Dallas Cowboys Can Clinch NFC East By Beating Philadelphia Eagles, Playoff Hopes Alive With Loss

As disappointing as the 2019 NFL season has been for the Dallas Cowboys, the team is on the doorstep of winning their second straight NFC East title. The reigning division champs can clinch a first-place finish by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.

Both the Cowboys and Eagles are 7-7 heading into Sunday's meeting at Lincoln Financial Field. Because Dallas already defeated Philadelphia earlier this year, a second win over their rivals would give the Cowboys the tiebreaker.

Dallas blew out Philadelphia 37-10 at AT&T Stadium in Week 7.

A win for the Eagles would put them in the driver’s seat to clinch the NFC East, though they’d still have to take care of business the following week. Philadelphia visits the New York Giants in Week 17, while Dallas hosts the Washington Redskins. If the Eagles lose and the Cowboys win their respective season finales, Dallas will win the division.

Even though Philadelphia is the home team, they are not favored to win Week 16’s pivotal matchup. The Cowboys are 2.5-point favorites on the road, according to OddsShark.

Dallas ended a three-game losing streak in Week 15 by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 44-21. It marked the first time this season that the Cowboys have beaten a team with a record above .500.

The Cowboys are ranked first in the NFL in total offense. Dak Prescott is second among quarterbacks in passing yards. Ezekiel Elliott is fifth in rushing after totaling 117 yards on the ground in Week 15.

Dallas has outscored its opponents by 90 points, giving them the third-best point differential in the NFC. That puts them ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers. Those teams are the top three seeds in the conference.

If the Cowboys make the playoffs, they are on track to host the second-place finisher in the NFC West on Wild-Card Weekend. The San Francisco 49ers are currently the conference’s No.5 seed, but that will likely be determined when Seattle hosts San Francisco in Week 17.

The Cowboys beat the Seahawks in the first round of last year’s playoffs.