If this didn't work for you see detailed instructions
Believe it or not, the Dallas Cowboys have roared back into the playoff race. While many fans from around the NFL would love to pronounce the Cowboys dead, and I have heard a lot of those cries, they are now sitting in first place in the NFC East. Yes, they are officially tied with the New York Giants, but Dallas is 2-1 in the division and that tiebreaker puts them in first.
Plus, Dallas plays Miami on Thanksgiving Day and then travel to Arizona while the Giants have to travel to New Orleans to battle the Saints and then host the undefeated Green Bay Packers the next week. Believe it or not, Dallas could be two games up on the Giants when they play on Dec. 11.
After that, Dallas goes to a struggling Tampa Bay and then faces the Eagles and Giants to finish the season. On the other hand, the Giants get Washington, a road game against the Jets and host Dallas to close things out. At this time, I predict the Giants finish 8-8 or 9-7 and believe they will split the Dallas series. I see Dallas finishing up 10-6 if they split the Giants series or 11-5 if they beat the Eagles on Christmas Eve.
But what if Dallas slips up and the Giants sweep them and takes the NFC East? What if Dallas relies on a wildcard to get in? I still see Dallas finishing no worse than 9-7, so that leaves a few teams able to overtake them.
Green Bay is going to win the NFC North. San Francisco will clinch the NFC West in the next two weeks. They might clinch this week if Seattle loses and they win. New Orleans and Atlanta are fighting for the NFC South. That means, for the two wildcard spots, the NFC East teams will battle Detroit, Chicago and either Atlanta or New Orleans.
We are looking at the loser between the Giants and Cowboys in the NFC East being 9-7. New Orleans has a nice schedule to close out the season and I think they can finish up 11-5 or 12-4. So that leaves Atlanta, who I think can also finish up with 10 or 11 wins as well. Even without Jay Cutler, I see Chicago finishing no worse than 9-7, maybe even 10-6, if they get Kyle Orton back. As good as Detroit is, I seen them falling to 9-7 but they might also end up with 10 wins if they win a tough game or two on the road.
That means the NFC North and NFC South will provide the wildcard team. The Dallas Cowboys have to win their division to make the playoffs. Only one team from the NFC East gets in, and right now, Dallas has the best chance based on the remaining schedule.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has followed the Dallas Cowboys since he was a child, his favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s. Through the great years of the '90s and the hard times of the '80s, Shawn never turned his back on America's Team.
Source: CBSSports
Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.
