The Dallas Cowboys win made a lot of fans happy, but the segment of the population rooting for the best possible draft pick was not impressed. The Cowboys had the quote-unquote opportunity to move ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals in draft pecking order if they had lost. Now, the 4-9 Cowboys are 1.5 games behind Cincinnati (2-10-1) and the quest to get the third-overall pick is pretty much done with only three games remaining.

However, all was not lost on the day for Team Tank. Other results around the league have put Dallas with a chance right back in the same place as where they started. Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles upset of the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers last-second field goal against the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas could hold onto the No. 4 draft slot for another week.

What will make the difference? If Buffalo can defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Dallas may eek back in front of the Chargers for the No. 5 slot.

For those who project the draft order only based on teams already played, Dallas was already sitting behind the Chargers. For those who project based on the full 16-game schedule, the Cowboys were ahead of the Chargers coming into the week, but based on the rest of the action, would have fallen behind them as long as both teams ended up with the same results. If Dallas and L.A. lost, the Cowboys would’ve still slipped to No. 5. If the Bills win and Steelers lose, the Cowboys would creep back in front.

Then, the Monday night game features two teams only Dallas faced in Cleveland and Baltimore, so things could shift once again heading into the final three weeks.

The Cowboys three remaining games? All against teams which are within striking distance for the slot. While Dallas is almost assuredly knocked out of the NFC East race with Washington earning their sixth win and having swept the Cowboys, each of the final three games will have something on the line.

Here’s a look at the rest of the teams in the chase for the No. 4 pick. Strength of schedule numbers are accurate at the time of publishing with a couple games left on the Week 14 schedule.

The Dallas Cowboys win made a lot of fans happy, but the segment of the population rooting for the best possible draft pick was not impressed. The Cowboys had the quote-unquote opportunity to move ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals in draft pecking order if they had lost. Now, the 4-9 Cowboys are 1.5 games behind Cincinnati (2-10-1) and the quest to get the third-overall pick is pretty much done with only three games remaining.

However, all was not lost on the day for Team Tank. Other results around the league have put Dallas with a chance right back in the same place as where they started. Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles upset of the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers last-second field goal against the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas could hold onto the No. 4 draft slot for another week.

What will make the difference? If Buffalo can defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Dallas may eek back in front of the Chargers for the No. 5 slot.

For those who project the draft order only based on teams already played, Dallas was already sitting behind the Chargers. For those who project based on the full 16-game schedule, the Cowboys were ahead of the Chargers coming into the week, but based on the rest of the action, would have fallen behind them as long as both teams ended up with the same results. If Dallas and L.A. lost, the Cowboys would’ve still slipped to No. 5. If the Bills win and Steelers lose, the Cowboys would creep back in front.

Then, the Monday night game features two teams only Dallas faced in Cleveland and Baltimore, so things could shift once again heading into the final three weeks.

The Cowboys three remaining games? All against teams which are within striking distance for the slot. While Dallas is almost assuredly knocked out of the NFC East race with Washington earning their sixth win and having swept the Cowboys, each of the final three games will have something on the line.

Here’s a look at the rest of the teams in the chase for the No. 4 pick. Strength of schedule numbers are accurate at the time of publishing with a couple games left on the Week 14 schedule.