Inside The Star
The NFL playoff picture shifted on Monday night — not dramatically, but meaningfully. The Dallas Cowboys’ 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders didn’t vault them into the postseason bracket, nor did it dramatically increase their playoff probability.
But it did something Dallas desperately needed: it kept their season alive and preserved a path in the tightening NFC playoff race.
For a team sitting at 4-5-1, that kind of lifeline is critical. And in mid-November, when the playoff field begins to take shape, even a narrow window can become the turning point of a season.
The Cowboys still face long odds, an unforgiving remaining schedule and the NFL’s hottest division leader. But the Vegas win changed the tone, the stakes and the energy heading into the most important stretch of their season.
The biggest obstacle to any Cowboys playoff conversation is the powerhouse sitting at the top of the NFC East.
The Philadelphia Eagles, at 8–2, hold a staggering 99% chance to win the division. That number reflects the standings, the tiebreaker implications and the fact that Philadelphia holds the best position of any current division leader across the league.
For Dallas, the math is punishing. The Cowboys sit at <1%, and even that fraction depends heavily on this week’s matchup with the Eagles in Arlington.
The current NFC East outlook:
Eagles (8–2) — at DAL, CHI, at LAC, LV, at WSH, at BUF, WSH
Cowboys (4–5–1) — PHI, KC, at DET, MIN, LAC, at WSH, at NYG
Commanders (3–8) — BYE, DEN, at MIN, at NYG, PHI, DAL, at PHI
Giants (2–9) — at DET, at NE, BYE, WSH, MIN, at LV, DAL
The numbers paint a clear picture: the Eagles control the NFC East.
But the Cowboys’ win in Las Vegas keeps the division mathematically open and ensures the next two weeks matter — for both teams.
The Cowboys didn’t just win — they played their most complete game in weeks.
Dak Prescott delivered a four-touchdown performance that showcased why the Cowboys still believe they can climb back into the playoff conversation.
The offense looked balanced, efficient and in sync. The defense played with urgency and discipline, creating pressure and limiting explosive plays, albeit against the Raiders.
But the emotional factor matters just as much.
This was Dallas’s first game since the heart-breaking loss of defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland. The team responded with intensity and connection — the kind of performance that can spark a November surge when the season feels like it’s on the line.
Every playoff contender has a defining moment. For the Cowboys, that moment arrives this Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
A win over Philadelphia won’t flip the division, but it will dramatically shift the NFC East narrative, the Cowboys’ playoff path, and the entire...
