Cowboys Watch as Eagles Survive Giants; NFC East Playoff Race Update

'Silver Linings Playbook': Dallas Cowboys Watch as Eagles Survive Giants; NFC East Playoff Race Update

FRISCO - Football isn't played on paper and emotions and momentum can't be captured in the standings.

But strictly based on the way the NFC East race to the NFL playoffs is unfolding, the Dallas Cowboys' 22-20 last-second loss at Miami on Christmas Eve isn't really a hurtful blow ...

And nor, in regard to Dallas' chances, is the Christmas Day result in Philadelphia, an Eagles' 33-25 last-second survival of the lowly New York Giants.

Factually, coming into the holiday weekend, the Cowboys were 10-4 and trending toward being the NFC's No. 1 Wild Card. After Dallas' loss the Cowboys are 10-5 ... and still trending toward being the NFC's No. 1 Wild Card.

Meanwhile, the Eagles' record has now jumped up to 11-4, and their inside track to the division title remains unchanged.

At the same time, there remains a slight chance, especially if the Cowboys run the table late with a home win over playoff-bound Detroit and a road win at crummy Washington while the Eagles falter in their finale, of Dallas landing in the top spot.

Is Dak Still Confident in Cowboys?

But the Eagles' finale is against New York again. So Cowboys Nation, given the results of Christmas Day, will not be holding its breath.

Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence said after the loss at Miami, “This ain’t the last y’all are gonna see us.” And it is true. Like the Eagles, the Cowboys are locked into the playoffs. ... and then - even as Dallas will then be on the road, where the club this year is 3-5, there will be new paper and no standings and maybe new emotion and momentum to be harnessed.