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While the Dallas Cowboys postseason chances are hanging by the slimmest of threads, they are in line to have some players selected for the Pro Bowl’s flag football game.
Fan voting is in its final week and a pair of special teamers, kicker Brandon Aubrey and returner KaVontae Turpin, lead the balloting at their position. Dak Prescott isn’t far back.
Maybe that will make Cowboys fans happier than a glance at the wild card standings and a look at their playoff chances. Here is what Dallas is doing as it gets ready for more prime-time football on Sunday night against Minnesota.
Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl vote
Fan voting for the Pro Bowl is in its second week, as the league works to determine its flag football players and it’s pretty easy to guess which Cowboy leads the way. That would be kicker Brandon Aubrey. Along with returner KaVontae Turpin, those are the Cowboys who are currently in first place at their position.
A former Cowboys leads the way at his position, as Green Bay’s Micah Parsons is first among defensive ends and fourth overall.
Here is where the Dallas players in the top 10 stand at their positions: Dak Prescott fourth among quarterbacks; Javonte Williams ninth among running backs; George Pickens second, CeeDee Lamb 10th among receivers; Jake Ferguson sixth among tight ends; Hunter Luepke second among fullbacks; Cooper Beebe ninth among centers; Trent Sieg fifth among long snappers; KaVontae Turpin first among returners; CJ Goodwin is ninth among special team specialists; Aubrey first among kickers.
Fan voting for the 2026 Pro Bowl closes on Dec. 15, with votes counting double on the final two days. The coach and player ballot closes on Dec. 19, and rosters will be announced early next month.
The event is on Feb. 3.
Emmitt Smith
The former Dallas Cowboy and Florida Gator legend was part of a press conference in the run-up to the SEC championship game last weekend and he had good things to say about Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer.
“I think he’s doing well. I think he’s doing a great job,” Smith said in an interview at T-Mobile’s Club Magenta. “The way he started the season and what he had to work with, he’s done all he can do.
“It will be very interesting to see what next year looks like in terms of the draft picks that we have even though we made a few trades this year. But the key element is how we leverage those draft picks into bringing more talent onto the football field to suit the needs that we absolutely have.
“We can’t afford to waste many draft picks.”
NFC East standings
Philadelphia Eagles 8-5
Dallas Cowboys 6-6-1
Washington Commanders 3-10
New York Giants 2-11
Wild card standings
After the four division winners, the next three teams in each conference make the playoffs as wild cards. Here is a look at the chase for those six playoff spots.
NFC
In right now
On the outside right now
Detroit Lions 8-5Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Carolina Panthers 7-6 (one will win the division)Dallas Cowboys 6-6-1
AFC
In right now
Los Angeles Chargers 9-4Buffalo Bills 9-4Houston Texans 8-5
On the outside right now
Indianapolis Colts 8-5Kansas City Chiefs 6-7Baltimore Ravens 6-7Dallas Cowboys playoff scenarios
The simple one for Dallas is to win the NFC East. If the Cowboys win out to get to 10-6-1, they would need a Philadelphia team that has lost three straight games to go 2-2 in its final four. The Eagles play the Raiders, the Buffalo Bills in the only game where they’ll be an underdog, and the Washington Commanders twice.
The wild card is a long shot at best. If Dallas wins out to go 10-6-1, they would need the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks to lose out, or the San Francisco 49ers or Chicago Bears to lose three of their last four. On top of that, they would need Detroit to split their last four.
Dallas Cowboys playoff odds
The Dallas Cowboys have a 10% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Their odds of winning the division are 8.8%, which is the obvious path to the playoffs.
The FPI gives Dallas a 0.4% chance of winning the Super Bowl, so there is a chance.
When do the Cowboys play again?
The Dallas Cowboys face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, which kicks off at 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT. NBC could have flexed out of the game and picked another, but chose to keep the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys hoodie men’s
The Dallas Cowboys offers a full range of hoodies, priced from $50 to $180, at its team shop, and there are Christmas discounts available. The best bargain on the web is from the apparel outlet Shein, which has one for $19.08.
Dallas Cowboys injury report
Dallas’ first injury report of the week isn’t due until Wednesday, but here is what it will look like: defensive tackle Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring), offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) and receiver CeeDee Lamb (concussion) will be questionable.
There is no new news on Lamb since Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said he was doing well on Monday.
Dallas Cowboys remaining schedule
The Cowboys have four remaining regular-season games.
15 Sun, Dec. 14 Minnesota, 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT, NBC16. Sun. Dec. 21 Los Angeles Chargers, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT FOX17. Thu. Dec. 25 at Washington, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, Netflix18. TBD at New York Giants, TBD