The Dallas Cowboys' plans to be in the playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys, with a current record of 5-7 after Week 13 of the 2024 season, still have a slim hope of qualifying for the playoffs. Although their odds are low, the math still allows them to dream of the postseason.

Scenario to classify
For the Cowboys to earn a playoff berth, a number of conditions must be met:

Win all your remaining games: This includes key matchups against teams like the Washington Commanders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, direct rivals in the fight for the Wild Card.
For other teams to lose: They need teams competing for the same spots, such as the Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers, to accumulate losses in the coming weeks.
Recent advances
In Week 13, the Cowboys received a reprieve, as teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Cardinals, and 49ers lost their games. This has kept their minimal chance of qualifying alive.

The current panorama
The NFC is in a close competition situation, where several teams face each other in the final weeks. This could lead to combinations of outcomes that favor the Cowboys. However, Dallas needs to take advantage of this opportunity by winning their own games and hoping that the chaos in the standings propels them into the postseason.

Conclusion
The path for the Dallas Cowboys is complicated and depends on external factors. However, as long as there are mathematical possibilities, the team must focus on closing the season with a winning streak and hope that the rest of the results work in its favor. Hope is not lost yet, but the margins of error are zero.