Week 13 rooting guide for Cowboys fans

Don’t look now but the Dallas Cowboys are just two games out from the last NFC wild card spot. With five games left on their schedule, and some winnable ones on the horizon, the needle is starting to move back toward the dreamers and the possibility, albeit faint, of the team still qualifying for the postseason.

On top of Dallas’ win over the Giants, the Bears’ loss to Detroit was another potential positive toward the playoff dream. Chicago would’ve moved to 5-7 with the victory, just like the Cowboys are now, and would’ve had a ton of confidence after putting down the Lions. Their late-game collapse led to head coach Matt Eberflus being fired, so we’ll see if that sparks a surge or keeps the team in a transitional state for the remainder of the season.

The other outcomes were relatively meaningless. Green Bay was probably out of Dallas’ reach even before the victory. And the Raiders-Chiefs game, while highly entertaining, had no bearing on the Cowboys’ chances of making the tournament.

For those still more concerned about Dallas’ 2025 draft pick than any fantastic ideas about this season, we’ll get back to that topic in future weeks. But for now, let’s see where this thing goes. Four of the Cowboys’ last five are against the Bengals, Panthers, Buccaneers, and Commanders, none of whom are juggernauts. The second game against the Eagles is a likely loss, but the Raiders and Bears just reminded us how fluky things can get in division rivalries.

Here are the current NFC standings before Sunday’s action:

1. Detroit Lions (11-1 overall, 7-1 vs NFC)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2 overall, 6-2 vs NFC)
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5 overall, 3-4 vs NFC)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5 overall, 6-2 vs NFC)
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2 overall, 4-2 vs NFC)
6. Green Bay Packers (9-3 overall, 4-3 vs NFC)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5 overall, 5-3 vs NFC)

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• Arizona Cardinals (6-5 overall, 3-4 vs NFC)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6 overall, 5-3 vs NFC)
• Los Angeles Rams (5-6 overall, 3-5 vs NFC)
• San Francisco 49ers (5-6 overall, 3-5 vs NFC)
• Dallas Cowboys (5-7 overall, 3-5 vs NFC)
• New Orleans Saints (4-7 overall, 3-4 vs NFC)

As you can see, that seventh and last seed is about the only prayer Dallas has of making the playoffs. The Commanders appear to be giving their postseason claim away, but there are four or five other teams that the Cowboys have to worry about snagging that last spot before they can.

With that backdrop, here’s what Dallas needs to see happen in the remaining Week 13 games.

Ravens over Eagles
Titans over Commanders

Technically, Dallas can still win the NFC East if they win out and the Eagles lose out. We know it’s ridiculous, but there’s certainly no harm in the AFC teams winning these games and helping our cause. A Titans victory over Washington would have a far more tangible benefit for that last wild card spot.

Vikings over Cardinals

Dallas would need to win out and have Minnesota lose out to even tie the Vikings in overall record. That’s beyond far-fetched, so it’s better to root for a Cardinals loss as they’re one of the top teams who could keep that seventh seed away from the Cowboys.

Saints over Rams

This one’s almost a push. New Orleans would tie Dallas with a win and they hold a head-to-head tiebreaker. But the Rams are the better team overall and are currently ahead of the Cowboys in the NFC standings. If Dallas does manage to go on a run then they should stay ahead of the Saints. But if Los Angeles doesn’t win the NFC West then they’ll probably be in the mix for that last wild card.

Chargers over Falcons
Bills over 49ers
Jets over Seahawks
Panthers over Bucs

These are all helpful losses for other NFC wild-card hopefuls. The three AFC teams winning certainly doesn’t hurt Dallas and Carolina isn’t a factor in this postseason discussion.