The Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes are on even thinner ice following their Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys entered Week 15 in second place in the NFC East and in the No. 10 spot in the wild-card standings going into Sunday.
According to the New York Times Playoff Simulator, the Cowboys had an 11% chance to make the postseason going into Sunday and a 9% chance to make the playoffs.
Let’s see where things stand after Dallas’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday night.
NFC East standings
1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
2. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
3. Washington Commanders (4-10)
4. New York Giants (2-12)
UPDATE: With the Cowboys’ loss to the Vikings and the Eagles’ win over the Raiders, the Eagles’ magic number is down to one. That means an Eagles win or Cowboys loss next week clinches the division for Philadelphia.
So, that also means the Cowboys must run the table and need the Eagles to lose the rest of their games for Dallas to win the division. The Eagles play on Saturday, so the Cowboys could be eliminated before they play in Week 16.
END OF UPDATE
It’s a two-team race between the Cowboys and Eagles with four games left to play entering Week 15, as both the Giants and Commanders have been eliminated.
If the Eagles win on Sunday, their magic number would be down to two. If the Cowboys lose, also, that magic number drops to one, which would mean that Philadelphia can clinch the division next week with a win or a Cowboys loss.
If the Cowboys win and the Eagles lose in Week 15, Dallas will be in position to take over first place in the NFC East next week with the same results in Week 16.
The Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, while the Eagles draw a very favorable matchup against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders at home.
NFC wild card standings
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 11-3 |
| 6 | San Francisco 49ers | 10-4 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 9-4-1 |
| 8 | Detroit Lions | 8-6 |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | 7-7 |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | 6-7-1 |
UPDATE: The Cowboys can no longer grab a wild-card spot with their loss to the Vikings on Sunday night, so this path is dead.
It’s NFC East or bust for the Cowboys going into Week 16.
END OF UPDATE
The Cowboys’ path to the playoffs is much tougher through the wild card.
The Cowboys enter this week sitting in the No. 10 spot and the highest they can move up is to No. 9, but will need a win to do so.
Long story short: the Cowboys have to win out and will need multiple losses from the teams in front of them just to have a chance to secure a wild-card spot.
