Big Game Situation

By Mark Halpern

Not that any team ever wants to lose a game, but there are ways to lose and win simultaneously. This is a question that the Dallas Cowboys will be facing this weekend. If Dallas loses this game, they will be set at the number five position and face the NFC South winner at their home stadium. Currently, it is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but we will visit the wild card round soon enough. 

    The Dallas Cowboys last week were playing to keep pace with the Eagles for the winner of the NFC East division title. With last week’s loss to the Dolphins and the Eagles (barely) defeating the Giants, the Eagles now control the NFC East, and if they win, they’ll get a home game in the first round of the playoffs. 

    The Cowboys Take on the Lions this weekend at AT&T Stadium for a prime-time game. Here is the problem that is facing both teams and it is a problem that doesn’t hurt either team in any way in the standings—the Cowboys (yes, they would like a wild card home game). The only way for the Cowboys to get a home playoff game is if they win the NFC East. But If the Eagles win and the Cowboys lose, the Eagles win the division. If that happens, the Cowboys could rest players next week against the Commanders. But if the Cowboys beat the Lions, what do they do? Do they rest Dak, Brandin Cooks, CeeDee Lamb, Tyron Smith, etc… I’m not sure if anyone will be able to stop Micah from playing. As for the Detroit Lions, they have clinched their first North Division ever. They have secured a home game and might also choose to rest some players who have been banged up. Running back David Montgomery has been banged up over the last few weeks, and Josh Reynolds has been dealing with a leg injury. Still, he has played through it, and a few players on defense who are nursing injuries, Hutchinson and Kirby Joseph, might need the rest. Unlike the Cowboys, Detroit has a home game and does not need to take the chances of injury with two weeks until the playoffs.

    This is a big weekend in football, not only for teams fighting for a home game but a ton of teams in both conferences, all fighting for the last three remaining spots.