Dallas Cowboys playoff path the easiest in NFC East

FIVE WINS AND A MASCOT

CURRENT: WASHINGTON (2-7)

TARGET: WASHINGTON (7-9)

The Washington Football Team already has two losses to the Giants. A third division loss to Dallas would bury their division tiebreaker. Washington would then need seven wins to overtake the 6-10 Cowboys.

Assuming a loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Football Team would need to beat five of the six teams below to reach seven wins.

• Cincinnati (2-6-1)
• Pittsburgh (9-0)
• San Francisco (4-6)
• Seattle (6-3)
• Carolina (3-7)
• Philadelphia (3-5-1)

Even if Washington improves, the ceiling is four more wins. The Steelers and Seahawks will likely end any chance of five. Cincinnati and San Francisco are no pushovers. The Football Team has little hope to surpass a 6-10 Cowboys result.

FORECAST: WASHINGTON (4-12)

Many Cowboys fans are already packed up and excited to claim elite draft position. But the reality is Dallas has the less daunting path to six wins of any division foe.

Sweeping the three divisional games won’t be easy. But the first two games are revenge matches at home, and the Giants finale would be for the title. Win those three and defeat one of four non-divisional teams, and the NFC East crown is theirs.

Since the last two games are within the division, Dallas only needs to beat Washington and one of the four non-divisional opponents before Week 16. To avoid severely derailing their path, Dallas must vanquish Washington on Thanksgiving.