Here's How 1st-Place Cowboys Can Win NFC East Over Eagles
FRISCO - Maybe we shouldn't be surprised, considering how the Philadelphia Eagles are skidding - yes, the Dallas Cowboys have lost "one game in the row,'' and in ugly fashion Sunday at Buffalo, in a 33-10 blowout.
But the Eagles have struggled in recent weeks, too, and on "Monday Night Football'' just struggles again in a 20-17 loss at Seattle that marks a third-straight loss for the defending NFC champions ...
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Which does two things for Dallas, one immediately and one for down the road.
Immediately: The 10-4 Dallas Cowboys are back in first place in the NFC East over the 10-4 Philadelphia Eagles by virtue of a temporary tiebreaker.
Down the road: If the Eagles choke again - and as they play the Giants, the Cardinals and the Giants, another loss would be a "choke'' - while the Cowboys sweep their final three ... Dallas would win the division and vault up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.
So yes ... as dismal as Sunday in Buffalo was, there is midnight light in Frisco.
Here's how it would come down to tiebreakers if both Dallas and Philly run the table in the final three games ... and then if Philly stumbles just one more time ...
If both teams finish 13-4, they remain tied after the first four tiebreakers: head-to-head record, division record, common-game record and conference record.
Then comes the fifth tiebreaker, "strength of (opponents') victory, and though that hasn't been determined yet, that would greatly favor the Eagles.
But if Dallas can overcome its tough rest-of-season schedule to make up a game in the final three weeks - that is, sweep Miami, Detroit and Washington - while Philly loses again?
Dallas wins the NFC East.
