How the Dallas Cowboys Can Play Spoiler
In Week 15 of the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys looked dominant in all three phases to propel them to their sixth win of the season. Cooper Rush threw for a career-high three touchdown passes, Rico Dowdle ran for 149 yards and the defense forced four turnovers. The plethora of injuries did not matter. With Ceedee Lamb and Micah Parsons still healthy, this Cowboys team could wreak some havoc in the NFC playoff race. The opportunities come by the boatload starting Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On Week 16 of Sunday Night Football, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will come to AT&T Stadium looking for a much-needed ninth win of their season. The Bucs currently possess the third seed in the NFC but with the 7-7 Atlanta Falcons lurking one game behind them, they do not exactly want life coming at them fast. The Cowboys do. Baker Mayfield has played resiliently this season leading the Bucs through their injury struggles putting up some impressive numbers on offense. It will be a tall task to stop him and it will be interesting to see what McCarthy’s squad can do to deter Mayfield from driving down the field.
Philadelphia Eagles
In the penultimate game of the regular season, America’s team travels up northeast to visit the division foe Philadelphia Eagles. At 12-2, the Eagles are vying for the conference’s top seed and a Bye Week in the playoffs. Although the Cowboys’ home-field advantage proved faulty in their first contest earlier this season, there is no love lost between these two teams. The Cowboys will be looking to do everything in their power to put the Eagles in the least favorable position possible. The Eagles have been one of the NFL’s top contenders this year and they will look to continue to prove so against one of the weaker Cowboys teams in recent years. The acquisition of MVP candidate Saquon Barkley may have just been the final piece this team needed to finally get over the hump.
Washington Commanders
In what will be in all likelihood the Cowboys' final game of the season, the Washington Commanders come into town. Even at 9-5, entering Week 16, the Commanders have yet to clinch a playoff spot. Come Week 18, it is possible their spot will be clinched but if not, the Cowboys would love the opportunity to send another division rival packing. The Commanders currently hold the final NFC playoff spot with the Seattle Seahawks one game behind in their shadow. Led by Heisman Trophy winner and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have been one of the NFL’s surprises this year, and when they are on top of things they have looked like a powerhouse. However, the last time these two matched up in the nation’s capital, the Cowboys were victorious in a wild back-and-forth final quarter. The Cowboys will seek to repeat their success, this time in the comfort of their own home.
Will the Dallas Cowboys be able to disrupt the NFC playoff picture? Only time will tell. This team will not just lie down and let these opportunities slip through their fingers. Every game will be a hard-fought battle and whoever shows the most grit will come out on top. The parity of the NFL is what makes the league so exciting and the Cowboys hope to display that in the closing weeks of the season.
