What does the near future hold for the Dallas Cowboys?

Coming off a division clinching win against Tampa Bay, the Dallas Cowboys must navigate the next two weeks appropriately to be successful in the playoffs.

Merry Christmas Dallas Cowboys fans! As you are probably enjoying the holiday today, your Cowboys gave you an early gift Sunday, clinching the NFC East title. While it wasn’t perfect, nor was it aesthetically pleasing, it was an effective 27-20 victory that accomplished the first task for the season.

Dallas is guaranteed one more game at home this season, either against the Seattle Seahawks or Minnesota Vikings. Before that, there is a meaningless game on the road versus the New York Giants. Between now and that playoff game, let’s take this moment to analyze how the next the next two weeks need to go in order for 2019 to start off on the right path.

The first order of business is this week’s upcoming game against New York. There are two schools of thought on this. The first and most obvious is that it is a meaningless game for Dallas. They cannot improve or lessen their playoff status regardless of the result. Dallas is the four seed who will play the best Wild Card team.

If you’re asking me, there are a few players who are getting the day off. Quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, guard Zack Martin and tackle Tyron Smith all should miss this game. Defensively, end DeMarcus Lawrence, linebacker Jaylon Smith and cornerback Byron Jones should get a pass too. Those are the seven most important players on this team. Missing any of them in the playoffs would be incredibly detrimental.

Of course, this is real football and not a video game. You only have so many roster spots and there are already injuries to be reconciled. Maybe those seven aren’t “inactive” but they all can be relegated to back up duty with the high probability of never stepping in between the lines of play. Doing so would also give many of the younger guys some good experience, just in case they are needed in the playoffs.

The other school of thought is that this team is far from perfect and any opportunity to work on improving some of their major flaws is a good thing. I get the concept. Organizational big wigs like Stephen Jones and Jason Garrett (today) are saying this idea will be implemented. Elliott wants to play as well.

Maybe it’s just me but I vehemently disagree with this idea. If Elliott takes a nasty hit in New York, you can forget winning the following week. Even though he’s far from perfect, Prescott’s absence from the playoffs would likely mean the same result. You’re hoping the powers that be are just blowing smoke earlier in the week.

Beyond New York, there is the discussion about which team the Dallas Cowboys would prefer to play. Prefer, in this sense, means who do they have a better chance of beating. The Cowboys already faced Seattle this season. That did not go very well as they lost 24-13. The two teams are vastly different versions of themselves from their September origins, however.

The Cowboys did not have Amari Cooper as their primary receiving weapon in Week 3. His presence would have undoubtedly helped as Prescott threw for just 168 yards and two interceptions. Rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was still trying to find his place in this defense at the time as well. In September, he was splitting time, spelling Smith and Sean Lee. Now, he’s a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year leading the team in tackles and interceptions.

Seattle, meanwhile, had safety Earl Thomas playing. His seven tackles and two interceptions that day made a huge difference in the tone of the game. The Seahawks were also at home which always is a tough place for road teams to come away victorious.

The Seahawks are still good (obviously) and dangerous, thanks in large part to their quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson is 4-1 lifetime against the Cowboys, including two wins and no losses in AT&T Stadium.

Minnesota, on the other hand, poses a different set of challenges. Where Seattle has a dominant rushing attack, augmented by a timely passing game, the Vikings struggle on the ground. Minnesota is 30th in rush yards per game and 27th in rushing touchdowns.

The Vikings pose an aerial threat the likes of which Dallas has not seen so far this year. Receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs represent the most prolific duo in the NFC. The two have combined for over 2,300 yards and 17 touchdowns on 204 catches. With that big play ability, the Vikings real threat is their defense.

Even though they have slipped from last season’s remarkably lofty status, they are still a formidable unit. The Vikings are third in yards per game allowed, third against the pass, seventh in points per game allowed and 11th against the run.
While Dallas has not played the Vikings this year, they have shared a few common opponents.

Minnesota beat Philadelphia on the road, swept the Lions and lost to both Seattle and New Orleans. Dallas swept the Eagles, beat Detroit and New Orleans at home while losing to Seattle. Personally, I’d prefer another shot at the Seahawks. I believe they would be easier to score on than Minnesota and possibly less potent offensively.

There is also a chance that Minnesota does not make the playoffs as a loss next week along with an Eagles victory pushes them out entirely. That scenario would also lock Seattle in as the fifth seed. Feel free to leave your comments below regarding who you would prefer Dallas plays in round one.