After a rocky start, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in control of the NFC East Division. Now all they have to do is take it.
The Cowboys have won four games in a row. They are in first place in the division, with a one-game lead on the New York Giants. The Cowboys have a great chance to increase that lead in Week 13. They visit the Arizona Cardinals this week while the Giants host the undefeated Green Bay Packers.
This game against the Cardinals is an important one for the Cowboys. This is an opponent the Cowboys should beat. But the Cowboys have struggled against weak teams lately. In the past two games, they needed last-second field goals to defeat the lowly Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins. These were hardly playoff-caliber performances by the Cowboys.
Nonetheless, the division is theirs for the taking. The Cowboys have an opportunity to not only make the playoffs but also build momentum. They need to go out and dominate the Cardinals this week while the Giants are dealing with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The Cowboys need a convincing win to build confidence heading into the next game against the Giants.
If all goes according to their plan, the Cowboys will have a two-game lead in the division when the Giants come to town the following week. Then the Cowboys can place a stranglehold on the NFC East. Winning that game would show that the Cowboys are a true contender and not just a byproduct of a soft schedule. They would have an opportunity for a knockout. They would just need to go after it.
It will not be easy. The Giants are not out of the division race, not at all. They still have two games left with the Cowboys. The Giants do not fear the Cowboys either, nor should they. They will be extremely motivated to beat the Cowboys. Winning the two games against the Cowboys would make up for their recent losing streak and put them right back in the race.
This is why the game against the Cardinals is so important. Winning this game gives the Cowboys some margin for error. It inches them closer to the division title. It puts more pressure on the Giants.
But as a Cowboys fan, I want more. Beat the Cardinals and Giants. Go into Tampa Bay and win. Come home and get revenge against the Eagles. Then play with house money against the Giants in the final week. It could happen. It needs to happen. For the Cowboys it is always Super Bowl or bust. The road is clear. The first step is to win the division. If they want it, it is theirs for the taking.
More from Edwin Torres:
Dallas Cowboys Almost Spoil My Thanksgiving Day: Fan Reaction
Cowboys Defeat Redskins in NFC East Smackdown: Fan Reaction
The Dallas Cowboys Have a Chance at Redemption: Fan Preview
Edwin Torres has been a fan of the Dallas Cowboys since the days of Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach. He enjoyed watching the Dallas teams of the 90s dominate opponents on both sides of the ball. For more articles, follow him on Twitter @FlipPoker.
