FRISCO, Texas: Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys have consecutive wins over groups with successful data after not having any amongst their first eight victories.
They made no secret of how a lot they needed to beat Philadelphia in a rematch of NFC East rivals.
Now that Dallas has the 33-13 win, right here come three straight playoff contenders within the last 4 weeks.
First, it’s a dreaded December recreation in Buffalo (7-6) on Sunday, then a visit to the workforce forward of the Bills within the AFC East, division-main Miami. Third, again dwelling — the place Dallas has a 15-recreation successful streak — towards probably NFC North winner Detroit.
“We look at this as a gauntlet,” coach Mike McCarthy stated. “I think it’s a great schedule, in my view, because it gives us a chance to play playoff football. Every team we play is going to be battling for the playoffs. I think this lays up really good for us because we got to go on the road and win.”
As good as the sensation was for Dallas after Prescott’s profession-finest seventh consecutive recreation with a minimum of two landing passes, the Cowboys (10-3) don’t management their destiny in attempting to win the NFC East.
Despite consecutive losses that dropped them right into a tie for the division lead, the Eagles will safe the house playoff recreation that goes with the NFC East title if the defending NFC champs win their remaining video games. There gained’t be a successful file among the many 4 opponents.
Owner Jerry Jones appears resigned to the concept of occurring the highway within the playoffs for the second 12 months in a row. Last season, Dallas manhandled Tampa Bay earlier than the offense sputtered in a loss at San Francisco.
“We’re going to have to come up the backside possibly,” Jones stated, alluding to a different second-place end behind Philadelphia within the division. “But we can. I’ve seen it done before. I saw the Giants do it after we’d beaten them twice (in 2007), and they end up being Super Bowl champs.”
There’s one different factor to contemplate. It’s a 3-workforce race for the No. 1 seed within the NFC, and the primary-spherical bye that goes with it. The Cowboys and Eagles are even with the 49ers, who maintain the tiebreaker as a result of they beat Dallas and Philadelphia.
At least the Cowboys can say they made a race of it. The different was Philadelphia all however clinching the division.
“We needed it. Let’s not sugarcoat that,” Prescott stated. “But we’ve got to turn the page quick, especially in this league, and especially with where we’ve placed ourselves.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Dallas is on the verge of a 3rd consecutive playoff berth for the primary time since going to the postseason six straight occasions and successful three Super Bowls from 1991-96. A standard denominator is turnover margin.
The Cowboys had been prime two within the NFL in that class the previous two seasons and proper now are tied for second at plus-10 with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati after forcing and recovering three fumbles towards the Eagles whereas shedding one on Jalen Carter’s 42-yard return of Prescott’s fumble for a landing.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The Cowboys need assistance, they usually principally have a Week 3 loss at three-win Arizona accountable. While Dallas at present holds the tiebreaker on the Eagles with a 4-1 division file to Philadelphia’s 3-1 mark, there’s a superb likelihood each will find yourself 5-1.
The subsequent tiebreaker is widespread opponents, and the Cowboys probably will want wins over the Bills and Dolphins to have an opportunity with that one. The Eagles have already crushed each.
If each groups win their remaining video games, Philadelphia would have the fourth tiebreaker with a ten-2 convention file to Dallas’ 9-3 mark.
STOCK UP
The versatility at receiver continues to point out up, even in video games with out gaudy numbers. CeeDee Lamb has a landing in 5 consecutive video games, the primary Dallas receiver to try this since Dez Bryant, the franchise chief in receiving TDs, 10 years in the past. Tight finish Jake Ferguson is turning into a trusted playmaker. Michael Gallup had a spotlight-reel catch for 39 yards.
STOCK DOWN
While it’s exhausting to knock an offensive line that was adequate to go three consecutive video games just lately with out permitting Prescott to be sacked, the efficiency towards the Eagles was spotty. Prescott was sacked thrice, and there have been three holding penalties. Right deal with Terence Steele, left guard Tyler Smith and heart Tyler Biadasz had one apiece. Dallas entered Monday with a league-excessive 97 penalties.
INJURIES
The run protection might be dealing with a big loss after defensive deal with Johnathan Hankins sprained an ankle towards the Eagles. The Cowboys acquired him in a commerce final season, and re-signed him over the summer season, to handle the workforce’s largest weak spot.
KEY NUMBER
30 — Brandon Aubrey’s NFL file run of consecutive made discipline targets to start out a profession is now 30 after he kicked 4 towards the Eagles. The first two had been his longest, from 60 and 59 yards. Dallas additionally turned the primary workforce in league historical past to attain a minimum of 30 factors in its first seven dwelling video games.
NEXT STEPS
The Cowboys had by no means performed a December recreation in Buffalo till their most up-to-date go to in 2015. The Bills gained 16-6.
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AP NFL protection: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
