The Cowboys are eliminated from the playoff hunt, but they still could benefit from certain outcomes in Week 17.
With the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 17 game already in the books, fans of the club have the capacity to enjoy a stress-free weekend of NFL football down the stretch. Of course, all of the fans would much rather be stressed, paying attention to things from the perspective of what would improve Dallas’ playoff chances, but alas, here things are.
The Cowboys were eliminated from the playoff chase before they took the field against Minnesota in Week 16, so it’s already sunken in that winning games is diametrically opposed to getting a better draft slot. The Cowboys have made it clear there’s no tanking in their blood, and went out and won on Thursday in their matchup against the also-eliminated Washington Commanders. The win improved Dallas’ record to 7-8-1, and with their final game against the mailed-it-in Giants in Week 18, they will likely finish with an 8-8-1 record.
By virtue of their tie in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys are going to finish with a better winning percentage than any team they end up with the same number of wins as. That means that the goal is for as many teams as possible to finish with nine or more wins. Outcomes towards that goal is what Cowboys Nation should be rooting for across this weekend.
Thursday: Minnesota Vikings (7-8) @ Detroit Lions (8-8) | Root for the Vikings ✅
Saturday: Baltimore Ravens (7-8) @ Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) | Root for the Ravens
Sunday: Seattle Seahawks (12-3) @ Carolina Panthers (8-7) | Root for the Panthers
Sunday: Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-7) | Root for the Colts
Sunday: Tampa Bay Bucs (7-8) @ Miami Dolphins | Root for the Bucs
Of note, the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth on Thursday, but that was expected and didn’t really warrant expectation of any other result.