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The Dallas Cowboys have remained atop the NFC East all season long and will head into December with at least a two-game division lead. Not bad, right?
Well, after the Cowboys fell to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving Day, the door may have slightly opened for two of the Cowboys’ bitter NFC East rivals.
Now 7-4, the Cowboys’ once insurmountable division lead could be down to two full games by the end of Monday night. The Eagles (5-6) play the Giants on Sunday and, with a win, could be one game behind the Cowboys in the win column. Meanwhile, Washington (4-6) hosts the Seahawks on Monday and, with a win, would move two full games behind Dallas.
Considering where things stood weeks ago, this feels like a pretty big deal. Dallas, which began the season 6-1, has lost two straight games and three out of four — all to AFC West teams.
The Eagles began the season 3-6 and can move to .500 with a win over the Giants Sunday. Washington started the season 2-6, with its two wins coming over the Giants and Falcons, look like a different team after wins over the Buccaneers and Panthers.
Should the Cowboys be worried? Yes and no. Yes, because there is a lot of football being played against one another in December. Washington has seven games remaining, five of which are against the NFC East. The WFT plays the Eagles and Cowboys twice.
The Cowboys shouldn’t be worried because they still appear to be the most complete team with the best quarterback. Also, the AFC West gauntlet is complete for Dallas.
One thing is certain, at least these December games mean something now — that felt impossible one month ago.