It's only two in a row, but the Dallas Cowboys' big victory over the Philadelphia Eagles could wind up being the even bigger momentum swing this team needed just a week after beating the Las Vegas Raiders.
A 21-point deficit is nothing to sneeze at, and the Cowboys were able to come all the way back from it -- and do it over a bitter division rival. It doesn't get a whole lot sweeter than that, but for the Cowboys, a harsh reality is going to set in real shortly.
NFL legend and Fox Sports analyst Terry Bradshaw knows it. Following the game, Bradshaw stated the obvious (and what every Cowboys fan was thinking quickly after the win),
"I said they needed a signature win. And now, they've got their signature win against the defending world champions. Now, don't waste it," he said on the broadcast.
The Cowboys can't afford to enjoy this win over the Eagles for too long
At 5-5-1 on the season, the Cowboys still have a lot of work to do if they're going to try and sneak into the playoffs. In all likelihood, Dallas is not going to win the division. That's a near impossibility. But, in order to get into a wild card spot, the Cowboys have to get some wins over tough opponents -- and it starts this week.
Dallas' next opponent is, of course, the Thanksgiving Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the same week the Cowboys beat Philly, the Chiefs faced a season-altering matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
And they won.
This Chiefs team is not going to be an easy matchup. Patrick Mahomes never is. And, whether or not you believe the Chiefs are as good as their 6-5 record, the fact of the matter is, these Cowboys are still worse. This win is going to have to be earned.
But, after the Chiefs matchup, Dallas turns right back around to take on the Detroit Lions in the Motor City.
Talk about a brutal two-week stretch.
Bradshaw actually hit the nail on the head. If Dallas drops their next two games, you can undoubtedly call this a wasted victory over Philadelphia. Just think about it. The Cowboys drop to 5-7-1 and this fan base thinks they'd still be a wild card team?
Fat chance.
In order to stay in the race, the Cowboys have to split these next two, at the very least. They cannot waste such a gritty, valuable win over a division rival by dropping these next two.