Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy's 3 Goals - In Order

As Dallas Cowboys Hope To Clinch Playoffs, Coach Mike McCarthy's 3 'Carpe Omnia' Goals - In Order

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2023 season with an announced theme from coach Mike McCarthy: "Carpe Omnia'' ... "Seize Everything!''

But there is nevertheless an orderly way to go about that "seizing.''

If 10-3 Dallas wins at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the team will have clinched its way into postseason. ... making a third straight trip to the playoffs under McCarthy - with double-digit wins streaking in that way not accomplished around here since a 1991-to-1996 run.

And if that - this year's clinch - happens? The first of three on-the-cusp goals will have been achieved.

McCarthy this week was asked a playoff-related question or two, and he brushed those off as being premature.

"We're focused on 11 wins,'' he said. "You can save that (playoff question) for next week. That (playoff qualification) the goal, but ...''

It is indeed the first goal. Somehow. Some way. Get in the tournament. And then?

"We want to win our division,'' McCarthy said.

And then? The Cowboys need help here. And there is only one first-round NFC bye. The 49ers and the Eagles both have a more "inside track'' there than Dallas does. But yes, that is the ultimate regular-season goal.

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The regular-season challenges? The Cowboys have games remaining at the Bills, at the Dolphins, at home vs. the Lions and at the Commanders.

"All the things we said at the beginning of the season, nothing has changed,'' McCarthy said of the goals, which once we get to the next step can include Super Bowl talk. "But 11 wins speaks for itself.”

There are 14 ways for the Cowboys to get Goal 1 and clinch a playoff berth. ...

1. DAL win or tie OR
2. LAR loss or tie + SEA loss or tie OR
3. GB loss + LAR loss or tie + ATL loss or tie OR
4. GB loss + ATL loss or tie + SEA loss or tie OR
5. GB loss + ATL loss or tie + DET win or tie OR
6. TB loss + MIN loss or tie + LAR loss or tie OR
7. TB loss + MIN loss or tie + SEA loss or tie OR
8. TB loss + MIN loss or tie + DET win or tie OR
9. TB loss + SF win or tie + DET win or tie OR
10. TB loss + DET win or tie + LAR loss or tie OR
11. TB-GB tie + LAR loss or tie OR
12. TB-GB tie + SEA loss or tie OR
13. TB-GB tie + DET win or tie OR
14. SEA loss or tie + MIN loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over ATL