Dallas Cowboys: Favorability rankings of playoff opponents

As the regular season finishes, we will take a look at each possible opponent for the Dallas Cowboys and rank the favorability of a possible future matchup.

No matter what happens today, next week the Dallas Cowboys will host a playoff game. Who comes to town is still to be determined. The very high likelihood is a rematch against the Seattle Seahawks. A faint possibility of the Minnesota Vikings coming to AT&T Stadium also exists.

The Cowboys have lost four of the last five matchups against Seattle, including a Week 3 road loss (24-13) earlier this season. Of course, we all remember the last time these two hooked up in the playoffs. That game ranks as one of the all-time worst heartbreaks in Cowboys’ history.

As for the Vikings, Dallas has won two straight over them and three of the last five. Dallas did not play Minnesota this year and last met them in the playoffs in 2010. That game as well ended in defeat.

When you get to this time of the season, no opponent represents a walk in the park. All five other teams have made it this far for a reason.

With that being said, each team in these playoffs also has a flaw that can be exposed in the right situation. Today, we’ll take a look at the six teams who have life left in them and rank them in order of favorability of a possible future matchup.

The most favorable playoff matchup

Seattle. The Seahawks are hot, winners of five of their last six. At first glance, that coupled with the win earlier against Dallas would make you think you would want to avoid them.

The truth here is that both teams are vastly different than they were in September. Seattle does not have safety Earl Thomas. Dallas now has receiver Amari Cooper. That, alone, is a huge swing in talent.

Seattle also does not have a win on the road this year against a team with a winning record. Dallas, meanwhile, is 7-1 at home this season.