The Dallas Cowboys will know before they hit the field on Sunday in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers if their playoff hopes have officially been ended.
That is a tough spot to be in, and the 2025 version of the Cowboys has resembled a yo-yo, especially the defense, which has been a big letdown.
For some, it is now draft season in Dallas, with three games left. There is nothing to gain from the season, and strengthening the Cowboys' draft hand should be the focus.
But for Pete Prisco, in his Week 16 predictions for CBS Sports, has Dallas bouncing back from the Minnesota Vikings loss, beating the Chargers 33-27.
"The Chargers have won two straight, while the Cowboys have lost two straight," Prisco writes. "Dallas is barely alive in the playoff race, and could be eliminated Saturday night if the Eagles win, while the Chargers are surging. But after beating the Chiefs last week, this could be a letdown spot for the Chargers. Dallas can score and I think they will here. Cowboys take it."
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Cowboys season coming to bitter end
At 6-7-1, the 2025 season hasn't been what the Cowboys wanted, but for most, the team wasn't playoff-caliber to begin with.
But there was still hope this team could make the postseason before the Detroit Lions game, but two bad performances have condemned Dallas to missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
That won't please Jerry Jones, although, as long as his Cowboys remain in the headlines, he likely won't care.
It hasn't been the best of seasons for Brian Schottenheimer, and for some Dallas fans, the sooner this season ends, the better.
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- Jerry Jones puts Matt Eberflus on notice after Cowboys' latest defensive letdown
- The wild 1% scenario in which the Dallas Cowboys can still make the NFL playoffs
- Jerry Jones gets trolled by former head coach Wade Phillips