We’re back with another installment of the Cowboys fan rooting guide for this week’s games. Stubborn fools that we are, we’re still holding out hope for a playoff spot. But as those chances get slimmer, our focus will shift ever more to what most helps Dallas improve its 2026 draft picks.
Lions @ Eagles
PLAYOFFS: Philadelphia
DRAFT: Detroit
Dallas has better odds of catching the 6-3 Lions in the wild card race than they do catching 7-2 Philly in the NFC East, so you have to root for the Eagles from a purely playoff perspective. But at least if Detroit wins, it’s a boon for the Cowboys in the division. Draft-wise, Detroit is only a hair above Green Bay as the current NFC North leader, so we’d like them to stay in that role and push the Packers further up the draft order.
Commanders @ Dolphins
PLAYOFFS: Miami
DRAFT: Washington
Two 3-7 teams, with one of them in the AFC, makes this one barely relevant. At the very least, a Commanders win hurts their draft pick. We’ll settle for that.
Packers @ Giants
PLAYOFFS: New York
DRAFT: New York
No doubts on this one. A Giants win hurts the Packers in the wild card race and also strengthens that Green Bay draft pick. While it does help New York’s position in the draft as well, Dallas would almost have to lose out to get past them in the order.
NFC vs NFC
Panthers @ Falcons
PLAYOFFS: Atlanta
DRAFT: Atlanta
Dallas needs to move past 5-5 Carolina in the NFC standings for a playoff spot, so that’s an easy pick. It could also benefit the Cowboys in the draft order as Atlanta is only just ahead of them at 3-6.
Bears @ Vikings
PLAYOFFS: Minnesota
DRAFT: Minnesota
Chicago’s currently in a wild card spot, so we need them to take a hit. And the Vikings are only slightly below Dallas in draft order at 4-5, so a win helps doubly.
Seahawks @ Rams
PLAYOFFS: Seattle
DRAFT: Los Angeles
This one is almost a push with both teams enjoying 7-2 records. The Rams’ position feels a little more tenuous, though, given Matt Stafford’s age. So we’ll lean that way, ever so slightly, on the chance that Los Angeles could end up losing more games down the stretch than Seattle.
49ers @ Cardinals
PLAYOFFS: Arizona
DRAFT: Arizona
Even with their win over Dallas, Arizona is still slightly behind in the NFC standings. The 49ers are 6-4 and in the Cowboys’ way of making the tournament. From the draft perspective, an Arizona win could pull them below Dallas in the draft order. On the other hand, a 49ers victory could have the same effect with the Packers’ pick. So that’s almost a wash, with the tie broken by Dallas’ first-rounder having more value.
NFC vs AFC
Buccaneers @ Bills
PLAYOFFS: Buffalo
DRAFT: Tampa Bay
The Bills are irrelevant playoffs-wise for Dallas, so at least a Bucs loss does something for us there. The draft is a little more interesting as both teams are 6-3, just ahead of Green Bay in the overall standings. Buffalo feels more likely to go on a late-season run in the weak AFC, so we’ll take a Tampa win now to hurt them in the draft order.
AFC vs AFC
Jets d. Patriots
Texans d. Titans
Bengals d. Steelers
Jaguars d. Chargers
Ravens d. Browns
Chiefs d. Broncos
The all-AFC outcomes are designed to help Dallas’ draft positioning, either with their own pick or the one from the Packers. Take New England over New York, for example. The Cowboys probably aren’t moving up far enough to touch New York in the draft order, but they’re only one win behind the 2-7 Jets. Meanwhile, New England has three more wins than the Packers. So the odds are even slimmer of the Patriots hurting that Green Bay pick.