a wild-card contender. They are just 1.5 games back of the Eagles in the divisional race while remaining two-plus games back in the wild-card battle.

Cowboys remaining schedule

The Cowboys will benefit from playing an easy schedule down the stretch. Dallas has the third-easiest remaining schedule league-wide, per Tankathon.

The Cowboys have just two remaining matchups against teams with winning records: the Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers. Dallas also has two remaining divisional matchups. Both are on the road, but they are against the lowly New York Giants and Washington Commanders, who have thus far combined to post a 5-20 record across 25 games.

Below is a full look at Dallas’ remaining schedule for the 2025 NFL season:

Week 14: at Detroit LionsWeek 15: vs. Minnesota VikingsWeek 16: vs. Los Angeles ChargersWeek 17: at Washington CommandersWeek 18: at New York GiantsNFC East standings

The Cowboys are in second place in the NFC East standings entering Week 14. They will remain there regardless of what happens during this week’s action, but a win over the Lions would give them a chance to make up ground on the Eagles.

Here’s how the NFC East standings look entering Week 14:

Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)Washington Commanders (3-9)New York Giants (2-11)

The Cowboys and Eagles have already finished their season series, splitting their two games 1-1. That means Dallas will need Philadelphia to lose at least a couple of times down the stretch as the Cowboys look to make up ground on the reigning Super Bowl champions.

The bad news? The Eagles have the fourth-easiest schedule league-wide. They have to play the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills but will also get three combined matchups against the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders.

Dallas will hope Los Angeles can at least put additional pressure on Philadelphia by beating the Eagles on “Monday Night Football” in Week 14. That, plus a Cowboys win against the Lions, would go a long way toward making the NFC East battle come down to the wire.

NFC playoff pictureChicago Bears (9-3; NFC North leaders)Los Angeles Rams (9-3; NFC West leaders)Philadelphia Eagles (8-4; NFC East leaders)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5; NFC South leaders)Seattle Seahawks (9-3, wild card No. 1)Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, wild card No. 2)San Francisco 49ers (9-4, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (7-6); Atlanta Falcons (4-8); Minnesota Vikings (4-8); Washington Commanders (3-8)

Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), New York Giants (2-10)