Even though the Dallas Cowboys are guaranteed a postseason spot, they still have a lot to gain in Week 18.
The regular season finale between Dallas and the Washington Commanders is scheduled. A win would guarantee the No. 2 seed in the league and the NFC East division title.
Dallas is positioned to be the No. 5 seed and face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in the opening round of the playoffs if they lose and the Eagles win.
The team’s primary goal is to hold onto the No. 2 seed, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, even though the playoffs are assured any way.
“According to a league source, the message to the Cowboys this week was, ‘We can’t squander the No. 2 seed,'” Russini said. “If that occurs? Mike McCarthy is another coach I would put on my list of troublemakers.”
According to Russini, the Cowboys were made aware of the New England Patriots for 2019 and the importance of winning the regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins (4-11), which would have guaranteed a first-round bye.
With a stunning 27-24 victory, Miami upset New England, dropping the Patriots to the No. 3 spot and setting up a Wild Card Matchup with the sixth-seeded Tennessee Titans. The Titans defeated the Patriots 20–13 in a game that would ultimately be Tom Brady’s final with the team. It was the team’s first Wild Card round appearance since 2009.
San Francisco 49ers already own the lone bye, so Dallas isn’t playing for one. Even so, there’s still enough to be gained by hosting the No. 7 seed and possibly clinching a home game in the divisional round—especially when you consider who the opposition might be.
especially in light of the potential alternative.
In the event that Dallas loses and the Eagles win, they would drop to the No. 5 slot and have to play the NFC South winner, who will be the No. 4 seed. If the Detroit Lions were able to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, that might drop Dallas to the third seed and maybe nullify a second home game. Dallas would still be affected even if the Eagles were victorious.
A Cowboys victory on Sunday would eliminate all of this tension, and it might be the turning point that changes their postseason trajectory.
