Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders Might Miss NFL Playoffs Because They Can't Beat Good Teams In 2019

The Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders have had very similar 2019 NFL seasons. Both teams are 6-6 and in playoff contention because of the way they’ve taken care of the weak part of their respective schedules.

It’s their disappointing performances against good teams that could keep both teams out of the playoff picture.

The Cowboys and Raiders are winless in 10 combined games against teams that enter Week 14 with a record above .500. Dallas is 0-5 when facing winning teams. Oakland is 0-5 in such matchups, as well.

Unless Oakland quickly ends that trend, they won’t be going to the postseason. The Tennessee Titans bring their 7-5 record to the Bay Area Sunday afternoon.

The Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers have the same record, though the Steelers currently own the tiebreaker for the final AFC wild-card spot. A loss would put Oakland two games behind Tennessee with just three weeks remaining.

The Raiders have virtually no shot of winning the AFC West. Oakland fell two games behind the Kansas City Chiefs with a Week 13 loss at Arrowhead stadium. The Chiefs own the tiebreaker over the Raiders, having beaten Oakland by 49 total points in two matchups.

Winning teams have beaten the Raiders by an average of 18 points per game.

Dallas still controls its own postseason destiny because they play in the NFL’s weakest division. Fortunately for the Cowboys, no one in the NFC East has a winning record.

The Philadelphia Eagles trail Dallas by a game in the NFC East. Dallas blew out Philadelphia 37-10 when the rivals met earlier this season.

Even if the Eagles beat the Cowboys in Philadelphia in Week 16, Dallas might still reach the postseason. The Cowboys have a perfect 4-0 record within the division.

Dallas is set to face the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins in three of their remaining four games. There’s a chance none of those teams finish the season above .500.

The Cowboys won’t be so lucky when they reach the playoffs. As the No.4 seed, they’d likely host a team like the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers that has 11 or 12 wins on Wild-Card Weekend.

A three-game winning streak to start the season against bad teams put Dallas among the perceived Super Bowl contenders. With losses to teams like the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills since then, it’s clear the Cowboys aren’t much of a threat to win the title.