Week 13 outcomes clear Cowboys outlook for rest of 2020
By Sam Hooper
NFC East rivals get big wins in Week 13
The Washington Football Team wasn’t the only Cowboys’ rival to get a big Week 13 win. The New York Giants, led by head coach Joe Judge, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, backup quarterback Colt McCoy, running backs Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris plus a stellar defense, went into Washington and pulled out a 17-12 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cowboys lost by seven to Seattle by way of 38-31. That game was all the way back in Week Three, on Sept. 27, when quarterback Dak Prescott was still leading the offense.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Seahawks, 23-17, on Nov. 30. It’s fair to wonder if Philly had played quarterback Jalen Hurts would they have pulled that game out. They had a strong defensive showing that game, but like too many times this season, their offense looked inept.
The Washington Football Team will play Seattle on Dec. 20, a game that should have massive implications. These head to head matchups outside of the division will go a long way in deciding which NFC East team will host a playoff game come January.
Meanwhile, while New York and Washington grabbed clutch wins, and Philadelphia made a big switch at quarterback, the Cowboys fell flat on their face, again.
The Cowboys’ run defense looked nonexistent against Baltimore on Tuesday night, and the defense looked defeated by the third quarter. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence had good games on the defensive side of the ball, but that was about it.
The offense actually looked somewhat competent. But as been the story all year, the Cowboys just can’t seem to play complementary football. One thing seems to be clear after Week 13, after three straight years of Dallas and Philadelphia fighting for the NFC East crown, in 2020 it is coming down to Washington and New York.
Winning games against Seattle and Pittsburgh will go a long way in determining the final standings, but the divisional games in the final two weeks of the season should be the ones to seal it. While New York and Washington are fighting for a home playoff game, Dallas and Philadelphia seem to be fighting for a different prize: A top-five draft pick.