Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are headed to the playoffs. (Getty)
The Dallas Cowboys are headed to the NFL playoffs but there is still a lot of work to be done. Dallas has a chance to clinch a bye in Week 14 if things fall the right way for them.
The Cowboys clinch the NFC East if they beat the Giants on Sunday Night Football. That is the part they control. There are additional scenarios involving the NFC seeding that depend on the Lions and Seahawks games.
Dallas has two ways they can clinch a first round bye. Both scenarios require the Cowboys to win their game first. In addition to a Cowboys win, a Lions loss or tie will clinch a bye for Dallas. If Dallas wins and Seattle loses, they can also clinch a bye.
A Cowboys win, Lions loss or tie combined with a Seahawks loss would guarantee the Cowboys the top NFC seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
Got all that? Essentially Cowboys fans are rooting against the Lions and Seahawks. The Lions host the Bears while the Seahawks head to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers in Week 14.
Regardless of whether they clinch the top seed this week, the Cowboys would face the winner of the 3 vs. 6 NFC matchup after their bye if they hold on to the top seed. Heading into Week 14, it would be the 3. Lions vs. 6. Buccaneers in the matchup. If they have a late season collapse and wind up with the two seed, they would face the winner of the 4 vs. 5 matchup after their bye. Right now, that would feature the 4. Falcons vs. 5. Giants.
