Just four weeks ago, the landscape was much different. The Dallas Cowboys were thoroughly embarrassed on national television. Facing the team that had eliminated them from the tournament each of the last two seasons, Dallas brass claimed the Week 5 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers was a measuring stick. The club was weighed and found wanting, to the tune of a 42-10 shellacking that dropped the team’s record to 3-2.
Three games later, and Dallas is in position to take control of the NFC race for the No. 1seed as their season approaches it’s midpoint. With two wins sandwiched around a bye week, the Cowboys have watched the rest of the conference retreat towards the gooey middle. Somehow, the club has survived the apocalypse and find themselves in control of their own destiny.