Cowboys playoff outlook: Dallas’s updated odds to win the NFC East and the number one seed in the NFL playoffs in 2023.

Dallas (10-5) has had another successful season because to the efforts of Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and the entire team. For the third time in as many seasons, Mike McCarthy’s team will have the opportunity to compete in the postseason.

Who knows when it will actually compete, though? The 49ers, Eagles, and Lions are vying with America’s Team for conference supremacy in a close contest. Along with a bye week, that would also grant home-field advantage for the duration of the playoffs.

For Dallas to rise to the forefront of NFC contention, though, it will need plenty of help.

Here’s what you need to know about the Cowboys playoff picture, including what they need to happen to sew up that No. 1 seeding.

Cowboys playoff picture

Dallas has already guaranteed a position in the playoffs. Which specific location? That is still subject to change.

The Cowboys are still in the running to start as the NFC’s top seed. However, that would need the 49ers, Eagles, and Lions to experience an epic collapse, which right now doesn’t seem very plausible.

Dallas might end up as the No. 2 seed. On the other hand, the Eagles are in charge of their own fate in that area following the Cowboys’ defeat to the Dolphins in Week 16. Philadelphia leads its NFC East rivals by a full game to take the top spot in the division.

The Lions are also in the mix, having secured a top-three seed with their NFC North title. Just what seed that will be remains to be seen, though; San Francisco, Detroit and Philadelphia all sport matching 11-4 records at present.

Things are tight at the top of the conference. But with just two more games left for each of the four sides pacing the NFC, here is the likelihood that each team will finish atop the conference, projected by the good folks out at NFL.com.

The Cowboys have the slimmest chance of earning the No. 1 seeding, per NFL.com’s model. A date against Detroit in Week 17 could make things more interesting. But at present, it looks like it’s one of the 49ers, Eagles or Lions’ accolade to lose.

As for Dallas, every circumstance that allows for the Cowboys to capture top-billing the NFC playoff pictures hinges on Mike McCarthy’s squad winning its final two regular-season games. If that doesn’t happen, the Cowboys can kiss their No. 1-seed hopes goodbye.

A division title could still be on the cards for Dallas. But the odds aren’t in its favor at the moment; NFL.com’s model gives the Cowboys a 26 percent chance of capturing the NFC East crown. The Eagles are the overwhelming favorites for the divisional title, by comparison.

With a one-game lead in the standings and matchups against the 3-12 Cardinals and 5-10 Giants, you can certainly see why the model is championing Nick Sirianni’s side as the one to secure divisional supremacy.

Cowboys remaining schedule

The Cowboys end their season with duels against the 11-4 Lions and 4-11 Commanders. It’s about as big of a paradox as one could imagine in the final two games of the year: a date with one of the league’s best sides followed by a duel with one of its worst.

Dallas has fared alright against playoff-caliber competition this year, going 3-4 against teams above .500. A victory over Detroit could loom large as Dallas looks not only to capture the divisional crown, but also potentially usurp second place in the NFC from the Lions.

However, in order for that to occur, one of the Giants or the Cardinals must surprise Philly in the upcoming weeks.

The total strength of schedule for the teams the Cowboys will play against at the end of the season is.500. That is a far scarier proposition than what Philadelphia, their divisional opponents, have in store.

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