'The Gauntlet': Dallas Cowboys Face Toughest Part of Schedule in Playoff Preparation

'The Gauntlet': Dallas Cowboys Face Toughest Part of Schedule in Playoff Preparation

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are off on Sunday after enjoying a 45-10 Thanksgiving Day win over the Washington Commanders at home. That's three victories in a row, five wins in their last seven, and eight of their last 11 going back to Week 1.

Since the 42-10 loss at San Francisco in Week 5 - a game in which the Cowboys didn't look like they belonged on the same field with the 49ers - Dallas has found solid footing. 

And it couldn't come at a better time. ... because here comes "The Gauntlet.''

The Cowboys are 5-1 after that loss, with the lone defeat coming 28-23 in Philadelphia to the Eagles. And Dallas had opportunities to win that game against a team that after Sunday's OT win over Buffalo is 10-1 ... and now tough to catch in the NFC.

Dak Prescott (L) and Mike McCarthy / USA TODAY Sports

But with the toughest stretch of the season beginning on Thursday - the Cowboys' second-straight midweek tilt - Dallas has a chance to prove it belongs in the discussion of the best in the league. ... with another meeting with Philly around the bend.

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The next five games are against probable postseason participants. So far this season, the Cowboys have played just two games against teams with playoff aspirations - both losses. Dallas meets Seattle at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, and the Seahawks are 6-5 and currently in a race with the 49ers for the NFC West title. 

Dallas then faces the Eagles for the Arlington rematch of their Week 9 loss. The Cowboys then embark on an East Coast road trip, playing first at Buffalo, where the Bills are struggling trying to catch the 8-3 Dolphins for the AFC East lead. Dallas could play a role in deciding that, as they travel south to Miami after Buffalo. 

The Cowboys return home on Dec. 30 for a Saturday night matchup with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, who are hoping to win a playoff game for the first time since beating Dallas 38-6 in 1991.

The Cowboys end the season against a reeling Washington team in Landover on Jan. 7.

We know the Cowboys can beat the bad teams. They should. But what we need to see over the next five weeks is that they can match up against the good ones. So far this season they've failed.

Dallas might not be able to catch the Eagles for the NFC East title, but it can end the season on a high note with at least three wins over potential playoff teams in late November and December.

Then the question becomes, "Can the Cowboys compete in the playoffs?" We'll see. 

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