Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys
INDIDak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass downfield in the game against the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Joe Robbins/Getty Images

There’s a lot to be determined regarding the NFL playoffs with two weeks left in the 2018 regular season. Only five of the 12 postseason berths have been clinched and more than half the league is still mathematically alive.

The Dallas Cowboys have yet to make the playoffs, but there isn’t much mystery about where they will be when Week 17 comes to an end. With eight victories in their first 14 games, it’s pretty clear where America’s Team is headed.

With upcoming games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants, the Cowboys will almost certainly win the NFC East. They are a game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in the standings, but the tiebreaker essentially gives them a 1.5-game lead in the division.

Dallas should be able to handle the visiting Buccaneers Sunday. The Cowboys are favored by a touchdown, according to OddsShark, after their five-game winning streak was snapped last week. Dallas is 6-1 at home, and Tampa Bay hasn’t won on the road since upsetting the New Orleans Saints in the season opener.

One win for the Cowboys in the final two weeks gives them the division title. They’ll be facing two teams that are already eliminated from contention.

Philadelphia hosts the first-place Houston Texans in Week 16, and Washington will visit the Tennessee Titans, who are very much in the AFC wild-card race. The Eagles will visit the Redskins in Week 17.

Getting a first-round playoff bye is out of the question for the Cowboys. The No.3 seed is technically still in play, but that is a long shot.

The Chicago Bears are two games ahead of the Cowboys for the NFC’s No.3 seed. One Chicago victory or one Dallas loss over the final two weeks would limit the Cowboys to getting the No.4 seed.

That means Dallas is likely headed for the No.4 seed with a matchup against the No.5 seed on Wild-Card Weekend. If the playoffs were to begin in Week 16, the Cowboys would host the Seattle Seahawks in the first round.

Seattle has a half-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings for the first NFC wild-card spot. The Vikings are a half-game in front of the Eagles and Redskins for the No.6 seed.

Dallas is 5-2 since trading for Amari Cooper. Only three teams have given up fewer points this season.

National Football League