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FRISCO, Texas — Whatever it takes. That was the edict placed upon the Avengers by Captain America when the mission was to hunt down Thanos and undo The Snap, giving the world a mulligan at trying to defeat the Mad Titan. It's exactly what the Dallas Cowboys need to abide by as their NFC East rival stumbles, and playoff hopes are suddenly no longer flaked away.
Fact is, almost no one outside of the organization believed the Cowboys could go from having the worst defense in the league en route to a 4-5-1 record, with nary a two-game win streak during that span of games, to winning not one, not two, but three games in a row.
And the narrative of "it was just the Raiders, relax" met its maker when the Cowboys overcame a 21-0 deficit against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles to complete a historic comeback and, four days later, turning the screws against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs for a Thanksgiving victory during what turned out to be the most watched regular season game in the history of the entire NFL.
The Fuel Light Came On
But then came the Lions, a fourth game (third against a contender) in only 17 days, and on the road, no less, where the Cowboys have struggled this season — creating a perfect storm of variables that manifested themselves as self-inflicted wounds and mental errors; and, yet, they could've still won (I think that's telling of either how good the Cowboys can be or how the Lions aren't who they think they are, depending on how I look at that glass of water).
With that loss came The Snap, the already minimal chances of the Cowboys clawing their way into the playoffs being nearly halved, at least until Jalen Hurts threw four interceptions (his final one being on first down, down only three points, well within field goal distance), committing five turnovers in all, to lose in overtime to the Los Angeles Chargers to secure a third consecutive loss.
Avengers, assemble. Whatever it takes.
The Eagles' current collapse conjures memories of the 2023 season, when Philly got off to a league-best 10-1 start before losing five of their final six games, allowing the Cowboys to fly past them to secure the NFC East crown. Yes, so I'm saying there's a chance, Harry.
That chance requires the Cowboys to not only win their final four regular season games, having no more margin for error, and needing, desperately to flip a deficiency that has allowed opposing teams to outscore them to the tune of 49-109 in the first quarter of games in 2025 — an abysmal statistic that, if improved even slightly, could determine how the rest of this season goes.
But here's what else will determine it: the resolve of the Eagles and Bears.
Ah, a Gas Can!
The loss to the Lions was almost devastating, but then the Eagles and Bears came to the rescue by losing as well. More of that will be needed if the Cowboys are to sneak their way into the playoffs after a terrible start to the season (seriously, what is it about this team and slow starts to things?), so let's get into the science of the matter.
First and foremost, as mentioned, with an 11 percent chance of earning a postseason berth, the Cowboys must win out. Not two or three games — all of them.
All'uhm, I said. Do that and then pray for rain, accordingly:
Eagles Lose The Rest of Their Feathers (lose two of four games)
- Week 15 - Las Vegas Raiders (Lincoln Financial Field)
- Week 16 - Washington Commanders (FedEx Stadium)
- Week 17 - Buffalo Bills (Highmark Stadium)
- Week 18 - Washington Commanders (Lincoln Financial Field)
If this happens and the Cowboys win out, then Dallas will win the NFC East. This is the best path to aim for, and it's realistic to consider a floundering Eagles' team that has looked broken since leaving AT&T Stadium losing at least two of these four outings. The Commanders are looking to play spoiler, always fun, and splitting with the Eagles could easily combine with the fact the latter has to travel to visit the Bills in Buffalo.
As it stands, the Bills are clinging to a wild card spot and also trying to drag down the division-leading New England Patriots, so they'll have plenty to play for, and in front of their home crowd, when the Eagles make their way to Upstate New York; and in the dead of winter.
The question is can the Raiders find some gumption in proving anyone can beat anyone on any given game day, or can the Commanders really punch a hole through the Bird chest of Philly and sweep them this season? Anything can happen in the NFC East, after all.
Bears Run Out of Honey (lose three of four games)
- Week 15 - Cleveland Browns (Soldier Field)
- Week 16 - Green Bay Packers (Soldier Field)
- Week 17- San Francisco 49ers (Levi's Stadium)
- Week 18 - Detroit Lions (Soldier Field)
This would give the Cowboys a wild card spot in the event they can't take the division from the Eagles. The Bears will probably obliterate the Browns (but, who knows?) and then win at least one of their final two home games, and that would delete the wild card scenario from Dallas' vision board because, thanks to the Bears winning the head-to-head in Week 3, they own the tiebreaker over the Cowboys.
The tie against the Packers could end up edging the Cowboys past the Bears though, but, again, that's only if Chicago drops three of their last four to finish 10-7, assuming Dallas finishes 10-6-1.
I guess a tie, though gruesome to consider its existence in professional football, can at least come in handy in a pinch, but like a clip-on in a job interview. It'll do, but good God, man.
Where the Bears run into trouble in their final four is the fact three are against current playoff-bound teams vying for either position or attempting to solidify their berth, and in how the Bears' average margin in their nine wins is just six points. That's it: six points. And even that is boosted by a 17-point win over the Cowboys and a 12-point victory over the New Orleans Saints.
I get it, just win, baby. Sure thing. Always true. And the Bears deserve some flowers for knowing how to win close games, as well. But sooner or later, the razor-thin margin cuts the holder, and they bleed out, is all I'm saying. And the Cowboys would love the Bears to nick an artery in their last four games, figuratively speaking.
Lions and 49ers Fall Backwards
OK, say the Cowboys win out but the Eagles don't continue to implode and the Bears finish strong, what then? Well, then eyes turn to the Lions and 49ers, the very Lions that just came alive against the Cowboys to end their struggles, no less, in a last ditch effort to earn a wild card spot.
If the Lions lose two of their last four…
- Week 15 - Los Angeles Rams (SoFi Stadium)
- Week 16 - Pittsburgh Steelers (Ford Field)
- Week 17 - Minnesota Vikings (U.S. Bank Stadium)
- Week 18 - Chicago Bears (Ford Field)
… or if the 49ers lose three of their last four …
- Week 15 - Tennessee Titans (Levi's Stadium)
- Week 16 - Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium)
- Week 17 - Chicago Bears (Levi's Stadium)
- Week 18 - Seattle Seahawks (Lumen Field)
… then the Cowboys would walk past either of these two teams to secure a wild card spot by virtue of assistance from the tie against the Packers, in addition to becoming red-hot to finish out December, as a break glass in case of tiebreaker emergency type of ax.
The Rams and the Bears could defeat the Lions, but don't count out the Steelers, as they're currently clinging to the AFC North lead for dear live with the Ravens on their heels, and likely not having a good enough record to secure a wild card spot if they lose the division — which is to say they're gonna leave it all on the field against the Lions.
Eh, I'll look past the Titans because, let's be serious, it's possible, but, again, let's be serious; and that means hoping Philip Rivers can keep the Colts' train from derailing to force the Niners into defeating the Bears and then, if they've lost two of the three heading into the finale, trying to escape the 12th Man who would not only be looking to try and keep the division crown away from the Rams, but also with the added benefit of playing spoiler to the other bitter NFC West rival donned in red and gold.
And so it goes that the Cowboys need to handle their business, and hope others can't do the same, and it all begins with finding a way to defeat the Vikings, or pack up the Pym Particles and start looking toward free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
Figure it out, Cowboys. Whatever it takes.
