By Sunday 
Thursday night in Detroit isn’t just another prime-time matchup — it’s a crossroads for the Dallas Cowboys’ season. At 6-5-1 and riding a three-game winning streak, Dallas finally has some momentum… but the playoff math is still messy, and the Lions are standing right in the middle of the road with the No. 8 spot in the NFC.
Let’s break down exactly what’s on the line.
The NFC East Isn’t Settled Yet
The Cowboys may be second behind the 8-4 Philadelphia Eagles, but the race isn’t over — and this matchup against Detroit could reopen doors that seemed closed a month ago.
If the Cowboys win…
Dallas gets a little breathing room and turns up the heat on the Eagles. With a victory:
- The Cowboys move one game closer in the win column.
- If the Eagles slip against the Chargers on Monday, Dallas would be one game back in the loss column.
- No tiebreakers apply because of the tie on Dallas’ record, so they need one fewer loss than Philly to steal the division.
Translation:
Win Thursday, get an Eagles loss Monday, and suddenly the Cowboys could be staring at first place next week.
If the Cowboys lose…
The Eagles’ magic number drops from four to three, and it’s “uh oh” time for Dallas. If Philly wins this weekend too, that number falls to two — setting up a potential division clincher in Week 15.
Lose here, and Dallas won’t control much of anything.
The NFC Playoff Picture Is Even Crazier
Right now, Dallas sits at No. 9, just outside the playoff bracket. But Thursday’s game comes with a major ripple effect.
If the Cowboys win…
They jump Detroit and slide into the No. 8 spot. It’s not a playoff seed yet — the 49ers sit ahead at No. 7 — but “upward” is always better than “sideways.”
They’d still be:
- Two games behind San Francisco for the final wild card.
- A dangerous team heating up at the right time.
If the Cowboys lose…
They fall to No. 10 behind Carolina… temporarily. If the Panthers also lose on Sunday, Dallas climbs back to No. 9.
The good news?
The Cowboys cannot fall lower than No. 10 this week.
The bad news?
The bottom of the NFC is not where a team wants to hover in December.
In Short… Everything’s On the Line
A win tightens the NFC East race and keeps the wild-card door cracked open.
A loss pushes the Cowboys closer to relying on scoreboard watching and hoping for help.
Either way, this isn’t just a Thursday night showdown — it’s a moment that could reshape the NFC playoff picture entirely.