NFC East Clinching Scenarios: How Cowboys Can Stay Alive vs. Eagles in Week 17

After consecutive losses by the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to win the NFC East in Week 17.

The Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC East driver’s seat entering NFL Week 17 with a chance to clinch the division title for a second straight year.

Is there a way for the Dallas Cowboys to hit the “eject” button on that seat?

For however shaky the Eagles were in their Christmas Day victory over the New York Giants, a combination of a win over the New York Giants and two consecutive losses by Dallas has set quarterback Jalen Hurts and company up with a chance to clinch the NFC East in Week 17. 

The Eagles have two clinching scenarios for Week 17:

- Eagles defeat Arizona Cardinals and  Cowboys lose to Detroit Lions

- Eagles tie Cardinals and Cowboys lose to Lions

Coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles have opened up as 9.5-point favorites against the Cardinals, who will visit The Linc for Philadelphia's final home game of the regular season.

Meanwhile … Despite losing consecutive games to the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, the Cowboys are still 4.5-point favorites over the NFC North champ Lions in Week 17.

Dallas is 10-5 and is unbeaten at AT&T Stadium this season. The key to Dallas winning the division? Two wins, of course … plus an Eagles failure, of course.

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Because the Cowboys and Lions play on Saturday evening, the Eagles will know before Sunday afternoon's game if a win or tie against the Cardinals Sunday afternoon will clinch them the NFC East title.

Regardless of what the Cowboys do over the final two games of the season, if the Eagles are victorious in their remaining contests against the Cardinals and Giants, they will win the NFC East.

The Cowboys should concede nothing here, of course. But they know the realities … and they know of the likelihood they’ll hit the road once the playoffs start.