When it comes to the NFC playoff picture, the Dallas Cowboys are on the outside looking in. They’re not mathematically eliminated, but they face a serious uphill battle after starting the season with a 3-5-1 record.
Dallas’ 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night was a step in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go, and that isn’t lost on star quarterback Dak Prescott.
"S--t, we want to make the playoffs? We got to go beat some playoff teams," Prescott said after the victory over the Raiders. "And it's not 'one game at a time.' We don't have that luxury. We've got to think of the whole thing. We have to go on a run. And we're going to do it together."
Climbing back into the playoff picture in the NFC might be easier said than done for the Cowboys, who will play six consecutive games against playoff teams from last season. They host the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and then they’ll host the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving day.
They’ll then travel to Detroit to take on the Lions before heading home to host the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers. They close out the season with road games against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
"We've got a hell of a road ahead of us," Prescott said of the schedule. "And I think that's the best part of it — we ain't got no bulls**t ahead, where we can lose focus. Like, hell no, we can't lose focus — not for a second, not for a day, not for a moment of the training."
Prescott was stellar against the Raiders on Monday night. The three-time Pro Bowler threw for 268 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Perhaps he was motivated by recently being named one of the most overrated quarterbacks in the entire league.
If Prescott can continue to play like he did against Las Vegas for the rest of the season, it will boost the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs. But ultimately it’s Dallas’ defense that’s going to need to step up if the Cowboys are going to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
The Cowboys are averaging 29.6 points per game on the season, which is second-best in the entire NFL behind only the Indianapolis Colts. But, the defense is allowing 29.3 points per performance, which is the second-worst mark in the whole league. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have allowed more points per game (33.4). That’s been the big issue with Dallas all season.
Prescott can continue to put up big numbers, but unless the defense can tighten up in short order, the playoffs will remain a pipe dream for the Cowboys this season.