Cowboys clinch playoff spot; will seek division title in Week 14

That gives us strength going into the playoffs. On Sunday night, they meet again with the division title and playoff berths on the line. The Vikings are allowing 5.3 points per game less than the National Football League average, up from 4.7 last season, which ranks eighth in the team’s history. After a false start penalty backed the Vikings up a few yards for the conversion, the Cowboys locked down all options in the end zone the next play as a Sam Bradford pass sailed out of reach and the Cowboys would win the game with a scare.

The Giants are now the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff picture, but they likely need to win at least two of their remaining four games to close the deal and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Long odds, to be sure. With Tampa Bay now holding the final wild card spot with a record of 7-5, let’s go ahead and eliminate the Bears, Rams and Panthers from any further NFC Playoff conversation.

Combined won-loss record of remaining opponents: 16-31-1. He just wears teams down with his physical style. Let him have an opportunity to work on his timing with Dez Bryant and get a feel for handing the ball off to Ezekiel Elliott; most importantly let him get a renewed taste for the action.

Dallas cornerbacks Orlando Scandrick and Anthony Brown can make their impact by limiting him, though Victor Cruz is likely to be more involved after a silent game Sunday against Pittsburgh in which he wasn’t thrown to once.

If that happens, Dallas will be a Lions loss and a Seahawks loss – which could come Sunday night – away from clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Redskins and Giants all lost, widening the Cowboys’ lead. But you are playing for a lot more moving forward.

Week 13 brought us our first playoff team of the 2016 field.

The first change in the poll was the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, who moved two spots to No. 7. Tampa Bay is tied for first in the AFC South with the Atlanta Falcons (7-5). It was never going to be easy, but facing a team you’ve already played before, who already has at least some idea of what you’ll try to do during the game, is another challenging aspect this young Cowboys team will face this postseason.

To sweeten the pot even further, if the Cowboys win and the Seattle Seahawks lose to the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau this week, Dallas will clinch a first round bye. Sure, they would love to avenge the season-opening loss and not end up being swept by the Giants but they are nearly certainly going to win the division either way. Dallas ranks fourth in offense after facing the NFL’s No.3 defense, and it probably won’t take a big offensive performance to win in NY.