If the Dallas Cowboys lose today, their already slim playoff chances basically disappear and the season becomes about pride, evaluation, and potential staff/player changes.
Playoff impact
A loss drops Dallas further behind the Eagles in the NFC East and they are already eliminated from realistic wild‑card contention. At 6‑7‑1 after the Vikings game, models gave them roughly a 1% chance to make the postseason, and that required winning out while Philadelphia lost all remaining games, so another loss would essentially end that scenario.
What the team then plays for
Once practical playoff hopes are gone, the rest of the schedule is mainly about:
- Player evaluation for next season, especially younger or fringe-roster players.
- Trying to build some momentum and avoid further injuries going into the offseason.
Possible offseason consequences
Missing the playoffs again after this kind of collapse usually increases pressure on the coaching staff and front office. It can also influence contract decisions on veterans, pending free agents, and even big-picture questions about scheme and roster direction.