Cowboys Chaos? Rams Can Create NFC Playoff Problems With Win at Dallas

The Los Angeles Rams could make a dent in the NFC playoff race if they are able to upset the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8.

A Week 8 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys feels like an inflection point for the Los Angeles Rams, and perhaps for the NFC playoff picture as a whole. 

As things currently stand, the Rams are 3-4, and one of the first teams out of the playoffs in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are 4-2, which puts them in control of the No. 6 seed in the NFC postseason. Quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are currently six-point home favorites over the Rams for this week's tilt at AT&T Stadium. 

Receiver Cooper Kupp, quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have a tough task ahead of them in Week 8.  / USA Today

If the Rams were to pull off an upset of the Cowboys in Week 8, they would improve to 4-4 and take control of the tiebreaker with Dallas, should that come into play later this year. Additionally -- while it feels unlikely general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay would trade away their 2024 first-round pick after not picking in the opening 32 selections since 2016 -- a win over the Cowboys might inspire them to make some minor additions before the Oct. 31 trade deadline passes. 

Coach Mike McCarthy's Cowboys need this win to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles, both in the NFC East and NFC as a whole. Dallas will square off with the Eagles in both Week 9 and Week 14, so they still have a shot to make a run at the top seed in division and conference if they win both of those matchups. However, if Dallas stumbles against the Rams this week, they would fall to 4-3, while the Eagles seemingly are likely to improve to 7-1 after playing the Washington Commanders in Week 8. Holding serve -- even if gaining a game on the Eagles isn't especially likely this week -- is imperative for Dallas' position aspirations. 

Going into the building affectionally referred to as "Jerryworld" and upsetting the Cowboys -- a team that seems to have extra juice when playing on turf, as opposed to natural grass -- is a tough ask for the Rams. But if McVay's squad is able to come away with a win, the NFL world will probably have an entirely different perspective on them, and the NFC playoff picture, come Monday.