Get ready to pack it in, Cowboys fans. The season is almost over. Dallas needs to go 3-2 in the last five games in order to have a shot at the playoffs, and they’ve already lost the first two opportunities. Next week is New Orleans, and it would take more than a little miracle for Dallas to pull off a win there. While two wins “might” get them into the last Wildcard spot, they’d be depending on New York to lose.

After the disappointing loss to a superior Chargers team, the best Dallas can hope for is 2-3, which may not be good enough in this NFC East. Philadelphia soundly defeated New York Sunday night in a 45-38 showdown. That victory placed Philly at the top of the NFC East at 9-4. Dallas is 8-5. New York is 7-6. While that may sound pretty good, and you might think that Dallas has a legit shot at a Wildcard spot, you’d be wrong.

Let’s take a closer look at each team’s remaining schedule.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)

49ers @ Eagles (L)
Broncos @ Eagles (W)
Eagles @ Cowboys (W)

Philadelphia wins 2 out of 3 minimum. The Broncos or the 49ers can beat Philly on any given Sunday, given the right circumstances. Dallas likely loses to Philly in a revenge match. That puts Philly at 11-5 to end the season.

New York Giants (7-6)

Giants @ Redskins (W)
Panthers @ Giants (W)
Giants @ Vikings (L)

New York wins 2 out of 3, with a loss at the end of the season to Minnesota. The only way they win that last game is if Childress decides to bench some starters (especially Favre) for the last game to give them some rest going into the playoffs. Barring that unlikely scenario, New York finishes the season 9-7.

Dallas Cowboys (8-5)

Cowboys @ Saints (L)
Cowboys @ Redskins (W)
Eagles @ Cowboys (L)

One guaranteed loss in these three at New Orleans next week. Washington is playing some serious ball right now, and is in no way a guaranteed victory, especially given the weather. Philly is a toss up. Dallas could lose as many as two of the last three, but will likely win at least one.

If, and I mean IF, Dallas can win two of the last three games, that puts them at 10-6 to close the season. That puts Dallas ahead of New York for a Wildcard spot. Remember, if Dallas and New York have the same record at the end of the year, NYG gets the push because they have won both games against Dallas. So there is no tie-breaker advantage to the Cowboys. It’s better record or go home.

Dallas MUST win 2 out of 3 remaining games. When they lose to New Orleans next week, they’ll be backs against the wall. With two losses, they’ll likely tie New York and lose the tiebreaker.

The upside: There are no other NFC Wildcard contenders besides Dallas, New York, and Green Bay. We fully expect Green Bay to clinch one of the two wildcard spots. They’re 9-4, but they have a tough schedule ahead. Their next game is against the Steelers, then Seattle, and they close out the season at Arizona. They’re expected to win 2 out of 3, with a possible loss to Arizona in Week 16. That puts Green Bay at 11-6, with a better record than Dallas can dare to hope for.

So it’s New York or Dallas. That’s what it boils down to. One wildcard spot. Two teams. New York does well against Washington and should soundly defeat Carolina. It doesn’t look very possible that New York won’t be 9-7.

Your Dallas Cowboys have no room for error here. A win in New Orleans would be the best possible scenario, because it puts Dallas in the driver’s seat. No one, and I mean NO ONE, expects that to happen. We’re not even pretending there’s a chance. Cowboys fans have been too emotionally invested and disappointed these past two weeks. Best to sit next week out, assume a loss, and start hoping now for two wins to close the season.

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