The Dallas Cowboys are 3-8 and without their starting quarterback for the rest of the season, but playing in the NFC East—where no team currently possesses a winning record—has granted an opportunity for even the Cowboys to make a late postseason push.
“This is a wacky division,” cornerback Brandon Carr said. “We’re fortunate, right now, to still be able to do some things. It’s up to us to take care of our own business and let the rest of the division handle itself.”
The Washington Redskins currently lead the NFC East at 5-6, with a head-to-head tiebreaker over the New York Giants, who are also 5-6. Washington beat New York to jump the Giants in the standings last week.
The slumping Philadelphia Eagles are 4-7, and travel to New England in Week 13.
The Cowboys started the season 2-0 but have since lost eight out of their last nine games. Quarterback Tony Romo has suffered two different collarbone fractures, including a season-ending break on Thanksgiving, and his backups—Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel—have been unable to win a game in his absence.
Despite all that, if the Cowboys beat Washington on Monday night and the Giants lose to the Jets on Sunday, Dallas will be just one game out of first place with four games left to play.
“I didn’t think we’d have a shot to be in it,” said defensive end Jeremy Mincey, “but the cards are falling our way. What do we have to lose?”
The Cowboys finish the season with a Week 17 home game against Washington. Dallas also has trips to Green Bay (Week 14) and Buffalo (Week 16) left on the schedule.
Luckily for Dallas, it’s certainly possible only seven wins will be necessary to win the division. And it wouldn’t be the first time a team under .500 went to the postseason.
The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South last season with a 7-8-1 mark, while the 2010 Seattle Seahawks took home the NFC West crown with a 7-9 record.
The Cowboys making the postseason remains very unlikely, especially with Romo on the sideline. But anything is possible in the NFL’s most unremarkable division.