The Cowboys & Predicting the Unpredictable NFC East
Dec 7, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a pass in front of Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) during the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. Dallas Cowboys defeated Washington Redskins 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The 4-8 Dallas Cowboys are among four teams with losing records, all with legitimate chances of making the playoffs, in the NFC East.
Four teams with losing records, all with legitimate chances of making the playoffs. That’s how things stand in the NFC East. Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants all sit at 5-7 with the Dallas Cowboys just a game behind at 4-8.
The current state of the NFC East: pic.twitter.com/lGoV2E6nPI
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2015
The Cowboys currently have the edge given their divisional record of 3-2. Washington and the Eagles are both .500. The Giants are perhaps in the worst position at 2-3 within the division and have now lost three consecutive games.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Games remaining: at Packers, vs Jets, at Bills, vs Redskins
The Cowboys defeat on Monday night of the Redskins could be the marker of the season. It was their first win without Tony Romo; and one where they still played pretty poorly but escaped victorious. Nevertheless, the Cowboys will still remain the underdog heading into their Week 15 match up against the 8-4 Green Bay Packers.
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The Packers have shown they’re fallible over the season so far, but to go to Green Bay in December with a fully fit roster would be tough; without Tony Romo makes it near impossible. The Cowboys wrap up their year with three winnable games though.
The New York Jets have been inconsistent. Five of their seven victories have been by a margin of 13 points or more and their only heavy defeat was the 20-34 loss to the Oakland Raiders. They’re 7-5 and currently in the running for an AFC Wildcard spot. The trio of Brandon Marshall, Chris Ivory and Eric Decker have combined for 26 touchdowns. This will be a game won or lost by the Cowboys defense.
Just behind the Jets in the AFC East are the Buffalo Bills, and it’s them that the Cowboys face in Week 16. Like their divisional rival, they’ve also been hugely inconsistent. Tyrod Taylor has emerged as a talent at quarterback but it’ll be the familiar face of LeSean McCoy that the Cowboys will need to contain. The Bills rank 3rd in the league in rushing yards and Shady has the 5th best yards per game average among running backs.
The Cowboys welcome Washington to Dallas for the final game of the year. As this weeks game suggested, either of these teams can beat the other on any day. Who will want it more? This final game could determine the playoff fate of either team
A loss to the Packers is to be expected, split the two AFC East games and defeat the Redskins for the third successive game.
The Cowboys to finish with a record of 6-10.
Next: Redskins & Eagles