This certainly wasn’t the way they pictured it happening, but eventually Week 15 ended with an expected result for the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas was one of three NFC teams who could have punched their ticket to the playoffs with a victory. On Thursday the San Francisco 49ers joined the Philadelphia Eagles in the dance. On Saturday the Minnesota Vikings joined the festivities. At around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday all signs appeared pointing to the Cowboys rounding out the four top contenders.
It wasn’t meant to be, as Dallas blew a 27-10 third quarter lead, eventually falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 40-34, in overtime. Still Dallas entered the week with five various clinching scenarios. Thanks to other results, they ended up needing the fifth, but it did finally happen when the New York Giants took down the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football. That victory assured the Cowboys would have one of the three best records in the NFC among non-division winners, clinching their spot in the playoffs.