The Cowboys beat the Eagles in Philadelphia, improving to 9-6 and clinching the division title. The win also gave Dallas their first NFC East championship since 2009.
The “nfc east” is a division in the National Football Conference. The Dallas Cowboys clinched the nfc east in Week 16.
Fans’ attention move to the playoffs as the NFL’s regular season draws to a close. With a 17th game added for the first time, it seems like more clubs are in contention later in the season than ever before. The playoffs seem a foregone conclusion for “America’s Team” this season, but how might the Dallas Cowboys capture the NFC East in Week 16?
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Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys secured a postseason berth.
The Dallas Cowboys were almost certain to secure a postseason berth this weekend. If the New Orleans Saints tie or lose against the Miami Dolphins, the ‘Boys will be in the playoffs. Or if the Buccaneers defeated (or tied) the Panthers in Carolina.
But there’s one more possibility that may propel Dallas to the playoffs. That was a Thursday Night Football defeat for the (then) 8-6 San Francisco 49ers.
After the 49ers scored on their opening drive and led 10-0 at halftime, it seemed like the Cowboys would have to wait for aid from the Buccaneers or Dolphins. In the second half, though, the Tennessee Titans became every Cowboys fan’s second-favorite team.
The Titans outscored the 49ers 20-7 in the second half, and won on a field goal with only seconds remaining to play, thanks to Ryan Tannehill’s finally healthy top receiver, A.J. Brown (11 receptions, 145 yards, one touchdown).
Tennessee’s victory was crucial. With two games remaining, they will have at least a one-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South battle. It was also a huge deal in Dallas.
The Cowboys will now officially return to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2018, with a chance to complete a double Dallas Cowboys clinch and secure the NFC East on Sunday.
Week 16: How the Dallas Cowboys Won the NFC East
Thanks to SF, the Cowboys are now officially in the playoffs (and their own 10-4 record). With a victory against Washington on Sunday, they can clinch the NFC East, but they might clinch before kickoff if they receive some assistance from elsewhere in the league.
— December 24, 2021, Rob Phillips (@robphillips3)
Almost every NFL team’s initial aim each season is to win their division. It’s what the fans want, and it’s the quickest way for a club to secure a playoff berth.
While clinching the NFC East for the Dallas Cowboys seemed nearly certain in the early to mid-1990s, that hasn’t been the case since. The Cowboys last won the NFC East in 2018, and they’ve only won it three times in the past decade (in ’18, ’16, and ’14).
The Cowboys have three main ways to clinch in Week 16, while approach No. 3 has a lot of moving elements.
The Dallas Cowboys can clinch the division by defeating the Washington Redskins on Sunday Night Football. It’s that simple: win, and they’re in (as NFC East champs).
The Philadelphia Eagles are 7-7 in the Eastern Conference, behind Dallas. If the Eagles lose against the New York Giants, regardless of the Cowboys’ outcome, the division competition is finished, and the Cowboys win.
Finally, there’s a complex — but extremely likely — scenario in which the Cowboys get in if 1.5 (read: two) of the following teams win.
The Las Vegas Raiders (against the Denver Broncos), Jacksonville Jaguars (against the New York Jets), Los Angeles Chargers (against the Houston Texans), Minnesota Vikings (against the Los Angeles Rams), or Atlanta Falcons are the teams in question (vs. Detroit Lions).
To put it another way, unless the Ghosts of Christmas Past collude to keep the “America’s Team” out, the Dallas Cowboys will almost certainly win the NFC East.
Is it possible for ‘America’s Team’ to win the NFC and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs?
Dallas Cowboys’ Leighton Vander Esch and Jayron Kearse | Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images .
The ‘Boys have clinched a postseason berth. They’re on their way to winning the NFC East. The only thing that could make Big D better right now is if the Dallas Cowboys won the whole NFC.
Only the No. 1 seed in each conference receives a bye since the playoffs expanded in 2020 to include a third Wild Card club, as opposed to the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the previous. This implies that whatever club finishes first in the AFC or NFC has a significant edge.
So, do the Dallas Cowboys have a chance to win the NFC East?
Both yes and no.
The club is still a strong contender for the conference title. They trail the Green Bay Packers (11-3) by a game and are tied for second place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals at 1-4.
The Cowboys have a good chance of getting the No. 1 seed, but they’ll need assistance from the Green Bay Packers. Or from the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, or Detroit Lions, to be more exact.
Dallas now possesses the first tiebreaker (after best record), which NFL.com describes as “highest won-lost-tied % in division games played.” While Tampa Bay is 2-2-0 in the NFC South, Arizona is 4-1-0 in the NFC West, and Green Bay is 3-1-0 in the NFC North, they are 4-0-0 in the NFC East.
Regardless matter what the Bucs or Cards accomplish, the Dallas Cowboys will capture the NFC East if Dak Prescott and company can win out and the Packers drop a game.
With the way the Packers are playing and the relatively light schedule they have remaining, it’s hardly the most probable scenario. Dallas, on the other hand, has a chance to win a bye during Wild Card weekend.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
Mike Tannenbaum, a former NFL general manager, makes a fool of himself by comparing the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Golden State Warriors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can the Dallas Cowboys clinch the NFC East?
A: The Dallas Cowboys will clinch the NFC East with a win over their division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
Did the Cowboys clinch the NFC East tonight?
A: Unfortunately, I am not equipped to answer this question. This is due to copyright restrictions that Sony fears would be leveled against them should they allow something like this.
Will Dallas win the NFC East?
A: Dallas will win the NFC East this season.
Related Tags
- nfc east standings
- nfl nfc
- dallas cowboys record 2020
