Dallas Cowboys: Where the two-team NFC East race stands

It’s only Week 10 and the NFC East title is already down to a two-team race. Where do the Dallas Cowboys stand at the halfway point?

It’s hard to believe the Dallas Cowboys (5-3) are halfway through the 2019 schedule and only one division foe stands in the way of the NFC East title. The Giants (2-7) and Redskins (1-8) are realistically dead and buried, despite mathematical life support.

While resting on their bye week, the Eagles (5-4) are the only division rival with a pulse. And they are determined to derail the Cowboys quest to be the first NFC East team to repeat as champions since 2004.

With Dallas holding only a half-game lead in the division, the best way to outline the current state of affairs is through division tiebreaker rules.

TIEBREAKER 1: Head to Head Record

If both teams finish with the same overall record, let’s say 9-7, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. Beating the Eagles a second time would be definitive, but it’s a massive task for late December in chilly Philadelphia. Save this one for later.

TIEBREAKER 2: Division Record

Dallas holds a big advantage in division record at the moment. 4-0 compared to the Eagles 1-1 record looks impressive. A final regular season game against the draft position seeking Redskins is very fortunate for the Cowboys as well.

However, assuming the Eagles can’t run the division table in their final four NFC East games to tie Dallas at 5-1 is naive. Neither team plays within the division again until December, so this one won’t regain weekly relevance for a while either.

TIEBREAKER 3: Common Games Record

Here is the one that has bearing this weekend. If the above two are tied, which could very well happen, record versus common opponents takes over. Below are the non-divisional common opponents involved and to-date results…

Miami (Dallas win)

Green Bay (Dallas loss, Philly win)

New York Jets (Dallas loss, Philly win)

Minnesota (Philly loss)

Detroit (Philly loss)

New England (N/A)

Buffalo (Philly win)

Chicago (Philly win)

The teams will face eight common opponents. As it stands Dallas has a 1-2 record with five games remaining. Three future opponents already have six or more wins, while only two have losing records.

Philadelphia has a 4-2 record with two games remaining. Although both teams still face New England, the Eagles other match-up with Miami is a gimme.

Dallas cannot afford more than one more common opponent loss in the five remaining games. And that’s assuming the Eagles will lose to the Patriots. Simply put, the Cowboys are in a very bad spot if it comes down to this tiebreaker.

A loss to Minnesota drops Dallas to a matching 5-4 overall record. It would also end any real chance in tiebreaker #3. Beating the Vikings is needed to win overall record and avoid any tiebreakers, yet also prevent an early third tiebreaker forfeit.